He was Invited to a Tea Party
2188 Words
Gerald and his mother hurriedly went to his quarters. He was dumbfounded at his clueless situation. What does his mother want in his room? She then approached his closets and opened them.
The closet which is filled with suites glaringly and mockingly stared back at him. In his previous life. He had never had the luxury to buy things that he wanted. Instead, his salaries are invested in scientific tools and equipment.
Just thinking of it makes him want to forget his lifeless way of life. Though he only considered the modern world as a treasure for human culmination. Living in that era is truly troublesome.
The luxury of being a prince is graciously embracing him in contrast to his previous life. It's true that he earned so much money that he was able to buy a supercar but most of his wages are invested into scientific tools.
“First we need to select the best formal suit that suits your angelic face and then proceed to dine etiquette. Remember Gerald, the Tea party is about creating a bond and making friends. Because in the future, they will be your allies in times of suffering.”
What’s this? It was enthusiastic at first but as it went along it turned into a sudden solemn tone.
Did his mother perhaps have some tragic past regarding friendship?
“Why would I need to present myself to everyone? I only have my eyes on Catarina and Catarina alone.”
Gerald's face was smug when he said that.
“Ara, my lovely Gerald is so obsessed with Catarina huh? Or maybe because Catarina is the only girl you bumped into?”
Gerald doesn’t understand what she’s saying.
“Look, Gerald, there are a lot of beautiful girls in the Empire. I know that Catarina is one of them but if you meet someone who is more beautiful than her then…”
“I know that mother. When I declared my love for Catarina, I will never be swayed by any woman. No matter how beautiful they are since to me Catarina is the best! Her angelic smile, her cute face, and her soft voice. What can I ask for? She already has everything! In short, she’s my type.
Gerald's adamant behavior is starting to rise. He now realizes the point of her mother. She’s saying that if he were to meet another girl whose beauty is on par with Catarina. His love for her will be questioned.
He then recalled his previous life focusing on the girl he had met before that was more beautiful than Catarina. But an answer abruptly showed up.
Zero!
He then remembers that his previous, previous life is comparable to a NEET. He rarely goes out, never interacts with someone. The only person that he can talk to is his mother and father who are forcing him to socialize. It's for the best since he is a prince and he has a noblesse oblige to his people.
That NEET behavior rose when he found out that he has no talent and the talents that he wishes to have is in his brother. Yup that prince who executes him. Maybe Catarina was ordered to be his fiance out of pity.
No one would love a guy that has a characteristic that is so flawed in every aspect.
His parents' love is unwavering but when they die. He felt abandoned.
But she loves Catarina? But does he? It’s been 43 years and the environment of the modern world greatly affected him. He is still sure that his love for Catarina is his true feelings.
“Mother, I’ll be fine. If there is a girl that is beautiful like Catarina then I’ll befriend her. No, in fact, I will create many friends!”
“You act like your father and it's cute,” Her mother said softly.
“What do you mean?” He asked curiously.
“To tell you the truth. Your father is a womanizer”
“Yikes. Then don’t compare me to him. I’m loyal to one.”
“Okay, I can believe that is true. Then, which one do you like? A tuxedo or a suit?”
She asked while holding the two suits.
“The suit please.” He reluctantly replied.
….
Then after he chose his attire, they went to the dining hall where her mother will teach him about dinner etiquette. He forgot to do so since it was 60 years. The only thing kept in his previous life is his skills and photographic memory in the modern world.
One week later.
After very strict etiquette training from his mother, accompanied by lots of nagging, the day of the tea party has arrived.
His mother had a new dress specifically made for him to wear. Though the last time he remembered was that he still had some clothes back in his bedroom. Still, his mother insisted that he should wear a brand new suit.
He arrived at the party organizer, Marquis Clorance’s family. Also, fate is on his side. He saw Catarina at the window of her carriage. When she was about to go out. Gerald rushed into the door where he waited for her to step out.
And when she got off the carriage, various admiration from the crowd filled the surroundings. It feels like Catarina is the guest of honor. Wearing her elegant dress that accentuated her angelic face. Gerald was charmed by her.
Then, he took what he said where he said that he will never romanticize a child since he is 43 years old. But that thinking suddenly disappeared. Well, he has an eight-year-old body so it's not legal right?
When her feet touched the soil, Gerald immediately genuflected and offered his hand.
“You look beautiful today Lady Catarina, please allow me the favor of escorting you to the house.” He said fluidly.
“.....Eh, ah, yes.”
With his flowing movements, Gerald unexpectedly stretched out her hand and pressed his lips against her delicate hand. It was almost like a fairy tale scene.
She received a proposal from an angelic prince on his knees. If this had been any other noble daughter, it will surely make them want to dance in the air joyfully.
He stood up while holding her hands and proceeded to the tea party.
Then, there they were stopped.
“Gerald-sama, Catarina-sama, thank you very much for participating in our family’s tea party today.”
The person that greeted them was the eldest daughter of the Clorance family, Lilia Clorance. She is a fourteen years old girl with colored hair and eyes, the year right before she’s expected to make her social debut.
There were three girls standing behind Lady Lilia. They were probably all Lilia’s younger sisters. The Clorance family had four girls, including Lilia.
Lilia’s sisters began greeting them in order. The second and third daughters greeted them while smiling. Both of them had hair and eyes that looked very similar to their honey-colored older sister. He returned their greetings as gracefully as he could according to his mother’s teaching.
And then, after those two finished their greeting. From behind them, one more girl walked out nervously.
“...Pl, pleased to meet you...I’m the youngest daughter...E-Elise Clorance.”
She gave her name with a voice that could barely be heard, and her auburn hair and eyes were nothing like her sisters.
However, her large eyes and nice pink lips made her very cute. Meanwhile, he elegantly greeted her just how he was greeting the others. And then as soon as the greeting was over, Elise immediately retreated behind the others.
He wondered why she’s acting bashfully like that? He had never heard of Elise Clorance but he’s sure that she is a fine girl when she grows up.
Then the two proceeded to the tea party.
He promised her mother that he would try to speak as little as possible, and just smile. He’s not allowed to stuff himself full of sweets. The reason was Catarina. When he was offered some cookies. He developed a liking for it. And also he must drink tea little by little.
Therefore, as he was allowed to, He smiled gratefully and sipped his tea.
This tea party’s buffet format was consciously mimic high society’s dance parties.
The Clorance sisters were continuously greeting various other noble sons and daughters, they just kept coming, without giving them any time to have tea.
They repeated the greetings, walking all around the room several times before noticing, that they had finally finished and were dead tired when they were ultimately able to have their tea.
As for him, he was trying his best, to control his hand and only take a few cookies. Oh my? This cookie is delicious. And he’ll have one more, another one, and another one until he can’t stop satiating his liking to the cookie.
Catarina just stared at him as he was trying to urge him not to eat more cookies but he couldn’t. She chuckled slightly realizing that the reason the prince was acting like it was because of her. Though she hasn't baked a cookie for him.
“I think that’s enough Gerald, you’ve eaten a lot of cookies.”
“What? But there are still many of them? It would be a waste if no one ate it.”
“But Gerald?”
He then proceeded to eat a lot of confection even though warned by her beloved. He can’t stop the urge of eating more. His 43 years old maturity also vanished at this moment. As a result, he got carried away eating too many sweets and got painful gastroenteritis or stomach ache.
It was truly embarrassing for him to be seen by his beloved that he’s acting strange. She asked him if he was okay but he assured her and flickered out.
He then asked a servant where the restroom was, and he offered to guide him, but he rejected the offer and ran towards the restroom on his own. Lesson from his mother; Gerald must act gracefully even in the hardest situation. But he needs to break that promise. If he were guided there while trying to act gracefully, he won’t make it in time. And somehow, he barely made out in time.
He had been running desperately that he didn’t even know how to get back to the room with the tea party anymore. While the mansion was not as large as the royale palace I mean come on. Since they are Marquis’s family, the mansion was still quite splendid.
Briefly speaking, It didn’t seem likely that he could return to the tea party on his own. If only he could ask a servant, and ask the way back.
Like this, he was walking absentmindedly. A beautiful vision entered his sight. There were flowers spread out in someplace sort of like a courtyard.
It looked amazingly like Catarina's backyard. Speaking of Catarina, she must have been waiting for him for so much time. This is bad. This will leave a bad impression on her.
Then, Gerald uses everything on his mind to remember vividly the way he took from the tea party room to the restroom.
Got it. Then off we go.
The scenes were so beautiful that he ran up to them in reflex. Just a short pitstop and then he saw a girl standing in the flowers all by her lonesome.
Since he was taken aback by the great scenery, he mouthed praise and then noticed him.
Having heard him, the confused girl noticed his presence and addressed him.
“....Uhm, Your Highness. Why are you in a place like this?”
Oh yeah, this girl seems familiar. Thinking back, this girl seems to be the youngest daughter of the Clorance family that he greeted earlier, Elise. The bashful girl.
“....Uhm? I...just a little chance of pace.”
There’s no way he could tell her that he gave himself a stomach ache by eating too many sweets, and even got lost and couldn’t find the way back anymore. Since there’s no way he could say it, he told a suitable white lie.
He genuflected in front of her and said.
“Oh lovely girl, Elise what are you doing here alone in the courtyard?...”
Fuck! No...Catarina is the best girl...Why is he acting like a playboy?
He then remembers the word of her mother.
“Your father is a womanizer.”
Fuck! Did I inherit that trait from my father? Genetics is a pain in the ass.
Realizing his mistake, he suddenly stood up and even made Elise startled.
- Writer
