“Claire!”

“Miss Claire!”

Miss Veronica and Avina, who happened to be in the hallway, approached Alex and me when they spotted us.

Alex soon put me down on the floor.

“Thank you, Alex.”

When I expressed my gratitude, Alex smiled faintly.

Miss Veronica came and stood close to me while I was greeting him.

“What happened? Do you know how surprised we were when you suddenly disappeared? But how… did you come with Duke Berzel?”

Miss asked, glancing at Alex.

Worried that there might be a misunderstanding, I hastily waved my hands.

“It’s nothing! I got lost in the central garden, and Alex found me and rescued me!”

“You got lost?”

Miss reflexively grabbed my hand.

“Oh my, look how cold your hands are…”

Miss Veronica examined me with worried eyes.

I felt embarrassed as it seemed I was causing trouble again.

“I’m fine now.”

At my words, Miss Veronica let out a small sigh. Then she bowed her head towards Alex.

“Thank you for helping Claire.”

“I only did what I had to do, so you don’t need to thank me.”

“I see. Still, I thought it was proper to express my gratitude. Thank you again.”

Miss Veronica gave a curt greeting in response to Alex’s words.

When Alex didn’t refute further, Miss Veronica turned to look at me.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes. …Ah!”

When I tried to move as Miss Veronica said, I quietly swallowed a groan due to the tingling pain spreading through the soles of my feet.

“Are you hurt somewhere?”

“I’m not hurt. My feet just hurt a bit because I walked for a long time.”

“Oh dear. You should be more careful.”

Miss sighed heavily and then raised her hand to support me.

The distance from the hallway to the bedroom was short enough for me to go alone, but somehow it didn’t feel bad to be cared for by Miss, so I turned with her.

Even so, I didn’t forget to greet Alex.

Even after entering my bedroom, Miss Veronica supported me to the bed. On the other side, Avina was carefully supporting me as well.

“I ended up like this because I walked too much, and it’s somehow embarrassing.”

I answered with an awkward laugh, and Miss Veronica smiled gently.

“You’re still as clumsy as ever, even here. But I’m glad you’re safe. Avina was worried when you didn’t come back no matter how long she waited, so we were about to go look for you.”

“I should have gone with you, I’m really sorry.”

As soon as Miss Veronica finished speaking, Avina apologized to me in a guilty voice.

“No! What do you have to apologize for, Avina? You had no choice but to leave because I said I would go alone.”

“Still, I failed to attend to you, Miss, when I knew you’re new to the mansion.”

“It’s okay. Oh, and if Alex makes an issue of this, please let me know. Okay?”

“…Yes.”

“Then you can go and rest. You must have been worried because of me, so please rest well.”

“Please call me anytime you need me. I’ll be on standby.”

Avina left the bedroom with quiet steps.

Only Miss and I remained in the bedroom.

“Still, how fortunate that Duke Berzel found you.”

“Really. I almost died of hypothermia. No, why on earth do they make a maze in the garden? I just can’t understand it.”

“I know. You must have been surprised, so warm up and rest.”

“……”

I felt embarrassed at Miss Veronica’s kind words.

“Somehow, it feels like our positions have switched.”

“Hm?”

Looking at Miss Veronica who seemed puzzled, I bit my tongue and laughed awkwardly.

“I should be the one serving you, Miss, but instead I’m causing you worry. Making you worry because of me…”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Don’t I know you, Claire? How long have we been together since we were young? You don’t need to think about such things.”

“…Thank you, Miss.”

Miss Veronica sometimes showed aspects that made her seem like my real older sister.

I was grateful for Miss Veronica.

Miss covered me with a blanket and left the bedroom.

After being in a cold place, getting into a warm bed felt like heaven.

***

Knock knock, the sound of someone knocking on the door reached my ears as I was deeply asleep.

“Yes!”

When I reflexively raised my voice to answer, I heard a voice from outside.

“Miss Claire, it’s time for dinner.”

“I’ll be out soon!”

I got up from the bed, opening my eyes that wouldn’t open easily.

It seems I had fallen into a deep sleep while warming up from the cold.

The sunset was already visible through the window.

I quickly tidied up my disheveled clothes and fixed my hair.

After lightly slapping my cheeks and checking the mirror in the room, I didn’t look like I had just woken up.

This should do.

After lightly dusting off my skirt with my hand, I opened the bedroom door.

Avina was waiting for me outside.

“Miss Claire, did you rest well?”

“Yes. I think I slept too much.”

When I answered with an awkward smile, Avina also smiled with her eyes curving.

“I’ll guide you to the dining room.”

“Please do.”

As we left the living room, Miss Veronica was waiting for me in the hallway.

“Miss, were you waiting here?”

“Yes. I wanted to go together.”

“You didn’t wait long, did you?”

“Well…?”

“Did you wait for a long time?”

When I asked in alarm, Miss Veronica burst into laughter.

“No. I just came out too.”

“…You really scared me.”

“Sorry. Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes.”

I headed to the dining room with Miss Veronica.

As we passed through the hallway and went down the stairs, a strange sight caught my eye.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Claire?”

When I stopped in my tracks and expressed doubt, Miss Veronica came closer to me.

“The maze garden… They’re trimming it.”

In the maze garden where I had been lost until just now, gardeners were out in groups moving the garden trees.

“What are they doing?”

Wondering if Avina might know, I asked her.

“I’m not sure. I was in the room next to Miss Claire’s, so I haven’t received any separate information.”

Avina didn’t seem to know either.

Then I remembered Alex’s meaningful smile. Surely they’re not getting rid of the garden because I got lost?

“Can I go down and check for a moment?”

I asked Miss Veronica.

I wanted to satisfy my curiosity before going to the dining room.

Anyway, the dining room was on the first floor, and we could also go out to the garden through the first floor, so it wouldn’t take long.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes!”

After answering, I hurried my steps.

Quickly going outside the building, I called one of the busy gardeners.

“What can I do for you?”

A gardener with dirt on his cheek opened his eyes wide.

“What are you doing right now?”

“Ah, the Duke ordered us to remove the maze garden and replace it with flower beds, so we’re carrying out his instructions.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s been a landmark of the mansion for a very long time, so it’s a shame, but we have to follow the Duke’s orders.”

The gardener spoke with regret.

Somehow, I felt guilty.

To think it’s being removed because of me when it was even called a landmark…

“But if we plant flowers along where the garden trees were, it will create a beautiful flower bed like a maze.”

“That’s good to hear. But what about the garden trees? Are you throwing them away?”

“No. We’ll plant the garden trees in the forest behind the mansion and manage them there until they’re needed elsewhere.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yes.”

That’s a relief.

I sighed deeply in relief.

I was worried for a moment that innocent trees were being killed.

“Then, keep up the good work.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After greeting the gardener, I came back to find Miss Veronica looking at me with curious eyes.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems they’re changing the maze garden where I got lost before into flower beds.”

“……”

Miss Veronica opened her eyes wide and looked towards the garden. Then she turned her gaze away with a bitter smile.

“How impressive.”

We were a bit late because of checking on the garden. Miss and I hurried our steps and arrived at the dining room.

“You’re late.”

Alex, who had arrived earlier, gave us a bored look.

“I’m sorry. There was a big construction in the garden, and I was curious about what they were doing, so I checked and got delayed.”

“Ah, that.”

Alex nodded as if he understood.

Miss Veronica and I sat down at the places where the tableware was set.

“Why did you do that? I heard it was a landmark, isn’t it a waste to remove it like that?”

“If it’s a place where people can get lost and cause trouble, it’s better to remove it. And it could have been you, Claire.”

“That’s true.”

“Wouldn’t it be troublesome if someone else ended up like that again?”

His words made sense.

It would be a problem if someone else got lost and wandered like I did.

Seeing that I seemed to understand, Alex instructed for dinner to be served.

Only then did we start eating without any further objections.

The dinner that continued in silence was more awkward than I expected. Even more than breakfast.

Just as I was thinking that it might be good to say something, Alex opened his mouth.

“I have some unfinished business that I couldn’t handle while I was away, so I’ll be a bit busy until the day after tomorrow. I’ll have time after that, so feel free to rest comfortably in the mansion until then.”

“That’s fine with me.”

Of course it’s good to be able to rest comfortably without Alex around.

When I answered positively, Alex frowned one eyebrow as if he felt hurt.

Belatedly realizing my mistake, I opened and closed my mouth.

“I mean, it’s good to have some rest. Both I and Miss Veronica need time to adjust here, you know.”

“…Claire, you are really… difficult.”

Alex chuckled after hearing my excuse.

I also laughed awkwardly as I looked at him.