Chapter 98
“Can’t you just listen to me? I’m asking you, Lia…”
Arwin looked extremely reluctant, but in the end, he followed my request.
After that, I often saw Seniana and Arwin playing together in the garden.
And Grandma…
Grandma had lately been holed up in her study, hardly leaving it at all. Naturally, Seniana was desperate to spend time with her as well. Whenever she happened to pass by Grandma’s study, Seniana was always there.
“Grandma! Let’s go for a walk with Sena!”
“Sena wants grapes… Grandma, can you take Sena to the market district? Please?”
“Grandma! Are you busy? Please play with Sena… pleeeeease…”
No matter how much Seniana knocked, the study door never opened. The only answer she ever got was the repeated explanation that Grandma was busy managing the estate.
That was until yesterday.
“Ugh—! Ack! Uweeeek!”
Yesterday afternoon, Seniana collapsed.
It happened because she had eaten the herbal fruits I had planted in the Abner greenhouse. These fruits were medicinal by nature but were absolutely not meant to be eaten raw.
Following Miel’s advice, I went to the greenhouse and finally got to see Grandma after a long time.
Her face was deathly pale as she held Seniana tightly in her arms. White foam had gathered around Seniana’s mouth as she slumped there.
Seniana regained consciousness thanks to the antidote Owen quickly prepared for her—but she had no strength at all.
Just then, Jayden summoned me to Seniana’s room.
“I think it’s time to clear out the greenhouse.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t there already a huge greenhouse built in your name in the Evehill area? I don’t understand why you insist on using the public greenhouse and causing accidents like this…”
It was almost the first proper conversation I had had with Jayden since arriving at the mansion.
I had already expected the atmosphere wouldn’t be pleasant, but the chill of his words exceeded even my expectations.
“Besides, I understand you’ll be leaving soon.”
“……”
“When you go to the island, Seniana will be left alone here. It’s about time we started adjusting the public greenhouse for her.”
In other words, once I leave for the island, the entire greenhouse will become Seniana’s playground. All the spaces and items I had organized were meant to be cleared out.
I didn’t answer and quietly listened to Jayden.
“Clear out the greenhouse. And also the underground lab that you’ve been running with Viscount Dennis.”
“But the underground lab is now the main activity area for the academy…”
“Then where is my niece supposed to play?”
I eventually nodded. I had no grounds to refuse, and more than anything, I didn’t have the strength to argue.
And that’s why I’ve been extremely busy since this morning.
As I descended the stairs down the chilly corridor, the scene before me was exactly as I had feared.
Strong staff members bustled around the stairwell leading to the basement.
“Wow! We should put this big teddy bear over there!”
There was Seniana, clutching Wendel’s arm tightly, holding the teddy bear she had taken from me in one hand.
I stared blankly at Seniana and then at the basement beyond her. My cozy workspace with Owen had been completely destroyed.
Books that had once lined the shelves neatly were thrown into cardboard boxes at random, and the large wooden table she liked was shattered beyond recognition.
I blinked, staring at it all. I had agreed to clear the basement, but…
“I never said you could break things…”
At that moment, I heard Seniana’s whiny voice:
“Hng, can’t you go faster? Sena’s sick… I want to rest in the new playroom soon!”
The staff exchanged uneasy glances. In that instant, it became clear why they were breaking heavy furniture inside rather than carrying it out—they could clean up the debris faster that way.
I saw Wendel sigh quietly, pressing his hand to his forehead. Soon, our eyes met.
“Princess!”
Wendel instinctively tried to approach me but froze. Seniana was clutching his sleeve with a worried expression.
“Where are you going, Uncle Wendel?”
Wendel looked down at Seniana in confusion.
“Seniana is sick. We don’t know when she might collapse again. Yesterday, Grandma told me to always stay by her side.”
“Seniana, I….”
Before Wendel could finish, tears filled Seniana’s eyes instantly. She dropped her head, still clutching Wendel’s sleeve, holding my teddy bear tightly like a lost child.
“Okay… I’m sorry… I won’t bother you anymore.”
Wendel couldn’t move from the spot. I finally stepped forward myself.
“Uncle Wendel. What happened with the greenhouse?”
Wendel picked Seniana up and said:
“The medicinal plants have been organized separately so they can be moved to Evehill immediately.”
“Understood.”
“And in six days, Anne and Soya will return. Once they’re back…”
“Wow! Soya’s finally coming?”
Seniana interrupted him excitedly.
“Finally Sena will see Soya! I heard a lot from Miel! Now I’ll have two personal maids, wow!”
Wendel looked at Seniana with a stern expression.
“Seniana. Miel and Soya are not your personal maids. The new staff who will serve you is currently being hired…”
“Huh? No, Miel and Soya are mine. Anelia gave them to me.”
Wendel looked at me as if to ask what I meant. I slowly nodded.
“Seniana’s right. Miel and Soya like her because she reminds them of neighbors from when they were little.”
“Princess!”
Wendel unintentionally raised his voice, then quickly lowered it, conscious of Seniana.
“There’s no need for that. Really.”
Seniana’s expression stiffened. I pretended not to notice and shook my head.
“I’m just helping Lia until Seniana gets used to Abner Castle.”
“……”
“I’m fine, really!”
Wendel looked at me worriedly as I smiled awkwardly. I then gazed around at the now-empty workspace that had once felt like my own room. I turned away, and Wendel didn’t follow me.
A carriage, equipped with acceleration magic devices on its wheels, raced recklessly along the rough dirt road.
“A paternity test?”
A grinding sound escaped Theo’s mouth.
Rico, staring calmly out the window, looked him squarely in the eye.
“Brother, you mustn’t show any emotion when this arrives.”
“I know.”
Theo pressed his forehead tightly, his expression tense.
He had only returned from the magic tower a week ago. Originally, he planned to stay only two days, but things had been delayed. And now, in that short time, something had happened at the Abner public greenhouse where Anelia stayed.
“What? They found the granddaughter who was lost?”
When he first heard that, his heart dropped to the floor. That was exactly the kind of thing that should never happen now.
But it wasn’t exactly that.
“Seniana? Seniana? What kind of ridiculous name is that…”
He muttered irritably, and Rico quietly closed his mouth.
The telegram they received read:
Princess Isabel, daughter of Duke Abner, had a child, a young girl named Seniana. While not immediate, they wanted magical tools prepared for a future paternity test between Sharon Abner and this girl.
“Do we even need a paternity test?”
Theo sneered with contempt.
“She looks like Isabel? Do they even have a letter?”
He muttered coldly.
“Where are they bringing in a fake and plotting such sloppy schemes?”
