Ideally, it was right around this time that Ethel would be training in some godforsaken empty land in the outskirts of the city. Considering how packed it was in the city, it was impossible to train without catching other people’s suspicions.

Instead she was in the middle of a tea party of some noblewoman. Standing alone by the snack table in a corset that she could barely breathe in and heels that were painful.

Just then, a lady arrived. There was nothing out of the ordinary but somehow she could feel the atmosphere tense and the mood dampen. Just the arrival of a simple noblewoman was enough to change the tides of the party.

Ethel frowned and turned away. She had no business in that endeavor.

"Excuse me…"

She turned around and came face to face with the said lady earlier. Petite and quite a pitiful sight, Ethel felt a little awkward.

“Yes?”

“I am alone at this party and wondered if you needed company?”

She could subtly tell that the attention of the party was directed at them. Fleur was still inside the greenhouse greeting the host of the party, and seeing how grand and large it was, there were many noble ladies to greet.

Ethel smiled. She was always one who liked a bit of trouble. “Of course. My name is Ethel, what about my lady?”

The girl stuttered about, wringing the handkerchief in her hands with obvious anxiety. “I am Elvira of the House of Aestreya.”

Aestreya was a marquis family that continuously put out extraordinary talents. In particular, the current Marquis had 8 children from 3 wives. As far as popularity was concerned, Arlen Aestreya was by far their most famous descendant.

Ethel bowed deeply. She had to at least show deep respect for someone from an old family. “I’m honored to meet a member of the House of Aestreya.”

“Ah-ah… P-please stand up. I am of no importance in the house. You can treat me as you will with any noble lady here.”

This made her frown. House of Aestreya was also known as the House of the Janob, which meant the House of the Blessed. And not just anyone could say they were from this house.

Even the Emperor had to give them leeway, as their talents continuously contributed to the glory of the Empire.

“Surely, the lady jests? You are from such a noble house, while I am no different from a maid brought here by a friend.”

“Maid?” Elvira widened her eyes. Envy flashed in her eyes. Her head hung low and she whispered, “It would’ve been far better to have been born a commoner.”

This puzzled Ethel. Could it be that she was not a full-blooded relative of the Aestreya? But if that was the case then she would not have arrived in a carriage with their crest. Only official members were given permission.

She wished that Fleur was here.

“My lady, are you perhaps… treated badly?”

Elvira shook her head profusely and said, “No, it is not like that. I am… talentless, unlike my brothers and sisters.”

It wasn’t uncommon for noble houses to compare their children with outstanding individuals to spur them to do better, but Ethel felt that in Elvira’s case, it was different.

“Then could it be you are anxious?”

Elvira felt ashamed and nodded slowly. “Our house is currently in chaos… My parents… they are protesting about some of my brothers and sisters' decision to join the faction of the lower nobles. They think of it as treason against the Empire.”

The noble houses were tense as of now. There were many noble houses split into factions when the Emperor ascended the throne. It only became more proliferate when the Duchess died.

With the masses’ support that the current Emperor could ascend the throne, the same can be said for his abdication, which is what some of the masses and a number of nobles wish to push for.

“What is right and wrong, who could decide but us? I do not think your siblings are wrong, but neither do I think your parents are right. Everyone has their own path to take, it is just a matter of regretting it or not.”

Ethel looked up at the bright sky. Strangely, it did not feel bright at all, like a foreshadowing to something sinister. She smiled at Elvira.

“You don’t have to think of yourself as talentless. Talent isn’t the only thing that can define a person. Your ability can speak for itself, you just have to find it.”

“I… don’t know what to say.”

"You don't have to say anything, my lady. The words of a commoner are merely words."

Elvira nodded as her head hung low. Ethel felt condemned by the other ladies and felt uncomfortable. Even she was not impervious to them.

"Should we head somewhere else?" Ethel asked. She noticed that Elvira kept squirming in place.

Elvira nodded and Ethel lead the way. They arrived at a rather secluded part of the garden. But just as they were about to arrive, they bumped into Fleur and another woman.

"Ethel!" Fleur exclaimed as she hurried over to them.

Ethel was quite shocked while Elvira stood behind her. "Fleur, weren't you in the greenhouse?"

"Oh yes well it was terribly boring. I decided it wasn't all worth my time and left." Fleur then spotted the lady behind her. "And who might this be?"

Ethel felt the young lady's hesitance and replied, "She is the youngest daughter of the House of Aestreya, Elvira Aestreya."

"Oh my!"

Fleur was quite shocked. In the short time she had left her friend, Ethel had already made a friend. And such a prominent one too.

"Lady Cyprus."

The woman behind them looked intimidating. Her downturned eyes gave her quite the sleepy look, but her aura said anything but.

"Ah yes, forgive me I got excited." Fleur smiled and stepped away from Ethel. "Ethel, this is Lady Acantha of the House of Tarian. She's the host of today's tea party."

Without missing a beat, Ethel politely smiled and bowed her head. It lacked the certain grace and elegance from other ladies, but was enough to convey respect.

Lady Acantha eyed her head to toe, which made Elvira uncomfortable.

"I see you've brought an unusual friend."

"So you know!"

"Of course. One glance at her is enough to know that she is not a noble."

Albeit the prickly words, Ethel took no offence to it.

"It's an honor to meet the famed Rose Lady."

Acantha laughed. "If you were a noble I'd think you'd say otherwise."

Rose Lady was a title the other noble ladies came up with after Lady Acantha rejected numerous proposals from men.

Beautiful, but full of thorns.

Although there were no age limits when it came to marriage, it was still rather frowned upon to marry at an age later than 25.

"Not at all. It's truly a pleasure."

Acantha nodded and swept her gaze on Elvira.

"Elvira. You came."

The timid lady nodded. "The house was empty so I came here."

"I presume your house is still in chaos?"

She nodded again. "Mother said it'd be good if I went out for a change."

"Of course. You've been rather cooped up in your estate. Mars will be celebrated in two days, have a little fun," Acantha replied as she brushed past them. "Come, there is a secluded gazebo further here."

The three ladies followed Acantha to a series of twists and turns around hedges barely a head taller than Ethel. At the end was a rather dilapidated gazebo with overgrown vines. Only the benches were intact.

"Sit."

The four of them sat on the benches. Then came silence. Ethel hardly found it appropriate to speak, Elvira was too timid and Fleur looked like she had no care.