Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 31
The briars that bear wild roses
The day everyone was to meet the new hostess at the tea party drew near.
Electra’s lips were tightly sealed as she walked to the garden where the tea party was to be held.
‘Did that girl really know what she was preparing for?’
The girl hadn’t assigned a single maid to attend to her, nor had she been instructed on how to conduct the event.
Even though Electra had Merope keep an eye on things, the more she did, the more her doubts grew.
‘Was she hastily taught by Antares? Otherwise, it’s incomprehensible…’
As the gate to the garden opened, today’s organizer, Freesia, was the first to greet Electra.
“Welcome, Elder Madam.”
Electra scrutinized her opponent with narrowed eyes.
She was ready to scold her if she was overly adorned as ‘extravagant’, and ready to shame her if she was dressed too humbly.
However, the girl didn’t give her any cause for criticism.
Honestly, if Electra had a daughter who had just married as well, she would have advised her to look exactly like this.
“Please step inside. I will guide you to your seat, Elder Madam.”
What was even more surprising… was that she knew the order in which to seat the most important guests.
‘H, How…?’
Electra whispered sharply to Merope with a glare that could kill.
“Who told that wench?”
“…!”
Merope hastily shook her head.
She and the other maids had completely shunned the shepherd girl.
In fact, when she asked for additional help, they outright ignored her!
But as the noblewomen started entering one by one, they couldn’t let their panic show.
They all wore expressions mixed with dissatisfaction and vigilance, ready to complain to Electra if their names were not called correctly.
“Thank you for coming from so far, Madam Capella.”
“Pleasure to meet you for the first time, Madam Lamium. Hasn’t your second son just recently come of age? I’m sorry I couldn’t congratulate you sooner.”
As she greeted them, she was aware of recent events in their families and placed them correctly according to their family’s status.
The noblewomen sat with cold expressions, yet their eyes darted towards Electra as if asking, ‘Didn’t you say this meeting would be a disaster, Elder Madam?’
Electra maintained her dignified expression with difficulty, but inside, she was becoming uneasily aware.
‘I completely underestimated her.’
Because Electra had only ever seen the girl being beaten by her mother and herding sheep, she had unconsciously looked down on her.
She had never expected her to so unexpectedly behave like a ‘noblewoman’…
However, as the tea came out, the flaws began to show.
“Today, as a token of my gratitude for your presence, I plan to brew the tea myself.”
Freesia stood up to personally make the tea, like a noblewoman’s maid!
Witnessing this, Electra and her close friend, Lady Aldevarine, snickered behind their fans.
“Oh my, the Duchess herself?”
Though she correctly addressed the girl as ‘Duchess’, the tone in which she did so was dripping with mockery.
“Such a commendable act, but isn’t it somewhat improper?”
“In what way do you find it so?”
“It’s fitting that those who serve prepare the tea.”
“…”
“Of course, I understand the intention to be considerate.”
Madam Aldevarine waved her fan with a kindly smile.
“Moreover, since you’ve recently joined ‘this world’, you must have so much to learn from the Elder Madam.”
At those words, she exchanged glances with Electra and smiled.
It was time to subtly mock the shepherdess’s background, unknowingly to her, as everyone was ready to insult her.
Yet, the shepherdess calmly continued to pour the tea.
“I referred to the Elder Madam’s first tea party. Was it not appropriate?”
“…What?”
“The Elder Madam personally served the ladies at her first official tea party here, even brewing the precious tea herself.”
“How can you be so sure? You weren’t even present at that time.”
The shepherdess blinked her large eyes slowly.
“It was detailed in the records of this household.”
“…!”
“Because it’s customary to keep records of the preparations for family events.”
The ladies exchanged quick glances, surprised.
Indeed, they meticulously record events to prepare for similar future gatherings.
And the eyes of a woman close to Electra’s age shook most violently.
They remembered! That was indeed the case!
After claiming the title of ‘Duchess’, Electra deliberately broke tradition to ‘get closer’ with the other noblewomen, claiming it as the privilege of the powerful.
The shepherdess politely smiled at Madam Aldevarine.
“As you mentioned, Madam, I must follow the Elder Madam’s example, especially since it’s my first time. Let me serve you the first cup in her honor.”
“Th… A-Ahem. Tha, thank you.”
Madam Aldevarine awkwardly accepted the tea.
Though she regretted her initial attack. She’d been utterly defeated.
Just then, a red-haired maid hurriedly approached with a trolley of organized pastries.
Again, the shepherdess stood up to distribute the desserts personally.
The cake, generously topped with white cream, looked appealing but it was hard to tell which fruit was inside until one took a bite.
Both Electra and Merope’s eyes widened simultaneously.
‘Inside, it’s all filled with grapefruit.’
That one thing they had made sure to instruct the kitchen about.
Slice!
Electra cut half of the cake with a fork, revealing the honey-soaked grapefruit segments inside.
Despite its appetizing look, Electra raised her voice abruptly.
“Duchess, what is this exactly?”
Electra shook the grapefruit on her fork as if to show it off purposefully.
“Didn’t I emphasize? Madam Merriott cannot be served this fruit!”
Electra turned to Madam Merriott with an apologetic expression.
“Madam, don’t eat this. It seems I’ve been lax in my discipline to allow such a mistake.”
“I haven’t forgotten, Elder Madam.”
Slice.
At that moment, the shepherdess cut the cake meant for Madam Merriott in half.
Inside was honey-simmered peach.
“The Elder Madam gave a heads-up, so I prepared Madam Merriott’s portion separately.”
The shepherdess smiled as she placed the plate in front of the lady.
“House Merriott has been supporting the Dukedom for five generations. No matter how precious grapefruit may be, it wouldn’t do if it harms the Madam’s health. I hope the others won’t be offended.”
Even the justified unfairness was hard to argue against. Above all, the ladies were overwhelmed with bewilderment at the moment.
‘Did the Elder Madam actually teach her?’
And at that despicable sight, Electra’s eyes flashed ferociously.
