The Obsession of a Fallen Paladin

Chapter 18. Eve’s Tea Party (3)

“Kasha! Margaret!”

As soon as they entered the grand estate, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed, and Eve appeared, her face beaming.

“I was so nervous last night that I could barely sleep! Hehe.” Her cheeks were flushed, and only half of her hair was braided.

Behind her, a maid was rushing down the stairs, looking rather flustered.

“Young Lady! You can’t just run off in the middle of getting dressed!”

“Hehe. But my sisters are here! I have two dear sisters now!” Eve exclaimed, holding onto Kasha and Margaret’s sleeves with both hands, clinging to them in her excitement.

Having met a few times to plan the tea party, Eve’s attachment had grown immensely, like a loyal puppy. She was utterly charming in her open affection.

Kasha gently patted Eve’s platinum-blonde hair.

“Still, you should go finish braiding your hair.”

“Okay! I’ll be right back, Kasha!” Eve responded brightly before rushing back to the maid.

Kasha savored the lingering softness of Eve’s hair in her hand, so similar to Leon’s radiant locks.

Was his hair just as soft and fragrant?

If she touched it, what kind of expression would he make?

She caught herself smiling, amused by the thought.

Margaret waved to her from across the hall.

“Kasha! I asked them to set up tables in the garden. Let’s go check.”

“Yes.”

Kasha quickly joined her.

In the span of just a few meetings, the two had grown quite close; they had even dropped formalities by their second visit.

Together, they crossed the drawing room that led to the garden.

This was Kasha’s third time visiting the grand estate, and she was becoming familiar with its layout both inside and out.

The servants, too, seemed accustomed to seeing them around, greeting them politely as they passed.

Margaret paused to admire the arched stained glass doors leading to the garden.

“This is an early imperial design. You’d be hard-pressed to find pieces like this, even in a museum.”

“Is that so?”

Margaret chuckled at Kasha’s nonchalant response.

“When you first asked me to help prepare for the Grand Lady’s tea party, I thought you were joking. Who would have guessed we’d be coming and going from this estate as if it were our own home?”

“Hmm.”

“Did you know, Kasha? The number of young ladies who’ve been invited here can be counted on one hand across all of society.”

“Really?”

“Yes! People would lose their minds if they knew. I bet out of sheer jealousy, someone would end up spilling a glass of wine on our dresses.”

‘Margaret probably hasn’t experienced a wine glass attack yet,’ Kasha thought, amused.

Then she paused, slightly taken aback as Margaret naturally linked arms with her.

“Kasha, I feel like wonderful things keep happening whenever I’m with you.”

“I feel the same.”

Kasha replied, now comfortable with Margaret’s affectionate gestures.

She realized that a “friend” was someone who could effortlessly bring warmth to one’s heart. Kasha’s smile, as she looked at Margaret, felt more genuine than ever.

Just then, a servant approached and placed a table down. Margaret quickly gestured, shaking her head.

“No, no. Not there. Place it over here, where it has a full view of the garden.”

Pointing to the courtyard in front of the fountain, Margaret directed with confidence.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Since we chose this spot by the fountain, let’s aim for a cooler color palette.”

Margaret turned to the table linens that the maids had brought out, comparing the shades thoughtfully.

Then, addressing the maids, she added.

“As I mentioned before, the theme of this tea party is freshness. We’re going for a cool atmosphere to make guests forget the summer heat. Could you ask the gardener to gather an abundance of blue-toned flowers in baskets?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Watching the maids busily arrange the linens, Kasha spoke up.

“I’ll go find the gardener. You’ve got everything else under control here.”

“Thank you, Kasha.”

Margaret’s gratitude was sincere, even though she had been the one to ask for help. She was managing everything so flawlessly that Kasha hardly had anything left to do.

In fact, it was a relief to have something to keep her occupied rather than standing around awkwardly.

‘I’d better go find the gardener.’

Picking up a nearby basket, she made her way deeper into the garden.

As expected of a grand estate, the mansion occupied a sprawling plot of land even within the capital.

The garden was filled not only with meticulously pruned trees but also with various exotic and rare plants.

Given its size, finding the gardener would take some time.

Wandering through the vast garden, Kasha soon found herself absorbed in observing the plants, momentarily forgetting her initial purpose.

“Oh? This wild herb only grows in the southern continent…”

Though she was quite knowledgeable about plants, she saw several species she had never encountered before.

“This one’s blood-staunch grass… quite rare. And this herb is used to reduce fevers.”

She began gathering a few leaves from the medicinal herbs, including the blood-staunch grass, as if under a spell.

‘If I brew these into tea, it might help Leon…’

Focused on collecting herbs, Kasha eventually reached the northern edge of the garden.

The area seemed somewhat neglected, perhaps because it was rarely visited by the residents. Around a small, abandoned greenhouse, weeds grew high.

‘It’s so hot.’

Looking for some shade to cool off, she spotted a tall deciduous tree near the old greenhouse.

As she rested in the shade, she noticed a patch of small plants adorned with tiny purple blossoms, causing her eyes to widen.

“These are… honeysuckle blooms.”

She stared at the low-growing plants, momentarily lost in thought.

‘If you pluck a honeysuckle bloom and sip the nectar, it tastes sweet.’

An old memory surfaced, along with a face she thought she had forgotten.

‘It’s been a while since I last thought of Mother.’

Without realizing it, Kasha reached out, gently plucking a cluster of purple flowers and placing them in her mouth. A sweet, nostalgic taste spread across her tongue, transporting her to a time that felt as distant as another lifetime.

She closed her eyes, savoring the taste, until she suddenly sensed someone’s presence.

When she opened her eyes, she found someone standing before her, arms crossed, watching her intently.

Silver hair shimmered in the light, paired with pale green eyes that seemed filled with melancholy. The young man had a frail, almost delicate appearance, as if his skin had never seen sunlight.

It was the boy she had seen in Leon’s study portrait—now a tall adult man.

“Anthony Aranias?”

His name slipped from her lips without thinking, and he frowned slightly, a look that only intensified his sharp, unwell aura.

“You know my name? We haven’t met before.”

At his curt tone, Kasha felt a bit awkward and replied, “Oh, I saw your portrait. In Lord Leon’s… study.”

Anthony Aranias, Leon’s younger brother, raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued.

“From Leon’s study, you say?”

“Yes.”

Kasha maintained a calm expression, and Anthony offered a gentle smile, his prickly demeanor melting away.

“Ah, then you must be the lady who’s been visiting often lately. I heard you were helping with Eve’s tea party preparations.”

“Yes, I’m Kasha Ruschino.” Kasha introduced herself, giving a polite curtsy as was customary.

At the sound of her name, Anthony’s expression flickered briefly, but he quickly masked it before she could notice.

“…I see. Pleased to meet you. My sister must be causing you quite a bit of trouble.”

“No, not at all.”

Despite her curt reply, Anthony continued speaking with an easy smile.

“This area is rather secluded. How did you end up here?”

“I was gathering flowers for Eve’s tea party… just exploring the garden.”

Anthony looked around as if trying to understand her explanation.

“You could have asked the gardener to handle that.”

“I was… looking for him.”

“I see. I’ll help you find him. Which flowers would you like?”

“Blue ones. The type doesn’t matter.”

“Ah, I understand.”

He nodded in acknowledgment, and Kasha found herself observing his delicate profile.

‘He really doesn’t resemble Leon at all.’

As if reading her thoughts, Anthony glanced back at her and smiled.

“I look quite different from Leon, don’t I?”

“Oh.”

Caught off guard, Kasha felt slightly embarrassed, but Anthony simply shrugged.

“That’s what most people say the first time they meet me.”

After saying this, he extended his arm, gesturing for her to follow with a courteous smile.

With a knight for a brother, known for his skills, looks, and reputation, Anthony’s life must have been challenging. Due to his poor health, he had spent much of his time in the temple and hadn’t even attended the academy. Though he was strikingly beautiful, his fragile health and the state of the Grand Duchy likely meant he hadn’t made much of a social impact either.

He must have spent his life in his brother’s shadow, constantly compared to him.

A life of feeling like one’s very existence was a disappointment or shame—Kasha understood all too well how that could eat away at a person. It had been her entire life until recently.

Looking into Anthony’s eyes, Kasha spoke slowly.

“You don’t look alike, but… unlike Lord Leon, you’re very gentle, Lord Anthony.”

“Excuse me?”

Anthony, who had been waiting for her to move, raised his silver eyebrows in surprise at her words.

“And… you’re very beautiful. Much more so than Lord Leon.”

Her tone was so earnest and sincere that it didn’t even sound like a joke. Anthony blinked, momentarily taken aback, before he let out a soft chuckle. It was a laugh far more natural than his previous polite smiles.

“…You’re an interesting person. I can see why you caught Leon’s attention.”

With that, he gazed silently into her eyes for a moment, then gestured toward the mansion.

“Shall we go back?”

“Yes.”

As they walked, Kasha noticed the abandoned greenhouse out of the corner of her eye.

“By the way, that greenhouse… it seems unused now?”

Anthony paused briefly at her question, but then he responded in a composed tone.

“Yes. It was my late mother’s. She used it to grow herbs.”

“I see.”

Kasha nodded absently, following him.

Then, it happened.

“Ah!”

She tripped and fell, her foot catching on an unseen rock in the overgrown grass.

“Are you… Oh no, you’re bleeding.”

Anthony reached out to help her, but then he hesitated.

Kasha’s hand had landed on a piece of broken glass, and crimson blood began to well up on her pale palm.

“This isn’t good…”

Anthony looked troubled as he checked his pockets, biting his lip.

“I didn’t bring a handkerchief. Let’s head back quickly; I’ll call for a doctor.”

“Oh, wait. Just a moment.”

Hearing the word “handkerchief” reminded Kasha of something.

She reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief.

It was trimmed in gold, with the initials “L. M. A” embroidered on it.

Anthony’s expression shifted as he noticed the handkerchief, though Kasha was too busy fumbling to tie it around her hand to notice.

It wasn’t easy to tie a bandage with one hand.

‘If I can’t use my hands, I’ll use my teeth.’

As she moved to bite the handkerchief to secure it, Anthony, exasperated, took her hand.

She tried to pull away, startled, but his grip was surprisingly firm.

Without a word, he took the handkerchief from her and began to wrap it gently around her hand.

“All you had to do was ask for help, you know?”

“…”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Kasha watched him as he worked.

Anthony’s fingers were long and delicate, with a softness that came from never having callouses.

Just as he was tying the final knot, a familiar, piercing voice broke through the air.

“What’s going on here?”