Chapter 30

This tea party should have been no different from the usual ones.

There should have been tacky teacups, tea that tasted terrible, and Bianca displaying outdated etiquette riddled with flaws.

Yet somehow, Bianca’s usual timid demeanor, always worrying about what others thought because of her lack of etiquette, had become strangely composed.

On top of that, her outfit was flawless even when compared to the other young ladies present.

It was the result of a week of intensive training with Diena, though Eshina had no way of knowing that.

Daniel smiled brightly and spoke to Bianca.

“You look even more beautiful than usual today.”

Unlike before, Bianca kept her distance from him as she replied.

“Thank you, Young Master Daniel.”

Daniel’s expression stiffened at her attitude.

One of the young ladies glanced at Eshina before speaking.

“Lady Bianca, you seem different somehow.”

“Oh my, do I?”

Bianca barely managed to suppress the smile threatening to appear on her lips.

‘Diena really is amazing.’

Diena had personally taken charge of preparing this tea party.

Everything had been arranged so perfectly that even those picky noble ladies couldn’t find anything to criticize.

On top of that, what Diena had told her earlier had filled her with excitement.

“Lord Varkan said he’ll be attending today’s gathering.”

“My brother is coming to see me?”

“Yes. Lady Bianca’s condition has improved significantly. Lord Varkan said you might not get sick even if you meet him now.”

After that, Diena had handed her a letter written by Varkan.

[Bianca, I heard there are a lot of idiots talking nonsense about you. Just wait. I’ll make a grand entrance at the tea party.]

It was exactly the sort of casual tone Varkan would use.

Reading that letter had improved Bianca’s mood even further.

Meanwhile, she could hear the young ladies continuing their conversation nearby.

“The aroma and temperature of this black tea are wonderful. It tastes just like the one I had when I visited the capital recently. The blend has remarkable depth.”

“The table setting is different from usual.”

“Your taste has improved tremendously, Lady Bianca.”

These were compliments.

Something she rarely heard.

Now all that remained was for Varkan to arrive.

Thinking that, Bianca couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from twitching upward.

Meanwhile, Eshina’s mood continued sinking lower and lower.

The tea party was progressing in a completely different direction from what she had expected.

Without realizing it, she shot Diena a sharp glare.

‘There’s no way Bianca has this kind of taste.’

The only thing that had changed was the person standing behind Bianca.

‘So that’s the Rothwell young lady.’

Despite meeting her for the first time, there was something about her that irritated Eshina.

Probably because she was a worthless Non-Ability User.

Coincidentally, Eshina also had an order from the Duke of Rothwell to carry out.

She was to make the Non-Ability User who had left her family understand just how miserable her situation truly was.

And no one was better suited for that job than Eshina.

Looking directly at Diena, Eshina slowly spoke.

“By the way, who is the person standing behind Lady Bianca?”

Diena’s gaze shifted toward her.

With a proud smile, Bianca answered.

“My maid.”

“A maid? If she’s attending a tea party alongside you, then she must be your Dedicated Maid. Is she a noble like her predecessor?”

At those words, Bianca fell silent.

It was Diena who answered instead.

“I’m a commoner.”

“Ah, a commoner…”

A strange smile appeared on Eshina’s lips.

“Could you at least be a common-born Ability User?”

“No, I’m not.”

The moment that answer came out, Eshina’s expression hardened.

Even her speech became shorter.

“Then how exactly are you standing here? Especially after pushing aside a far superior predecessor.”

Diena was about to answer.

But Eshina roughly shook her head.

“No, don’t bother answering.”

Then she grabbed Bianca’s hand as if they were close friends and shook her head in disbelief.

“Lady Bianca, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I heard the rumors. They say you’re lonely because no noble ladies want to spend time with you.”

“What?”

“But no matter how lonely you are, associating with a commoner who has no background at all?”

“…”

Bianca’s expression gradually stiffened.

Diena carefully observed her face.

“You should throw that girl out immediately. Why not become close friends with me instead? It would be much better for you, Lady Bianca.”

Eshina continued without pausing.

“Our House Ediltum has produced Top-Tier Ability Users for generations. In fact, my younger brother Gerard is expected to receive a Top-Tier rating during this year’s evaluation. As for me, I’m still an Ability User despite only being middle grade.”

Her eyes swept over Bianca mockingly.

“You know the saying, don’t you? If you associate with Non-Ability Users, you’ll remain a Non-Ability User forever. That’s why nobles avoid commoners. Who knows, Lady Bianca? If you spend time with us, perhaps you’ll awaken an ability yourself.”

“…”

“Haven’t you always wanted to be my friend? Get rid of that low-class maid, and I’ll do it. I’ll be your friend.”

Hearing that, Diena couldn’t help admiring it inwardly.

‘That’s some impressive trash talk.’

Still, compared to Romie, Eshina was an amateur.

Maybe it was because she had heard things like that far too often at House Rothwell.

Eshina’s mockery didn’t hurt her at all.

She had expected them to pick a fight to some degree.

Especially after what she had done to Daniel.

‘Though this reaction is a bit unexpected.’

Daniel had clearly intended to use Bianca through their engagement.

Yet rather than subtly looking down on her, they were openly displaying hostility.

Diena quickly figured out why.

Her uncle must have intervened.

He had probably realized that she had truly followed Varkan here.

‘What did he order them to do? Hurt me until I willingly return to the family?’

It sounded exactly like something Baltazar would do.

He excelled at manipulating others into creating the situations he wanted without personally getting involved.

Diena herself wasn’t bothered.

What worried her was Bianca.

As expected, Bianca frowned and replied.

“But I’m a Non-Ability User too. Are you saying that to me?”

“Oh my, that’s not what I meant. If that’s how it sounded… I suppose an inferiority complex can’t be helped.”

“An inferiority complex? Are you serious right now?”

Bianca immediately raised her voice.

Covering her mouth, Eshina shook her head as though she were genuinely disappointed.

“Honestly… This is why one’s birth can’t be changed. What a vulgar way of speaking.”

Daniel immediately sided with Eshina.

“Lady Bianca, even so, you shouldn’t behave this way. A noble should act like a noble.”

“D-Daniel.”

“We respect Lady Bianca despite the fact that you’re a Non-Ability User entirely because of your status. You understand that, don’t you?”

“…”

“But if you behave like this, that simply won’t do.”

Bianca clenched both fists.

As expected, he wasn’t on her side.

“Oh my, don’t tell me you actually think a maid is your friend?”

“Lady Bianca, I’m disappointed. I never thought you’d be like this.”

The giggling voices of the others followed.

Bianca’s ears burned hot.

Once again, the tea party had become exactly what it always was.

Here, she was completely alone.

With her eyes tightly shut, Bianca clenched her fists.

Watching the scene unfold, Diena stepped forward.