Chapter Two

To those of high status, springtime was the season for social events.

Summer would also bring people together here and there, as nobles usually threw huge balls. It was an important season for the unmarried youth because it gave them the opportunity to search for potential marriage partners.

At the tea party held by the Flaubert earldom, which I’d married into, information was being exchanged all over the place. This one family’s son is this old; that other family’s daughter is with a man likethat. In this corner of our colorful garden, the flowers of chatter bloomed.

While learning the ropes of hosting next to my mother-in-law, I focused my ears wholly on the conversations around me. The more lively the exchanges, the more opportunities for reporting there would be for Agnès Vivier. You never knew what conversations hid hints for stories. Ever since my debut in high society, I’d been using rumors gathered from eavesdropping as references for my creations.

“...even though her oldest son finally came home.”

“It’s just too bad. She was still so young.”

“Her husband, younger son, and that son’s wife passed on before her, after all. She was so depressed.”

“Yet she still did her best for her grandchild...”

Not all of the talk I heard was happy. While some houses had been blessed with new children born in the winter, others had endured losing family members. A noblewoman from some house had died, and another’s master had fallen ill. These unfortunate incidents were spoken of too.

“Oh, right. A story by Agnès Vivier was inChersie again.”

Just when I was starting to relax a little, I overheard a different kind of topic. I could feel my ears perking up.Who was that just now?! My eyes unconsciously scanned the area. I was excited to hear some opinions on my work.

“Yes, we readChersie in my home as well. It’s starting