Chapter 131
Spring Tea Party
Jeremiah’s spring tea party was like a celebration of flowers — colorful, fragrant, and full of life. The Duke’s garden bloomed with late-spring and early-summer flowers, each showing off its brightest colors under the warm sunlight.
But the most dazzling flower there was Jeremiah Kailas herself. She was still as bright, beautiful, and social as she had been when she was known as the beloved youngest princess.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
When Trisha greeted her first, Jeremiah quickly stood up from her seat to politely welcome the older lady.
“Welcome, Lady Pellon. I heard your health wasn’t good — are you feeling better?”
“The new medicine I’ve been taking is working quite well. Thank you for your concern.”
After exchanging the expected greetings, Trisha called Harriet to stand beside her and then bowed slightly to Jeremiah again.
“I wanted to thank you personally for helping my great-niece when she was in trouble. I’m sorry this gratitude is late.”
“Oh, what are you saying? Of course, I had to help since it was Lady Pellon’s request. Besides, that article insulted both the royal family and our house.”
The person who had gone to the Empress to help Harriet was Cedric. But that had only been possible because Jeremiah hadn’t stopped him.
Everyone knew that Jeremiah Kailas — still regarded as the true master of the Kailas Duchy and the youngest princess loved by all — held great influence. That’s why Trisha had chosen to thank Jeremiah first, before Cedric.
“I felt anxious because I couldn’t fulfill my role as Harriet’s guardian properly due to my poor health. But thanks to the Duke’s family, my worries have eased. I’m truly grateful.”
Even as Jeremiah waved her hand as if to say it was nothing, she was secretly surprised.
‘This stubborn old lady actually bowed her head like that? She must really care about Lady Harriet.’
Trisha Pellon was not someone to take lightly. Even when her husband, Oster Pellon, had been alive, she had been strong, and after his death, the Pellon family continued to do well in business and politics thanks to her efforts.
She wasn’t just capable — she was also sharp.
Most people her age became easy targets for flatterers and greedy followers, but Trisha had always cut such people off without hesitation. That was how she had protected both her family and fortune.
Because of that, some called her “difficult” or “cranky,” but Trisha didn’t care about cowards’ gossip.
Even Jeremiah trusted Trisha’s judgment so much that she never questioned anyone the old lady recommended.
So, when she had heard that this wise and proud old woman had become the guardian of the scandal-ridden Harriet Listerwell, Jeremiah had been genuinely shocked.
Her eyes naturally drifted toward Harriet.
‘She looks fine for now… but I’ll keep an eye on her. Many people change once they get close to power.’
A young noble lady who had met the Empress alone — and been publicly protected by her — was rare.
Normally, that kind of fame would make anyone proud or arrogant. The people who had once looked down on Harriet were probably being friendly now, and her social standing had surely risen.
‘So this will be her final test.’
Jeremiah hadn’t stopped Cedric from asking the Empress to help Harriet — she had done that intentionally. It was like bait to see what kind of person Harriet truly was.
Was she approaching Cedric with hidden motives, as Bella had claimed? Or had she simply been framed?
Even if it was the latter, if Harriet couldn’t handle sudden fortune wisely, Jeremiah planned to withdraw her favor and interest.
Without revealing any of this, Jeremiah smiled gracefully.
“Oh, by the way, I’ll be holding another party soon. I hope both Lady Pellon and Miss Harriet will attend?”
“Right after such a large tea party? Why so soon?” Trisha asked with amusement.
Jeremiah sighed dramatically.
“Cedric is already twenty-seven, but he still shows no interest in marriage. As his mother, how can I not worry?”
“So this next party will be to find him a bride?”
“If he happens to meet someone at the party, that would be wonderful. If not, I’ll have to start searching myself. Even if we announce the engagement this year, the wedding will likely be next year — time is running out.”
For a brief moment, Harriet thought Jeremiah’s eyes flickered toward her in a strange way, but she dismissed it as her imagination. What bothered her more was what Jeremiah had said.
‘Come to think of it, Duke Kailas never has any rumors about women.’
For noblemen, the typical marriage age was between twenty-four and twenty-eight. Twenty-seven was perfect for marriage — yet no woman had ever been mentioned alongside him.
He had been busy with wars and his father’s death, yes, but that only made the issue of heirs more urgent.
‘He’s perfect in every way… Is it his personality? But he seems polite and rational. With his status, even that could be overlooked.’
If there had been at least one rumored romance, it might have made sense. But there wasn’t even that — which was oddly fascinating.
She remembered the woman Cedric had spoken with at the Alburman Bank outing — just an acquaintance, it seemed. They hadn’t been seen together since.
Harriet found herself overthinking and laughed quietly.
‘I’m being silly again. What do I care? A man like him surely has his own secrets — maybe he’s just good at keeping them hidden. That’s nothing unusual for someone like him.’
A man from a different world — his love life wasn’t something she should dwell on.
That thought made her smile bitterly.
But then, the entrance to the garden suddenly became noisy. Servants hurriedly brought in chairs and started arranging a new area for guests.
It didn’t look like Jeremiah had ordered this. She too turned to look, confused.
Soon, when the guests saw who was entering, Jeremiah’s face brightened with surprise and delight.
“Oh my, what brings him here?”
Harriet turned to look.
Men in matching uniforms carrying instruments were following behind someone — a tall man walking ahead of them.
‘Cedric?’
Even from a distance, she recognized him instantly.
The sunlight shone on his golden hair. His tall frame, striking features, and composed grace made him stand out effortlessly.
As Cedric approached Jeremiah, the musicians behind him sat down and began tuning their instruments.
After a few moments of sound checks, the conductor raised his baton — and the orchestra filled the garden with a rich, perfect harmony.
“Oh my! It’s the Mardine Orchestra!”
“As expected of Duke Kailas. To bring such a famous orchestra to his mother’s tea party!”
The Mardine Orchestra was one of the best in Genoa, so popular that booking them was almost impossible.
Even Harriet, who didn’t know much about music, could tell their performance was extraordinary.
Only then did she realize that there hadn’t been any music at the party so far.
“Cedric told me not to hire musicians this time since the theme was the sound of nature. I was a bit worried it would feel dull, but I didn’t expect such a surprise…”
Jeremiah tried to appear modest, but her delight was obvious.
When Cedric reached her, he gently embraced his mother, then nodded politely to Trisha, Harriet, and the other ladies.
Jeremiah nudged him teasingly.
“This is unexpected. You said you couldn’t come today.”
“Sometimes, surprises make the day better.”
Cedric gave a calm, simple answer and said no more — but his arrival instantly lifted the party’s atmosphere.
Beautiful music, delicious tea and pastries, refined guests — it was all perfect.
Harriet thought, So this is what true high society feels like. It wasn’t as flashy as the count’s gatherings she’d attended before, but it had far more elegance.
‘If I hadn’t come with my grandaunt, people might’ve looked down on me.’
Unlike her, everyone here moved gracefully, their every gesture smooth and natural.
And at the center of that elegance stood Cedric Kailas. The very man she had once tried to compete with, had argued with, and had even warned to stay away.
Now she felt the distance between them more clearly than ever.
‘Oh no… I need to talk to him today, but how am I supposed to do that?’
She tried not to look at him as she spoke politely with Trisha and the other noble ladies. The small item hidden in her pocket suddenly felt heavier — a reminder of what she needed to ask.
And just as she was worrying about it, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.
