There was no absolute way she would not recognize that voice, the voice of the male lead's mother, her husband's mistress.
That voice also belonged to one of the people responsible for her son's downfall.
''Oh, you are not too late, Miss Cromwell. It's obvious you are not used to our kind of lifestyle.''
''The sun shines on the imperial family. Greetings, your imperial majesty, and thank you for the invitation.''
''Oh my, what a lovely display of posture. It seems you have been educated on the nobles' lifestyle. Do tell me about your teacher.''
Isla looked at the water in the teacup, then lifted her gaze to the Empress, who met her unshaken blue eyes with a small smile. She raised an eyebrow as if saying, 'You don't mind?'
It seems her slight pause gave away her feelings.
Isla did not do anything and merely shifted her gaze to the woman who took her place as husband's wife and mother of his child.
Just like in her second life, when the sun shines on her golden wavy hair, it sparkles, and when she blinks, her light green eyes twinkle. She was like the main character, as the female lead did not have these outstanding features.
To Isla, she was transparent like pure water as her trembling hands, and sudden pale face gave away her true thoughts. She was scared to talk about the duke, her husband, but she had no choice but to say, as she could not lie to the Empress. This was how Isla was introduced to the mistress in her second life.
''I am waiting for an answer, Miss Cromwell.'' The Empress did not mind Isla's disrespectful behavior and turned back to the angel-like lady.
''Yes your majesty,'' Annalise did not move from her curtsy position as she remembered the rules about greeting the imperial family.
''...It was Da-his grace, d-duke Hayes,'' She revealed nervously. She had an inkling that Dante, her lover's wife, was in this tea party, or else how would she get the privilege of getting invited when Dante was against anything that deals with society for her?
Immediately, gasps filled the garden, and Isla could once again feel the piercing gazes on her figure.
''Oh My!''
''That's the mistress?''
''Duke hayes?!''
''I didn't expect the rumors about his affair to be true.''
''But she's beautiful, and the duchess is also beautiful.''
Isla did not remove her gaze from the bowing woman. Her devoid gaze did not falter as she continued to stare at her.
''I see, so you are the third party in duke Hayes' marriage.'' The Empress's words were painful but truthful to Annalise, but she knew she was a third party in Dante's marriage. The Empress dismissed Annalise with her hand, ''Please do rise and take a seat.''
''Thank you, your majesty,'' Annalise lifted her head to see other ladies, but the first thing she saw was icy blue eyes. It was cold to the point she had an illusion of her body freezing forever.
Then she noticed the silver hair, and without anyone telling her, she knew this was her lover's wife, Duchess Hayes.
Annalise could see rumors about beauty were true.
Now that she had seen the wife face to face, she couldn't help but think of one of her romantic moments with Dante.
''Dante, I hear rumors about the duchess's beauty, and I wonder why you like a poor commoner like me when you have a beautiful wife?'' Annalise was cuddled in his arms as they enjoyed a peaceful and romantic atmosphere in their small home.
''Annalise, my wife is beautiful, but in my eyes, you are so much more.'' He pecked her forehead while tightening his hold on her waist with his chin near her forehead. ''We are in an arranged marriage, and I am not happy.''
''But..''
''Shh,'' He placed his index finger on her plump lips and lowered his red eyes filled with so much love to her eyes, ''I know what you will say, but I can't be happy with her. You are the one for me, Annalise. Just wait until I can proudly show you as my love and wife.''
Annalise could see that he truly meant his words, and her lips formed into a smile after he had removed his finger.
''Okay, then I will wait.''
After their words, they both shared an intimate kiss on the bed.
'I am sorry for destroying your marriage, but Dante is not happy with you and I as well...' She did not complete those words in her heart as she was not ready to face that problematic aspect, which could destroy her happy life.
Putting aside those thoughts, Annalise did not know what to do now.
Should she greet or ignore her lover's wife?
It was not only her. Other ladies were wondering what duchess Hayes would do in this situation. She is facing her husband's mistress.
Contrary to their wild imaginations, the duchess lowered her fingers to hold the teacup handle and sipped her tea. Her expression remained the same like the mistress was nothing in her eyes.
Even after drinking from her teacup, the latter raised her gaze to the mistress once again, ''Her imperial majesty asked you to sit, and you are still standing.'' Then she turned to the Empress, ''It seems there is another that disrespects your imperial majesty.''
She spoke as if nothing was going on.
Annalise was embarrassed about being called out. She did not expect the duchess to treat her like that and quickly apologized before following the maid, who showed her the assigned seat.
The Empress stared at Isla temporarily before looking at Annalise, ''I suppose miss Cromwell's dress is also from the duke?''
Annalise faced the Empress on the opposite end of the table. She glanced at the duchess and, seeing the latter also looking at her. She blushed and stuttered out an answer, ''Y-Yes, your majesty.''
''I see, duke Hayes is generous indeed.'' The Empress nodded like she was learning something new.
Once again, the Empress's behavior brought questions to other ladies and madams.
Is she trying to get on duchess hayes' bad side?
Even if duke hayes did not love her, the grand duke is still behind her, and she is still the duchess, not divorced.
There were wonders, and assumptions going on in their minds, but they couldn't find a way to talk as the atmosphere was really strange. Even if they bully the mistress, Duke Hayes is behind her, so what could they do?
Nothing.
However, one madam, who has been looking for a chance to get her honor from the duchess, broke the silence, ''Is this dress from Flair boutique?''
''Yes?'' Annalise looked at a woman who sat on her left.
''Flair boutique?''
''Oh my, the duke..''
''But the duchess's clothes..''
Everyone could see that Isla's clothes were not from that expensive boutique. Even before she changed style, none of her clothes were from that boutique. The difference between the duke's treatment was as clear as day.
Some ladies and madams who thought about the future decided to form a connection with the mistress. Who knows if the duke can do something else...like divorce?
Marchioness chauvez smiled when she saw things were in her favor. The Empress did not say anything, so she was safe.
She also studied the duchess' expression, but the latter did not give her a side glance and continued drinking from her teacup.
'Hmph! Keep pretending,' The marchioness snorted in her heart and then looked at her, the person who helped her.
Even if this person also took her daughter's position in the duke's life, she found her likable a bit.
At least for her family, it is good to be connected with someone likely to be the second duchess hayes.
Isla did not need to look as this happened in her previous life, from the marchioness' words to the dress to their change of behavior.
Then she sat from beginning to end as she thought leaving the tea party would be disgraceful, but sitting with hypocritical people like them is much more despicable.
Like her previous conjecture, if she suffers indirectly from her son's fate, then her husband's mistress enjoys indirectly from the male lead's fate, which was her son.
Clank!
Isla dropped her teacup loudly on the saucer to silence the noise. Without facing other ladies, she turned to Empress, ''Your majesty, I would like to retire to my home as the doctor said troublesome things are not good for my health.''
Anyone knew who she was talking about at the tea party.
''Hmm...You can go, I would love to see you personally, but I have some things to ask Miss Cromwell.'' The Empress nodded with a smile, then summoned Countess Moore, who sat quietly behind her back. ''Please escort the duchess.''
Being escorted by the Empress's maid of honor is honorable for noble ladies and madams. And the duchess is the first to receive that privilege. This was also the second time the countess has escorted the duchess.
Again, the Empress's actions confused everyone at the tea party apart from Annalise.
She was the one who brought the mistress into the tea party, yet she is still behaving normally with the duchess like she had done nothing wrong. What is she trying to achieve?
Even if they wanted to know, they could not question the Empress of the Empire unless they wanted their heads disconnected from their bodies.
The marchioness did not like the Empress's actions. There was nothing she could do but swallow her grievance.
Isla stood up from her seat and curtsied to the Empress, ''Thank you, your majesty.''
Without further ado, she followed Countess Moore out of the tea party and did not look back, not even once.
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