Amelia pouted at first, but as the party progressed she began to enjoy herself with Amanda. Until they had arrived, she hadn’t known they would end up seated at the far end of the garden. Although she had already made an appearance in society before, she had almost no experience of attending a party. She didn’t know that Amanda had to notify the host that the number of people attending had changed.
However, Amelia wasn’t a fool that she didn’t know what it meant to be sitting far away from the host. She attended with the intention of crushing Layla’s nose, but from the seat arrangements she couldn’t help but feel sullen.
After Amanda explained why they were sitting there, Amelia had understood. Since she had never been among such a crowd before, she felt happy to sit down and chat with Amanda to herself. Amanda looked especially darling in Amelia’s dress, and it was a joy to see the other ladies and gentlemen dressed up to the fullest as well.
At first, Amelia focused on how to get payback from Layla. Later she felt more assured because she believed the people she saw today would truly know who was more beautiful between Amanda and Layla.
Amelia savored a bite of a chocolate-filled cookie from the table.
“Wow, this is so delicious.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. Let’s ask our chef to make these cookies when we get home later,”
Amelia whispered cutely, and Amanda couldn’t help but smile. She wanted to buy a whole bakery for Amelia.
“Of course. Now eat as much as you like.”
“Yes, sister.”
Amelia’s smile caused a warmth to spread though Amanda’s chest. She never really enjoyed these kinds of social gatherings. But no matter the place, as long as there was her sister’s smile she would be in heaven
Amanda and Amelia sat at the far end of the tea party and enjoyed a simple happiness of their own.
Ttubeog, ttubeog–
Layla and Hailey and Scarlett, the latter who had a frightened look on her face, approached them. Hailey was the first one to speak.
“Hello, Lady Windsor. You don’t usually attend social gatherings. How are you today? It’s so good to finally see you again.”
Amanda wanted to spend more time with Amelia without interruption, but she couldn’t ignore another person whether she wanted to or not. Amanda gave a polite reply.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
In fact, Amanda couldn’t even remember who this young woman was. Amanda had lived another life for twenty years before returning to the past. The faces of the young people who had little to do with her did not remain in her memory.
However, Layla’s face was instantly recognizable. Any pretty face could have been memorable, but a colder look remained in her mind.
Unnoticed by Amanda and Amelia, Layla signaled to Scarlett with a glance.
Suddenly, Scarlett yanked on the tablecloth, causing the teacups to spill on the table. Fortunately the hot tea did not splatter in Amanda’s and Amelia’s direction, but they had to sit in place and show a slight sign of embarrassment.
“What are you doing?”
Scarlett stammered out an apology with a pale look on her face.
“O-oh, this was a mistake…”
She looked frantic, and Amanda spoke calmly as if it not to worry about the issue.
“It’s alright. As long as the tea didn’t spill on us. Did you get burned?”
“I…I’m okay.”
“Well, no one was hurt.”
For some reason Scarlett looked even more frightful at Amanda’s calm demeanor. Amanda had acted composed because she thought Scarlett had simply made a mistake, but Scarlett’s genuine remorse made her look over the situation again.
This was a table at the far end of the tea party. Amanda and Amelia were having fun in their own worlds, and the other people assigned to their table had already moved on somewhere else. Presently, there was only Amanda and Amelia and the three other young women, and no one was hurt.
Suddenly something strange struck her, but Layla spoke first with a smile on her face.
“How about we refill a cup?”
It sounded like a polite suggestion to everyone. Hailey quickly brought in a teapot from the back. She placed a new cup in front of Amanda and Amelia and immediately filled it up. Before Amanda could say anything, Layla spoke first.
“Miss Smith must feel very sorry, so let’s have a cup of tea together as an apology.”
Layla called out to a servant to bring over the cup she had been drinking from her table. She lifted her cup of tea in a graceful position. Amelia stared at Layla, suspicious about the other woman from the start. However, Amelia could not openly reject the offer.
“You said it was alright, but Lady Brown insists on apologizing…I suppose we’ll just have to accept it. Right, sister?”
Amelia said, her voice heavy with sarcasm, and Layla’s face hardened. Watching it with satisfaction, Amelia picked up the cup that Hailey had filled. Amanda just wanted to drink quickly and drop the distractions. But then…
A sleeping memory had reawakened in Amanda’s mind. She had attended this party before. Amelia was not with her at that time, and she had worn her old clothes because Amelia hadn’t made dress
Like a panorama, scenes of the past emerged of her drinking tea with Layla. As soon as she took a sip there was a strong salty taste in her mouth, but she couldn’t spit it out. If she did something wrong it would offend Vivian. Layla had smiled as she watched Amanda swallow the salty tea.
At that moment, she saw Amelia bringing a cup of tea to her mouth.
Hwiig!
Without any hesitation, Amanda knocked away the cup she was about to drink. The teacup fell to the ground and shattered.
Wachachang!
The loud noise brought the party to a halt. The eyes of all the ladies and young men turned to their table.