Chapter 65:


    The next day.


    In the early morning I was already busy in my office, sorting through the pile of umted documents.The workers dispersed and the outstanding work collected like a snowball.


    So, I worked,pletely forgetting about time.


    When the sun was already at its zenith, there was a knock at my door.


    "Mdy.This is the butler."


    "Come in."


    I asked without taking my eyes off the papers.


    "Something happened?"


    "It''s time for tea party."


    "Sorry, what?"


    After the butler''s words, I lifted my head and nced at the time.


    "Time flew by quickly."


    If I refuse to go now, it will seem that I was afraid to show up at their ce.


    "The carriage is already waiting."


    "Okay.I''ll finish now and get up."


    I double-checked the documents rted to the estate and put the Duke''s stamp.When I got up, the butler brought me a full-length mirror.


    My clothes wereid out in front of the mirror.


    "Do I need to call the maids?"


    "No, it''s okay."


    I was wearing a light purple satin dress now, and I let my hair down and looked a little younger.Ideal for tea in a secr society.


    "Mydy."


    The coachman opened the carriage door.


    I was in turmoil in my soul.


    <em>I''m going there again.</em>


    My previous visit to the Marquis wasnt particrly good.


    All the way I resisted unpleasant memories from the past, but upon arrival they were overshadowed by a new surprise.


    At Edmunds birthday party, the Marquis''s estate had only onerge main building and one separate building.


    However, there were now two morerge annexes to the right of the main building.


    The mansions of the aristocrats were identified with the symbol of the family''s wealth.


    Of course, as the family''s power and wealth grew, so did their mansion, and their garden became more and more magnificent.


    "The garden seems to have grown too."


    The former small garden of violets turned into a field of peonies, and their fountain grew in size.


    The sculpture of an angel pouring water into a bucket also resembled the work of a sculptor of extraordinary skill.


    Besides, the number of bustling servants here exceeded even those who serve the Duke.


    Before my departure from the Empire, the state of the Sios family wasnt so prominent.


    The Marquis became prime minister, and his power grew by leaps and bounds.


    Only one line in the report was devoted to this, but what I saw with my own eyes now far exceeded all expectations.


    When I saw the magnificent view of the estate, I suddenly thought of a family that once shone brighter than others in the country.


    "Duke Drua."


    Duke Drua, one of the founders of the Empire, and the longest in power.


    When the Duke''s prestige was at its peak, people used to say that he was the true monarch of our Empire.


    Now they were just fairy tales from the past.


    And when I thought of Duke Drua, a familiar face came to my mind, but I quickly dismissed those thoughts.


    It wasnt Duke Drua that mattered now.


    Dealing with Marquis Sios wont be easy.


    It grew too big while I was hiding behind the seas.


    And so, while I stood there with a frozen face, the maid came up to me and bowed.


    "Lady Croft.Thedy ordered me to apany you to the flower garden."


    "I know."


    In the end, I hid my coldness in my eyes and followed the maid into the mansion.


    Behind therge mansion was arge greenhouse and a domed flower garden.


    Even in the cold winter, it was warm inside the greenhouse, where beautiful flowers bloom.


    When I entered a flower garden full of colorful tulips, my head was momentarily dizzy with a surging sweet scent.


    Taking a deep breath, I came to my senses and stopped in front of arge gazebo.


    The maid left.The people sitting at the table caught my eye.


    The table was already full, as if I was thest guest.


    And herees the organizer of the tea party, Lisa.


    "Lady Croft.Thank you so much foring."


    Dressed in an Empire pink dress that entuated the waistline, she was beautiful, just like those tulips in the flower garden.


    I answered with a slight smile:


    "No, no.Rather, I am grateful for the invitation to such a pleasant ce."


    "I was worried that I displeased you with my gesture.But if you say so Then please sit,dy."


    Lisa indicated the ce.


    And when I saw it, I froze.


    Because it was right next to her.


    The tea party of noble families wasnt a ce for light conversation and foolishness.


    These events were an opportunity to build awork of useful contacts.


    And the choice of the ce here wasnt idental.


    The organizer seats the person closest to him next to him.


    People who think they belong.


    Of course, the rtionship between me and Lisa wasnt very close.


    We couldn''t have such.After all, Raymond and I divorced only because Lisa showed up.


    An outside observer who hasnt heard of our inner kitchen can say that I was the daughter of a Duke and enjoyed the privilege of being in a better ce.But that would be a sweet lie.


    Usually, when a nobleman of the same rank or higher was present at a tea party, he was deliberately given a seat at a distance instead of a seat right next to it.


    This was not a fixed rule, but it was a long-standing unspoken custom of tea parties.


    Whichever way you look at it, there was no reason for me to sit so closely with her.


    But she did it on purpose


    I turned to Lisa.She looked at me with a worried look, as if worried about my thoughts.


    At that time, I heard a soft voice, like that of a young and innocent girl.


    "Youngdy.Please sit down.We were expecting only you one."


    I turned to the girl sitting opposite.


    I see her for the first time.The moment I saw the eyes of a youngdy and loose light brown hair, I realized who she was.


    <em>And you must be the daughter of Count Vistein''s house.</em>


    Count Vistein was the cousin of Marquis Sios.So, the youngdy in front of me had green eyes that resembled Lisa.


    Lady Vistein lifted her chin and looked at me.


    "Right.And although I havent had a debut yet, you must know how cleverly you recognized me."


    I felt arrogance on the part of Vihtein, who was now staring at me smugly.


    Looking at this expression on her face, its clear that Lisa had specially prepared a ce for me next to that one.


    And this youngdy before me knew perfectly well the meaning of my ce, but ignored it.


    I looked at Vistein and put on a soft smile.


    Let it have passed already 6 years, but once I was the Empress of this country.


    As the firstdy of an entire Empire, I dealt with countless hosts of people.The young daughter from the Vistein house posed no threat to me.


    Did she release her ws to put me in my ce?But I felt that this is only a small kitten making its first steps.


    "Are youughing at me now?Lady Croft, you don''t seem to be very polite."


    Vistein put on a displeased face, as if she was insulted to the core.


    You and I dont even know each other, youngdy.Was it polite to ask me to sit down without even giving my full name at the beginning?"


    Vistein''s face was colored with embarrassment.


    "No, I am not that"


    "If young Lady Vistein wants to be familiar with me, I will also put in my word."


    I continued to press on her.


    "Count Vistein and Duke Croft The veryparison of them would be meaningless."


    Would the count dare to go ahead against the Duke?


    I looked coldly at Vistein, who now couldnt even snap back.


    "Enough of this," Lisa interjected.