5 The Empress's Invitation

''I see.''

There was no surprise or traces of panic in Isla's gaze. She simply used her free right hand to carry the teacup and sipped more tea.

Her aloof behavior also stunned Spencer and Amelia. Their duchess of before would be happy with this occasion, as an invitation from the imperial palace is a good thing, especially if it is from the pampered and loved Empress of the Emperor.

Knowing their duchess, she would want to inform the duke immediately. Now...she looks unconcerned, as if an invitation from the Empress is nothing but trash.

'What happened?' Spencer wanted to know where the bright and cheery duchess disappeared to, after the pregnancy discovery. Even the duke's indifference did not stop the duchess from being that way.

'Unless...' Spencer's eyes shook at the realization that appeared in his thoughts.

''Spencer, please state why her imperial majesty called for me.'' Isla dropped her teacup on the saucer and continued to gaze at the flowers. But if one should look closely, her distant eyes flickered with various emotions like she recalled a memory....one of her painful memories.

Hiding his thoughts to himself, Spencer tore open the envelope and brought out the folded card. Amelia collected the torn envelope from him, and he opened the card to read the words.

''A tea party...Her Imperial majesty says it's been a long time since the duke and duchess have visited the palace. She hopes to see you at her tea party with other noble ladies.''

After stating the relevant words, Spencer lowered the card and looked at the duchess.

''Um,'' Isla nodded, still with her distant eyes, and then asked, ''When is it?''

''The tea party is in two days, duchess,'' replied Spencer.

Isla did not say anything for a moment as the wind caressed her face, making her long silver hair flutter in a wavelike movement. She closed her eyes to enjoy the console from nature, as everything that happened in her second life would take place once again.

And the first thing was the Empress's invitation. It was the same words, and the same person delivered the envelope to the duchy.

The Empress's tea party was also the place she finally met the woman who stole her husband from her and her son.

'Looks like things will get noisy again,' Her closed eyes revealed the familiar color similar to the sky on a clear sunny day, and Isla turned her gaze to Spencer and Amelia. Her only words to them were, ''Prepare for the tea party.''

---

''My lady, this is beautiful!'' Amelia gushed out like a fan meeting her favorite celebrity. She continued to nod her head as she walked around the standing Isla.

Isla let out a small laugh as she looked at herself in the mirror of her dressing room.

''They got the style right.'' The designer's rushed work satisfied her.

The day she got the Empress's invitation was the same day she called for her designer. For this kind of event, noble ladies would beautify themselves with expensive gowns, shoes, and excessive jewelry. They do not do it for show but for many reasons. Unmarried noble ladies would want to attract potential husbands, and the married ones would want to brag about their husbands spending money on them and show that their marriage is perfect, like a fairytale.

She was neither of those ladies in her second life. She only adorned herself to attract her husband's attention and hid the sad life of her marriage from curious eyes.

Isla put a hand on her still flat belly and nodded, ''It is not tight, which is good.''

''My lady, are you sure you don't want to wear more jewelry?'' Amelia still voiced her concern.

''No, the dress is okay like this,'' Isla shook her head as she admired the A-line light blue tulle gown with its beaded strap around her waist, her hair embellished with a flower headband on the single middle braid and a plain earring.

It was a simple, elegant, free dress and style, unlike the uncomfortable tight corsets and puffy gowns.

'This is me from my first life,' She twirled around, making the tail of the long dress follow her movement.

Seeing that everything was fine, Isla stopped her twirls and said to Amelia, ''Let's go.''

''Yes, my lady.''

----

''Your grace...should I tell the duke?'' Spencer brought this matter to Isla, who was about to enter the carriage. He did not know what to do as her behavior for the past month told him that she did not associate with the duke anymore, and it scared him because he could see how much she truly cared for the duke.

Isla paused at his words, then boarded the carriage. ''Do what you want, Spencer.''

Another meaning behind those words was, 'I don't care if you tell him or not.'

Spencer smiled sadly. Somehow, he had a feeling that the duke had lost something precious and might never get it back.

Once Isla entered the carriage, the coachman closed the door, and Spencer, along with the lined-up servants, bowed, ''Have a safe trip to the palace, your grace.'

The carriage began to move until it disappeared from the now-standing servants' sight.

''Does her grace....not love the duke anymore?'' One of the servants hesitantly asked Spencer.

''...I don't know,'' That was the only answer he could give to the curious servants. Soon after, he added, ''Our mistress' business is not our concern. Everyone should continue their morning chores.''

Since the curious servants could not get a definite answer from the Butler, they heeded his order and scattered away like blown-away leaves.

''Your grace...have you given up on the duke because of his affair?'' Spencer whispered to himself, as that was the only reason he could come up with for the duchess' aloof behavior.

If it were any other noble, Spencer would have felt the wife was correct in giving up on her husband because of his affair, but the person in question is the duke. Someone he looked after from birth with the late duchess.

''Bennett...I pray your son will not do what you did that caused you to die with regrets.'' He called the name of an old friend, his close friend, and the father of the duke.

''After all, you were the cause of the late duchess's death.''

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