Kidnapped By The Crazy Duke - Chapter 55

The outdoor tea room in the glass greenhouse had a clear view of the garden landscape, and women had already arrived, dressed in glamorous and elegant attire. They were fashionably dressed in fine dresses made of expensive imported fabrics and not-so-over-the-top accessories.

Most were high-ranking aristocrats, a privileged class included in the high official and landowner hierarchy. I had been briefed in advance through Lenny on their faces and features.

Fortunately, there was no Princess Erica.

They greeted me first, with their pitch-black hair, small, white faces, and fine eyes and noses, just like Medean.

“Hello. Nice to meet you.”

“Hello. I am Diana …….”

Claire? Parsene? Allen? Why did I have so many last names? I paused, troubled for a moment, but then opened my mouth again.

“…..Parsene. Call me Diana.”

The women smiled brightly at my brief introduction.

It seemed to be trapped in a flower garden full of different flowers. My eyes fluttered, unable to adjust to the smell of perfume, powder, and a colorful feast.

Soon, Queen Grace II, dressed in a light blue dress, entered with her attendants. Baron Mason was also with her.

As she entered, the Queen looked at me and winked at me, smiling beautifully. Trouble. I didn’t know what that wink meant, but it bothered me.

The Queen sat gracefully in the chair the chambermaid pulled for her and asked me.

“How is life at the palace, Diana?”

“Thanks to you, I am having a good time.”

All the women’s eyes turned to me at once. It was a burden. Not liking the attention, I smiled.

Then a women-only conversation ensued. We talked about husbands, lovers, and about newly arrived luxuries.

I occasionally touched only the teacup awkwardly, laughing as they laughed.

‘I want to go home.’

On a table with a pure white tablecloth, a sterling pot with an engraved floral pattern, teacups, and a strainer. I saw an antique, old-fashioned tea set that I used to buy and collect in modern times.

A three-tier tray held scones, pastries, sandwiches, and chocolates. It was a luxurious daily life for those who have it, drinking tea in fancy and expensive tea cups and enjoying leisure.

“You must be interested in teacups.”

The Queen asked me with interest if I understood that I was looking at the teacups carefully. I nodded slowly.

“Yes, it’s like Royal Porcelain. It’s light, yet solid, and the pattern is delicate.”

“You have a good eye. I’m also interested in teacups. I also like collecting. It’s both a hobby and a leisure.”

It seemed that I had unavoidably formed the same hobby with the Queen.

“So do I. I am glad to meet someone with the same interests. Your Majesty and Diana,  why don’t you come to the tea party with us? Next time I want to show off my precious teacups.”

An elegant and graceful woman with rich wavy pitch black hair, a round forehead, a straight nose, and long eyes, intervened in our conversation.

She had pumpkin-colored eyes and appeared to be in her thirties. She looked like Rosalia – the Marchioness of Wales, wife of the Marquis of Wales, an advisor to the Privy Council and a member of the Senate.

“Very well, Marchioness of Wales. I wonder what kind of teacups you have. I would be happy to prepare some tea to go with it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It is a beautiful teacup with a golden frame and cherry-red peach blossoms.”

“I see, Diana, who is very interested in teacups, will be pleased.”

The sweet women had promised a tea party in the future while including me without asking for my will.

As soon as the Marchioness finished her words, the other ladies broke in with enthusiastic speeches against the teacups and plates to be invited to the next tea party.

This was what happened anyway. I didn’t want to get too much in the eye of the Queen and the Marchioness. But it seemed like I had already caught their attention.

“Anyway, your mother is a Medean, right?”

The Marchioness asked in a relaxed manner. I nodded, thinking of the words of Noah and Lieutenant Colonel Grenendall, who were convinced that I was of Medea mixed blood.

‘’I am not sure, for I heard that she died as soon as I was born. I’ve never seen her.”

My answer made the faces of the Queen, the Marchioness, and several of the women hardened. I felt a heavy burden.

“You look a lot like someone.”

The Marchioness put down her teacup quietly and smiled at me. I refrained from saying as much as possible and just smiled awkwardly.

The Queen and some others knew that I was the Admiral’s daughter. Even if Noah and I were in a relationship, what reason was there to accept the daughter of an enemy soldier so readily, just because she has Medean blood in her veins?

“Medea’s love for her people runs deep. It doesn’t matter where you are from, so please don’t feel too uncomfortable.”

The Queen spoke in a gentle and firm tone, as if she had read my mind. It was true that in the world where I originally lived, there were mixed people returning to their original homes.

“Yes, thank you. Your Majesty.”

The Marchioness of Wales smiled and looked alternately at the Queen and me.

“Let’s interact often from now on, Miss Diana. Her Majesty the Queen has taken quite a liking to you.”

Like? Why?

“I am honored.”

I hid my panic and nodded. Only my lips were smiling. The Queen covered her mouth and smiled gracefully as she watched my awkward smile.

“I think you’re still awkward here. How cute.”

“Cute …… yes, thank you.”

Everyone paid attention to me. They looked at me curiously, kept talking, and smiling. And every time I answered, they would cackle. I wanted to go home so badly.

When a woman with light green eyes complained that her husband presented a Peridot, not a diamond, there was a lot of attention even though she only said a few words quietly.

“He must have thought of his wife when he saw the jewel. Because the color of your eyes is as beautiful as Peridot. Meaning matters.”

“Oh, he feels that way? …He couldn’t have…”

Her cheeks flamed red, and several of the women applauded in agreement.

“How romantic. Diana’s fiancé seems very sweet too.”

Thus the subject of Noah, known as my fiancé, was brought up. The ladies, still unmarried, enthusiastically joined in the conversation. It was mostly about how to seduce men and how to make them fall head over heels in love with them. I started with my experience in many relationships and was distracted while conveying a reasonable strategy.

Some were so impressed with what I had to say that they even tried to make plans with me to meet separately. I was in trouble. The Queen, cookie in hand, turned to the Marchioness and asked.

“Ma’am, did Young Master Hessian come today too?”

“Yes, he is probably in the garden with Cledd right now. He is coming to greet the Queen.”

“It’s a good thing I prepared the dessert that the Young Master likes.”

The Queen smiled a delighted smile as she raised her lips. She even had a glimpse of a flush on her cheeks. Who was this Young Master and why couldn’t she hide such a pleased expression?

While I was alone in my thoughts, a happy atmosphere was formed, and they all fixed their makeup and their dresses. The two-hour tea party, which felt like two years, was finally over.

As I was dragging my tired body back to my room, I saw a slender man leaning against the wall with his arms folded at the entrance to the hallway. He turned his head toward me, and his hair, now almost back to its original color, swayed as he moved.

“Diana, I’m here to pick you up.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed gently as he looked at me. Women who were about to return to their homes passed by, smiling and greeting us like birds chirping at the sight of us.

The women looked envious, thinking Noah was being kind coming to pick me up, but this man must have come to spy on me. I purposely looked at Noah with sad flounder eyes.

“I haven’t made any friends yet.”

Joy drifted over Noah’s face at my words, and his lips curved in amusement.

“That’s why I came to comfort you.”

I knew it! I laughed inwardly at how strangely happy he was when I didn’t make any friends.

“But I did receive an invitation to another tea party. I agreed to meet them separately.”

“Well …… that’s good.”

“At this rate, I can make a lot of friends, right?”

At my words which I said on purpose, Noah looked openly unhappy. I felt victorious. While we were walking back to our room, Noah told me about a new café that had opened in the square.

“Let’s go together next time. The coffee at that place is fun.”

“Isn’t it delicious?”

“The waiter there spilled my coffee about three times. It must be a differentiated strategy.”

I think the waiter saw Noah’s face and tripped and spilled the coffee. It was so obvious that the scene was painted before my eyes. Because this man was too handsome. This was an objective judgment apart from being his fiancée.

Perhaps this man was bragging to me? I think he saw through my plan to make him feel threatened.

I doubted it in my mind, and about the time I entered the arched hallway that led to the central corridor, I saw a dark-haired boy of about 7 years old running fast this way.

Contrary to what I thought he would pass me to look for his mother, the child flew like a bird and came hugging my legs.

“Who is it?”

I trailed off to the words, bewildered by the unexpected embrace of a strange child.

The child clutched my skirt tightly with his small hands and buried his face sadly. When the boy rubbed his head, static electricity rose and several strands of his hair stood up straight.

The little shoulders, which hadn’t even stood up a bit, were shaking. A sob escaped from the child who buried his face in my skirt.

I looked at Noah with panicked eyes and down at the child’s round head. Noah, who had been quietly looking down at the boy, made a serious sound.

“Hey, get away from my fiancée.” 🤣

What on earth is this man saying to a child?

The child, who was gripping the hem of my skirt and sniffling with tears and snot, raised his head.

My God, he has black hair, red eyes, and a very beautiful face that has already completed his good looks. His moist red eyes, full of tears, looked up at me sadly.

Despite Noah’s warning, the child’s small hands tightly held my skirt. The child buried his face in my skirt again, sniffed and rubbed like a puppy, and slowly raised his head.

The words the beautiful boy said when he looked at me came out of the blue like the earth cracking in half.