57. Tea Party on Board
Oh my goodness. She really did show up.
The noble ladies who saw the Grand Duchess of Letzen appear at the Viscountess Forrester's tea party held on board were all shocked and looked at each other.
Sending the invitation was nothing more than a provocative prank.
They simply wanted to remind the country bumpkin, who had taken up a position unsuitable for his subject, of Princess Gladys's existence. Who would have thought that Prince Bjorn's second wife would attend a gathering hosted by relatives of his divorced first wife?
As the guests, their mouths covered, chattered, Erna Dniester crossed the hall. Dressed in a refined gown and a hat adorned with ostrich feathers, the Grand Duchess, unlike the vulgar woman of the rumors, once again astonished them.
“She's quite good at imitating noblewomen, aren’t she?”
"It seems the rich Prince is lavishing money on his new wife. I don't know how long it will last, though."
Just as the mocking words began to elicit a silent laugh, Erna stopped, startled. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Princess Gladys, where the astonished Grand Duchess was staring.
“Oh my goodness. I guess she really didn’t know.”
The Viscountess of Forester, who had the most embarrassed expression on her face, lowered her voice to a whisper.
Gladys gazed at the Grand Duchess, who was at a loss, a strange sense of shame mixed with pity. A Princess who couldn't even discern the families within her circle of friendship, who was being humiliated. Gladys, who had once been there, blushed.
"I'm sorry. I was just joking around, but I ended up putting Gladys in a difficult situation."
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Gladys slowly rose from her seat and approached the Grand Duchess. Erna's humiliation would mean Bjorn's own, so she couldn't just stand by and watch.
“Welcome, Grand Duchess.”
Only after she gave her a friendly greeting did Erna finally turn her head.
“I’ve always wanted to see you at least once, so I’m really glad you came.”
A bright smile appeared on Gladys's face as she faced the uninvited guest. "For Bjorn." As she repeated the incantation, she felt as if she could truly welcome this poor woman.
“Everyone would think so, wouldn’t they?”
No noblewoman could refute the Princess's softly powerful question.
"How are you, Count Lehmann? It's been a long time since we last met."
A woman who had exchanged glances with the Viscountess of Forrester began to speak loudly about Count Lehmann.
Throughout her tale of her relationship with that family, her gaze remained fixed on the pale-faced Grand Duchess. The other ladies sitting at the tea table were no different.
“I hope he stays healthy. I’m worried because he's getting older.”
"I don't think you need to worry about that. Considering how he was planning to take a third wife not long ago."
“Oh my. Really?”
The corners of the lips of the Viscountess Forrester, who was trying hard to suppress a smile, twitched slightly.
While enjoying the fragrant tea, the conversation continued without pause. From Count Lehmann to the troublemaker of the Heinz family, the noble ladies diligently mentioned names they would normally ignore, and their voices were filled with elegant cynicism.
Erna lifted her hand, which had been neatly folded on her lap, and grasped the lukewarm teacup. Only now did the tangled threads of her mind begin to unravel.
Viscount Forrester was Princess Gladys's maternal relative, and they were close friends. This meant the invitation sent to her could not possibly have been an expression of goodwill. Yet, she had foolishly responded with a hearty welcome and come to this gathering, relying solely on her husband's response.
Even after realizing it, she couldn't turn back because of the weight of the title she held as Princess Letzen. If she couldn't turn back, it was better to endure the thorns. Running away would only invite even greater ridicule.
“The Grand Duchess is a person of few words.”
Just as she was putting down her tea, unable to take a sip, Gladys approached. Without any specific command, the ladies sitting next to Erna hastily gave way.
“Are you bored with this party?”
Gladys naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Erna.
“No, it’s not like that... but it’s a little unfamiliar.”
“Oh, that’s right. They said the Grand Duchess was from the countryside.”
Gladys nodded and smiled as if to say she understood.
"Still, you have great taste, don't you? The hat is really pretty. It suits you well."
“Ah... yes. Thank you for saying so.”
"But I think it would be better to tone down the decorations a bit. Bjorn's tastes are simpler and elegant."
Gladys, offering her kind advice, nodded to the waiter waiting in the distance. He hurried over, poured a fresh cup of tea, and then retreated. Erna, who held her cup lightly, observed that her face was noticeably flushed.
You must hate me enough to make this choice.
Gladys was devastated by the newfound understanding of Bjorn's true nature. She had hoped to help the nobleman find his place, but instead, she ended up pushing him deeper into the mud.
“Bjorn, please take care of him.”
The sound of the teacup hitting the saucer resonated clearly and clanked.
Gladys faced Erna, her face flushed red, her neck straight. Perhaps due to her youthful features and small stature, she seemed incredibly immature. She lacked the authority of a Princess of a nation.
"From divorce to the death of a child... He's a person with many wounds. So, Your Highness, please take good care of him as well."
Smiling in the brilliant afternoon sunlight, Gladys looked as noble and beautiful as a saint from a famous painting. Her platinum-colored hair, resembling Bjorn's, and her arrogant yet elegant smile overwhelmed the utterly shabby Erna.
“Oh. And one more piece of advice, if I may.”
Gladys put down the fan she had been holding loosely and took up her teacup again. To anyone, she looked like a noble lady enjoying a tea party with friends.
"Please be careful not to make this mistake in the future. It's almost Lars, and being so carefree is going to be a problem. Fortunately, I was there today to save you from trouble, but that can't always be the case, right?"
Gladys rose first, lowering her eyes. Erna simply endured the gaze, still unable to find the words to respond. Apparently, the question hadn't been expected, so Gladys politely bid her farewell.
"Well then, that's all. I hope you have a pleasant honeymoon, Your Highness."
The tea party ended earlier than scheduled, as Gladys left first, complaining of a headache. It was only natural that the Grand Duchess of Letzen, the culprit who had ruined the party by showing up without notice, would receive harsh glares.
Erna took each step with difficulty, trying not to show she was staggering. As she stepped onto the deck, a cold sea breeze blew.
Erna, suddenly overcome with aversion to the vast ocean, with only a distant horizon wherever she looked, hurried towards her cabin. She had just entered the first-class deck when she encountered Bjorn, who was resting with the delegation. The men, who were smoking cigars and enjoying the breeze, all eyes fixed on Erna.
“Did you enjoy the social gathering on board?”
Bjorn, his cigar lit, approached her with a playful question. With his neatly combed hair and formal attire, it was difficult to find any trace of the man who had embarrassed Erna so deeply the night before.
“Did you say it was a tea party?”
He remained calm, as if he knew nothing. Erna stared at her husband with forced, wide eyes, as if to say, "This is astonishing."
“Yes. It was Viscountess Forrester’s tea party.”
“...Forrester?”
He looked at Erna with a frown. His expression was one of bewilderment.
Could it be that... you didn't know?
Erna's eyes became blank. The resentment she felt toward her husband for sending her to such a situation suddenly gave way to confusion.
You clearly heard me and answered me, so why?
“Erna.”
Bjorn sighed and called Erna's name, taking a step closer. His eyes, bowed deeply, no longer held warmth as he gazed at her.
“Before accepting the invitation, consult with Karen first.”
The tone was gentle, but it wasn't hard to discern the barbs within. He was scolding. He was berating Erna, the wife who trusted her husband, so cruelly.
Erna suddenly opened her mouth, feeling sad and aggrieved, but she couldn't readily refute him.
She remembered Bjorn that day, focused solely on the report he'd been asked to review quickly. Despite his indifferent demeanor, Erna still enjoyed spending time with her husband. The occasional glances and smiles Bjorn would send her were as affectionate as a lover's.
She was so excited by it that she was nervous the whole time she was drinking tea. Shd was so determined not to miss the fleeting moment of eye contact. So that when it did come, she could look pretty. She doesn't know how many times she adjusted her ribbon and straightened her posture.
But it wasn't you.
The belated realization of this fact made Erna feel even more miserable. Bjorn had been completely indifferent to his wife, sitting across from him. He had even blurted out a question and given an answer he couldn't even remember.
"... Yes."
Erna couldn't ask in the end.
The delegation was gathered there. Before being a husband enjoying his honeymoon with his wife, Bjorn was also the Prince of Letzen, leading them. She didn't want to carelessly disparage his dignity and dignity in front of everyone.
"I'm sorry, Bjorn. I'll be more careful next time."
Erna clasped her trembling hands together and softly apologized. Only then did Bjorn smile. It was a smile, a mixture of embarrassment and pity, much like the one Gladys had given her moments before.
"Your Highness."
The minister, who had been watching the two, urged them on with a polite call. Bjorn nodded, then straightened his back and turned around.
“Rest, Erna. I’ll be back before dinner.”
He whispered affectionately to her again, like a lover, and then walked away with the delegation.
Erna couldn't leave that spot until her husband's back disappeared from the deck.
Oh my goodness. She really did show up.
The noble ladies who saw the Grand Duchess of Letzen appear at the Viscountess Forrester's tea party held on board were all shocked and looked at each other.
Sending the invitation was nothing more than a provocative prank.
They simply wanted to remind the country bumpkin, who had taken up a position unsuitable for his subject, of Princess Gladys's existence. Who would have thought that Prince Bjorn's second wife would attend a gathering hosted by relatives of his divorced first wife?
As the guests, their mouths covered, chattered, Erna Dniester crossed the hall. Dressed in a refined gown and a hat adorned with ostrich feathers, the Grand Duchess, unlike the vulgar woman of the rumors, once again astonished them.
“She's quite good at imitating noblewomen, aren’t she?”
"It seems the rich Prince is lavishing money on his new wife. I don't know how long it will last, though."
Just as the mocking words began to elicit a silent laugh, Erna stopped, startled. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Princess Gladys, where the astonished Grand Duchess was staring.
“Oh my goodness. I guess she really didn’t know.”
The Viscountess of Forester, who had the most embarrassed expression on her face, lowered her voice to a whisper.
Gladys gazed at the Grand Duchess, who was at a loss, a strange sense of shame mixed with pity. A Princess who couldn't even discern the families within her circle of friendship, who was being humiliated. Gladys, who had once been there, blushed.
"I'm sorry. I was just joking around, but I ended up putting Gladys in a difficult situation."
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Gladys slowly rose from her seat and approached the Grand Duchess. Erna's humiliation would mean Bjorn's own, so she couldn't just stand by and watch.
“Welcome, Grand Duchess.”
Only after she gave her a friendly greeting did Erna finally turn her head.
“I’ve always wanted to see you at least once, so I’m really glad you came.”
A bright smile appeared on Gladys's face as she faced the uninvited guest. "For Bjorn." As she repeated the incantation, she felt as if she could truly welcome this poor woman.
“Everyone would think so, wouldn’t they?”
No noblewoman could refute the Princess's softly powerful question.
"How are you, Count Lehmann? It's been a long time since we last met."
A woman who had exchanged glances with the Viscountess of Forrester began to speak loudly about Count Lehmann.
Throughout her tale of her relationship with that family, her gaze remained fixed on the pale-faced Grand Duchess. The other ladies sitting at the tea table were no different.
“I hope he stays healthy. I’m worried because he's getting older.”
"I don't think you need to worry about that. Considering how he was planning to take a third wife not long ago."
“Oh my. Really?”
The corners of the lips of the Viscountess Forrester, who was trying hard to suppress a smile, twitched slightly.
While enjoying the fragrant tea, the conversation continued without pause. From Count Lehmann to the troublemaker of the Heinz family, the noble ladies diligently mentioned names they would normally ignore, and their voices were filled with elegant cynicism.
Erna lifted her hand, which had been neatly folded on her lap, and grasped the lukewarm teacup. Only now did the tangled threads of her mind begin to unravel.
Viscount Forrester was Princess Gladys's maternal relative, and they were close friends. This meant the invitation sent to her could not possibly have been an expression of goodwill. Yet, she had foolishly responded with a hearty welcome and come to this gathering, relying solely on her husband's response.
Even after realizing it, she couldn't turn back because of the weight of the title she held as Princess Letzen. If she couldn't turn back, it was better to endure the thorns. Running away would only invite even greater ridicule.
“The Grand Duchess is a person of few words.”
Just as she was putting down her tea, unable to take a sip, Gladys approached. Without any specific command, the ladies sitting next to Erna hastily gave way.
“Are you bored with this party?”
Gladys naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Erna.
“No, it’s not like that... but it’s a little unfamiliar.”
“Oh, that’s right. They said the Grand Duchess was from the countryside.”
Gladys nodded and smiled as if to say she understood.
"Still, you have great taste, don't you? The hat is really pretty. It suits you well."
“Ah... yes. Thank you for saying so.”
"But I think it would be better to tone down the decorations a bit. Bjorn's tastes are simpler and elegant."
Gladys, offering her kind advice, nodded to the waiter waiting in the distance. He hurried over, poured a fresh cup of tea, and then retreated. Erna, who held her cup lightly, observed that her face was noticeably flushed.
You must hate me enough to make this choice.
Gladys was devastated by the newfound understanding of Bjorn's true nature. She had hoped to help the nobleman find his place, but instead, she ended up pushing him deeper into the mud.
“Bjorn, please take care of him.”
The sound of the teacup hitting the saucer resonated clearly and clanked.
Gladys faced Erna, her face flushed red, her neck straight. Perhaps due to her youthful features and small stature, she seemed incredibly immature. She lacked the authority of a Princess of a nation.
"From divorce to the death of a child... He's a person with many wounds. So, Your Highness, please take good care of him as well."
Smiling in the brilliant afternoon sunlight, Gladys looked as noble and beautiful as a saint from a famous painting. Her platinum-colored hair, resembling Bjorn's, and her arrogant yet elegant smile overwhelmed the utterly shabby Erna.
“Oh. And one more piece of advice, if I may.”
Gladys put down the fan she had been holding loosely and took up her teacup again. To anyone, she looked like a noble lady enjoying a tea party with friends.
"Please be careful not to make this mistake in the future. It's almost Lars, and being so carefree is going to be a problem. Fortunately, I was there today to save you from trouble, but that can't always be the case, right?"
Gladys rose first, lowering her eyes. Erna simply endured the gaze, still unable to find the words to respond. Apparently, the question hadn't been expected, so Gladys politely bid her farewell.
"Well then, that's all. I hope you have a pleasant honeymoon, Your Highness."
***
The tea party ended earlier than scheduled, as Gladys left first, complaining of a headache. It was only natural that the Grand Duchess of Letzen, the culprit who had ruined the party by showing up without notice, would receive harsh glares.
Erna took each step with difficulty, trying not to show she was staggering. As she stepped onto the deck, a cold sea breeze blew.
Erna, suddenly overcome with aversion to the vast ocean, with only a distant horizon wherever she looked, hurried towards her cabin. She had just entered the first-class deck when she encountered Bjorn, who was resting with the delegation. The men, who were smoking cigars and enjoying the breeze, all eyes fixed on Erna.
“Did you enjoy the social gathering on board?”
Bjorn, his cigar lit, approached her with a playful question. With his neatly combed hair and formal attire, it was difficult to find any trace of the man who had embarrassed Erna so deeply the night before.
“Did you say it was a tea party?”
He remained calm, as if he knew nothing. Erna stared at her husband with forced, wide eyes, as if to say, "This is astonishing."
“Yes. It was Viscountess Forrester’s tea party.”
“...Forrester?”
He looked at Erna with a frown. His expression was one of bewilderment.
Could it be that... you didn't know?
Erna's eyes became blank. The resentment she felt toward her husband for sending her to such a situation suddenly gave way to confusion.
You clearly heard me and answered me, so why?
“Erna.”
Bjorn sighed and called Erna's name, taking a step closer. His eyes, bowed deeply, no longer held warmth as he gazed at her.
“Before accepting the invitation, consult with Karen first.”
The tone was gentle, but it wasn't hard to discern the barbs within. He was scolding. He was berating Erna, the wife who trusted her husband, so cruelly.
Erna suddenly opened her mouth, feeling sad and aggrieved, but she couldn't readily refute him.
She remembered Bjorn that day, focused solely on the report he'd been asked to review quickly. Despite his indifferent demeanor, Erna still enjoyed spending time with her husband. The occasional glances and smiles Bjorn would send her were as affectionate as a lover's.
She was so excited by it that she was nervous the whole time she was drinking tea. Shd was so determined not to miss the fleeting moment of eye contact. So that when it did come, she could look pretty. She doesn't know how many times she adjusted her ribbon and straightened her posture.
But it wasn't you.
The belated realization of this fact made Erna feel even more miserable. Bjorn had been completely indifferent to his wife, sitting across from him. He had even blurted out a question and given an answer he couldn't even remember.
"... Yes."
Erna couldn't ask in the end.
The delegation was gathered there. Before being a husband enjoying his honeymoon with his wife, Bjorn was also the Prince of Letzen, leading them. She didn't want to carelessly disparage his dignity and dignity in front of everyone.
"I'm sorry, Bjorn. I'll be more careful next time."
Erna clasped her trembling hands together and softly apologized. Only then did Bjorn smile. It was a smile, a mixture of embarrassment and pity, much like the one Gladys had given her moments before.
"Your Highness."
The minister, who had been watching the two, urged them on with a polite call. Bjorn nodded, then straightened his back and turned around.
“Rest, Erna. I’ll be back before dinner.”
He whispered affectionately to her again, like a lover, and then walked away with the delegation.
Erna couldn't leave that spot until her husband's back disappeared from the deck.
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