"Hey, you. Get out of my house." Nera speaks sternly with a serious look on her face, the complete opposite of the amicable smile she had all day.
Goosebumps rise all over the blonde's body, but that doesn't stop her pride at all, if she backs down now, her noble honor would be trampled.
"H-How can you just--"
"Because I want to. Please don't test my patience." Her scowl deepens. "You can call me rude as well, but do it outside of our household. Please."
Due to Jasmine's abrupt entrance, the ladies have forgotten who is hosting the party but now, they were harshly reminded.
Nera mi Ponterise, the only daughter of the Ponterise family and a future knightess.
There were talks all over the Empire as to why, the daughter of the sword, didn't go to last year's Knight Exam. They thought that she was too weak or afraid, backing out from being a knight. All kinds of unsavory rumors flew around since she doesn't properly attend gatherings as a noble.
Many ridiculed her, but Nera wouldn't care less if she heard those rumors.
But these ladies definitely know since it was such a hot topic around nobles last month. Soon enough, they heard about Nera's injury, but rumors and gossip don't care about accuracy.
Although, the rumors aren't in their minds right now as Nera's stance, tone, and stare announce that she is indeed a powerful knightess, even without passing the exam yet.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Y-Yes!" The blonde woman runs desperately for the exit, the overwhelming feeling of the purplehead's aura isn't to be trifled.
Even without being actively attacked, the aura she unconsciously released was enough to make the rest of the guests feel suffocated. So, what more about the one she is directly angry at?
Aura is used to enhance the body and weapon, but if the user of that aura isn't a master, it could also be harmful to those who don't practice it. That's why it's important for rookies to practice aura in a place where it's free from people or has magical devices around to secure the place, like knight training grounds.
Nera sighs, finally looking relaxed. Once again, the rest of the ladies feel the fresh and calm air that the Ponterise garden has to offer.
The purple-haired woman glances over to Jasmine, who is still wet from the tea poured all over her, and apologetically smiles. Jasmine's eyes widen as she sees this.
Nera then slightly bows in front of the rest of her guests.
"I deeply apologize for that scene."
The other guests mention that it is fine and reassures her that it isn't her fault, since it most definitely isn't.
'Ah, that lady and her family are finished...' All of them speak in their head in unison. As if they are innocent.
"And since this has happened, I would like to end this event right now. I'm really sorry."
No one disagreed. No one had to since they clearly saw what occurred.
They all bow one by one to Nera, as she does the same for all of them, and also, to compensate them for their time, she gives the rest of the snacks as a gift and a letter of apology would be sent after a while.
Nera, Felya, and Jasmine move inside the house. Then Nera orders her servants to get a new set of spare clothes for Jasmine. Luckily, Nera's dresses are big enough to let Jasmine's petite body fit in. Although, they had to add a few more laces to fit it well.
Felya goes to greet the other Ponterises, so she leaves the two of them for a while.
"Jasmine, are you alright?" Nera asks the silver-haired woman who had just washed up, but Jasmine slightly stiffens at the question.
"...Yes. Thank you for helping me. I'm sorry, I was so late, I didn't realize what I was doing. But I know what I did was indeed rude." Jasmine bowed again but this time, it was elegant and poised.
'Of course, she'd be good at this.' Nera thought to herself, Jasmine's curtsy is more elegant than all of her bows combined. Since a knight's bow is more calculated but stiff.
"It's fine, Jasmine. That woman was definitely ruder than what you did in comparison."
Jasmine flinches again. 'So, I didn't mishear her earlier?'
This noble lady, from the Ponterise family calls Jasmine by her first name.
As a commoner, it is normal for them to be called by their first names, but ever since Jasmine became a noble, she has not heard her name from anyone else other than her adoptive family.
Nobles usually call each other, if not close friends, with their titles and then their last names. It's to show respect and regard for their statuses. How the blonde woman intentionally called her 'Lady Jasmine' rather than 'Lady Vanderwale', to show that she doesn't respect Jasmine at all.
But Jasmine felt that Nera wasn't doing the same even though Nera is indeed lower than Jasmine by one title. The truth is Nera forgot that rule, cluelessly calling Jasmine by her first name, just like how she is used to calling the silver head in her mind as a character.
'Should I try calling her by her first name?' Jasmine thinks to herself.
It was absurd since they have only met and being on the first name basis only means one thing. Those two people are enough to be called as close friends.
Nera hasn't given her permission, yet Jasmine is already thinking of doing so. Although, it is the same case for Nera.
Being the forgetful and dense person that she is, Nera doesn't have any idea nor does she notice this.
Seeing how quiet Jasmine got, Nera asks, "Uh, Jasmine, is everything alright?"
"Nera!" Jasmine abruptly shouts with her eyes closed. Her ears flushed with red, as well as her once pale cheeks.
'How cute!' is all Nera could think of. A grin grew on her face as she replies, "Yes?"
'She doesn't mind!' Jasmine's face lights up as she's finally found a friend in high society. 'It's someone that is close to my age and our estate too!'
"C-Can I be your friend?" Jasmine fumbles with her words and plays around with her fingers. As Nera thought earlier, habits don't die easily.
"Of course! I'd love that!" Nera's smile got wider as she holds Jasmine's hands. "We're friends now, okay?"
"Yes!" Jasmine has the same enthusiasm as the purple-haired woman.
"By the way, can I ask why you were late earlier?"
"Oh, the carriage wheel broke down on the way here, and we had to rent another one which took a long time. This place is near the Vanderwale estate so I thought I could make it in time..." Jasmine confesses.
"Ah..." Nera nods, feeling empathy for Jasmine. 'The life of a female lead sure is hard. Even though I'm sure Vanderwale carriages should have the sturdiest and quality carriages in the land, she still got into an accident...'
Then, Felya returns after greeting Nera's parents.
"Are you fine now, Lady Vanderwale?" Felya gently asks. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier, the host of the party is supposed to be the one who should mediate." She slightly bows her head.
'Lady Felya cu Ountry calls me Lady Vanderwale... So Lady Nera mi Ponterise really thinks of me as a friend already! How nice!' Jasmine giggles in her head, excitedly.
Getting it half wrong and half right, since Nera just forgot basic noble etiquette but she does want to be Jasmine's friend anyway, so it ended up being in everyone's favor.
By no means Nera is the a sociable person, but her past memories of the novel overrides her shyness, all because the person in front of her favorite character! In exchange for her disregard of noble rules, a friendly demeanor emerges.
"Oh, it's alright. I'm used to it." Jasmine smiles, but then sees a dark expression on both Nera and Felya.
"Hahaha, I really won't forgive those people..." Nera started to crack her knuckles.
"Oh, what are you going to do? Punch them? How inefficient. Just stab them in the back, that's the best way to do it." Felya speaks so eloquently that it didn't sound heinous at all.
Jasmine grins at the both of them.
"You don't have to."
"Well, we should since we're your friends now!"
Felya smiles and nods at Nera's words.
"Even Lady Ountry?" Jasmine suddenly asks, but realizes that it was a bit rude, again. About to apologize but sees Felya grinning.
"Of course. Every friend of Nera's is a friend of mine."
"Hahaha! That's right. You can count on us from now on."
Hearing those words makes Jasmine's chest swell up with happiness and warmth.
'...Ah. I'm so glad I went here.' Jasmine whispers to herself, stopping the need to cry out of joy, to avoid embarrassing herself in front of her newly made friends.