OH, A CHEAT?

[What a beauty. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in this book world is beautiful.] She stared at the pretty Duchess with waist-long red hair and emerald green eyes.

Her mother moved to talk with Alistair and was soon joined by Marchioness Avery Eldridge and Marchioness Clarisse Kiran.

Catherine was close to her sister in-law Alistair Anton, and also close to her sister in-law's sister, Avery Eldridge. Avery and Alistair also had a good relationship with their sister in-law Clarisse Kiran which made Catherine relate with her as well and soon, the four Madams of the four families became really good friends.

Aristia held Alaric and moved to meet their cousins; the Anton kids. As they approached, they heard a voice,

"Tia!! Ally!!!" It was Liam Anton, the first child of the Antons. He waved at his cousins.

As they approached the other noble children, Aristia scanned the faces of each of them. Not all the nobles attended the tea party. Eight families out of the eleven families attended. Her family was not included as they were part of the royal family. it was considered an honour for them to even accept the invitation and attend. The King and his family rarely attended any event. Usually, Catherine wouldn't even bother, but because it was her dear friend and sister-in-law, she attended.

She didn't see the supposed Villainess of the novel among the crowd even though her mother was present, but she did confirm one thing;

[Just as I thought, they're all pretty.] She nodded her head as they started to mingle with the noble children.

They engaged in conversation as Liam led them through a pathway to a greenhouse.

There was a large round table inside the greenhouse with seats arranged in front of them and teacups were placed atop the tables.

"Here, I introduce you to my mother's greenhouse." Liam introduced as he led them into the greenhouse, eliciting gasps from the noble children with him.

The reason? The greenhouse was beautiful with a flowery scent that was not overbearing but was relaxing. It was clear that the Duchess really put in a lot of care and effort in making sure the greenhouse was well taken care of. Love of flowers was something she and the Grand Duchess had in common.

The greenhouse created a picturesque and fairytale like background as the sunlight shone on the round table filled with porcelain teaset.

"What a beautiful scene." Aristia muttered as they all took their seats. Aristia noticed that not all the noble children attended as they were not up to the number she counted during her history class. A maid led in some maids as they carried teapots in their hands and walked around the table, filling the empty teacups with tea.

As they started to drink tea, Aristia frowned a little bit. This wasn't how she liked her tea. Before she could reach for the sugar, someone beat her to it.

A small hand scooped two spoons of sugar and put into her tea. Aristia turned to the person in surprise and found none other than Liam who was smiling at her.

"There you go, Tia. Just as you like it." He said cheerfully and did the same for Alaric and his siblings. It only took a moment for Aristia to recall that THE Aristia had a sweet tooth too. She smiled and thanked him.

"Thank you Li-Brother Liam." She responded, addressing him the same way the novel Aristia would. Aristia would always call him brother so she didn't want to act too out of line in these aspects. That didn't mean she wouldn't do or say what she wanted though.

"Young Master Liam is so caring."

"Young Master Liam's kindness knows no bounds."

"Yes. Young Master Liam is a true gentleman."

Her attention was drawn back when she heard the noble children praising Liam one after the other.

[What?] Aristia raised her eyebrows in bemusement. [What do these kids know about being a gentleman? And they already know how to praise and curry favour at such a young age.] She wasn't surprised though as that was an attitude most nobles possessed and commonly displayed at every social gathering and it wasn't strange for their children to imitate or mirror such attitude.

"As expected of someone related to the third Princess." Someone praised.

Aristia paused.

[How did I get involved?!]

Nevertheless, she smiled at them.

The mini tea party held by Liam went on with the usual discussions, but mostly with the noble children currying favour with those who were from families with higher statuses or titles.

Soon, Duchess Alistair, the hostess of the tea party, sent a servant to announce that it was time for the tea party to begin.

The children were led back to the garden the tea party was being hosted in and led to their seats. The seats were given according to their positions and status.

Normally, The Grand Duke who was the brother of the King, was supposed to sit at the head of the table as he had the highest status at the tea party since the King, his brother was not present. But because he wasn't the host, he sat at the left side of the host, his wife and children taking the seats next to him. Alistair, the hostess sat at the right side of the host, Maxim Anton, who was her husband, with their children beside her. The other nobles also took their seats.

With a short speech from Maxim, the tea party officially began and conversations were continued. Servants walked around the table serving snacks and filling teacups. This time, Aristia added the sugar into her tea herself. She also didn't forget about her brother who was beside her.

Nobles engaged in small talk around her, craftily sending out words with hidden swords and poison laced tongues. Aristia listened with half interest and half boredom to the same method of noble currying favour from people of higher statuses. No one could tell that she was listening as she was staring at the tea and snacks placed in front of her. She was about to turn away from the conversation when she heard an interesting piece of news from some gossiping nobles.

"I heard that Marquis Oswalt brought back a child. I wonder if that's true." Aristia turned to the person who spoke. Aristia matched the features with those she was taught in the history class; Strawberry blonde hair and light brown eyes. It was a countess; Eleanor Splane, the wife of Earl Cedric Splane.

"I heard the child is already five years old." It was a Viscountess who had Auburn hair and brown eyes; Svetlana Essylt, wife of Viscount Leonard Essylt.

"A Mistress?" Another noblewoman spoke.

"Oh, poor Marchioness." Viscountess Amelia Everett spoke with pity, one hand over her mouth. She was the mother of Vasily and there was a close resemblance between them. Though, she had light blue hair and pink eyes.

[Oh, a cheat?] Aristia thought when she analyzed the conversation.

Little mention of her was present in the book. The Marchioness got married to the Marquis at sixteen years of age, and the Marquis twenty one. She was currently twenty three, while the twenty eight. She tried to think of any additional information the book had provided but she couldn't. Instead, she focused on analyzing what she had heard.

So, the child being five years old already meant that the Marquis probably had an affair two years after they had gotten married or already had an affair before the two years and only managed to impregnate the mistress after two years into his marriage, that is, when the Marchioness was eighteen years old.

Aristia discreetly looked around and noticed that the Marchioness in question was not present at the tea party.

As she looked around, her eyes stopped at a noblewoman with yellow hair and yellow eyes.

[Hmm... I'm surprised her hair doesn't make her look like a rotten vegetable.] Aristia thought.

The lady was pretty. In fact, every noble in this tea party was handsome and pretty. There were just different levels of beauty.

Coincidentally, the noblewoman opened her mouth to speak just as Aristia had that thought.

"The Marquis needed an heir and the Marchioness could not give him any." The woman, Duchess Matilda Winston said elegantly.