Isabelle smiled gently, a perfect smile as if she had been used to such situations for a long time. She folded her yellow umbrella and handed it to her personal maid who followed behind.

She looked at Lyra with her amethyst eyes so calmly, then pulled her dress with her fingers, then bowed respectfully.

"I'm glad you recognize me," she said softly, then stood straight again before continuing, "Yes, I am Isabelle Ardent. I also apologize for coming without prior notice," she continued with a sweet smile on her face.

Meanwhile, Mai, who was standing behind Lyra, drew closer and leaned slightly towards Lyra's ear.

"This lady... isn't she the former fiancée of Marquis Hale? Why is she meeting you now? Is she crazy?"

Lyra showed almost no reaction after hearing Mai's whisper. Her eyes were slightly flat, then she smiled brightly at Isabelle.

"Thank you for taking the time to come, Lady Ardent," she said in a soft and polite voice. "How about we chat over a cup of tea? I happen to be having tea time right now."

Isabelle nodded slightly before she continued walking up to the pavilion. She gracefully ascended the small pavilion stairs, her steps slow and deliberate, her dress swaying gently with her movements.

Upon reaching the pavilion floor, she paused briefly before the maid pulled out a chair for her. She sat in the chair opposite Lyra, her back straight and her hands folded in her lap, showing the elegance of a true noblewoman.

Isabelle turned back to Lyra, her smile still the same, but this time there was a sharp glint in her eyes.

Her eyes immediately fell on the porcelain cup on the round table. She smiled briefly and drank from it, then raised the porcelain cup to her chest. "This is a very delicious tea, Lady... what kind of tea is this? I felt a moment of coolness when this tea went down my throat." she said with slightly sparkling eyes.

Lyra puffed out her chest, her hands resting on her thighs. Then she tilted her head slightly before replying to Isabelle.

"Ah, that's peppermint tea," she replied briefly, then casually raised the porcelain cup again and let it be level with her shoulder, "This tea was made by my personal maid, I'm glad you enjoyed it."

She then drank the tea again.

Isabelle's face flushed slightly, her eyes drooped sadly with her hands holding the porcelain cup, "Ahh... this is so refreshing." she said briefly, then put the cup back on the round table in front of them. She then glanced at Mai standing not far from them, then looked back at Lyra.

"Lady," she said softly, her voice lowered as if to make sure only Lyra heard her, "would you mind... if we just talk alone?"

Mai looked at Isabelle with such clear dislike on her face. She immediately stepped half a step forward, her voice slightly wary. "Lady Ardent. I apologize if I'm being presumptuous, but if you want to know, I can—"

"Of course, Lady. This will be a pleasant conversation."

Lyra raised her hand, signaling Mai to leave her and Isabelle alone for now. Honestly, Mai was so worried. However, there was no other choice, she couldn't refuse her Lady's order. She then bowed briefly, then walked away from the Pavilion, hoping nothing bad would befall her Lady.

Isabelle also signaled her maid to leave her and Lyra alone. The maid readily nodded and walked out of the pavilion.

Once both maids had left them alone in the pavilion, Isabelle smiled briefly, then leaned slightly and looked at Lyra with a sweet smile.

"I'm so surprised, you proposed to Keith." she said, chuckling softly.

Lyra maintained her expression, although in her mind it seemed as if many words would come out of her mouth. She didn't expect Isabelle to speak like that directly without a little small talk or polite greetings that usually characterized upper-class nobles.

She almost laughed because she was confused whether the woman in front of her was too naive or confident.

Lyra then only responded with a thin smirk, then her fingers lifted the porcelain cup on the table and drank the tea inside again.

"Is that so?" she said, then lowered the porcelain cup and looked at Isabelle steadily, a small smile etched on her lips.

"By the way, Lady Ardent... do you think it's appropriate for a man's former fiancée to come see his future wife without prior notice?"

Isabelle frowned slightly when she heard those words from Lyra's mouth, but she maintained her expression.

"What do you mean, Lady Edeviene?"

She looked slightly, glancing at the flowers growing at the edge of the pavilion before looking back at Lyra. "Keith and I have no relationship anymore."

She then bowed her head and clenched her hands; her expression changed from a sweet smile to deep sadness towards someone.

"Actually... I feel relieved. You must have heard the rumors about Keith lately, haven't you?" She sighed softly, still wearing a worried expression. "Honestly, I feel a little guilty about all of it."

Isabelle's expression now seemed to show such deep regret. Lyra, who had previously finished the novel that was the world she had left behind, knew that all of it was a deliberately created expression.

Lyra still looked at the woman in front of her. Her lips remained slightly curved in a smile. Isabelle was good at playing a role, that was for sure. But Lyra was not the naive Celestia who was easily touched by sweet faces and gentle words.

But unfortunately for Isabelle, who had previously investigated Celestia's background, believed that the woman in front of her was a naive and gentle woman.

"I know Lady Edeviene is a gentle and sweet person... Keith will surely fall for you." she said while looking at the teacup in front of her before looking back at Lyra.

"Rumors say this is a marriage because of the relationship between Count Edeviene and Marquiss Hale, but..." she continued, straightening her back, her eyes looking directly into Lyra's eyes. "Lady Edeviene. Your marriage to Keith... it was your own request, wasn't it?"

Then, her eyes narrowed slightly, her tone slightly changed from before.

"I know... you like Keith," she continued. "Didn't you often look at me and him at the imperial celebration party some time ago?" Her smile changed slightly, too perfect to be called sincere.

"Keith didn't notice it, but your gaze at that time... was too honest to be hidden, you know?"

The atmosphere was silent for a moment, only followed by the summer breeze blowing through the Pavilion. Lyra still stared at Isabelle without blinking.

"This woman..."

"She realizes that Celestia likes Keith?"

That was quite minimal information obtained by chance. From the memories left in Lyra's mind, Celestia was a quiet girl; she rarely socialized with anyone.

But someone like Isabelle could read what was hidden behind her innocent gaze, or maybe... she had been observing Celestia all this time.

Lyra sat up straight, then her palms rested on her thighs; she looked at Celestia gently.

"In that case, I must thank Lady Ardent for being attentive enough to notice me, even in the middle of a crowded party like that." she said casually, her eyes slightly closed and her head slightly tilted to the right.

Isabelle looked at Lyra cynically for a few seconds, then she smiled as usual. Slowly, she lifted the porcelain cup in front of her and drank the tea inside.

After that, she held up the teacup. Her gaze shifted to Lyra.

"You're flattering me too much, Lady," she said softly, tilting the teacup in her hand. "Anyone who saw it would easily guess that."

 Lyra only responded with a smile. A moment of silence was between them, the chirping of birds occasionally heard in the garden now.

 Isabelle leaned back, her body still upright. Calmly, she spoke again, "I think, as fellow women, we should understand each other, Lady," said Isabelle, a smile still visible on her lips.

"Of course, as someone who has been with Keith for a long time, I don't mind giving my blessing if Lady Edeviene wants it."

Her words paused for a moment; she kept looking at Lyra, her hands folded in front of her chest, a small smirk forming on her red lips.

"You don't have to feel awkward with me," Isabelle continued casually, she deliberately paused her words before continuing, "In fact, I hope we can get closer in the future, Lady Edeviene."

Lyra snorted briefly, she closed her eyes. Her four fingers covered her mouth.

"Get closer to me, huh?" Lyra murmured as if pondering, then smiled broadly, almost sounding like a light laugh. "I didn't expect to receive such an honor from Lady Ardent."

Isabelle now seemed pleased with Lyra's response. She nodded slowly, her fingers circling the top of the porcelain cup, a thin smile etched on her face.

"This is my true feeling, Lady." she said calmly, she stopped the rotation of her fingers.

Then casually, she leaned forward for a moment. Her head rested on her fingers, which looked so beautiful. She smiled faintly, her gaze so calm.

"The point is, I hope beauty will come to you and Keith."

Silence enveloped their conversation for a moment. Isabelle drank the last few drops remaining from the cup, then gently placed it on the table. She pushed her chair back slightly, then stood up for a moment while tucking her hair behind her ear, then stood up from her seat.

"I think I've disturbed your rest for too long, Lady Edeviene," she said politely. "Thank you for the hospitality, then I'll take my leave."

Lyra also got up from her seat, "I'm glad you enjoyed it, may your day always be blessed with beauty." She replied, bowing slightly.

Isabelle smiled back slightly, she turned and walked out of the Pavilion, leaving Lyra alone. When she was at the threshold, her maid returned her umbrella, then walked away from the pavilion. Seeing this, Mai immediately re-entered the Pavilion.

"Miss, are you alright? That woman really, I've been holding back from splashing tea on her face."