So I thought I might create that intentional place.

I was once your age too. Back then, I desperately wanted freedom. I wanted a place where I could truly be myself without anyone’s surveillance or interference.

I want to create that one day for you.

You might gather courage to ask someone you’ve been interested in to be your partner.

Or you might meet an unexpected connection while drinking tea in my garden.

One more thing to add, what happens in the garden won’t go beyond the rose vines I’ve carefully cultivated.

I’ll take responsibility for safety and any unfortunate incidents within.

Of course, not once has such an incident occurred.

The date is the first Tuesday of next month, at 3 PM.

There are no rules to follow. Just come in whatever attire you wish, with the partner of your choice.

P.S. As you’ve probably guessed, married individuals cannot participate. Aren’t you excited already?

I plan to leave my husband behind too.

So getting your guardian’s permission is up to you.

One piece of advice: don’t appear too excited. It will only fuel their concerns.

From your helper, Isabel.

‘Helper.’

Though there were many points she wanted to address, Gloria’s gaze fixed particularly on that word.

When on earth had she written this invitation?

She must have sent similar content to other ladies, so it was filled with ceremonial words, but each one pricked Gloria’s conscience.

The dense, heartfelt letter weighed on her mind. Was all this necessary? The invitation was probably written with Bella in mind.

The consideration evident beneath the light wit was the Duchess herself, lovely to anyone’s eyes. Her cute, delicate handwriting seemed to carry her vibrant voice.

Of course, it contained mockery that only Gloria could understand.

Gloria read the invitation several more times with an expressionless face before tucking it deep into a drawer.

‘Since she’s asking me to bring a partner, it seems she doesn’t plan to bury me in isolation.’

Though such a possibility was unlikely, she grew tired of having such thoughts first.

‘A partner……’

Naturally, Gloria had no gentleman who would ask her to be his partner.

So without much deliberation, she decided to ask Chris and his wife for help.

It would be good for them, since they were worried about their sister who had become a reclusive loner.

※※※

As expected, Chris agreed immediately.

“For such an occasion, I’ll ask someone trustworthy.”

“Someone trustworthy?”

“Yes. While none of Bella’s close acquaintances are unmarried, I still know a few.”

“It would be fine for you to go with a lady friend, but we don’t know much about your social circle.”

Bella added calmly as she continued eating. Gloria smiled brightly.

“If you and sister-in-law don’t know, how would I? Anyone is fine. As long as you permit me to attend the tea party.”

“Why wouldn’t we permit it? I’ll make arrangements, so don’t worry too much.”

Since Gloria had fully recovered her health over the past half year, the Count and his wife, who had been waiting for her to return to society as soon as possible, nodded repeatedly without objection.

Bella also looked visibly relieved.

“The Duchess has been inviting unmarried men and women to tea parties around this time every year since her marriage. It’s practically an annual event now. It’s probably meant to accommodate ladies and gentlemen who have just debuted in society, giving them a chance to comfortably interact with people of similar age.”

Bella continued explaining in a quiet voice, then looked at Chris and said:

“I never expected her to come personally to extend the invitation. She must have paid special attention because of everything that’s happened to you, Miss.”

“Now that Gloria is finally showing interest in social gatherings, we’ll be busy too.”

“Indeed. It’s fortunate that Miss has been diligently attending her lessons until now.”

The conversation concluded that day.

The very next day, Chris returned home early and immediately summoned Gloria.

“The master says your guest has arrived and asks you to come greet them.”

Gloria, who had been lying on her bedroom couch sketching, looked up at Dona’s words.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll go now.”

“Now……?”

“Yes.”

“Um, Miss…… Are you going out dressed like that?”

Gloria was about to get up but looked down at her clothes.

“……Is it inappropriate?”

“I’m afraid so……”

As Dona hesitated with a troubled expression, Gloria scratched her head with the top of her pen.

Being a noble lady required more attention than she’d expected. Especially regarding appearances. She’d momentarily forgotten that fact.

In the early days after her transmigration, Dona had been extremely anxious watching Gloria lounging around the annex in comfortable attire.

According to Dona, the previous Gloria always dressed perfectly even on days she stayed home. Not just dresses, but hair, makeup, and jewelry too.

That included her ears, which were covered in wounds from multiple forced piercings.

But the current Gloria was nothing like that. Makeup seemed unnecessary on her clear skin that looked like it had never experienced so much as a pimple.

Jewelry only felt heavy, and her hair just needed to be tied up to keep it out of the way. Above all, flowing dresses interfered with painting. It would be troublesome if expensive dresses got stained with oil paint.

In her opinion, her current attire wasn’t bad. She’d bathed that morning, and her hair wasn’t messy.

But Dona clearly thought otherwise. The fact that she spoke up despite being so cautious lately proved it.

“At least let me fix your hair.”

At Dona’s plea, Gloria reluctantly sat at her vanity. Only after 30 minutes could she finally leave the annex.

“Isn’t it more disrespectful to keep a guest waiting this long? Just being neat should be enough.”

Despite her words, Dona still looked unsatisfied, but for Gloria it was more than enough. With her hair now properly styled with ornaments, Gloria touched her heavier head as she headed to the reception room.

“Master, Miss Gloria has arrived.”

At the butler’s announcement from outside the door, permission was granted from within.

Inside the room sat Chris and another man. When Chris mentioned introducing an acquaintance, she’d expected someone similar to him.

However, the man facing her was the opposite of Chris in every way.

His long, curly brown hair flowed naturally to the side of his forehead, revealing bright golden eyes. His tanned skin seemed to be from sun exposure like Dale’s, and his slightly upturned lips exuded confidence.

“Welcome, Gloria. This is my old friend, Daniel.”

“He seems too young to be your friend, brother.”

“Count Peyton is plenty young himself, Miss Gloria.”

The man rose and approached with wide strides.

“Strictly speaking, I’m his junior. I hope you’re not disappointed that I’m not some old bachelor.”

With that casual joke, he extended his hand to Gloria.

“I’m Daniel Bright. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Ah……”

Gloria placed her hand on his, waiting for him to lightly kiss it.

“Disappointed? Not at all. I’m Gloria Peyton.”

Daniel smiled until his golden eyes were half-hidden.

“I’ve heard about your situation. You need a partner for the party.”

“Embarrassingly, I don’t have any friends to ask. My brother said he’d introduce someone trustworthy.”

“That’s quite a burden on my shoulders.”

Gloria smiled back at him, hesitating whether to withdraw her hand. Meanwhile, Daniel spoke to Chris.

“I’d like to take a walk with Miss Gloria to build rapport before the party, if that’s alright?”

“What do you think, Gloria?”

Chris immediately asked his sister’s opinion, clearly trusting Daniel. In the smoothly flowing atmosphere, Gloria couldn’t find a reason to refuse.

Rather, she agreed with Daniel’s suggestion to build rapport.

His being trustworthy was merely Chris’s assessment. Gloria needed to see and evaluate him with her own eyes.

“I’d like that too, brother.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Daniel placed her captured hand on his arm. In an instant, she found herself being escorted to view the garden. Glancing back, she caught a glimpse of Chris’s pleased face through the closing door.

“Are you cold?”

“A little.”

Having expected to stay indoors, she hadn’t brought a coat and felt chilly. Noticing this, Daniel removed his outer garment and draped it over Gloria’s shoulders.

His behavior was perfectly gentlemanly. Yet Gloria found Daniel strangely uncomfortable. It was a distance difficult to explain clearly.

‘Perhaps he’s too… slick.’

Though quite handsome with his meaningful gaze, he was clearly not Gloria’s type.

Just as she wondered how long this awkward walk would continue, Daniel’s grinning mouth opened.

“So, how long do you plan to pretend not to know me?”

Gloria wasn’t even shocked anymore.

‘So that’s what was bothering me.’

Yet another piece of Gloria’s past that only she didn’t know had appeared.

“I thought you already knew about my situation from my brother.”

“Of course I’ve heard things, and seen things too.”

Gloria looked up at him with an expression that asked why he would ask such a question then.