Chapter 353

Tea Party Day
○●○● Bern’s Point of View
"Young lady Bern, are you ready?"

"Yes, I’m good to go! Let’s hurry!"

"Yes, understood."

(Bern, don’t get too excited.)

"Kiblinki Saltas, don’t worry. I’ll be fine."

Today is the day of the tea party that was decided back in early spring.

I’m wearing Big Sister Lily’s “Sunflowers After the Rain” dress, and my accessories are perfect!
Father told me to do as I please, but I need to properly fulfill my role as a daughter of the Vardmoi family.
One Kiblinki Saltas is accompanying me as a bodyguard, too.

The tea party is being held at the McFarlane royal family’s villa.
Children around my age are gathering there for the event.

Father and the others said this was one of the occasions to decide marriage engagements, but they told me not to worry about it.

Still, I want a good husband like Big sister Kou…

"Young lady, we have arrived at the venue."

"Thank you. Has it started already?"

"So it seems. However, we should still be within the scheduled time."

According to the maid, we were supposed to have plenty of time before the event began.
Did something happen?

"Ah, Bern. Welcome."

"Prince Vic! Thank you for inviting me today."

"I’m glad you could come. How is Young lady Kou doing?"

"My sister is struggling with her etiquette training."

"Haha, I can imagine. Actually, I must apologize—the tea party started earlier than planned. It’s not supposed to have begun yet."

So the maid was right after all.

When I asked why it had already started, I was told that some nobles had selfishly insisted on beginning early, and the host marquis had given in to their demands.

The lower-ranking nobles had already gathered, but it seemed that most of the high-ranking noble children, like me, hadn’t arrived yet.

It was bad enough that Prince Vic himself, one of the distinguished guests, had to come out to receive me.

Selfish people really are a nuisance!

"There’s been some disorder, but if you don’t mind, I’d still love for you to join. Of course, I understand if you wish to leave due to the discourtesy."

"It’s fine. More importantly, is Little Moira from the Oxitt family here yet?"

"The Oxitt family… Yes, she should be. I can’t accompany you to find her, but she should already be in the venue."

"Thank you. Then, I’ll go enjoy the tea party now."

"Alright, please take your time and enjoy yourself."

With Prince Vic seeing me off, I headed into the venue with my maids.

The garden, where the tea party was being held, was already bustling with people.

But I noticed that the guests were divided into two groups—a large gathering and a smaller one.
The smaller group seemed to have older children.

Why was that?

"Excuse me, do you see Little Moira anywhere?"

"One moment, please… It seems she may be in the larger crowd over there."

"Wait, over there?"

"Yes, along with other noble children under Marquis Vardmoi."

I couldn’t really picture Little Moira being in a large crowd, but since most of Father’s acquaintances were likely in that group, there was a good chance she was there.

For now, I’ll check.
If she’s not there, I’ll just look elsewhere.

"Young lady Bern, welcome."

As I approached the large crowd, a girl stepped out to greet me, as if she had noticed my presence.

She was about my age, wearing a passionate red dress.

I’m not a fan of red, but it suited her perfectly.

"Good day, Young lady Janice. What’s this crowd about?"

"Ah, well, our dresses have drawn quite a bit of attention, and people have gathered because of them…"

"Our dresses? Big Sister Lily’s designs?"

"Yes! Young lady Bern, you look absolutely charming, like a delicate flower sparkling beneath a rainbow!"

"Thank you. And your dress… it’s like a fiery blaze."

"Yes! I’m so grateful to Lady Lily for listening to my request! Until now, tailors have always told me things like ‘That kind of dress doesn’t suit a child’ or ‘Choose a cuter color’!"

So Young lady Janice had her own struggles too.

Big Sister Lily has a very free-spirited way of designing dresses, so she probably doesn’t concern herself with traditional "childlike" colors.

Still, I get why her dresses are so popular.

What do you think about this chapter?