How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 1

The Beautiful Family of the Marquess

“Oh, look, that’s the Marquess Caparoni and her daughter Alessia.”

In the garden of the Royal Palace, the women around them whispered with a sigh.

“Whenever I see her the Marchioness looks just like a Goddess. Lady Alessia is also like a fairy with her clear and dignified beauty… The dress she is wearing is also so pretty.” 

Marquess Tatiana and her daughter Alessia, from the Caparoni house, were in the midst of a pleasant conversation in front of the women.

“Oh, but Miss Miriam hasn’t shown up today either, right… SInce her body is weak, going out is…”

“Yes, yes. I also think so. Although I have yet to meet her in person, but with a mother and sister so beautiful… I’m sure she must be a lovely young lady.”

“Oh, in that case I have actually heard something about this from Lord Caparoni. He said stuff like: no matter how much you look at her your eyes never get tired. That’s how cute she is.”

“Well, if the Lord Caparoni, with his elfish beauty, says so himself then his younger sister must indeed be a cute little thing…  He is always bragging about her after all.” 

“She hasn’t had her debut yet, right? It’s a shame we can’t see her lined up with the other debutantes.”

A girl picked up a teacup while listening to these murmurs around her, and let out a sigh.

She was Miriam Farina Caparoni, the youngest daughter of the Marquess Caparoni that they had been talking about since earlier.

‘No one recognized me today either…’ 

Miriam was attending a tea party hosted by the Queen, along with her mother Tatiana, and her elder sister Alessia. She was troubled over the fact that, for some time now, she had failed to be acknowledged as a member of the Caparoni household. She always ended up fading away into the background when with her exceedingly beautiful family.    

‘I always accompany my mother and sister to the garden and tea parties they attend. And I’ve already had my debut. Rather, I’ve even attended quite a few evening parties, but still… I wonder why I’m supposed to be in bed with sickness… if anything, my health is the one thing I have in my favour.’

Miriam argued with the whispers around her in her head. 

The people in the Caparoni household adored the youngest daughter, Miriam. They always brought her with them no matter where they went, and she rarely left their side.

However, those around her never recognized her as a person from the Caparoni family.

Her father was known as ‘masterpiece of the Gods’, her mother was renowned as the ‘incarnation of a Goddess’. Her elder brother was the heri known for his ‘elfish beauty’ while her sister was like a fairy princess extolled as the ‘flower of high society’.  

In the midst of such a beautiful family, Miriam looked like she had inherited the slightly disappointing features of her mother and father. Nevertheless, that was just in comparison to her family.

The so-called disappointing features belonged to those who were originally said to be a masterpiece or a Goddess, so she was actually quite a beautiful lady. 

However, when with her family, the ‘quite a beautiful lady’ would fade into the background; she didn’t enter people’s sights nor did she leave a lasting impression on anyone.

Therefore, Miriam, who was doted on by her family and so always had someone accompany her to places, would end up being overlooked by the people around her.

The people came to the conclusion that the youngest daughter who never participated in society (as believed by the people) was a sick and ephemeral beauty who had to always remain in bed. All this speculation could be owed to her older brother Leonardo who, never caring about his surroundings, would always make doting remarks about his two sisters. He had called her ‘the cutest dream-like princess’. 

Miriam could no longer bear to be around the gossiping tongues that went on speaking about her like they had done day after day. She wanted to step away from this place even for a little while, so she decided to take a walk in the gardens of the Royal Palace. 

“Mother, since we’ve come all the way here to the Royal Palace, I’d like to take a walk around the gardens.” Miriam asked her Tatiana who was sitting next to her. With a smile, Tatiana gave her assent.

“Of course, no problem. I’ve heard that the roses here are blooming beautifully. You should go enjoy yourself. Are you going to be fine by yourself?”

“Yes. There are guards everywhere so I’ll be fine. Then, I’ll be right back.”

“Go, have fun, my cute Miriam.” With a small wave from her smiling mother, Miriam got up from her chair.

Next to her, her sister Alessia was looking at her with a cold expression.

Miriam noticed her sister’s gaze, but before she could say anything, Miriam quickly made her way to the gardens.

“Sister looked angry… Maybe I shouldn’t leave the tea party for a walk in the gardens. But mother said it was alright, it should be fine, right?”

Among the family that dotes on the youngest daughter, only Miriam’s 3 years older sister Alessia treated her strictly. 

 She always made checks on her manners, comportment, clothing, and even her hair. And, if she ever caught something wrong with Miriam she would always tell her off.

“She definitely hates me. I’m also the daughter of our parents, but I’m the only one who’s not beautiful…” 

When she put it into words, her eyes welled up with tears. She gently dabbed at them with the handkerchief in her hands. Then she, once again, began walking to go see the roses her mother had told her about.