# 78
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“A bracelet! I hid it so no one would know about it!”
A smile came to my mind when I heard Diana's bold answer.
A few days ago I collected the purest and cleanest magic stones I had ever created and made a bracelet out of them.
After carefully casting the strengthening spell, he gave it to Diana.
It was my first gift to Diana.
In fact, everyone praised me for taking care of Diana at the orphanage, but no matter how I looked back, all I could think about was how much I received from Diana and her family.
So, after joining the Duchy of Elad, I wanted to give back in any way I could, and I was happy to have given Diana a proper gift for the first time.
Moreover, as a result of caring for Diana for a while, the baby really liked the color pink.
Since my mana was the same color, the magic stone was also pink, so I gave it as a gift with a trembling heart, and Diana jumped up and down in love.
“Well done, miss. Don’t let anyone see it or even tell them.”
"Huh! Because it's a secret."
“That's right, if you keep it a secret, I'll make it better next time.”
When I saw Diana nod and smile, I laughed along with her.
I wasn't expecting much from my new life.
It was enough for me not to ignore others, to live with confidence, and to be able to spend a normal and enjoyable daily life with Diana and other dear new friends.
I was willing to use all my knowledge and abilities to protect this happiness that I had barely discovered.
“Oh! Miss, are you drinking my sherbet now?”
Then I belatedly realized that what Diana had been sniffing for so long was mine.
It was ridiculous to see that my bag had already been removed and pushed aside.
“Miss...”
“Sorry.”
As I looked at her in shock, Diana wiggled her fingers and began making excuses.
“Because Nonna didn't eat...I can't thaw everything.”
The corners of my mouth rose because the sight was so cute, but I said with a stern expression.
“Miss, you promised me!”
"Yes . … ".
“You keep searching for cold sherbet all summer long, which causes you severe stomach pain!”
“You promised me that you would only drink one thing today, so I trusted you with all my heart and gave it to you, but you broke your promise in this way.”
“Oh noona...”
When he urged her more harshly than usual, Diana felt embarrassed and cried.
Feeling like I was losing my mind, I quickly turned my head to the side and spoke firmly.
“Miss, this is too much, are you doing this on purpose to make me upset?”
“…Huh?”
“I'm upset if you get sick again like this.”
“Are you upset?”
“Sure, I'm very upset.”
A few days ago, I was moved to tears when I remembered Diana, who was suffering from severe colic.
Soon the child's sullen breathing could be heard, as if he felt that the call was full of sincerity.
“Noona, I’m sorry...”
Finally, broken by the desperate voice, I quickly turned my head and made eye contact with Diana.
"Ms ."
“Hmph...You shouldn't be upset, but this is very delicious.”
Diana, who was in trouble, cried. I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
“It can't be helped, just drink this day and no more, you understand, right?”
“Hah!”
It was a time when Diana quickly responded with a bright expression and a brave attitude, tucking her silver hair behind her ear and smiling happily.
Knock knock knock.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
As I tilted my head, one of the maids serving the Duchess opened the door and entered.
“Leia, the Duchess of Peronde has just arrived, she is looking for you, so go with the young miss.”
"Yes !"
I nodded and quickly looked at Diana's hair and clothes.
There was a little sherbet on the corner of my mouth, but fortunately there was nothing against etiquette.
Immediately after wiping Diana's mouth with a handkerchief, she followed the maid out of the room and explained to Diana once again how to greet the Duchess of Beronde when meeting her.
Diana, being smart, would do well, but since she was still young, it was a relief to take care of her this way.
‘Lucio also wants me to play this role.’
I just shrugged for no reason because I felt like a proper servant now.
* * *
Duchess Berund, the guest who visits Elade Palace every day these days, is the princess of the Dampa Kingdom, also known as Desert Land, and actually had no separate relationship with Duchess Elade in her previous life.
There was a reason why the Duchess of Elade died shortly after moving to the capital, but the Duchess of Veronde had remained in the capital since her marriage and had little social activity.
So, the two ladies of the duchy, who were also called pillars of the empire and belonged to the same imperial faction, had almost no contact.
'Maybe all I saw was her face once or twice at a big party thrown by the imperial family.'
In particular, since Duke Béronde, who was in charge of actual state affairs as Prime Minister of the Empire, was the younger brother of the Empress, Duchess Béronde did not have to worry about not attending the banquet hosted by the Imperial Family. So it will be more difficult to recognize faces.
But the reason why Duchess Beronde came to Elad Palace like this today...
'In a way, this is because of me.'
A few days ago, when the Duchy's mages and advisors were in an uproar over the Spliceia Incident, I was working hard to fill the empty seat of the Head Maid, who was standing next to the Duchess.
Among the tasks usually performed by a hostess from an aristocratic family are organizing budget plans, preparing financial statements, and managing employees.
In fact, the Duchess had already done enough of this work at the Duke's castle, so she was running the household with her butler without much difficulty.
However, as expected, she had difficulties with social activities.
‘If I needed to know the tastes or weaknesses of other noble wives, I would be able to help them….’
I've also never done anything like creating a theme that matches the season, weather, or social trends, choosing guests, and hosting the gathering accordingly.
In the end, I was watching nervously from the side.
The Duchess said while writing an invitation to hold a tea party at the Duke's residence for the first time.
〈Hmm. It seems that the other wives are almost confirmed, but I'm worried about Duke Verande.〉
Hearing these words, she glanced at the paper which the Duchess was holding, and it seemed that she was thinking of flowers to send with the invitation to the Duchess Peronde.
In the empire, there was a custom of sending flowers to the noble ladies of each family when hosting a gathering.
While it skillfully displayed information and wealth, it was packaged with the utmost care.
Noble ladies active in social circles had no worries as they had a clear choice of flowers, but the Duchess of Veronde had no known taste, so it was common to send anemones, the symbol of the Duchess of Veronde.
*Zaghleel, or the sister of Al-Numan, or the red lala, scientifically known as the coronal anemone or anemone, is a beautiful red wild flower that has been associated with Arabic literature. It was said that it grew on the grave of Al-Numan bin Al-Mundhir, the most famous king of Al-Hira, when he was trampled by elephants, as he refused to submit to the Persian king by handing over Arab women. This was the Battle of Dhi Qar, and for this reason it was attributed to him. *
However, given that it was her first time in the capital and hosting a tea party, the Duchess seemed to want to go the extra mile. Although there is a very high probability that the invitation will be rejected.
After thinking about it for a while, I cautiously opened my mouth as the Duchess mumbled something about whether or not she should send the anemone.
〈Madam, what about the cactus?〉
〈Aloe vera?〉
〈Yes, Duchess Veronde came from a desert country, she might like it if you saw plants that she often sees in her hometown.〉
It was widely known among the Duke's family that I was browsing through travel accounts and maps of kingdoms around the empire in the library.
Perhaps that is why the Duchess did not find my words strange and nodded quickly as if she agreed.
However, none of the imperial nobles favored cactus covered with thick and dense thorns, so they seemed a little worried.
'There aren't many merchants who actually deal with it, so it would be difficult to find one.'
However, I know from memories of my past life that the Duchess of Peronde, who suffered from homesickness, eventually divorced the Duke and returned to her homeland.
'So I'm sure you'll like it.'
〈Okay, Leah, let's prepare the cactus like you said, because you are the blessing of our family.〉
At that time, the Duchess spoke as if she had made a decision.
Those last words were so embarrassing and stressful, but those thoughts went away a few days later when I saw the cactus I had worked so hard to get.
It was said that the flowering cactus was very beautiful, and this was true.
The Duchess was also happy and sent a cactus with an invitation to the Duchy of Beronde.
While I was impatiently hoping for the success of the Duchess's tea party, I saw amazing results.
Duchess Peronde, who often declined the Empress's invitations to tea parties and never left the house, entered the Elade Palace.
At the same time, I was also called into the drawing room.
“Did you really tell her to send a cactus?”
The Duchess of Veronde, whom I first met, had an exotic appearance with dark skin, hair as black as obsidian, and mysterious purple eyes that were not common in the Empire.
Even though I was just looking at him, I was momentarily dazzled by the charming atmosphere, and quickly nodded.
She explained that I knew about her hometown, Damba, a desert country, from a travel book I read often.
“...You sent a cactus to mock me, I thought you were using a child as an excuse.”
At that moment, Duchess Perronde's expression, which had been cold, suddenly became gentle.