Chapter 06
“I am Simon Brante of the Brante Count family, here to greet the Duchess of Dierne.”
“I am Ries Brante, his younger sister. Thank you very much for inviting us to such a generous place.”
Following Simon’s formal introduction, I also grabbed my skirt, bent my knees slightly, and showed proper etiquette. It was the result of cramming manners for one week.
The duchess slightly pulled up the corners of her lips.
“It’s just a small gathering, treating you as my son’s friends. You don’t need to be so formal.”
Even though she said that, she would carefully examine us. If there was even one flaw that bothered her, she would probably think my brother and I were not good enough to be friends with her son.
“Yes. Both of you, relax and enjoy yourselves.”
Darius put his arm around Simon’s stiff shoulder and agreed.
After that, the two of them guided us into the giant glass greenhouse we had seen before. The flower garden, which the duchess had put great effort into, was filled with various colorful, cute flowers.
“Wow.”
When I saw small butterflies fluttering over the fountain that sparkled like jewels under sunlight, I couldn’t help but admire it. And the moment I confirmed those butterflies, a victorious smile appeared on my face.
Since the invitation came in the duchess’s name, I secretly expected tea time would be held in her proud glass greenhouse—and bingo.
Going deeper inside, a patio surrounded by pastel-colored roses was set with a tea table.
“Please sit. I prepared something simple, but I hope it suits your taste.”
The duchess sat inside first and invited us to take seats.
The words “prepared simply” were modesty, because there were various delicious-looking dishes and desserts lined up.
“I prepared things that Lady Ries might like. This time, I made sure not to lack carbohydrates and protein.”
Darius, sitting across from me, winked and whispered.
Amazing… this is like return-gift treatment?
He even remembered my nonsense comment that growing children should eat balanced carbs, protein, and fat.
My nose felt tingly. The happiness Darius was giving me from earlier was already at a lethal level. I couldn’t sit still. I felt like doing a somersault in the air.
Soon, servants appeared like shadows, poured tea into cups, and disappeared from sight. When only the three of us remained in the wide greenhouse, I looked around just in case.
‘Kyle… isn’t being called?’
I also wanted to raise my friendship level with Kyle, but it was disappointing. Well, Kyle probably wasn’t the type to sit quietly in a place like this.
When the real tea time began, Simon, who had been waiting for the right moment, took out a gift.
“It’s a small gift, red wine made from grapes produced in our territory.”
When the duchess received the wine, Darius leaned forward and looked happy.
“Brante territory wine is the best, Mother.”
Right. Darius, who was a gourmet, especially liked coffee and wine. I mentally noted it. I should find the highest quality wine later.
“You didn’t have to come empty-handed. This is a wonderful wine. Thank you.”
“Please forgive our rudeness for not properly greeting you at the previous party.”
“I heard you were dragged into Darius’s neglect of duty. I should be the one asking for forgiveness.”
The duchess lightly scolded, and Darius laughed softly.
Oh no. He was scolded for skipping that time. And it seems he said it like he dragged our siblings in to protect us.
Soon, the duchess changed the topic.
“I heard Sir Simon is top of the class at the Royal Military Academy. Our useless son is indebted to you.”
Huh, my brother was top of the class? This must be the reason the duchess personally invited low-ranking noble children like us.
“I’m not at all. I actually receive much help from Darius.”
“This child only relies on natural talent and is very lazy. Darius, learn well by watching Sir Simon.”
Darius smiled and shook his head slightly.
“Actually, I’m being scolded every day. It feels like I have one more mother at school.”
His joke made everyone feel warm and laugh, and afterward, they talked slowly about studies.
While listening to the conversation, I busily conquered the desserts on the table with my hands.
Everything was just the right level of sweetness and delicious. Maybe because Darius smiled faintly whenever our eyes met, it felt even sweeter, like my blood sugar was going to explode.
“Does our little lady’s taste suit you?”
After I cut a small piece of peach jam scone and put it in my mouth, the duchess spoke.
“Yes. Everything tastes fantastic.”
Darius and the duchess nodded satisfied with my answer, but Simon glared at me with sharp eyes.
It felt like a silent criticism asking if I really came here just to eat. Wait, brat. The flattery starts now.
“The greenhouse is really beautiful. The fountain garden we passed earlier where butterflies were flying everywhere felt like heaven.”
“That is the place I put the most effort into. I’m glad you noticed.”
“I really like butterflies.”
“Oh, really?”
“I can even memorize the entire Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide.”
When I said it shyly, the duchess’s gaze changed in an instant.
“……I see.”
She quickly hid her surprised expression, but the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.
Although it is only known that Violet Dierne’s hobby is decorating the glass greenhouse, she actually had special love for butterflies. This was information mentioned several times in the original story.
So from the day I received the Dierne family invitation, I stuffed my head with knowledge about butterflies. It was the first time I studied like that since my high school senior year.
The Brante manor just happened to have a huge library. The late Brante countess was a book collector, and the original owner of this body was also a bookworm.
Among many insect-related books, Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide contained precise drawings of all butterflies that exist. It was famous even among entomologists, so the duchess, a true butterfly lover, would naturally know it.
Simon looked at me with a puzzled gaze, wondering since when I liked butterflies, but since the duchess looked pleased, he kept his mouth shut.
“So, may I go and look around the butterfly garden a little more closely?”
“Of course. I will guide you.”
The duchess stood up immediately. Although her attitude didn’t change much, bringing me personally meant this was a positive sign, right?
When I stood up to follow, Darius stopped us.
“Mother, what about us?”
“You two can just talk among yourselves, can’t you?”
“Just the two of us?”
Darius and Simon looked at each other with frozen expressions.
“Let’s go together.”
In the end, all four of us moved together in a row.
The colorful butterflies playing over the fountain and flower field looked like a scene from a fairy tale.
Darius already knew this scenery and didn’t seem very interested, while Simon looked around with curiosity.
Butterflies… they were pretty from far away, but up close they were still kind of creepy.
Actually, I hate insects. When a butterfly brushed my arm, I felt goosebumps.
Still, I had studied the guidebook so much that I knew most butterfly names. I should pretend to know a little.
A blue butterfly with glossy wings landed on the stone floor.
“Is that an Adonis Morpho butterfly?”
“You noticed. Yes, it was very difficult to obtain… huh?”
The duchess, who had been excitedly showing the rare butterfly, stopped speaking. She bent down and quietly observed the motionless morpho butterfly.
Looking over her shoulder, I saw that the edge of one wing was missing.
“The wing… which is like the life of a butterfly…”
The duchess murmured softly and picked up the butterfly. Watching the butterfly’s pitiful fluttering, she placed it on the grass.
“Well, it can’t be helped. This must be this child’s fate.”
She said it calmly and turned away, but her face looked paler than before, as if she was secretly hurt inside.
The butterfly, which did not realize the problem in its wing and was fluttering meaninglessly, also looked a little pitiful.
Ugh. Can I really do it? If I fail, my hard work of the past week will be wasted.
‘Ah, whatever. There’s nothing to lose by trying!’
This must be the fastest way to win the duchess’s heart, so I’ll do it!
“Madam. If it’s alright, may I try to fix the butterfly’s wing?”
