Kali let herself fall to the bed and stared indifferently in the ceiling.
"Master? Why? Why?" Luna jumped to her side.
"My effort is wasted."
Luna tilted his head to one side before asking "Did the master meet the visitor from yesterday?"
"You can tell?"
"Master's face is like that yesterday too." he said while pointing his paw to her face.
'My face? ' Kali was surprised and made a sideways look at the innocent face of the baby wolf.
Yesterday, while Rissa and Tami were dressing her up, they kept mentioning a noble visitor.
'He must have heard it.' Kali looked back again at the ceiling.
Today she had changed her dress again to meet Francis. Her wardrobe is full of simple and easy to wear dresses since she dresses herself up everyday. The dress she changed into was chosen by her maids due to reasons Kali is not confident in her choice of clothes for her aristocratic appearance. If it will be up to her she will be wearing training suits everyday but being noble she had to consider Kaleena's dignity. They share a name afterall.
"Why is master effort wasted?"
"Ah. that. . ." Kali deliberates if she will explain or not.
"Luna, How old are you?"
"Umm. . .8"
"When you get older and your plans don't go your way, they lament on wasted effort." Kali's voice is weak but a mixture of irritation is there.
"...?"
'Yes, this is necessary.' Kali thought. Since the arrival of her family the spies watching decrease and they don't monitor the house everyday. The spy servants began to pull out one by one.
Nobles generally don't care if their spies were caught, but it is different if they were caught by the Alexanders. Alexanders have great military power even the royal family cannot push them over. There is one noble family that has fallen to ruins after trying to touch the Alexanders. Every nobleman knows who is behind it but does not dare to speak about it.
"Powerful but they lack money." Kali mumbles as she looks around her plain room.
Kali spotted the invitations she sorted this morning scattered at the table. She remembers tossing it there before she changed her clothes earlier.
She kept staring at those letters without getting up from the bed.
'Invitation. Tea Party. Noble' Kali repeated those words in her mind multiple times before she smirked and got up from the bed.
"Time to study."
*****
It took many hours to get Kali ready for her first Tea Party to The Holwaldy Viscounty. She received an invitation two days ago from their only daughter.
Vico escorted her to Holwaldy Mansion who is residing on the edge of the Capital City. The Holwaldy Viscounty is a family that specializes in producing scholars and doctors. They also sponsor talented persons to study medicines.
'Even a viscount can afford this much.' That's what Kali thought as she saw the enormous mansion from afar. Its white and orange hue with a large garden path walk to the entrance.
While Kali was being escorted to the venue she looked around and amazed at the interiors but it didn't reflect in her expressions. It is flawlessly clean and the mansion is bright and the air is breaking a flowery smell. They passby the main residence and are escorted to the greenhouse where the party is. It's a small gathering of seven ladies in the garden full of different flowers. Even from afar Kali can already hear the giggling.
'Here we go.' She breathes in and out.
"Lady Kaleena" A bright greeting from a girl in a bright yellow dress. Her brown locks are placed on the side with yellow flower decoration in her hair.
"I am Penelope Holwaldy, Thank you for accepting my invitation." She stood up from her seat, introduced herself and gestured Kali into the circle.
"Good Afternoon, I am Kaleena Alexanders from the south territory."
"Oh my! She is . . . " The ladies start whispering among themselves.
'I'm tired already.' Kali internally sighed.
One by one they start introducing themselves and Kali notices that three ladies here are from the families in her list.
Penelope Holwaldy.
Jacqueline Fermari.
Grizelda Omfrotecia.
"Thank you for inviting me, Lady Penelope, to such a party filled with nothing but beautiful things. A real feast in the eye." Kali didn't look around the greenhouse but instead looked at the ladies seated in the round table.
They gasped at Kali's comment.
"Oh my, " One of the ladies covered her mouth with her hand.
"Aren't you a talker?" Jacqueline looked at Kali while lifting her tea.
'hmm?'
"Not at all Lady Jacqueline. I just wish to be acquainted with you." Kali tried again and their eyes met.
". . . with all of you." Kali added. The ladies smiled awkwardly at Kali while Jacqueline almost choked in the little tea she sipped.
'What was that?' Jacqueline creases her forehead. While others were taken by surprise , only Jacqueline felt uneasy.
"Will your brother, Lord Theodeos, also be interested in being our acquaintance?" Grizelda playfully asked and broke the awkward atmosphere.
"Oh my Oh my!" The ladies start giggling.
"I was actually reluctant to go to debutante ball at first but I am glad I did, because I saw Lord Theodeos and his blue eyes that gives cold aura but at the same time a sense of assurance like I will be protected like a princess, I wonder how will it feel to be embrace-----" Grizelda continue to daydream out loud.
'huh?'
"Oh my Grizelda, control yourself. I . . . though prefer Lord Giovanni. ----" Penelope said while blushing.
"I know what you mean. He is mysterious and detached. . . like a lone wolf." Jacqueline's guard dropped and nodded in agreement, which incite more giggling from the ladies.
"Oh my!!!" The ladies react gleefully
"Have you seen the Count? I don't mind taking care of his children . . ." one of the ladies proudly and shamelessly announced.
'HUH?!'
"Lady Catherine, You. . . . Lady Kaleena is right here."
"My my. . . I don't mind having a beautiful daughter like Lady Kaleena here." Lady Catherine answered playfully.
'Aren't you supposed to be around my age? Do you want me to call you mother?' Kali questioned Lady Catherine in her mind.
"Lady Kaleena is so lucky to be born into such a beautiful family. . ."
". . . but of course Lady Kaleena is also beautiful, especially that night. . ."
"Now that we are talking about it. Lady Kaleena, Do you know the Second son of Viscount . . ."
The unending gossip and chatter continues on while Kali is the center of it. She wanted to keep listening but their information was of use to her.
"That reminds me, one of our servants saw the Delacorte's carriage enter your residence Lady Kaleena. There are also some rumors of Sir Francis' visits to Lady Kaleena everyday."
"Oh yes, yes, I heard that too. I also heard that there are engagement talks already."
'Oh my. Oh my. I want to go home.' Kali thought of it in the same tune of expressions as the ladies. She took a deep breath after and held her patience.
The ladies return in interrogating Kali about the Alexanders after a while and it turns out that her family does not come to parties. They are the only noble family who can decline party invitations in order to guard the south from the Monster Territory. That's why seeing them attend and escort Kaleena at debutante ball plus the amazing visuals of the family became a hot topic and made it to the newspaper. Hence, the reason for the sudden increase of letters sent to Kali.
Kali finds it strange that after she gave them a silent answer when they asked her whereabouts for the past five years, they didn't press further and told her that she doesn't have to tell them if it's uncomfortable and aside from that, nobody has shown an interest in her code. She held the thought that these ladies were deeply involved in their family plans.
That is the case or they are all professional actors. They may be young but they are still aristocrats. Aristocrats' requirement is to be able to hide their emotions, thoughts, and act properly while insulting underneath nice words.
"Lady Kaleena, you didn't touch your tea at all. Is it not to your taste?" Penelope worriedly asked.
"To be honest, I cannot drink tea." Kali lowered her eyes because she had to hide her distaste for bitter drinks.
"Oh my. I am sorry Lady Kaleena. I should've asked first." Penelope hurriedly gestured to one of the servants to bring another drink for Kali.
"By the way, Lady Kaleena, will your brothers or father escort you home today?" Grizelda asked with a face full of anticipation while Kali's drink was being served.
Kali looked away from her cold ice fruit juice and saw the waiting eyes of the ladies.
"They are busy preparing to return to the South."
Kali didn't miss the slight flinch of the servant's hand as he finished setting down Kali's drink.
"Eh? Are you also going back to Lady Kaleena?"
"Yes." Kali answered in a heartbeat.
"When will you go back?"
"Earliest is later tonight."
"Oh no. That's a shame."
While the ladies were voicing out their dejection about her family going back. Kali watched the servant exit the greenhouse in haste and he went in the direction back to the mansion.
Kali picks up her juice and takes a sip to hide her smirk.
'The lie is worth it.'