Humphrey House.
Young Lady Humphrey was startled while checking replies to invitations.
"Oh my!"
"What's the matter?"
The maid pouring tea into an empty teacup asked. Lady Humphrey was so surprised that she dropped her paoran cigarette into the teacup.
"Goodness. Throw this away and make a new one."
While the maid took the teacup away, Lady Humphrey read the reply several times over. It was written following proper form, so no matter how many times she read it, there was nothing special about it. But Lady Humphrey nodded as if impressed and closed her eyes.
"Count Avondale is attending our party."
He was an ill-mannered young man who only showed his face at parties he absolutely had to attend, then disappeared completely once the minimum required time had passed. The elderly gentlemen and ladies disapproved of his behavior that barely maintained minimum courtesy, the middle-aged calculated the benefits they could gain from being friendly with Avondale and tried to exchange at least one more word with him. And the young people.......
Lady Humphrey, who still believed she belonged to the young crowd, thought.
The young people were rather divided. Some condemned his rudeness, while others cheered. Of course, those who cheered were also divided for two reasons. One cheered for the magical engineer Cider Claiborne, and the other for the handsome young Count Avondale.
"Either way, such a person raises the status of a party just by attending."
Lady Humphrey, pleased with herself, read the reply again.
"A ward?"
She seemed to have heard such talk before. It was a story that barely circulated among the working class, but in high society, one needed to keep one's ears open to such people as well.
"She has never shown her face anywhere yet."
That Avondale was coming out to introduce his ward, and a proper lady at that. He would be inevitably trapped at the party venue all day long. Lady Humphrey giggled and picked up her pen. Then she happily signed a catalog advertising lawn-mowing automatons.
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"What a magnificent party."
That was all she could say. When Esperanza, dressed splendidly enough to not look ridiculous, and Cider, dressed just enough to maintain proper courtesy, stepped down from the carriage, a garden appeared where lawn-mowing automatons clanked around.
Lord Humphrey was quite wealthy even 13 years later, and it seemed the same was true now. Rabbit-shaped automatons with bow ties hopped around cutting the grass. There was no way they would show guests the sight of tending the garden. This was deliberately brought out to show off the new automatons.
'The nouveau riche feeling is still there too.'
It was an honest thought. Though there was also personal grudge against Humphrey.
"When you said garden party, I naturally thought it would be outdoors."
"It's the trend these days, they say."
She had thought of a party held at most under awnings. But what the Humphrey family had prepared was actually a greenhouse. The spacious greenhouse was no different from a party hall. Except for the grass laid on the floor with paths made like trails.
An opera singer was singing on a stage draped with trees like a fairy forest.
"It's truly a rarely good party."
A lady holding a feather fan exclaimed in admiration.
It was understandable. Vines climbing up to the greenhouse ceiling. Clusters of blooming flowers. The scent of alcohol stronger than the flower fragrance. Boy-shaped automatons creaked around serving guests. It seemed like an effort to recreate a party of the Olympian gods.
"Those automatons seem a bit out of place for this atmosphere."
"All servants are like that."
Esperanza whispered quietly, and Cider answered with a snort. Since such talk would also be rude to Lady Humphrey, their conversation was conducted very quietly.
"Avondale, what brings you to such a place?"
A well-dressed gentleman approached Cider. Cider ostentatiously showed off the arm that Esperanza was holding.
"Is she your fiancée?"
"Strictly speaking, she's my ward."
Out of courtesy, the gentleman introduced himself first.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss. I'm George Byron."
"I'm Esperanza Hunter, Mr. Byron."
The man kissed the back of Esperanza's hand.
"Miss Hunter, may I ask you for a dance?"
Cider sighed. His face said 'I knew this would happen,' so Esperanza glanced at him.
"Avondale, surely you won't stop me from dancing one song with your ward?"
Even when there was an open lover or fiancé, they couldn't prevent dancing. Though they could block specific partners.
"Esperanza is making her debut in society today. It would have been good to have a chaperone, but as you can see. It would be nice if you could introduce her to the ladies."
"......Then please give me the dance card. I can move my turn to later."
Byron didn't give up. Esperanza eventually sighed quietly as she watched George Byron's name written in the eighth spot out of ten.
"Is it okay to refuse to dance?"
"This isn't your first party either, is it? Of course it's okay to refuse."
"But back then, it didn't matter what I said."
Esperanza wasn't the only Hunter introduced to society. In high society where Hunters and ordinary people were properly mixed, a Hunter's refusal was considered a clear refusal. The Hunter Association strongly protected Hunters, and no one could pick a fight with Hunters who could resort to immediate force.
"You can't do that here."
"I know that much."
The party hall filled with gentle melodies. Cider guided Esperanza to Lady Humphrey, the hostess of this party.
"Oh my, you came. I was so busy I didn't even know you'd arrived."
She had reason to be busy. Lady Humphrey was in the midst of sharing automaton catalogs with the surrounding ladies. She must have bragged about the lawn-mowing automatons placed in the garden.
"Count Avondale, won't you introduce the young lady beside you?"
"Of course. This is my ward, Miss Esperanza Hunter. She lived in Paolun with her father before returning home."
"And her father?"
"He has passed away."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Lady Humphrey."
Lady Humphrey worried whether she had made an unnecessary slip of the tongue.
"Since it's really alright, how about guiding her to some distinguished ladies who could introduce her around?"
Cider, cutting off what seemed like an endless stream of apologies, spoke. Lady Humphrey clapped her hands together.
"Yes, that would be good. Quite a few people are in attendance. Who would be good? Lady Shodney? Lady Lancaster? Lady Perth? Mrs. Stanley? Baron Mabelwood? Count Murray?"
Obviously Baron Mabelwood.
"Lady Perth would be good."
"Oh, that would be nice."
Before Esperanza could say anything about Cider's unexpected words, Lady Humphrey guided them to Lady Perth. The table where the elderly ladies sat was bustling. Among them, the oldest yet most vigorous-looking old lady was Lady Perth.
"What brings you here, Avondale!"
Lady Perth welcomed Cider with a big laugh.
"I thought you'd caught some disease that killed you if you entered a party hall!"
"That couldn't be."
"Since you didn't come to my party. Well, looking at you, this party seems to have a purpose. Isn't that right, Miss Hunter?"
"Pleased to meet you, Madam."
"Call me Lady Perth. Nice to meet you. I see there are already names on your dance card. Avondale, did you claim your ward's dance? This young lady must still have many places to pay her respects."
Esperanza rolled her eyes downward at the suddenly stern attitude.
"It wasn't me, it was Byron's doing."
Cider didn't tolerate any misunderstanding unfavorable to him for even a moment.
"Byron, so it was that fellow's doing. The men of that family can spot a beauty from a hundred paces away. Miss Hunter, if Byron clings to you, shake him off without mercy."
"Right, right. Mr. Byron isn't exactly the courteous type."
Mrs. Lambert, who was with them, also spoke cheerfully.
"Does Mr. Byron have a bad reputation?"
"Not exactly. But for unmarried young ladies, he's certainly not a good choice."
"You shouldn't associate with a rake like Byron. Avondale, you'll need to watch your ward carefully. Look there, look at that pack of wolves."
The group of gentlemen who desperately avoided the side with the terrifying old ladies were glancing this way.
"Count, pay attention. Don't even think about enjoying the party!"
"If it's a young lady who's new to society and doesn't know anyone, the Count should naturally pay attention. But I think it would be better for the Count to deal with those gentlemen while we introduce the young lady."
"Oh?"
"The Count doesn't know anyone either, Alice. Now, Miss Hunter. What do you think?"
Esperanza looked back and forth between Cider, who frowned at the thought of going among the men, and the ladies. Cider mouthed 'Don't betray me.'
The decision was quick. There was no hesitation.
"When the ladies are kind enough to take care of me, I'm naturally grateful."
"Haha, good thinking, Miss Hunter. Avondale, what are you doing? Go see your dear alumni."
Cider headed toward the wine bar with a truly disgusted expression. The gentlemen immediately grabbed him and started chattering about this and that.
"Those idiots. If there's one thing Avondale does well, it's keeping his distance from idiots."
"He's also good at inventing."
Esperanza added matter-of-factly.
"That...... yes, that must be acknowledged. But that's not what we're talking about! Socially, he's completely useless."
Still, she couldn't join in badmouthing the patron who fed, clothed, and housed her, so Esperanza remained quiet. Lady Perth said with a laugh:
"When old people complain, they don't really mean it. Unlike those fellows who go around lifting innocent young ladies' skirts, or those who frequent opera singers' houses every other day. Compared to such scoundrels, he's quite wholesome."
"Though he's so wholesome it's a bit dangerous. We're not saying we'll play matchmaker, but Miss Hunter, isn't there any lady Lord Avondale shows interest in? No, not necessarily a lady."
Lady Perth gave a hint, but Mrs. Lambert paid no attention. But women for Cider Claiborne? It wasn't a matter of lady or not. No, it wasn't even a matter of distinguishing between women and men in the first place. Esperanza wrinkled her nose bridge and said:
"Lord Avondale...... likes gears."