Tea Party

"Good morning Father, Mother."

"Good morning.", replied count Antonio as countess Victoria was ready at her dining table to start today's breakfast.

"Where's Martha?"

"I'm here brother.", the girl with hair the color of corn stepped up to sit on the chair opposite her older brother.

The four people in the family started their breakfast solemnly. Until one by one they seemed to have finished with their food.

"Didn't you go to the farm yesterday, Matias?"

"No, Father. Yesterday I intended to meet Rodrigues to take him to see the estate. But because of the incident on Hawkins Road, I chose to go home instead. Ah, yes I just remembered, has Mr. Luigi fixed the locks on the carriage yet?"

"Your carriage lock has a problem, Matias?"

"Yes, Mother. I'll have a hard time if the door locks itself while I'm inside, although I might be able to ask Mr. Luigi for help to open it with a tool. But I think... the lever lock should be replaced with a new one."

"I received an invitation to tea this afternoon at duchess Valerie's residence. Would you like to come with me?"

"Hmm. I don't think so, Martha. I just want to stay at home today. I'm knitting a sweatshirt for your father."

"Well, you're lucky Dad! I see Mom loves you very much."

"Hahaha. Of course Matias! I hope one day... you'll have a wife like your mom.", with a smile one of Count Antonio's hands reached out to hold his wife's hand for a few moments.

A few hours passed.

"You look well Matias!"

"Of course Rodrigues. I canceled seeing you yesterday. I think you know why."

"Yes. Everyone was talking about the incident on Hawkins Street. And I thought... something was wrong with the explosion at the archive building."

"Why do you think that, Rodrigues?"

"I don't know! My hunch is that something bad happening in a government building is no coincidence. But someone is behind it. Ah, never mind! We don't need to discuss that."

"Shall we leave now, Rodrigues?"

The man, who was Matias' best friend, agreed to his friend's invitation to go right now to the wine estate located in the southwest of the city. It was where Matias had been working all this time. The manager of the government-owned vineyard entrusted Matias to lead his workers in the garden. Meanwhile, Matias had promised Rodrigues to help him provide research objects for the grapes in their region. Rodrigues did so in order to fulfill an assignment from his college institution.

The horse-drawn carriage carrying them was now traveling along Hawkins Street. What could be seen now was the condition of the half-demolished archive building. There was still a bit of rubble left on one side of the red brick building.

And Matias, replayed the memory in his mind when Nivea helped him open the carriage door from the outside, with great ease. The man didn't tell anyone that Nivea did that. He wasn't sure that Nivea's miraculous powers were known by many people. The figure of that sweet little sister always haunted him. He was never able to forget Nivea's smile, especially the smile when they were first introduced.

"Are you daydreaming, Matias?"

"Ah, no. I was just looking at the street."

"So, when are you getting married?"

"What? Hahaha. You're dreaming Rodrigues! Who should I get married to? This is not the time for me to think about marriage."

"Hahaha. You think I'm stupid and ignorant? You've liked that girl since you were in third year. Have you never told her?"

"Ah, hahaha. How could you say that, Rodrigues? You can't just guess!"

"I don't know! What's clear is... I'm not someone who is easily lied to."

Matias chose to remain silent, his brown eyes returning to looking out at the street through the small window beside him.

Before they knew it, the horse-drawn carriage had arrived at their destination vineyard. Rodrigues followed behind Matias' body who was ready to help him conduct research with the equipment brought by Rodrigues.

---

A shady afternoon had arrived. Martha Virginia Lawrence attended an invitation to a tea party at the residence of the duchess Valerie who was the mother of a young man named Daniel, one of her friends from school.

"Good afternoon duchess Valerie, I thank you for your invitation. It is an honor to visit you.", Martha bowed slightly before her host.

"Ah, good afternoon Miss Martha. I am also very grateful that you have bothered to come here."

"No ma'am, it's certainly no trouble for me. I am very pleased that you have invited me to this banquet."

"Good afternoon everyone. I apologize if I was rude.", Nivea bowed slightly before the two people in conversation. She had just arrived wearing a lilac-colored dress with a few pearls sprinkled on the chest.

"Ah, you have arrived, Miss Nivea."

"Thank you for your banquet invitation duchess Valerie. I really appreciate your invitation. "

"Yes, I hope you enjoy this simple banquet.", replied the hostess with a faint smile. "Then, I will greet the others first. You guys talk!"

Duchess Valerie departed towards the front of her residence. Nivea and Martha were left there.

"Did you come alone, Miss Nivea?"

"Ah, of course Miss Martha. I didn't bring Seri this time. You look very beautiful in that dress Miss Martha."

"Ah, is it really Miss Nivea? I'm honored to hear that. You've always looked beautiful too, Miss Nivea. You don't even realize you've made my brother...."

"Hmm? Your brother? What's wrong with your brother?"

"Ah, no! No Miss Nivea. I just... Hahaha. I'm afraid I misspoke."

"Hahaha. Alright. Never mind! Come on Miss Martha, let's find a seat so we can enjoy their treats."

The two girls began to walk hand in hand towards the empty guest seats on the side near the pillars of the building. And both of them almost simultaneously plopped down on their respective seats.

A male servant was serving two cups of hot tea on a small round table in the center of Nivea and Martha. Followed by a female servant who also served a snack of wheat biscuits and sweet bread.

"Hmm. This tea is really good Miss Martha. I love the aroma.", she put down the cup of green tea she had just enjoyed.

"Yes, you are right Miss Nivea. We should also try this sweetbread.", Martha reached for a sweetbread with berry jam on it. Nivea did the same with her.

"Hmm. I think your bread is better, Miss Nivea.", Martha said in a whisper after taking a third bite of the sweet bread in her hand.

"Hahaha. You almost made me choke, Miss Martha. You flatter me too much. How could the bread prepared for this banquet not have good taste quality."

"But I'm telling the truth, Miss Nivea. Your bread also tastes softer than this bread."

"In that case, next time you should buy my bread when you come back to my shop."

"Of course, Miss! I will never get tired of enjoying all your breads. And of course Matias......."

"Hmm? What about Matias?"

"Ah, that. Hahaha. No!"

"What's wrong with you Miss Martha, twice you've left your sentence hanging like that. What's wrong with your brother?"

"Nothing Miss Nivea. It's just that... Matias... He... Also really likes your bread."

"Ah, well, I'm very happy and grateful if my bread is liked by many people."