Chapter 19: The Strange Lady
“Come, please have some tea.”
In the grand reception hall, the Duchess personally brought over a fine cup of Earl Grey tea and gently placed it in front of Carlos and me.
“Oh, thank you,” Carlos said, picking up the exquisitely crafted teacup, theatrically sniffing it at his nose, then taking a small sip. “It’s so fragrant! I haven’t had such good tea in ages! Your skills remain impeccable, my dear Duchess.”
“Not at all, Mr. Carlos, you’re too kind.” The Duchess giggled softly, casually pulling out the chair next to me to sit down.
Immediately, a subtle and elegant fragrance filled my nostrils. It was the kind of mature scent that provided a surprising sense of comfort.
I discreetly turned my head to glance at the woman seated so close to me, who still seemed to exude the charm of youth. Her exquisite features didn’t bear too much makeup, and like me, her silky black hair was pinned up high. The skin on her neck was as smooth and lustrous as cream, and every movement she made radiated the elegance of high society.
She was stunning!
I couldn’t help but silently gasp. Back in the study, my attention had been on Duke Skarlij, and only now did I realize that this was the first true beauty I had seen since arriving in this world.
Unlike the weathered, unkempt women of the common folk, her beauty could genuinely be described as breathtaking. And for some reason, I felt a strange sense of familiarity with the Duchess; it was as if I had seen her somewhere before.
At that moment, she and Carlos were chatting happily, but I hadn’t caught a single word. I was too busy racking my brain to figure out where I might have met this Duchess before.
Even though I knew it was absurd.
How long had I even been in this world? Today was only my first day in Winter City; how could I possibly have met this lady? Yet, the déjà vu was so intense that I almost felt I should know her well.
What’s going on?
Since today began, my thoughts had been a messy whirlwind. The validation of earlier hallucinations, the words from the cake shop Miss, and now… this indecipherable feeling after arriving at Shanter Castle.
Everything seemed to be subtly pointing in one direction.
“…Miss Silvya, what’s wrong? You look troubled. Is the tea not to your taste?”
The Duchess’s question pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to find that she and Carlos had stopped their conversation at some point, both staring at me with puzzled expressions.
“Um, no, it’s not that. I was just… thinking.”
Not wanting the Duchess to think I found her tea unsatisfactory, I hurriedly lifted the teacup and poured the entire contents down my throat.
…It’s so hot!!!
“Cough, cough!”
The scalding tea almost brought tears to my eyes, and my mouth felt like it was on fire. I quickly stuck out my tongue, panting like a little puppy, while fanning my mouth with my hand, desperately trying to cool down my burning tongue.
“BAHAHAHA!”
Carlos pointed and laughed at me without a shred of grace, while even the Duchess couldn’t help but smile at my antics.
I knew I’d embarrassed myself again. I wanted to get angry, but I knew this wasn’t the place for it, so I just shot Carlos an annoyed glare to vent my frustration.
“Look at you, how clumsy can you be?”
I heard the gentle voice of the Duchess as she delicately pulled her sleeve to my mouth, pretending to wipe away any tea stains.
I froze.
This unexpected gesture caught me off guard. Feeling her cool but soft touch on my lips, I stared up at her, momentarily speechless.
Despite the strange familiarity I felt, she was still a Duchess, and this was our first meeting. Such intimate behavior made me uncomfortable, and even Carlos looked genuinely surprised at the scene.
But the Duchess acted as if it were completely normal, gazing at me tenderly. Once she wiped my mouth clean, she noticed my bewildered expression and slightly awkwardly lowered her arm.
“Ah, I’m sorry. It was disrespectful of me. You truly are adorable, Miss Silvya… Did I hurt your mouth?”
“Lady, I’m fine,” I said, shaking my head. I wanted to say more but didn’t know how to begin.
There was an urge inside me that these two—Duke and Duchess—seemed to want something from me, some confirmation of sorts.
Carlos too appeared caught up in his thoughts, furrowing his brow in silence.
The atmosphere fell into an awkward quiet.
Fortunately, at that moment, the butler arrived, carrying a plate of donuts.
“Gentlemen, these delightful treats are from the Duchess. Please enjoy.”
…Donuts!
They looked delicious!
I stared at the beautifully arranged, sweet, and fluffy donuts on the plate, and my stomach grumbled, my eyes glued to the tempting sight.
“I didn’t know you could bake, Duchess!” Carlos exclaimed, surprised.
“Just a personal hobby. In my free time, I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. After all, we used to have a little glutton in the house who loved sweets…”
Was there a special way to eat these? Shouldn’t the host take a bite first before we, as guests, dig in? Can I have one now or should I wait?
How do I do this? Just grab it with my hands?
Will Carlos laugh at me?
If he dares, I’ll curse him to be forever single!
As I ruminated nervously, the Duchess had already brought a donut up to my mouth.
“Miss Silvya, would you care to try my specialty?”
Hearing those words, I swiftly turned my head to see her barely contained smile. Realizing she had seen right through my hunger, I decided to stop hiding my intentions and confidently took the donut, eagerly biting into it.
The donut was glidingly smooth with an aftertaste that packed a punch, and after a few chews, my eyes lit up.
“This is… so good!”
“Swallow before you speak!” Carlos scolded, visibly annoyed by my behavior, but at that moment, I had no interest in arguing back.
After all, this donut was just too delicious, so much so that it brought tears to my eyes in the most embarrassing way.
“Lady, this is incredible!” I excitedly told the Duchess, my face flushed.
“It’s named after Captain Gray,” she said, a twinkle in her eye.
“Captain Gray?” I tilted my head.
A donut named after a captain?
Why? That’s so strange. What kind of name is that?
But it didn’t matter; as long as it was delicious, I was good!
I decided right then—Captain Gray, you are the best treat I’ve ever had!
“Captain Gray, I love it!” I beamed at the Duchess.
“If you like it, I’ll make it for you every day, okay?”
The Duchess’s eyes sparkled like stars in the night, filled with an odd thrill as she looked at me.
And then, tears began to flow.
…Huh?
I froze, staring at the Duchess who was trying to choke back sobs, and momentarily felt lost.
What on earth just happened?
Didn’t I just compliment her donut? Is it really that touching…?
Not only I was confused, but Carlos also appeared equally puzzled by the scene unfolding.
“Lady, what’s wrong with you?”
“I’m fine… It’s just that I recalled some bittersweet memories,” she explained, her emotional outburst gone as swiftly as it came, leaving an almost surreal silence hanging.
“Sorry, when you get older, you become a bit sentimental. How embarrassing for you to see this.”
“Lady, what are you saying? You don’t look a day over thirty!” Carlos could no longer help but throw in a compliment to lighten the mood.
“I’m forty-six this year! I have three kids!”
Forty-six!
I was utterly shocked, speechless even, for she looked like someone in her early thirties. It was hard to believe—what’s her secret?
Overwhelmed with astonishment, I decided to have another Captain Gray to settle my nerves.
“Slap.”
Just as I reached for the plate, my hand got smacked away. I jumped in surprise, and immediately, a wave of anger surged through me. I shot a glare at Carlos, who had dramatically widened his eyes.
“Don’t embarrass the Pope Knight.”
Carlos said with indifference.
“Why do you care?”
I shot back defiantly, not caring about appearances at this moment.
How dare he? I’m just trying to enjoy a donut! What business is it of his?
“Alright now, Mr. Carlos, why bully a little girl?” the Duchess said, smiling at him.
“Exactly!” I asserted, and as if in retaliation, I snatched up two donuts, one in each hand, and stuffed them into my mouth with determination.
Carlos was left speechless.
At that moment, the grand door of the reception hall swung open with a loud bang.
A young man, seeming to be in his early twenties, burst in, and upon seeing the Duchess, shouted, “Mom! Where’s my sister? Has she come back yet?!”
“Quiet! Pasifal, there are guests here,” the Duchess chided, visibly displeased.
“Where is my sister?” the young man ignored the Duchess, looking around, and then his gaze landed on me, my cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk.
“Pei… Peilo?”
