Chapter 10 – I was invited to a tea party
As the seasons changed, it finally became summer. I, Katarina Claes, became nine years old.
For birthday presents, father gave me a lovely dress, and Keith got me a flower bouquet. As for my mother, she gave me a mountain of books on manners.
Prince Jared brought me a somewhat expensive looking necklace for some reason, but…… Because I can’t accept such an expensive thing, I refused with all my might. Still, the prince insisted on giving me something, so I asked for watermelon seeds. I wanted some fruits in my field.
When I asked for seeds, the prince froze solid for quite a while, but he did send me some splendid seeds the next day. I immediately planted them in the field. When the watermelon is ripe, let’s share some with the prince.
By the way, my doting father seemed to have wanted to celebrate a big birthday party for me, but…… I really hated the idea of it, and mother also said “please stop as it would only further expose our embarrassment.”
However, it seems that the social debut party upon reaching fifteen years old was unavoidable for a family of the Duke’s stature.
“I’ll figure something out before then,” said mother enthusiastically, and my Spartan mother powered up the horrifying etiquette lessons even further.
My long-sought after magic tutor has finally arrived, and magic training began. My magic tutor taught me that “interacting with oneself’s own source of magic power does not mean interacting with the earth,” apparently making a field wouldn’t strengthen my magic after all. However, since it’s now become a hobby, I’ll continue with it.
A few months after beginning magic training, Keith was able to considerably improve his control over magic. He is quite the stepbrother indeed. As for me…… well, I was able to improve Earth Thud from two, three centimeters all the way to seven, eight centimeters. To me, this is quite something. At this rate, I should be able to control an earth golem as freely as Keith pretty soon.
And in this way, even though I can’t say that everything was smooth sailing, I had a daily life that was fulfilling in its own way, but……
“……Hmm. I wonder what it is.”
I let out a huge sigh and squatted in the field.
Standing by my side, was my perfectly cute stepbrother that I had taken to, and Prince Jared who had been coming over for the last three days to see his fiancee.
“What’s wrong? Nee-san.”
“What’s the matter? Katarina.”
Keith and Prince Jared asked me.
I showed them a corner of the field.
“Look at this.”
The vegetables I pointed at were completely wilted. Even though it’s almost time for the harvest…… this doesn’t seem like it will bear fruit.
“This, is something I have planted and taken care of.”
I was downhearted. Why…… Only the place where I planted and took care of……
In the previous life I wasn’t very good at taking care of plants. From a morning glory flowerpot, to the loofah plant that everyone had in school, everything I took care of wilted.
But, I have been reincarnated. This time, I’ll definitely be able to raise them well! …… Is what I thought. I stared sadly at the wilted vegetables.
“Nee-san, aren’t you just tired from working too hard? We should take a break here.”
“That’s right. Katarina, you should get some rest here.”
The drooping me was comforted by both Keith and Prince Jared, and both of them held out their hands to me. They stared at each other while holding their hands out.
“Prince Jared, I’ll be taking nee-san. It’s fine even if you don’t come to visit her all the time!”
“Since Katarina is my fiancee, I’ll be taking her. Keith, you don’t always have to stick so close to Katarina all the time!”
Two people that had almost no contact in the game, were now getting along great. They were both laughing at each other, and both seemed to be having fun while talking.
And so, after giving them a sidelong glance, I went back to staring at the wilted vegetables and gave another loud sigh.
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“Katarina, you’ve been invited to a tea party, would you like to give it a try and go?”
“A tea party?”
I listened to father while talking with a mouth full of bread. And, since mother glared at me, I swallowed the bread in a hurry.
“That’s right, a tea party. Since you’re nine years old already, how about trying to attend one?”
Tea parties here, seem to be common here for noble children around nine or ten years old to have in order prepare them for their social debut at age fifteen. It serves the purpose of allowing noble children of similar age to interact with each other.
“Uh……”
“Impossible! Katarina has no manners whatsoever!”
My reply was forcibly interrupted by my mother.
“Well, even if that’s so…… it might be beneficial for her to learn by getting some real practice once in a while. And this time, it’s our relatives inviting us, instead of some other family, so I think it’ll be perfect for her first time.”
Father glanced at me briefly. Huh? What did father just say? Why is he looking away?
“……Indeed, maybe if she got some real experience, she could learn some etiquette……”
Mother looked at me with empty eyes. Why does she have those eyes?
“Oh yes, how about letting Keith tag along. If Keith goes, I’ll be relieved.”
“Yes, indeed. I’ll be more at ease if Keith goes too.”
Mother agreed with what she considered to be father’s good idea.
In the few months since Keith’s come here, his evaluation has been quite excellent, unlike his older sister.
“Keith, would you go along with Katarina to her tea party?”
“Yes, I’ll be more than happy to accompany nee-san.”
Upon being asked by father, Keith replied with a smile.
Huh? Even though I’m the older sister? Why am I being accompanied by Keith like a burdensome useless child?
Even though there were many points that were hard for me to swallow, thus I went together with Keith to attend my first tea party.
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After very strict etiquette training from mother, accompanied by lots of nagging, the day of the tea party has finally arrived.
Father had a new dress specially made for me to wear to this tea party, and like so Keith and I arrived at the party organizer, Marquis Hunt’s family.
“Katarina-sama, Keith-sama, thank you very much for participating in our family’s tea party today.”
The person greeting us was the eldest daughter of the Hunt family, Lilia Hunt. She is a fourteen year old girl with honey-colored hair and eyes, the year right before she’s expected to make her social debut.
There were three girls standing behind Lady Lilia. They were probably all Lilia’s younger sisters. The Hunt family had four girls, including Lilia.
Lilia’s sisters began greeting us in order. The second and third daughters greeted us while smiling. Both of them had hair and eyes that looked very similar to their honey-colored older sister. I returned their greetings as gracefully as I could remember how to, with my mother’s lessons.
And then, after those two finished their greetings…… From behind them, one more girl walked out nervously.
“…… Pl, pleased to meet you. I’m the youngest daughter… M, Mary Hunt.”
She gave her name with a voice that could be barely heard, and her auburn hair and eyes was nothing like her sisters.
However, her large eyes and nice pink lips made her a very cute beauty. Meanwhile, I elegantly greeted her just as how I remembered with the others. And then, as soon as the greeting was over, Mary immediately retreated behind the others.
I wonder if she’s scared of my villainous face? Even though this face says “The Villain” but I certainly won’t bully you.
While becoming a little sad, I watched the Hunt sisters greet the next guest.
By the way, about this time’s tea party –
I promised mother that I would try to speak as little as possible, and just smile. I’m not allowed to stuff myself full of sweets. I must drink tea little by little. I must not roll up my skirt even by mistake. Mother told me all this while sticking to my ear so closely like an octopus.
Therefore, as I was allowed to, I just smiled gracefully, and sipped my tea.
This tea party’s buffet format consciously mimics high society’s dance parties.
The Hunt sisters were continuously greeting various other noble sons and daughters, they just kept coming, without giving them any time to have tea.
They repeated the greetings, walking all around the room several times before noticing, that they had finally finished and were dead tired when they were ultimately able to have their tea.
As for me, I was trying my best, to control my hand and only take a few cookies. Oh my? This cookie is delicious. Yeah, I’ll have one more. I’ll have another. Oh, there’s a muffin in a place like this. I’ll try one.
At any rate, there sure are a lot of sweets left. Since most of the guests were chatting with each other, these prepared sweets have barely decreased at all. Such a waste. ……If there’s any Tupperware I want to take some home. I wonder if I can borrow any Tupperware from the Hunt family.
“Nee-san.”
“……Ke, Keith!?”
Suddenly, I jumped up involuntarily when my stepbrother appeared from behind. While I was watching the greetings Keith had imperceptibly been standing behind me.
“You surprised me. Keith, you finished going around greeting everyone without incident?”
“Yep, just about finished with everyone. That aside, why are you spacing out here?”
“……Uh……”
“You couldn’t have been thinking about taking the extra sweets back home, could you?”
“!?”
Keith is amazing!? What is this child, an esper? So awesome. Why is it that you know what I’m thinking.
“Amazing. You know me so well!”
“……I know you so well…… isn’t what you should be saying, nee-san. If you do such a thing, the Claes’ family dignity will become suspect. And if moth