Chapter 45

Chapter 19 The Peculiar Lady

“Please, have some tea.”

In the grand drawing room, the Duchess herself brought out a fine cup of Earl Grey tea and gently placed it in front of Carlos and me.

“Oh, thank you.” Carlos picked up the exquisitely crafted teacup, pretended to sniff it delicately, and then took a small sip. “It’s very fragrant. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such good tea. Your skills are still as commendable as ever, my lady.”

“Where do you find the words, Mr. Carlos? You’re too kind,” the Duchess said, covering her mouth with a light laugh as she casually pulled up a chair next to mine.

Immediately, a subtle and elegant fragrance filled my nostrils. It was the kind of scent that exuded mature femininity. The aroma gave me a sense of comfort.

I secretly turned my head to look at the woman sitting close to me, still in her prime. Her delicate features were minimally adorned, and like me, her glossy black hair was tied up neatly on top of her head. Her exposed neck was smooth and lustrous, and every movement she made exuded the grace of high society.

She was too beautiful!

I was secretly astonished. Earlier, my attention was focused on Duke Scargill, and only now did I realize that this was the first truly beautiful woman I had encountered since coming to this world.

Unlike the weather-beaten common women who neglected their appearance, her beauty could be described as breathtaking. For some reason, the Duchess’ face seemed familiar to me, and I felt an instinctive certainty that I had seen her somewhere before.

At that moment, the Duchess was chatting happily with Carlos, but I didn’t hear a word they were saying. I was racking my brain, trying to remember where I had seen this Duchess before.

Even though I knew it was absurd.

How long had I been in this world, and how could I have met her today upon arriving in the Winter City? Yet, the sense of familiarity she gave me was so strong that I felt I should know her well.

What was going on?

Since today, my mind had been in turmoil. The validation of my hallucinations, the words of the cake shop girl, and… this indescribable feeling after arriving at Suntel Castle.

All of these things seemed to point in one direction.

“Miss Silviga, what’s wrong? You look troubled. Is the tea not to your liking?”

The Duchess’ words broke my reverie. I looked up abruptly and noticed that she and Carlos had stopped talking. Both of them were looking at me with puzzlement.

“Oh, no. I was just… thinking.”

To avoid giving the impression that I disliked the tea, I quickly picked up the teacup and drank the whole thing in one gulp.

…It was scalding hot!!

“Cough, cough!”

The hot tea almost made me tear up, and my mouth burned. I stuck out my tongue, panting like a little dog, while fanning my mouth with my right hand to cool it down.

“Hahaha!”

Carlos laughed without restraint, pointing at me, and even the Duchess couldn’t help but smile.

I realized I had embarrassed myself again. I wanted to get angry, but knowing it wasn’t appropriate, I glared at Carlos instead.

“Look at you, so careless.”

The Duchess’ gentle voice came from beside me. She even reached out with her sleeve to wipe the moisture from my lips.

I froze.

This action caught me off guard. Feeling the cool, gentle touch on my lips, I looked at her in disbelief, unsure of how to react.

Despite my inexplicable sense of familiarity with her, she was still the Duchess, and we were meeting for the first time. Such an intimate gesture made me uncomfortable and inappropriate. Even Carlos looked surprised.

But the Duchess acted naturally, seemingly unaware of any impropriety. She gazed at me gently, wiped my lips clean, and only then did she notice my stunned expression and awkwardly withdrew her hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was rude. Miss Silviga is just too adorable… Did I hurt your mouth?”

“Lady, I’m fine.”

I shook my head at her, wanting to say more but unable to find the words.

Something about both the Duke and the Duchess seemed perplexing. They seemed to be trying to confirm something from me.

Carlos also seemed to sense something, frowning silently.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense.

Fortunately, the butler timely arrived with a plate of donuts.

“His Excellencies, this dessert is prepared by the Lady. Please enjoy.”

…Pastries!

They looked delicious.

Son!

I looked at the sweet and soft donuts carefully arranged on the plate, my appetite was aroused, and I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

“I didn’t know you could make these,” Carlos said in amazement.

“It’s just a personal hobby. When I have free time, I like to experiment with these things. After all, there used to be a little sweet tooth in our family…”

Is there any special etiquette? Should the host go first and then we guests can start eating? It’s okay if I eat one now, right?

How should I do this? Should I just grab it with my hands?

Will Carlos laugh at me?

If he dares to laugh at me, I’ll curse him to be single forever, unable to find a wife!

Just as I was muttering to myself, the Duchess already placed a donut in front of my mouth.

“Miss Silvija, try my skill.”

Upon hearing the Duchess’s words, I immediately turned my head, and then saw her trying hard to hold back her smile. I instantly realized that my thoughts had been seen through, so I no longer hid it and took the donut boldly, biting into it eagerly.

The texture of the donut was smooth and creamy, with a lingering flavor. After chewing for a few bites, my eyes lit up.

“This is really good!”

“Don’t talk with food in your mouth.”

Carlos seemed somewhat displeased with my actions, but I wasn’t in the mood to argue with him at this moment.

After all, this donut was truly delicious, so much so that it made me feel emotional, and I felt a strong urge to cry, which was very embarrassing.

“Madam, this is really delicious!” I said, my face turning red, to the Duchess beside me.

“It has a name, you know. It’s called Captain Gray.”

Hearing the Duchess’s words, I tilted my head.

“Captain Gray?”

A donut named after a captain?

Why? How strange. Why give it such a name?

But it doesn’t matter, as long as it tastes good.

I decided, Captain Gray, you are the best-tasting donut in my heart!

“Captain Gray, I like it.”

I smiled sweetly at the Duchess.

“If you like it, shall I make it for you every day?”

The Duchess’s eyes shone like stars in the night sky, filled with an unusual excitement. She looked at me kindly.

Then she shed tears.

… Huh?

My expression froze as I watched the Countess tightly covering her mouth, trying hard not to let out a sound. I was at a loss for what to do.

Why is this happening?

I just complimented your donuts, why are you getting so emotional… This is quite difficult.

Not only was I confused, but Carlos also looked puzzled by the situation.

“Madam, what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m fine… I just remembered some sad memories.”

The Duchess’s emotions flared up momentarily, like something long suppressed suddenly bursting forth. This feeling came quickly and left quickly, and she soon calmed down.

“I apologize, old age makes one sentimental. Please forgive me.”

“Madam, what are you saying? You look nothing like someone who is old,” Carlos had to say something to lighten the atmosphere.

“I’m forty-six this year, and I have three children.”

Forty-six!

I was stunned speechless. She looks like she’s in her early thirties. It’s unbelievable, how does she maintain herself?

Feeling too shocked inside, I decided to eat another Captain Gray to calm down.

“Slap.”

Someone slapped my hand that was reaching for the plate. I was startled, then anger surged in my heart, and I immediately lifted my head to glare at Carlos’s wide eyes.

“Don’t disgrace the Pope’s knight.”

Carlos said calmly.

“So what if I do!”

I roared defiantly, not caring about my image at this moment.

It’s so infuriating, I’m just eating a donut, what’s the big deal? What does it have to do with you?

“Alright, Mr. Carlos. It’s really inappropriate to bully a young girl,” the Duchess said with a smile.

“Exactly.”

I immediately followed the Duchess’s words and, as if in retaliation, grabbed two donuts and stuffed them into my mouth.

Carlos was at a loss for words.

At that moment, a loud noise came from the doorway, and the grand hall door was pushed open forcefully.

A young man in his early twenties rushed in and shouted loudly when he saw the Duchess, “Mom, where’s my sister! Has she come back!”

“Quiet! Pascal, there are guests here,” the Duchess frowned in displeasure.

“Where’s my sister?” The man did not listen to the Duchess and stood there looking around. Then he saw me, mouth full of food, cheeks puffed out, looking bewildered.

“P…Peyelo?”