Chapter 34: Tea Party for the Ladies is Very Enjoyable Today As Well!

The establishment of Raphael Inc. was proceeding very rapidly.

If one wondered how a child, merely ten years old, could advance matters so smoothly, it was because her father, Edwin, was behind her.

Though Lin was the one who wanted to establish the company, he took charge of the actual management and all sorts of inconvenient and miscellaneous processes.

No matter how outstanding her business acumen and talent, it was impossible for her to handle all the complex procedures, including purchasing land for the building, all by herself.

The true owner of the company.

The Company Head, Lin Rosegarden, did not reveal herself to the public.

This was the condition her father, Edwin, had presented to his daughter in exchange for investing the funds to establish Raphael Inc.

Edwin, in Lin’s stead, appointed representatives for the Company Head, that is,

‘Presidents,’ in each subsidiary, and established a very convenient system where his daughter merely had to sit quietly in the mansion and make only a few truly important decisions.

In fact, this was one of the traditional and reliable management methods that Edwin, and his family, had used for a long time.

“How about taking a short break?”

“It’s fine.”

Of course, that didn’t mean Lin, the Company Head, was just playing around.

Raphael Inc. was planning to operate by dividing into two subsidiaries from the start.

The first was a company to manufacture safe explosives to be used in the railway industry.

The second was a potion company to help the adventurers who would flock after hearing news of a treasure ship slumbering in the forest.

Raphael Inc.’s first subsidiary.

The explosives company was practically guaranteed a monopoly market, as it was obvious there would be no competitors to speak of.

However, the second subsidiary, which would produce potions for adventurers, was entirely different.

The Rosegarden family, from which she was born. The very household that enabled her affluent life was a huge competitor.

Regarding this part, Edwin questioned Lin.

However, Lin said that unlike the general potions her family produced, she wanted to make potions for adventurers using ingredients grown in Abel Forest.

That way, adventurers who experienced the efficacy of the potions would draw many alchemists to research, and this phenomenon would nurture not only Raphael Inc. but also, furthermore, the Rosegarden family.

Edwin couldn’t help but be quite surprised at how a young child, who still confused meat knives and fish knives, could possess such foresight.

For reference, it seems what kind of item the adventurer’s potion is, is still a secret.

“What is Lin doing now?”

“She was taking a walk in the garden with the puppies until just a moment ago, and now she is said to be engrossed in potion research in the alchemy lab.”

Lin, who was carrying out the best work she could do at present.

Edwin was very proud and admirable of such a daughter, but at the same time, he felt a sense of regret at her overly mature appearance.

Of course, it wasn’t that she had stopped doing the cute things common for her age that her doting father wished for, but his heart was complicated in many ways.

‘She could just read her favorite books, rejoice at small magic, and play with her puppies in the garden….’

His departed wife’s kind heart, mixed with his own merchant temperament, made sighs of worry escape him frequently.

“Then wouldn’t it be fine to stop her?”

“Have you already forgotten what happened last time?”

Edwin, judging that if he stopped her, another major incident would erupt, decided it would be better to support her as long as it was within a range he could handle.

In fact, considering the transcontinental railway he had been planning for a long time, there was no business reason to refuse at all.

It was just that the heart of a father, wishing his cute daughter would remain a pure child for a little longer, loomed large.

“…….”

The sound of a pen scratching paper was the only thing quietly echoing in the Governor-General’s office.

The head maid, who was nearby, read her master’s troubled mind and subtly brewed some black tea, offering it to his side.

“…Thank you.”

The head maid’s quiet suggestion for a break.

Edwin, perhaps because he was indeed tired, didn’t refuse this time.

Sipping the milk-mixed black tea, his expression finally seemed to say he could live a little.

“Come to think of it, isn’t Young Lady Lin about the age to make her debut at tea parties?”

“Tea parties?”

Tea Party.

A gathering enjoyed by drinking black tea accompanied by sweet pastries, also called a tea party.

Simply put, it’s just enjoying the usual tea time with people other than family.

…To say only that, however, for nobles, tea parties were quite important social gatherings.

Unlike commoners, noble children usually live only within their castles or mansions.

A life without any deficiencies, and even if they desire something, their subordinates will procure it with just a word.

Because of this, they have no place or opportunity to make friends their own age.

Their environment is too different from that of commoner children who pick up a tree branch lying on the street, fight over who gets to be the hero, and then become friends the next day.

That being said, one couldn’t just hand a precious child a dirt-covered tree branch.

Thus, born from such contemplation, was the ‘tea party’!

The tea party is the stage right before social debut.

It can be seen as a small-scale event where one previews the social scene they will inevitably debut into upon becoming a fifteen-year-old adult, while simultaneously making friends their own age.

Compared to the social scene, which was a mix of marriage, fiancé hunting, and all sorts of political and adult’s secret affairs, it was a very wholesome and pure gathering.

For reference, boys also have tea parties.

Liking sweet pastries at a young age doesn’t discriminate by gender.

However, once they get a little older, they immediately rush to hunting grounds, shoot bows, and swing swords to become friendly.

“Soon, after her birthday, she will turn eleven, so if anything, it feels rather late.”

Social debut is at fifteen.

Tea parties usually have debuts between nine and ten years old.

Considering that, Lin, who would soon turn eleven as the head maid said, was late for her first debut.

However, Lin had been in an accident, stranded in the forest, so she hadn’t had the leisure to worry about such things.

“A tea party…. I hadn’t even thought of it.”

The tea party was practically the only way for a noble child to make friends their own age.

Thanks to his daughter, who had miraculously returned alive, he was healing a lot….

Edwin, feeling a sense of self-reproach for not having paid attention, once again keenly felt the void left by his departed wife.

“Just in time, it seems the young lady of the Rubel family is hosting a tea party.”

The head maid, as if she had been waiting, presented a white invitation to her master.

The seal closing the invitation was engraved with a snake emblem, symbolizing the Rubel family.

The Rubel family.

They were Edwin’s distant relatives, one of the ‘clans’ spread throughout the world.

Originally a family in the textile industry, they now make a fortune in finance, using that foundation.

“Above all, since the young lady of the Rubel family is also the same age as Young Lady Lin, wouldn’t it be a good opportunity to make friends?”

“Hmm.”

Edwin nodded at the head maid’s suggestion.

“At dinner tonight, I will personally deliver it.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Imagining his young daughter,

Smiling brightly with other young ladies her age….

***

“What? A tea party?”

“Yes.”

After finishing today’s tasks.

While having dinner together with the family, Dad had a maid pass a white envelope to me.

Tearing the seal and taking out the letter, it stated that a Baron’s daughter named ‘Heine Rubel’ was planning to host a tea party at her mansion and hoped for many attendees.

“Ru…bel?”

“They are distant relatives, and it is deemed very suitable for the Young Lady’s first tea party debut.”

The head maid began to add supplementary explanations about the Rubel family.

However, I didn’t need the head maid’s explanation about the Rubel family.

Because I already knew everything about what kind of family they were, and what kind of person ‘Heine Rubel’ was.

“For reference, declining a tea party invitation is considered a very grave discourtesy….”

“Yes. I’ll go.”

Upon my immediate reply, the head maid and Dad momentarily showed surprised expressions.

It seems they thought I would refuse.

‘Even so, isn’t it a bit much to lie that refusing is a discourtesy?’

‘The original story said it’s up to the individual whether to decline a tea party or not, so I know that well too…!?’

‘Of course, the inviter might be slightly disappointed… but at least it’s not an impolite act.’

“Then I will convey it to the Rubel family side as such.”

Meanwhile, perhaps worried I might change my mind, she instructed a maid to send a reply.

For reference, there’s absolutely no need to reply to a tea party invitation.

One can sufficiently reply by either showing up on the day or not.

‘Just how much of a child do they see me as….’

“Don’t worry, Lin. Unlike other lower nobles, the Rubel family are quite decent people.”

Brother Leonard says with a smile.

‘Yes. I know that as well, Brother.’

‘That the Rubel family members, contrary to public perception, are actually nicer people than expected.’

And for good reason,

Heine Rubel, the daughter of the Rubel family, is….

…

After a harmonious dinner, a few days passed.

On the day of the tea party, maids and butlers lined up to escort me to the carriage.

‘Do I really have to go to this extent just for a tea party….’

‘Is it perhaps because lately I’ve been cooped up in the alchemy lab and library and haven’t gone out much?’

‘Our young lady has perhaps become a shut-in again….’

‘Well, is that what it is…?’

And so, I took the outing carriage towards the Rubel family mansion, transferred to a train, and then took out a carriage again.

As is usual for tea parties, invitations were sent to nearby young ladies, so the distance was quite close.

Of course, it would have taken a long time without the carriage and train.

It’s incredibly grand, but still, it doesn’t seem as grand as our house.

Actually, comparing it to the Rosegarden mansion, which also serves as the Governor-General’s building and rules the entire Albion continent, seems a bit too much.

“A pleasure to meet you for the first time, Lady Lin. I am Heine Rubel.”

Upon entering the Rubel family mansion, Heine offered a dignified greeting despite her young age.

Red hair like ripe tomatoes and golden eyes shining like Imperial gold coins.

Exactly as she appeared in the few illustrations from the original work…
…
No, she looked much younger.

“Thank you sincerely for attending our tea party.”

The daughter of a merchant-background baronial family, despite her young age.

Was displaying a more disciplined etiquette than most higher noble young ladies.

“Shall we head inside then?”

As expected.

Heine, wearing a stiff, mask-like smile.

Born as the youngest daughter of the Rubel family, she lives as a cold-blooded person who distinguishes everything by profit and loss until she meets ‘him.’

Later, upon entering the Academy, she meets ‘him,’

And her heart, experiencing warm emotions for the first time, melts and soon develops into a passionate love.

That’s right.

Heine Rubel, her identity is none other than…

One of the four heroines of the protagonist, Cain, from ‘The Four Cardinal Heroes of Romance Fantasy.’