The World Has Become Kinder to Her

“Has everyone exchanged greetings? Lady Estelle, this is Lady Lissian of the Lantis Marquisate.”

“Hello, Lady Lissian. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello, Lady Estelle. I’ve heard about you… but I didn’t expect we would actually meet.”

Her sharp response. Lotus was more accustomed to this kind of reaction.  

This level of hostility was almost endearing, so it didn’t even make her frown. However, the faces of Lady Asilia and the other three ladies showed clear displeasure.

“Lady Lissian, what do you mean by that?”  

Asilia’s voice carried a chill, but Lady Lissian of the Lantis Marquisate continued undeterred.

“Even if the lady so kindly offered a seat, I didn’t think Lady Estelle would accept it. If she had considered the lady’s dignity, she would have respectfully declined.”

Unlike grand banquets with many guests, small tea parties like this were often held as regular gatherings among close friends, making them a social marker of intimacy.  

Lady Lissian’s biting comment implied that Lotus’s attendance had lowered the prestige of the gathering.  

The blue eyes that stared at Lotus were filled with emotions beyond irritation—there was anger and contempt.

‘It seems she hates me more than her words suggest. But I don’t remember having any dealings with her in this timeline.’

The hostility of strangers without clear reason. Though unpleasant, Lotus wasn’t taken aback.  

For someone like her, who remembered her previous life, this sort of encounter felt all too familiar.  

In fact, she found herself questioning whether Lady Asilia’s reaction, which seemed to be siding with Lotus, was genuine or just an act.

“Are you not aware that your attitude is insulting not only to Lady Estelle but also to me, the host? I distinctly recall informing you and the others of Lady Estelle’s attendance a few days ago, and I received a favorable response. You even said you had no problem with her attending.”

“I didn’t think she’d actually come if she knew her place. It seems the Estelle family thinks the whole world has changed just because they’ve had a change of heart.”

“Lady Lissian, your words are becoming excessive,”  

Lady Lillian of the Izlet County also reproached Lady Lissian.

Lady Sylvia of the Soiren Viscountcy and Lady Charlotte of the Kashima County exchanged uneasy glances between Lady Lissian and Lotus.

Lotus, on the other hand, found this rather refreshing, considering it was her first time dealing with this sort of reaction in what she considered a “crazy world.” She wasn’t particularly bothered.  

She merely gazed at Lady Lissian in silence, her expression calm.

“Lady Lissian.”  

Asilia’s voice dropped, quiet yet unmistakable.

“I believe I misjudged your character. Inviting you today was my mistake. If you don’t intend to offer a sincere apology, then please leave.”

It was a clear dismissal. Whether this was genuine or a performance, Asilia’s reaction was fiercer than Lotus had anticipated.

“Hah!”  

Lady Lissian let out a scoff, clearly taken aback.

“Lady Asilia, one day you will regret this decision. I know how she will stab you in the back.”

For a brief moment, Lotus’s heart sank.

‘She knows? That I’ll betray Lady Asilia?’

It was a statement laced with deeper meaning.  

It didn’t seem like a simple warning about the potential damage to Lady Asilia’s reputation in society by associating with Lotus. It felt like something more personal.

‘Is she referring to the heartbreak Lady Asilia will experience due to her affection for Kenneth?’

But how could Lady Lissian know that? Unless she had lived through or witnessed the future.

‘Could it be that Lady Lissian has also returned from the past? Does this mean that all the people acting differently from before have also regressed?’

It felt as though someone had pierced Lotus’s chest with a sharp scythe, mercilessly cutting through her.  

Her lungs felt as though they were filling with blood instead of air. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

“I need to verify this. I need more information.”  

It was a moment when Lotus needed the kind of social performance Theodore had spoken about.  

Lotus stood from her seat, surveying the room. Lady Lissian of the Lantis Marquisate wore a mocking smile, Lady Asilia’s face was cold and rigid, Lady Lillian of the Izlet County looked like she couldn’t decide whether to be angry or indifferent, Lady Charlotte of the Kashima County was at a loss, and Lady Sylvia of the Soiren Viscountcy appeared anxious.  

Lotus slightly bowed her head and then spoke.  

“I apologize for causing a disturbance during what should have been a peaceful gathering.”  

“Lady Estelle, this isn’t your fault. It’s my mistake, my lack of judgment,” Lady Asilia said.

“Exactly. Please don’t blame yourself, Lady Asilia. The problem here is Lady Lissian. I hate to say it, but it seems she’s jealous of Lady Estelle,” Lady Lillian added.  

“Jealous? Of her? Lillian—I mean, Lady Izlet. Lady Estelle isn’t even worth my jealousy,” Lissian spat back.

“Indeed, why would Lady Lissian feel jealous of a mere bastard like me?” Lotus said with a faint smile, one that looked both sorrowful and amused.

“Lady Estelle!”  

“I still don’t understand why you hate me, though. If it were simply concern for Lady Asilia’s reputation, your earlier words don’t quite add up. And though you won’t believe it, I….”  

Lotus bit her lip as if struggling to find the right words, and tears welled up in her green eyes.  

The tears were, of course, intentional, drawn from memories of the scorn and insults she had endured in the past simply for being a bastard.  

In those days, surrounded by people like Lady Lissian, she hadn’t even been able to show her tears.  

‘The only reason my heart aches is that I’m getting too deep into this role.’  

Even though it was an act, the blurring of the line between reality and pretense made the sorrow feel real. Instead of mentally chiding herself, Lotus bit down harder on her lip.

“I almost declined this invitation because I didn’t want to burden Lady Asilia or the other ladies. But I didn’t want to let my fears dictate my future. I didn’t want to run away without even trying, so I decided to be brave.”  

Lotus, who had learned to suppress her tears out of habit, now let them fall with a forlorn grace. Her sorrowful demeanor was heart-wrenching.  

Lady Asilia and the other noblewomen felt an ache in their hearts, just as they had during the Harvest Festival ball. Lady Asilia and Lady Sylvia’s faces grew solemn, while Lady Lillian and Lady Charlotte looked somewhat frightened.  

Lady Lissian, on the other hand, appeared torn between anger and fear as she suddenly marched up to Lotus.

“You witch!”  

**Slap.**  

Lotus’s head turned sharply from the blow. Her pale cheek flared with a burning pain. Before she could even recover, another stinging slap was aimed at her.

Instead of from Lotus’s lips, a small scream came from the others around her.  

“Lady Lissian, what an outrageous act!”  

“Lady Estelle! Are you alright?”  

“You’re not even worth formal respect! What are you plotting? The things I’ve seen… the strange pain… ugh.”  

Lady Lissian, who had been speaking in a pointed, rapid tone, suddenly grabbed at her throat, as though she couldn’t breathe.  

It was as if someone were forcibly stopping her from saying more.  

‘A restriction…’  

Lotus realized what it was—Lady Lissian was under a restriction. It wasn’t the same as Kenneth’s, but it was something similar.  

In Kenneth’s case, no matter how hard he tried to explain, the other party couldn’t comprehend what he said. But for Lady Lissian, it seemed she couldn’t speak at all.  

There was clearly a secret she was hiding, something tied to that restriction.  

‘She mentioned “the things I’ve seen” and “pain,” didn’t she?’  

Lady Lissian coughed and gagged for a few moments before collapsing to the floor.  

Lady Asilia, her voice trembling slightly, called for the maids waiting nearby with trays of new tea and refreshments to assist.

“Lady Lissian doesn’t seem to be feeling well. I believe she should return to the Marquisate. Please escort her to her carriage.”  

As if clearing a disarrayed table after a chaotic party, Lady Lissian of the Lantis Marquisate was quickly ushered out of the tea party.  

At this point, one would expect the gathering to conclude, with plans made for a future meeting.  

“Lady Estelle, are you alright? There’s a scratch on your cheek—it looks like you were grazed by a ring,” Lady Asilia said, her voice filled with concern.

“…This is nothing,” Lotus responded softly.

“I’m truly sorry that you had to witness such an unpleasant scene on your first visit, and even more so that you were involved in it. It’s entirely my fault. While Lady Lissian’s behavior has always been rather brash, I didn’t expect it to go this far. Please don’t dwell on her rudeness—I’ll apologize on her behalf,”  

Lady Asilia bowed her head deeply, her posture reflecting genuine regret.

“No need for apologies, Lady Asilia. It was my own lack of foresight. I fear I may have ruined an otherwise enjoyable tea party,” Lotus replied.

“In most cases, we would likely end the gathering here, considering the atmosphere. But I would feel uneasy leaving things as they are, especially with this being your first time attending. If the others agree, I’d like to create some new, more pleasant memories to replace the unfortunate ones. Would you be alright with that?”  

Having regained her composure, Lady Asilia looked around at the others as she spoke.

‘Ah, I see now,’ Lotus thought as pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.  

It became clearer why Lady Asilia had invited her and why the other ladies had agreed to her inclusion.  

Lotus subtly clenched her hands.  

‘It seems like they understood what Lady Lissian was talking about.’  

Despite Lady Lissian’s outburst and strange remarks, the others had reacted with displeasure or fear but not shock.  

In other words, they might already know something about the symptoms Lady Lissian had mentioned.  

‘Maybe… they’ve experienced something similar themselves.’  

“I’m merely a guest here, so I’ll defer to the opinions of Lady Asilia and the other ladies,” Lotus said, her tone calm and diplomatic.

As if waiting for her response, the other noblewomen quickly voiced their agreement.

“I agree with Lady Asilia’s suggestion. It wouldn’t feel right to part ways with only such an unpleasant memory of our first meeting,” Lady Lillian said.

“Yes, I also wanted to have a proper conversation with Lady Estelle, especially after hearing so much about you at the Harvest Festival ball,” Lady Charlotte added.

“Given your cheek, I think it would be best for you to rest here for a bit,”  

Even the normally timid Lady Sylvia of the Soiren Viscountcy chimed in.  

Lotus, pretending to be reluctant, nodded.  

“If that’s what everyone wishes, then I’ll stay.”

“Rita, please bring Lady Estelle a cold towel and an ice pack, as well as some ointment for her cheek. We’ll need to reset the table as well. The earlier commotion seems to have startled everyone, so prepare some lavender tea to help calm their nerves,”  

Lady Asilia directed her maids with practiced ease.

Soon, a soothingly cold towel was pressed against Lotus’s stinging cheek, and the table was quickly cleared and reset. The delicate aroma of lavender tea filled the room, accompanied by an array of beautifully arranged finger foods—sandwiches, macarons, and cookies, all small enough to be eaten in one bite.

If the tense encounter with Lady Lissian was merely the opening skirmish, then this, Lotus realized, was the true game.  

She focused on remaining as cool and composed as the ice pack on her cheek, preparing herself for what was to come.