Chapter 28.1

CHAPTER 28-01: TEA PARTY PREQUEL

I would usually have lunch after my morning lectures.

However, I didnt eat anything because the tea party was held today. I went to the tea party.

I asked my teacher this morning and as I thought, my assignment was to attend the tea party.

It seems that the tea party would only consist of me and the host so I calmed down a little.

The organiser, Marquis Ashleys daughter, had manner lessons under the same teacher as me.

Thus, she ended up helping with my assignment this time around.

Marquis daughters held high positions so they wouldnt normally help someone out with their assignment but I heard that she was a well-balanced person and she immediately agreed to help this time.

I appreciate it.

But I also felt a little nervous because I was receiving help from a high-ranking young lady.

Has she even talked to me before?

Ive been talking to Marie-san and the others about fashion lately so I think that I can talk about fashion trends.

But I still think that it isnt enough.

The tea party was held at the palace pavilion (TN: She says this in Japanese and then later says it in English So I used a different word.).

It was a western style place so it was also called a gazebo.

I can enjoy the autumn garden view while talking to the host.

I walked through the beautiful garden guided by Marie-san.

I could see the gazebo in the distant and I also saw someone who was probably the host seated down on one of the chairs.

She also seemed to have noticed me

because she got up from her chair and came out of the gazebo to greet me.

Liz?

I could see the persons face as I got closer and was surprised because it was a face that I was familiar with.

The person standing there was Liz.

Welcome to my tea party, Sei.

The smiling Liz was as beautiful as ever.

Her smiling face looked somewhat deceiving and it also felt as if she was telling me I did well.

Mm Thank you for inviting me today?

I managed to squeeze out the greetings.

My intonation rose at the end and it sounded like a question. Please forgive me.

I wasthatsurprised.

I sat down on the seat as Liz had suggested and the maids, who were waiting on the sides, poured tea into our cups.

I stared at them blankly and then Liz spoke.

This is the first time Ive seen you in a dress Sei. Its a refreshing change from your usual self.

Ah, yeah. I guess so.

The dress is very beautiful and suits you well Sei.

You think so?

Yes!

It was embarrassing because she was praising my dress.

No, thats not it.

Youre Marquis Ashleys daughter?

Yup.

The person who invited me to the tea party today should be Marquis Ashleys daughter.

Liz should be Marquis Ashleys daughter judging from the words, Welcome to my tea party, but

Come to think of it, did she introduce herself as Elizabeth Ashley the first time we met at library?

Ive been calling her Liz ever since so I forgot her surname.

Liz smiled when I tilted my head and asked in confirmation.

Didnt I tell you?

You didnt say anything about being a Marquiss daughter, you know.

She chuckled

chuckled at me when I answered in disappointment.

You did that intentionally, didnt you?

I heard that you were hosting this tea party because of my assignment.

Yes, I am. You havent been coming to the library recently Sei, so I happily agreed when I heard about it from the teacher.

After I started taking lectures, I visited the library less often.

The reason was simple; I was just too busy with classes.

Liz still went to the library many times even though I stopped going.

Now that you mention it, I only meet with Liz in the library.

Even then, we never planned to meet. We just met because we happen to be at the library at the same time.

Therefore, I havent met with Liz at all recently.

Im sorry. I havent recently been going to the library at all.

It cant be helped. Youve been busy, havent you?

I have By the way, you didnt invite anyone else besides me?

Its just the two of us today. Well, lets take our time talking while drinking tea.

Thus, the tea party began.

I had to pay attention to my mannerism because it was part of my assignment. I drink the tea first.

Todays tea smells somewhat like Darjeeling tea.

All the teas served at the Royal Palace were delicious but this was the first time Ive drank something that is similar to Darjeeling tea.

This tea is delicious. Its the first time Ive drank it.

Im glad you like it. Its from a plantation contracted to my family.

I see.

As expected of a Marquis family.

Its probably an exclusive contract, right?

It wasnt just the tea, but all the sweets on the

on the table today were mainly cute looking ones. Those too were specially prepared by Liz for today.

Slightly sweet confectioneries were a trademark of this kingdom.

The tea didnt have anything in it so it was fine.

I felt like I was hyped up because my lecture had been extended.

I told Liz what I thought and she smiled happily and replied with:

This is, of course, my first tea party with Sei so I tried my best.

Of course, proper preparation was also needed at normal tea parties but it seems that this tea party with me was special.

She didnt know what I liked so Liz picked all her favourite things.

Although Liz was still growing, I had a feeling that she would be extremely gorgeous in the future and she had a lot of beautiful coloured dresses.

However, when I looked at the sweets on the table today, it seemed that she preferred cute things.

All the sweets were berry-type sweets and pinkish. Even the sweet decorations looked cute.

Liz nodded in embarrassment when I pointed them out.

Of course, all the dresses that she wore were ones that suited her so they were different from the ones she would prefer to wear.

She told me that I was the only one here today so she let her preferences show.

We started talking about something that had recently happened while deep in conversation.

Ive heard things about the Saint-sama recently.

Liz began the conversation like that.

I was in the middle of drinking my tea and had a hard time trying not to choke on it.

Saint-sama?

Yes. I heard that shes a magnificent user of recovery magic of recovery magic and that she saved a lot of knights.

Heh, hehe. Is that so?

I also heard that the knights who had lost their arms and legs during the subjugation had regained them back thanks to the Saint-sama. Theyre really grateful.

Oh ~.

Being able to recover lost limbs meant that shes this kingdoms number one recovery magic user. But, Ive heard that Saint-sama is very humble and didnt brag about it at all. The knights are already worshipping her like a goddess.

Yup, Im a bit troubled.

Worship meant that right?

The Knights from the 2ndKnight Order.

I really want to believe that the people from the 3rdKnight Order are still okay.

I wanted to play dumb and reply with, I wonder who that is? while listening to Lizs story but she probably wont forgive me for that.

I didnt know that you were that good at recovery magic, Sei.

Ah, no way.yeah, I suppose.

I thought that it wouldnt do if I dont tell her the truth since she was smiling like she knew.

We havent talked that deeply into things like this.

The reason was that we didnt need to talk about things deeply, so I thought that it would be alright to take this chance and tell her a bit more about myself.

Ive only recently became able to use magic.

Really?

There was no need to use it before that.

I said and Liz continued to faintly smile while looking at me.

What is it?

You didnt use it because your original world didnt have magic so you werent familiar with it, isnt that right?

Huh?

Sei, you were summoned here, werent you?

My eyes reflexively widened.

Translator: Blushy