The round circular table was near where the desserts piled up. There was a metre tall chocolate fountain on the left side and a mountain of macarons on the right side. The aromatic scent of perfume also permeated the air, and as Irene inhaled a whiff of air, the overly sweet combination made her slightly nauseous.
“Oh, Miss Jasmine. She’s…”
“She’s Countess Irene Chase. Irene, this is Viscount Tatan and Countess Eina.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Irene Chase.”
“Oh, I have only heard many things about you. But indeed, the impression that you give me now, is very different from the rumors.”
Irene silently smiled at Viscount Tatan’s word. They could not help holding in their curiosity, and inquisitively asked Irene a string of questions. The more they knew about Count Chase’s eldest daughter, the more they could boast about. Irene thoughtfully responded to their questions with patience.
Irene gradually adjusted to the circumstances at her table. Various bits of information came and went according to Irene’s expectations. But, whether it was useful information that she needed – she could find none. Aristocratic society as such banquets, only talked about their past time, not work. By the time the banquet was coming to an end, one of the women asked Duchess Jasmine.
“Miss, is the rumor true?”
“What’s the rumor?”
“That rumor about ‘Duke Kristen’ will be attending this banquet.”
Duchess Jasmine spread her fan to cover her lips and answered in a sad tone.
“I invited him, but the duke is not attending this banquet.”
“You never know. Maybe this time he will attend like Miss Chase.”
“And you know, the rumor that the Duke is looking for a bride.”
Irene’s ears perked up as she listened to their story.
The waltz came out. A man and a woman who were sitting at a table and conversing with each other came out to the center of the hall and started dancing. As if the woman around Irene had been waiting for that particular moment to arrive, they stopped the conversation and moved to the center of the hall.
“Miss Chase, would you like to come with us?”
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Irene answered Duchess Jasmine’s offer with a small shake of her head.
“I’m going to briefly get some air.”
“Oh, I see. It’s time for the main waltz, so the terrace is empty, you’ll be able to have some space to breathe in that place.”
As the banquet host, Duchess Jasmine advanced with a spark in her eyes when the ball’s main event began. Then Irene got up from her place at the table and went out to the nearby terrace.
Irene inhaled the fresh, crisp air deeply. It was cool and comforting against her skin. The peacefulness in her quiet surroundings wrapped around her in a tight blanket. The scent of perfume and sweets seemed to paralyze her sense of smell. While leaning on the railing, Irene looked around the garden. Jasmine flowers, roses, magnolias and lilies were in bloom altogether. The Duchess Jasmine who liked lavish things, as expected, also had an impressive garden that would capture a visitor’s attention. The beauty of the array of colors, shapes and kinds of flowers at their different stages in life, swept over the vast expanse of the garden, was simply stunning. Unlike the noisy ballroom, the terrace was calmer. Irene looked at the garden and recalled the story she had heard earlier.