My lips parted in a daze.
But without hesitation, Estellin turned away and didn’t look back at Rubel.
She simply linked her arms naturally with mine and Rosettin’s.
And then, with a bright smile, she said,
“Shall we go in now?”
I stood there stiffly, staring at Estellin in disbelief.
“W-What just happened…?”
As I stammered, Estellin tilted her head in confusion.
“Pardon?”
“No, I mean—!”
I looked back and forth between Rubel and Estellin like a confused puppy about to have an accident.
Both of them wore expressions that said, What’s the problem?
Even more shocking was Rubel’s gaze as he looked at Estellin…
“Ta-Tatio. Why are your eyes…?”
“……?”
They looked like completely lifeless fish eyes.
“Wait, what’s with your expression…?”
Rubel furrowed his brow slightly as he looked at me, as if to say he didn’t understand why I was acting this way.
“Wh-Why is this happening…?”
I stammered in shock, then finally clamped my mouth shut.
Unable to watch any longer, Rosettin grabbed my arm with an exasperated sigh.
“What’s with you? Come on, let’s go. Lady Eria is waiting!”
But I turned my head back wistfully.
Rubel still stood there, watching me with a bewildered expression.
What on earth is going on here?!
These two used to love and cherish each other more than their own lives.
They were so perfect for each other that readers used to gush endlessly about them!
Clinging to my last shred of hope, I looked at Estellin, my face half-ghosted with despair.
“E-Estellin. Don’t you have anything more you want to say to Tatio?”
“Something I want to say?”
“Yes! There has to be something, right? There must be something!”
Rosettin sharply turned her head toward me.
“Selenia, seriously, what’s gotten into you?! Why would Lady Estellin have anything to say to your escort knight?!”
I turned my eyes behind me, hollowly.
There stood Rubel and Cassian, watching us from near the gate.
Just as I was being dragged along by Rosettin with heavy, reluctant steps…
“Lady Selenia!”
A familiar voice called from across the way.
Eria, with a lovely ribbon in her hair, was hurrying across the garden, nearly tripping in her excitement.
“Ah, Eria. It’s been a whil—”
But as I greeted her, my words trailed off.
Eria, who had been running toward me so happily, suddenly came to a dead stop.
And her gaze—was directed somewhere strange.
Where exactly is she looking?
She wasn’t looking at me. More precisely, she was looking past me…
…Cassian?
My eyes slowly widened.
No way.
Eria stood frozen in place, her voice trembling as she finally spoke.
“Wh-Who is that…?”
Her voice sounded as if she were thoroughly enchanted. My jaw dropped open.
No way, no way, no way!
Eria cupped her flushed cheeks in her hands and whispered,
“My goodness… I’ve never seen such a handsome face in my life.”
I turned my head to see Cassian, looking more bashful than usual.
The important thing was—his face was also red.
I staggered on the spot.
Why… why are you two making eyes at each other?
“Kids these days… honestly…”
I muttered absentmindedly, sitting on the edge of my bed.
Anna, who had just placed a basin of warm water on the floor, looked up and asked,
“Did something happen today?”
“…It did. Something big.”
“You went to visit the Lorant estate, didn’t you?”
I nodded.
“Yeah. And I just ate a ton while I was there.”
Estellin hadn’t been lying about the Lorant estate’s patissier being amazing.
The cupcakes in particular were so delicious I devoured three in the blink of an eye. I didn’t even feel hungry for dinner afterward.
Chuckling softly, Anna soaked a towel in the warm water and looked at me fondly.
“Since you’ve come back to the capital, you seem to be in a better mood.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Since you’ll be staying here until the Gratitude Festival ends, why don’t you keep meeting your friends like today and go sightseeing too?”
I nodded, recalling the buildings, shops, and manors I had seen during the day.
The Tigris estate also had a flourishing commercial district, but it didn’t have quite the same feel as the capital.
Well, it makes sense since all the nobles gather here anyway.
Then Anna asked,
“By the way, miss, what are those documents you left on the table?”
Following her gaze, I let out a small “ah” and shook my head.
“It’s nothing. Just something I need to look into.”
As soon as I arrived back at the estate, I had asked Walter for information on Oscar Tibon.
And when I stopped by Father’s office briefly, there was already a neat stack of organized documents in my room.
Walter really is efficient.
As I was staring at the pile, Anna gently dried my wet feet with a towel and said,
“Don’t overwork yourself. You need to take care of your health too.”
I nodded, letting her soft hands care for my feet as I yawned drowsily.
But just then, Anna peeked up at me as if checking my reaction.
I blinked in curiosity and then widened my eyes in surprise.
The wall clock already showed that it was well past six o’clock.
I barely stifled a laugh and said innocently,
“Oh, wow, is it already this late? Anna, it’s time to go home. No overtime today.”
Anna glanced stiffly at the clock and then, as if reading from a textbook, exclaimed rigidly,
“O-Oh! It really is past six already…?!”
Seeing her pretend to be surprised, I covered my mouth in a yawn to hide my laughter.
And I nodded to myself internally.
…That nervous feeling you get right before it’s time to go home—I know that all too well.
Anna quickly gathered the basin and towels and stood up.
Then she said again, in that textbook voice,
“Th-Then may I be excused for the day?!”
“Yes, go on home.”
She really looked like a newly hired intern.
And I feel like a department head.
Seeing the excitement on her face made it hard not to laugh.
Just as Anna was about to step out the door, she stopped and turned around, grinning.
“Um, miss? I actually went out briefly during the day today. I ran into some old servant friends I hadn’t seen in a while…”
“Oh? You did?”
“Yes! And they all said they were so jealous of me. They said it would be a dream come true to serve someone like you even once in their life!”
I looked into her sparkling eyes and answered awkwardly,
“W-Well, it’s because you always do your job properly during the day. Since you’ve done your part, there’s no need to stay late.”
Anna bit her lip, eyes brimming with tears.
“To hear you say that…”
“What I mean is, there’s no need to feel guilty. Go on and rest.”
Smiling, I told her, and she nodded vigorously. She waved at me several times before leaving the room.
Shaking my head with a sigh, I slowly stood up.
With a smile lingering on my lips, I walked over to the table, my feet dry and warm thanks to Anna’s care.
Leaning back in my chair, I began flipping through the documents—page after page filled with detailed information on Oscar Tibon.
“Let’s see…”
As I turned the pages, I suddenly stopped.
Found it.
A file on Jane Tibon, Oscar Tibon’s granddaughter.
A mansion on the outskirts of the capital.
Oscar Tibon gazed worriedly at Jane, who was sweating with a pale face.
“Jane, are you feeling very unwell?”
He gently brushed aside the hair stuck to her forehead, and Jane shook her head with a faint smile.
“I’m okay, but…”
Jane looked up at Oscar with anxious eyes, then trailed off.
Oscar watched her in anguish.
“What is it? Are you hurting somewhere else?”
“Well, actually, my eyes are a bit…”
At her words, Oscar clenched the blanket she had pulled over herself with a trembling hand.
Thomas had the same symptoms…
He thought of his son Thomas, back when he was alive.
Just like Jane, Thomas had fallen ill and eventually complained of pain in his eyes.
Soon after, he lost his sight and didn’t live through the year.
And now Jane was showing the same signs.
“Don’t tell me… you’re losing your vision?”
Jane bit her lip in silence. Her eyes shimmered with faint moisture.
Barely holding in a sigh, Oscar whispered softly, trying to soothe her.
“Don’t worry. I’m still looking for the Empire’s most renowned physicians. There must be someone out there who can diagnose your condition. If so…”
At that moment, Jane slowly turned her head and looked up at Oscar.
Though her face still carried traces of baby fat, it held a despair far too mature for her age.
“Grandfather.”
She spoke in a frail voice. Oscar leaned in closer.
“I… I already know. Father was sick like this too, wasn’t he?”
“…Jane.”
“I’m fine. I just… I just want you to start your research again.”
Jane looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“You even had to auction off the house we lived in because of me.”
Oscar opened his mouth to protest but then closed it again.
Not a word Jane had said was wrong.
“I know how expensive my medicine is. I overheard the maid talking.”
“She said that to you?!”
Jane didn’t answer and turned her head away. Oscar sighed and rubbed his forehead.
It seemed the daytime maid had said something unnecessary to Jane.
“Why would she say such a thing…?!”
“I-It’s okay, Grandfather! I’m not…”
Jane’s voice was completely drained. Oscar turned his head away, enraged.
A child only fourteen years old had such a resigned look on her face.
Unable to bear it, Oscar sprang to his feet and shouted,
“You silly girl! Don’t talk like that!”
