TOML CH 09

“Our trading company prepared this blending tea as a gift for the guests. It was created around the theme of a spring garden filled with blooming lilacs. We put a great deal of effort into preparing a gift that would satisfy the eyes, nose, and palate of every honored guest.”

I had brought a tea canister inspired by the lilac flowers that served as the main theme of the engagement ceremony, and its design even resembled the Young Lady’s engagement dress.

Yet I casually glossed over the fact that we’d obviously done some research into the Young Lady and House Harriet by saying that the theme was simply a spring garden.

One of the Duchess’s eyebrows rose slightly before settling back down.

The Duchess probably knew that we had done a little background research on the Young Lady and her family.

After all, other trading companies and noble families had probably conducted their own investigations as well, hoping to quickly follow whatever trends emerged after the Young Lady’s engagement ceremony.

But that didn’t mean I needed to confess,

“We also did some background research to understand our customer’s needs and follow the latest trend.”

Did I?

The Duchess gave me a displeased look for a moment, but I simply smiled shamelessly.

What can I do? You’re basically the celebrity of this era.

Just before the corners of my mouth could start twitching from the tension, the Duchess gracefully lifted her teacup.

She took a moment to appreciate the fragrance before slowly taking a sip.

The subtle fatigue that had been visible in her expression seemed to lessen considerably, so apparently she liked the tea.

I added herbs that are good for relieving fatigue, after all. Nice work, Daisy.

“Not bad.”

The Duchess quietly placed her teacup down and gave her verdict.

If I ran that through the noble-language translator, it basically meant:

It’s quite good.

“I’m glad you approve.”

Rather than responding with the roundabout language nobles preferred, I answered her directly.

Duchess Harriet looked at me for a moment as though wondering what to do with me before lifting her teacup again.

It almost felt as though I could hear her saying,

I’ll tolerate your insolence this once.

The gamble I’d taken—based on my calculation that the Duchess’s personality wouldn’t differ much from the original novel I’d read—had paid off.

The Duchess closed her eyes and began properly savoring the tea.

Sarah had a strong personality and could be somewhat domineering, but she also possessed the composure of someone born into a royal-family-level household.

She knew her position extremely well, so she had the kind of generosity that allowed her to laugh off a little provocation.

Even if I acted somewhat cheeky, she would probably regard me as nothing more than an ant tickling the back of a lion’s hand.

With that calculation in mind, I behaved as though I had completely lost my sense of fear.

Operation: “You’re the first trading company master to treat me this casually.”

When I noticed that the Duchess had completely finished her cup of tea, I quickly picked up the teapot.

“Would you like another cup?”

For some reason, I suddenly had the strange feeling that a modern office worker having a company dinner over frozen pork belly and soju was faintly visible in the background.

But let’s ignore that.

I smiled brightly like a salesperson at a tasting booth.

“You certainly have guts.”

Perhaps she found my shameless behavior amusing, because although her voice was cold, there was the faintest hint of a smile on the Duchess’s face.

Just as I was about to speak, thinking that my plan had worked—

“But.”

The Duchess claimed the silence between her words first.

“This tea is too strongly scented. It will overwhelm the flavor of the desserts.”

Pairing tea with desserts?

The perspective of an experienced noblewoman was clearly different from mine.

I hadn’t thought of that at all.

Tea time in noble households was generally accompanied by sweet desserts such as macarons and éclairs.

But as someone who had been a K-office worker who practically drank coffee like a potion, even after possessing Rebecca’s body, I had continued drinking tea as a substitute for coffee and rarely had it alongside desserts.

Daisy was also from an herbalist’s background, so she tended to drink tea more like medicine.

It was clearly my mistake.

Despite the panic raging inside me, my words came out smoothly.

“If this tea is served during the tea parties of the honored guests who receive it as a gift, the topic of conversation that day will naturally be the Young Lady’s engagement ceremony. That’s exactly why we made this tea. As they discuss the bride’s beauty and the perfection of House Harriet, they’ll end up drinking even the tea simply to wet their throats. Do you really think an éclair that has been pushed into the background will matter then?”

One part flattery.

Nine parts provocation.

My implication that the Young Lady’s engagement ceremony could possibly be overshadowed by an éclair was, by the standards of this world, unquestionably crossing the line.

With the mindset of a debtor taking every last possession he had to a gambling house and placing one final enormous bet, I went all in.

Either way, the result would be one extreme or the other.

There was a high chance I’d be thrown out completely penniless.

Or, with a much smaller chance, I’d walk out having made a fortune.

I waited for the Duchess’s judgment with all the desperation of someone praying.

Then—

“Hahaha!”

A refreshing burst of laughter rang through the room.

The Duchess laughed like a young girl who had just heard an amusing joke.

“That’s right. My daughter’s engagement ceremony can’t possibly be overshadowed by something as trivial as an éclair.”

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

I’d been thinking about the original novel all day, repeatedly calling her Sarah, Sarah in my head.

Apparently, the social instincts I’d accumulated during seven years of living in this rigidly hierarchical society had regressed right along with the original heroine.

That was way too close.

My courage shriveled up again, and I shut my mouth with the smile of a new employee desperately trying to please their department manager.

Rebecca, you said that if you stay quiet, you’ll at least avoid making things worse. Your mouth!

The Duchess—or rather, Sarah—continued laughing for quite some time.

Eventually, she said her eyes were watering from laughing so much, took a handkerchief from her secretary, and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes.

Oh right! The secretary is still here!

Sarah stretched one hand backward without even looking and passed the handkerchief to her secretary in a perfect no-look pass.

Then she crossed her long legs and leaned back in her chair.

It was only a change in posture, yet somehow the atmosphere inside the reception room completely changed.

As far as I remember, this woman is basically a Muggle except for her bloodline.

Why does she suddenly feel so intimidating, like someone who has finally revealed the ability they’ve been hiding all along?

Excuse me.

Why does a medieval romance-fantasy novel suddenly feel like a high-teen school story where the school’s top guy just walked in?

Your aura is incredible, Sister.

No wonder you used to be the male lead’s rival.

I was completely overwhelmed by Sarah’s presence and shrank into myself.

It’s not like people usually say I’m timid.

When I was young, I’d once been bullied by a group of scary older girls.

So why was that memory suddenly coming back to me now?

I could almost hear those terrifying girls saying,

“Hey. Lower your eyes.”

Sarah hadn’t actually ordered me to look down, but now that I had become a coward, I obediently lowered my gaze.

Then I felt a stare near my left cheek.

It was such an intense gaze that my cheek practically tingled.

Ah, whatever.

Just like someone in a horror movie who can’t resist turning around out of curiosity, I finally couldn’t endure the intense stare and lifted my head.

The moment I did, my eyes met Sarah’s.

It was as though she had been waiting for me to look up.

Our eyes met immediately, and I was startled.

I didn’t even have time to compose my expression before she caught me looking flustered.

I was sure I must have been making a ridiculous face.

I wrote a note in the diary inside my head:

“Kick myself under the blankets a thousand times tonight.”

Sarah watched me fumble around and let out a quiet chuckle.

“You’re rather entertaining, aren’t you?”

Then she smiled, her red lips curving into a bright, effortless smile.

Screech. Thud.

I got hit.

So this was what mature charisma looked like.

If this woman had been a celebrity, I’d be suffering a fatal fan-induced accident right now.

Without realizing it, my hand rose toward my chest.

My completely oblivious heart was enthusiastically doing its little workout.

Whoa. Hey, heart. Calm down. You have Theo.

No. Easy.

Sister, was this novel secretly supposed to be that kind of genre?

I don’t mind anything, but she’s married.

“You were talking so confidently earlier, but now you’ve gone quiet again. Come on, say something.”

She spoke with half amusement and half teasing, but there was an overwhelming confidence in her manner.

How did she know I’m weak to this kind of thing?

I felt like I should hand her a white candy stick just to complete the image.

“Yes?”

All I could manage was a rather foolish response.

Fortunately, Sarah didn’t seem bothered and continued speaking.

“I find children who are bold because they believe in their own abilities rather cute. That’s why I rather like you.”

Is this a proposal?

I just started fangirling and I’ve already hit the jackpot.

I desperately tried to stop myself from saying something like “I’m sorry, we’ve only just met, but I love you.”

Instead, something completely different came flying out of my mouth.

“I have a lover!”

“What? Hahaha. I have a rabbit-like husband and a bear-like daughter myself.”

Sarah kindly answered my nonsense before clutching her stomach and bursting into laughter as though she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Her laughter went on for so long that I began to wonder if I was about to die of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, I was desperately resisting the urge to behave like a rebellious child, slam the door shut, and run away while yelling,

Please stop laughing already!

So embarrassing. So embarrassing. So embarrassing.

The Duchess continued laughing merrily until her secretary brought her some water and gently urged her to calm down.

Only after drinking the water did she finally manage to stop laughing.

“I can’t remember the last time I laughed so freely without thinking about anything.”

Her neatly pinned-up hair had become slightly disheveled, and her face was flushed from laughing.

Even so, the Duchess remained elegant and beautiful.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

Enjoyed myself? I was so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.

But social life was ruthless.

Still, I couldn’t help letting my voice come out a little sulky.

I’m about to become a fan who quit in record time. Hmph.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you stay for a few days? You can even pack your belongings and move in entirely if you’d like.”

I had come to sell a product to the Duchess, and now I was about to get recruited as her personal entertainer.

I’m sorry, but I’m actually not that funny when someone gives me a stage and tells me to perform.

I decline.

“I am deeply honored by your generous offer, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to accept it because the affairs of the trading company keep me extremely busy.”

Of course, in this world, status was everything, so the words that came out of my mouth had to remain perfectly polite.

“Ahem.”

From behind the Duchess came another small throat-clearing sound from the secretary, who I had momentarily forgotten was still there.