Chapter 28: OH, A CHEAT?
Soon, Duchess Alistair, the hostess of the tea party, sent a servant to inform them that it was time for the tea party to begin.
The children were taken back to the garden the tea party was being hosted in and led to their seats. The seats were given according to their positions and status.
According to hierarchy, the Grand Duke who was the brother of the King, was supposed to sit at the head of the table as he had the highest status at the tea party since the King, his brother was not present.
But because he wasn't the host, he sat at the left side of the host, his wife and children taking the seats next to him. Alistair, the hostess sat at the right side of the host, Maxim Anton, who was her husband, with their children beside her. The other nobles also took their seats.
After a short speech from Maxim, the tea party officially began and conversations were continued. Servants walked around the table serving snacks and filling teacups. This time, Aristia added the sugar into her tea herself. She also didn't forget about her brother who was beside her.
Aristocrats engaged in small talk around her, craftily sending out words with hidden swords and poison laced tongues.
Aristia listened with half interest and half boredom to the same method of noble currying favour from people of higher statuses. No one could tell that she was listening as she was staring at the tea and snacks placed in front of her.
She was about to turn away from the conversation when she heard an interesting piece of news from some gossiping nobles.
"I heard that Marquis Oswalt brought back a child. I wonder if that's true." Aristia turned to the person who spoke.
Aristia matched the features with those she was told about in her history class; Strawberry blonde hair and light green eyes. It was a countess; Eleanor Splane, the wife of Earl Cedric Splane.
"I heard the child is already five years old." It was a Viscountess who had orange hair and golden brown eyes; Svetlana Essylt, wife of Viscount Leonard Essylt.