CH 226

Extra 3. The End of First Love (4)

“Welcome, Marquis Spencer.”

It was a cheerful voice. Daniel, who had been hardened, felt his back creeping and his body’s control returning.

“Long time no see, Duchess of Jaxen.”

He wondered if he said hello without shaking. He wasn’t confident. Slowly raising his head, Ezet and his eyes met. She smiled lightly and led the two to the table.

“I’m learning how to make tea these days, but it’s a little hard to adjust the water. I’ve tried my best. I’m ashamed that there’s not enough to show Marchioness Spencer.”

“What’s the point of being old? It’s great to know your favorite tea, Duchess of Jaxen.”

Marchioness Spencer smiled softly and took the teacup to her mouth. Warm temperature and a mellow scent. It wasn’t his cup of tea, but somehow it felt warm.

‘Marianne made tea like this.’

Marchioness Spencer brewed a thick, hot tea and tasted it very little by little, and her friend Marianne loved to drink the warm, mildly fragrant tea slowly.

She was just treated to a cup of tea, but the memories of the past came to mind, and Marchioness Spencer felt her eyes moist.

“I understand that it is the first time our family has been formally invited to the Duke of Jaxen. What a glorious seat.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to! I just fulfilled what I promised… ”

“My wife’s most dependable is Marchioness Spencer, and you deserve to be the first to invite me.”

Naturally, Edmond poured tea into an empty glass.

There were no servants in the tea party garden. Edmond and Ezet themselves made all preparations.

Most of them, of course, were settled by Edmond as Mana Stone, and Ezet was hard at work, citing the reason that ‘it is polite for the householder to make tea for themselves.’

“Are the flowers in the garden grown by the Duchess of Jaxen?”

“I just… I don’t know, so I left it to the gardener. Is there anything strange?”

“Try yourself, even if you’re clumsy. The garden needs to be decorated by the hostess so that the family can stand upright.”

“Oh… I see.”

At the words of Marchioness Spencer, Ezet nodded quietly. It was Erit who created the garden and was only managed by servants, but Ezet left it because there was nothing unusual about it.

However, now she thought it would be okay to change the garden according to one’s preference.

‘What flowers should I plant then? I don’t know much about flowers….’

Thinking that she would ask Edmond after the tea party, Ezet moved the table. It was to talk to the daughters of Marchioness Spencer.

The party’s atmosphere was heartwarming, but Ezet and Daniel didn’t say a word. Edmond was in charge of pouring tea into Daniel’s empty glass. He doesn’t want to serve tea to an ugly little boy, but he couldn’t help it because he was more nervous to think that his wife was serving this little boy.

Daniel accepted the tea with a sour face, but his face was calm when he drank it.

Whether Marchioness Spencer’s words worked, Daniel sitting in front of the white table shone brighter than any other flower on this occasion.

At first, he couldn’t pass over the food at all, so he started by spilling a few tablespoons of warm soup. Then it took him a month to eat shredded bread, fruits and vegetables, and meat again. In the meantime, he dreamed of Ezet several times and repeatedly woke up, but when he got back, he didn’t feel the same pain as before.

Most recently, he had a dream of running to the infirmary carrying her on his back from the box seat of the opera theater. Her temperature on his back and the touch of her slender arms around his shoulder made Daniel’s heart pound and unbearable.

On the day he had a dream of Ezet, he felt self-loathing and guilt, but he was able to calm himself down thanks to the words of Marchioness Spencer.

If he meets her again at a tea party, he won’t be able to dream about this anymore if he gets hurt by her happy appearance. He forced himself to sleep, hoping for just one thing.

The fever of love made Daniel emaciated, but it made him more beautiful once he had gone through hell. His blond hair, shining brilliantly in the sun, was enough to attract a person’s attention without a word.

“Edmond, the table…”

“I’ll go this time.”

When it was Ezet’s turn to face Daniel, Edmond quickly stepped forward. He can’t let his precious wife and a blind young man sit face to face. Ezet was a little embarrassed and grabbed Edmond’s sleeve.

“Edmond, it’s a good day.”

“It’s a good day, and I’ve heard the will to talk for a long time.”

He doesn’t want to say a word, but Edmond thought it would be better to recite a hero’s epic in front of Ezet than to see her talking to him.

“Excuse me, I’ve had a lot of desserts, and I’m full… …is it okay if I go for a walk in the garden?”

Daniel, who saw Ezet and Edmond’s scuffle, stood up and asked for their understanding. The inner gardens were intertwined in a large eight-shape, so there was no fear of getting lost. With Ezet’s permission, Daniel briefly thanked and walked to the rose garden.

“Edmond, why are you making Marquis Spencer uncomfortable?”

“No, he’s taking a walk to digest. I didn’t do anything?”

Edmond, who had the nerve to clear his throat, sat across the table from Marchioness Spencer with a satisfied smile. Suffering, Ezet pinched Edmond on the back of his neck slightly.

“…Ezet.”

“We’re out of tea, so I’ll boil some more.”

“Let’s go together.”

“What if both organizers are away? Edmond is here dealing with guests.”

“No, I can’t let you go alone…”

“Edmond, listen.”

She had a calm voice, but her eyes were serious. Edmond sat right again, clearing his throat. He wanted to get up and hug her right away, but he would be hated if he did. Edmond decided to be patient.

‘You said you’d just make some tea, right? If you’re a second late….’