Chapter: 221

The deposed empress was in this castle was a fact known to everyone who lived in the castle.

The guards also heard that the deposed empress was looking after her grandfather and nephew.

It said that the deposed empress had a special fondness for her little nephew.

The knight listened to Hannah’s explanation and nodded.

“All right, this way please.”

Hannah and the maid went through the gates to the outbuildings to the east.

It was time for her to pass through the garden corridor leading to the annex.

As Hannah was walking on the flat flagstones that covered the corridor’s path, she stumbled and accidentally dropped the basket.

“Ahh……”

As the basket fell to the floor, a small glass bottle popped out and rolled.

It was a glass bottle with purple petals.

Hannah, startled, quickly picked up the glass bottle, packed the basket, and left.

***

“Please hold a tea party.”

The next day, Astelle went to see Vellian and asked for a favor.

“……I beg your pardon?”

Vellian wondered what he had heard just now.

‘Tea party?’

Astelle, who was sitting opposite him, asked a question in a very natural manner, “Have you been to the tea room in the garden?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“It was very beautiful in the middle of the acacia flower garden. I want to have a tea party in that tea room.”

Vellian smiled after a brief pause and said, “That’s right. Then you can have a tea party if you want—”

“But I can’t send out the invitations because there aren’t any ladies I know here. So the Count will host a tea party for me.”

“Pardon? No! I mean……why me, Lady Astelle?”

Vellian looked at Astelle with a puzzled look.