# 69
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However, not only Eliza, but even Mrs. Isaac and Mrs. Rexton seemed to disagree with her words at all. The three elderly women narrowed their eyes in unison and shook their heads.
Suddenly, Grace felt like the three ladies were high walls.
“You need to eat enough; you are too skinny. The biting winds will soon be blowing here in Richmond. If you don’t eat heartily at times like this, you’ll catch a bad cold even while wearing a fur coat.”
“The Godmother is right, Miss. You tend to leave most of the meat behind, but you need to eat plenty of meat in Richmond. That is the only way to survive the winter.”
Midwinter in the Duchy of Taylor is just early winter by our standards. I know because I’ve spent a winter there.
As Mrs. Isaac and Mrs. Rexton took turns speaking after Eliza, Grace just blinked, not knowing what on earth to say.
But then, a sudden touch was felt on the back of the hand. Eliza unhesitatingly reached out and was gauging the thickness of the dress sleeve peeking out slightly from under the coat.
Madam.
When Grace called her, Eliza retorted with a stern expression.
“This material is just cotton! Why are you still wearing this?!”
“Ah, uh—”
"A winter dress that fits Grace? Is it still not ready?"
I apologize.
The merchants promised to bring it by this afternoon. As soon as it arrives, I will dress it for you right away.
“Yeah, that’s right. And since you haven’t fully recovered yet, I told you to wear fur!”
“Andy, go quickly and bring the fur.”
"yes!"
“Look at this, the north wind is blowing right now. In other regions, fur is worn for fashion, but here, we have to wear it because we have no other choice. Just cover yourself with this while the fur arrives.”
Eliza, who had been nagging about this and that as if she had been waiting for this moment, finally handed the blanket she herself was using to Grace.
“I’m fine, please keep it covered……,”
If an adult gives it to you, you say thank you and take it.
With nothing else to say, a blanket was eventually placed over Grace's thighs. The warmth from Eliza that the blanket held warmed her thighs to a lukewarm temperature. As Mrs. Rexton, who was personally covering her with the blanket, gestured for her to answer quickly, Grace opened her mouth feeling bewildered.
"thank you."
Only then did Eliza seem satisfied, raising her eyebrows as she picked up her teacup.
“It is tea brewed with freshly harvested dates and honey. Have a drink. You two sit down.”
“Let me set the table a bit. The pumpkins this autumn were ripe so—well. They were so sweet, even without adding a single spoonful of sugar! Hehe!”
Mrs. Rexton opened the basket while humming a tune.
Pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, and this is a pumpkin cookie!
“You should try some berry pie, too. It’s cooled down just right, so it’ll be perfect to eat right now. Jessie, please set this up.”
"yes!"
As the three women's quick hands swept across the table, it was packed so tightly that not a single empty space was visible.
Grace glanced at the refreshments and took a sip of the jujube tea. The warm and sweet taste was not bad. After savoring the sweetness on her tongue and then the aroma rising up her throat to her nose, a plate was pushed in front of her teacup.
As I looked up, the gazes of three noble ladies were pouring down on me.
I think you should eat the pie right away.
It was when Jessie whispered in a voice full of laughter.
The table legs are going to bend under the weight of the food at this tea time.
The moment a low, chilling voice that no one could imitate was heard from behind, everyone except Eliza rose from their seats. Grace, too, turned to the back where the voice had come from as soon as she stood up.
Just as I was momentarily surprised by the fact that I hadn't sensed a presence until such a large person had come this close, he approached within a stone's throw and held out the black object he was holding.
It was black fur that shimmered delicately thread by thread in the sunlight.
Put it on.
As Grace looked up again, Ares gestured for her to take the fur.
Did you forget you had a fever? Make sure to wear it.
As she took the fur inadvertently, Ares brushed past her.
“It’s winter, so why an outdoor tea time?”
It’s just right to be wearing fur and standing in the sunlight. Once this passes, I’ll have to stay indoors for at least five months, so I should enjoy it now.
Ares chuckled and sat in the seat where Mrs. Isaac had been sitting.
I’ll sit here for a bit.
I will reset the teacups, Your Excellency.
While Mrs. Isaac quickly cleared her own teacup and brought out a new one, Grace put on the fur coat Ares had brought. The problem was that, whether it belonged to Ares or not, it was far too big. It was to the point where she could not possibly drink tea with her arms in the sleeves.
Ares glanced at her and added.
Drape it over your shoulders like a blanket. That's why I brought it.
Yes, thank you.
Eventually, Grace sat down with Ares's fur draped over her shoulders. A strong scent emanated from the fur that enveloped her entire body. That fragrance—fierce and rough, yet somehow richly sweet—was something she had always felt from Ares.
However, I felt somewhat embarrassed. Although Eliza had at least wrapped herself in a fur shawl, Ares himself was dressed in a light jacket, while Jessie and the other three ladies-in-waiting were merely wearing wool coats. In the midst of this, she alone was wrapped in a huge black fur coat and even a blanket.
“Madam, I will return the blanket to you. Please cover yourself.”
However, Eliza pretended not to hear and gestured toward Ares.
For once, you did something delicate.
This time, Ares pretended not to hear and gestured toward Grace.
Fasten the front of the fur.
Then, Andrew brought a fur coat, and Mrs. Rexton covered Eliza's knees with it.
Eventually, Grace ended up covering her knees with Eliza's blanket, feeling so warm that she felt like she was going to sweat. At the same time, a strange tickling sensation washed over her. This peculiar itch, which had been visiting frequently lately, didn't feel like it would go away just by scratching.
Good job. I sent someone.
As Ares's voice flowed into her ears and swirled around her heart, it felt as if a tickling sensation was spreading up to her throat. Grace lowered her eyes and nodded slightly.
It's nothing.
“If that’s no big deal, why are the Richmond vassals lining up for your review? It’s such a nuisance.”
Just then, Eliza, who had been staring at them, was the first to take a bite of the pie with a fork.
It's going to get cold. You guys, bring another table and sit down.
As Mrs. Isaac placed pies on Ares and Grace's plates as if she had been waiting and took her seat, Mrs. Rexton, Jesse, and Andrew brought a separate table and sat down.
The trees hanging overhead were gaunt, but the table spread out before my eyes was abundant. The jujube tea warmed my stomach, and the pie, made with plenty of mature pumpkin, was moderately sweet and cozy.
By the time Grace was almost finished eating a slice of pie,
Eat one more piece.
Unlike the cold voice, the largest slice of berry pie was placed back on the front plate.
"thank you."
Grace smiled faintly and picked up her fork again. In the meantime, the teacup was refilled with steaming jujube tea.
The berry pie Eliza personally served was sweet and sour, yet lighter than pumpkin pie. Grace felt she understood a little why noble ladies loved tea parties so much. Despite the precarious times, her heart instantly felt just right—light and refreshing, much like the taste of this pie.
By the time I had finished eating even that one piece,
Try this this time.
In the place where a finely groomed hand had brushed, a large pumpkin muffin remained this time. Moreover, Mrs. Isaac, sitting beside me, refilled the tea as soon as it ran low, as if she believed the tea level should never drop.
I had clearly eaten enough, yet the plate and teacup in front of me were exactly the same as they were at the beginning. As I pondered for a moment how I was going to eat more, Ares muttered beside me.
"It's so overwhelming, how could I possibly eat it?"
Not only Jesse, but also Eliza, Mrs. Isaac, and even Mrs. Rexton. They were staring at Grace eating so persistently that I was on the verge of bursting into laughter. And as if that weren't enough, judging by how her fork-eating speed was slowing down, she was undoubtedly getting full; yet, when another muffin was placed on her plate, it was obvious she was going to choke.
Eat in moderation.
However, his consideration was far from pleasing to the old lady. She was already so emaciated that she was worried he might collapse at any moment!
Telling someone who has been working all day to eat moderately? How can you say that? I'm going to eat a lot.
That’s not what I meant.
“All talk and talk, telling someone to eat a lot is the true greeting. While Grace ate two slices of pie, the Duke ate four slices of pie and five muffins.”
“…I am simply deeply grateful that you even care about what I eat, Grandmother.”
Grace straightened her back and intervened in the sudden exchange between the tigers.
I was actually curious about the taste of this muffin. Let me have a taste.
At that, Eliza, who had been rolling her eyes in anger at Ares's astonishing reaction, paused, and Ares, who had been preparing to retort with an indifferent expression, also turned to look at Grace.
Grace cut a muffin with a fork and put it in her mouth, feeling like a six-year-old child. At that time, her grandmother was still alive, so everyone would stare at her whenever she tried to eat something.
My little one is good at using a fork, too.
Mother, if you can't do it, that's the problem.
"What are you talking about, Luciana? I find it admirable that our Grace is even breathing. Oh my, look at that. Just look at her eating like that to survive."
Even though her face was blurry, I remembered my grandmother's words quite clearly. This was because she used to give such praise every time we ate together.
At that moment, the Queen, who had no interest in what the other person's burden was, glanced at Ares.
"You eat so well, don't you?"
Then, turning to Grace, he spoke.
It’s commendable that you are eating so well.