“No, Lady.”

Now feeling the gravity of the situation, it seemed the young ladies collectively fell into a state of panic.

“Lady Epine? Wait a moment.”

“Huuuuunguuuuung, sniff, huhuhuk. Huuu…”

Excited by their flustered appearance, I pushed even harder.

Until someone discovered us and broke up this gathering.

Everyone seemed dumbfounded or bewildered by my wailing, not knowing what to do. It seemed they hadn’t yet learned how to handle such situations. After all, they were just teenagers.

“Huuuuuuuuuuung!”

“Lady, please calm down.”

“Huuuuung. Kuhunghunghung.”

How much longer did I cry?

Finally, the footsteps I had been waiting for were heard.

It was the ladies.

“What on earth is going on here?”

“We came because we heard a commotion. Why is Lady Epine crying?”

“Well…”

“Hic, huuk… Huuung.”

This time, I cried pitifully with a lowered volume. This too was a skill. One that required very careful control of intensity.

All the ladies who were carefully surveying the garden seemed to have grasped the situation, wearing troubled expressions.

Soon after, one lady pointed at the young lady who had started the confrontation with me.

“Young lady, explain.”

“We were just curious about Lady Epine and asked some questions, but she suddenly burst into tears, which was very startling.”

“Is this true?”

Yes! She suddenly started crying! That’s right!

Everyone chimed in agreement with her words, and beside them, I made an even more sorrowful crying sound.

Then the question turned to me.

“Lady Epine, you tell us. Is this true?”

“Hic, yes, it’s true. The young ladies asked if I wasn’t originally a commoner, and said that commoners don’t wash well… Huhuk.”

“No! When did I ever say,”

As I twisted the situation about halfway, someone flared up.

Countess Amone, who had been observing the situation with a stern expression, looked at her with disdain.

“Lady Cass, I’m disappointed.”

Excited by their reactions, I moved my tongue even more diligently.

“Huhuk, no. It’s all my fault. As the young ladies said, I came to the tea time without knowing my place, hic, and ruined the atmosphere…”

“To say that an invitee I personally invited doesn’t know their place.”

“Hic, as the young ladies said, a weak person like me who bursts into tears just because they asked about commoner life doesn’t deserve to exist in this world. It’s all my fault, Countess. Huhuk.”

No, who said such things?

 We didn’t say that?

We didn’t go that far, did we?

It seems right though?

The murmurs of the young ladies, now divided into two groups, spread throughout the garden, and the ladies’ expressions grew increasingly cold.

Behind my hands covering my face, the corners of my mouth slightly curved upward.

If these were people I had to keep facing in the future, I wouldn’t have used such a method.

But since I was leaving, I didn’t care about my image.

“Lady, don’t cry. This is all my fault as the host.”

Countess Amone comforted me briefly. There wasn’t even a gram of sincerity in it. It was clear she was forcing out words of comfort due to her friendship with Countess Epine and her role as the host of this tea party.

“We’ll end today’s tea time here. Let’s all meet again as mature individuals who can cover each other’s faults. I won’t see you out.”

She announced the end of the tea party with a forced smile, but her eyes didn’t smile at all, showing extreme anger, and then she went inside. The young ladies who had only intended to slightly embarrass me also maintained an unnatural silence as the situation had escalated to this point.

“Please go this way.”

Afterward, the butler and servants came out to see us off.

And so, everyone left the Amone Count’s residence quietly in a solemn atmosphere. Countess Epine and I also boarded the carriage to return.

I was in a good mood because the tea time had ended earlier than expected, while the Countess was in low spirits.

“Lorazie, did you really have to do this?”

“Hic, huuk. Do what?”

“I know it’s all an act. I’ve been watching you for over 10 years.”

“Hic, my head hurts from crying so much right now. Sniff, and isn’t this better than me fighting with the young ladies there? Sniff.”

“You should have used a wiser method.”

“What are you suddenly saying? How could an illegitimate child like me possibly have any wisdom?”

I chuckled and returned her previous words exactly, then leaned back in the carriage and closed my eyes.

The Countess didn’t speak to me anymore either. The chilly atmosphere continued until we arrived at the Count’s residence.

“We have arrived.”

“Welcome back…”

The servants greeted us cautiously as we got out of the carriage, noticing our faces. My nose and eyes were red and bloodshot, while the Countess was expressing her displeasure with her entire body, her lips pressed into a straight line. It was understandable.

I deliberately cleared my throat and unnecessarily wiped my reddened eyes once more, emphasizing my fatigue.

“Countess, I’m too shocked and exhausted from today, so I think I’ll have to retire now. Ahem.”

“Do as you please.”

The Countess coldly retorted and turned away.

Whether she cared or not, I maintained my pitiful young lady concept as I returned to my room.

“My lady! Did you cry?”

As I entered the room, Irena approached worriedly.

“Yes. Something happened today. Can you bring me some warm water?”

Come to think of it, I had told Irena to manage my image well. Today was a big failure with all the crying and making a scene. I glanced at Irena’s expression, and she seemed to understand, bringing water and sweet fruits while huffing.

“Of course, my lady. How could people be so cruel?”

“This is delicious. I was hungry.”

“Didn’t they give you anything to eat there? Those wretches…!”

She was beside herself with anger.

“No, they did. But I couldn’t eat because I felt uncomfortable.”

I took this opportunity to act spoiled as much as I could.

Irena, looking at me with pity, brought not only fruits but also simple bread and jam.

“You’ve been through a lot, my lady. On days like this, you need to eat! Please, have some.”

“Okay.”

I nodded and munched on the bread and fruits deliciously.

After feeding me plenty, Irena gave me a hot bath. Then she tucked me into fresh, fluffy bedding.

Inside, I quickly fell into a cozy sleep.

It had been a more tiring day than I expected.