New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 153: CHARLOTTE & GEORGE (2)

Chapter 153: CHARLOTTE & GEORGE (2)

Charlotte remembered the first time she met Wade, when her husband brought him to the mansion a year ago. It was after her retreat to their room.

The child was shy and apprehensive, but he still approached her.

"H-hello, lady. I-I mean Marchioness Oswalt," he stuttered, looking at her, then elsewhere, before looking at her again. "My name is Wade."

’His name is Wade’. She had thought, but she was feeling so much emotions that she couldn’t respond. She just couldn’t bring herself to speak.

In the end, she couldn’t face him. She just turned away. She didn’t say a word to him and she didn’t spare him another glance either. She just didn’t know what to do.

Should she have smiled at him, her husband’s child from another woman? Or should she have cried, yelled, glared, or told him to get out of her sight, that she hated him and that he shouldn’t smile so hopefully at her?

She just chose to walk away. To her, that was the safer option.

He was an innocent child, coming to the woman his mother had ruined the marriage of with nothing in his mind. He probably didn’t even understand anything, just knowing that his newly discovered father had taken him away from his mother, and alrady had a wife.

But Charlotte just couldn’t bring herself to try to get close to him.

Charlotte returned to her room and didn’t continue her steps to the garden, the incoming tea party still in her mind.

Few days later.

Charlotte prepared for the tea party. Staring at her reflection in the mirror while her maid did her hair, she withheld a sigh. She couldn’t stay back and not attend the tea party. They were what she had to face. She couldn’t avoid them any longer.

In the carriage heading to the Winston mansion, Charlotte and Wade sat in silence opposite each other.

From the corner of her eyes, Charlotte could see Wade shifting nervously.

It was the first time they rode together alone. George was always with them the few times they had to go somewhere as a family, but he was absent as he hadn’t returned yet, which was why there was an awkward air around them.

She was about to look away when she noticed that the collar of his shirt wasn’t properly folded. She turned away from the window and faced him.

Wade stopped looking out of the window when he noticed her gaze. He looked at her with confusion. Did something happen?

Charlotte ignored him, reaching out to fix his clothes. "Pay more attention to your appearance. Do not bring gossip upon the family name." She said sternly. The nobles could use anything to insult another person.

Though she fixed his clothes roughly like it was a hassle she had to take care of, there was a hint of gentleness that even she failed to notice.

"..."

Wade shifted in surprise. "...T-thank you ."

Charlotte didn’t respond. She didn’t even seem to have heard anything as her gaze remained outside the window.

The rest of the distance from the Oswalt mansion to the Winston mansion was covered in silence.

They soon arrived at the Winston mansion.

A waiting servant led them to the garden of the Winston mansion. The garden was meticulously trimmed and maintained. Duchess Winston was a woman who sought perfection.

Wade was led to the other side of the garden where the children were gathered, while Charlotte headed to the table the noble women were occupying.

She sighted some faces that she was pleased to see, like Duchess Anton, Marchioness Eldridge and Marchioness Kiran. It seemed the Grand Duchess wasn’t there yet.

Usually when the ladies in either faction held tea parties, the guests would also be from their faction. However, there would also be tea parties where nobles from other factions would be invited, just like the first tea party Aristia attended on her arrival in this world. This was also one of those such tea parties.

Nobility was a cunning place. The nobles weren’t too rigid and knew very well how to balance things. It wasn’t all black and white. They had to maintain relationships even if it was basic and surface level.

In the area the noble women were staying for the tea party, Charlotte could see that there were quite a number. Her gaze stopped on the hostess of the event.

Duchess Matilda Winston sat gracefully with her back straight and a graceful smile on her lips. She was the embodiment of grace and elegance. One couldn’t even find a strand out of place in her hair, or a rumple in her dress.

She was an epitome of a true lady of nobility, always acting gracefully and never mocking anyone. She had never joined in on those mocking Charlotte, but for some reason, Charlotte still couldn’t bring herself to like her.

She smiled the same gentle smile at Charlotte, and Charlotte forcefully put a smile on her face in response.

"Good that you came, Marchioness Oswalt. I was worried you wouldn’t come because of news I received on previous occasions that you were unwell." Duchess Matilda spoke.

Her words showed that she was expressing worry for Marchioness Charlotte when the latter took her seat at the table.

"I wouldn’t call it news, your grace." Viscountess Essylt said, her eyes containing a sneer. "It is already well known." She seemed to have forgotten Grand Duchess Catherine’s warning.

"I heard that the Marchioness was weak in health, but I never knew it was so bad." Another noblewoman sent out mocking words disguised as concern. She was a minor noble; levels lower in rank than Charlotte.

"Now, now. That is enough. The Marchioness is weak but she seems well now." Duchess Winston stopped them with a pleasant smile. Then she turned to Charlotte, "The ladies are just worried and expressing their concern."

All the other noble ladies nodded in agreement. Anyway, Marchioness Charlotte wouldn’t say anything as always. There was nothing to worry about.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Charlotte smiled as if she was deeply touched.

"I really do appreciate how concerned the noble ladies are about me. I must have been so unwell that the noble ladies have nothing to do but worry about me. I truly am touched by your kindness and care." She ended her words with a fulfilling drink from her tea, watching the ladies stunned expression with satisfaction even though she didn’t show.

"..."

The area was silent for a moment as everyone digested her words. The marchioness just indirectly called them free. She made it seem as though she meant that they had no choice but to worry about her because they couldn’t do anything to make her get better, but her words actually meant that they had nothing to do but talk about her.

They couldn’t find any fault with her words and that greatly annoyed them. When had the Marchioness gotten so good with words? She even thanked them!

The expressions of the noblewomen were hilarious. If Aristia was there at that moment, she would have applauded Charlotte.

"O-of course." Countess Splane smiled. She now minded her place after witnessing what the Imperial Princess said to Viscountess Essylt.

"... Then, let’s enjoy the tea." Duchess Winston smiled and picked up her teacup.

It would have been difficult to find anything wrong with her if not for her hand that had been tightly clenching her handkerchief beneath the table.

But no one present noticed.

Just at that moment, the Grand Duchess arrived with her children.

The servants led Aristia and Alaric to the part of the garden where the rest of the children were gathered.

The noblewomen stood up and bowed. "Greetings, Your Royal Highness, the Imperial Princess. May the blessings of Lord Nerin continue to shine upon you."

"You may rise." Catherine acknowledged their greeting and gracefully sat down at the table.

Duchess Winston, as the host, sat at the head of the table. On her left sat Alistair, leaving the empty seat on her right for Catherine.

Catherine’s eyes scanned the table and stopped at Alistair who sat opposite her. Alistair’s eyes gleamed as she looked back at Catherine, then at Charlotte.

Catherine understood that gaze. Her eyebrows rose in surprise.

Catherine’s arrival cleared the tense air as everyone resumed their conversations normally as if the scene earlier had not happened.

"Your Highness, I am honored that you came to my tea party." Duchess Winston began.

Catherine rarely attended tea parties since her marriage to the Grand Duke; the Imperial Prince of Amberale.

If she did attend a tea party, it would be those hosted by her friends, the Madams of the Anton, Eldridge and Kiran, and her cousin’s wife, the madam of the Hemsworth.

However, she occasionally attended Duchess Winston’s tea parties because it was beneficial to be diplomatic.

Catherine smiled, "Duchess Winston’s tea parties are widely known. It’s truly something to look forward to."

Duchess Winston smiled humbly. "My tea parties are nothing compared to the tea parties hosted by Her highness."

Catherine only smiled.

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