* * *

The atmosphere in the carriage on their way back was silent.

Silence was familiar, so it wasn’t particularly interesting to Serena.

Whether in noisy situations or quiet ones, or in situations where she was ignored, simply doing the assigned task diligently was the hallmark of a good assistant.

And Serena was the epitome of that.

“……”

“……”

However, that was when no one paid attention to Serena.

Even though there were only two of them, it was a bit uncomfortable for Serena when the other person was so blatantly expressing their discomfort, irritation, and anger.

“You, did I really do something wrong? If you tell me, I’ll either fix it or apologize.”

She decided to try and pull out any flags that might have been planted, somehow enduring the overwhelming annoyance.

“Forget it. Whatever I say, you won’t listen anyway.”

“No, I’m listening well.”

“No, you’re not listening.”

“What is it?”

“Forget it. I won’t care about you anymore either. Do as you please, whether you leave or not. I won’t mind about the cooling-off period, so leave when it’s convenient for you. When the alimony is settled, I’ll have someone send it.”

Realizing that the goodwill he had shown for quite a long time was being completely ignored by the other person wasn’t a very good feeling.

Magnus was angry too.

Let’s put aside the breakup. Let’s even put aside the lack of affection.

But why did she have to say it so excitedly in front of the imperial couple?

“……”

Serena closed her mouth at the clear rejection.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Tell me. You should give me a chance to apologize. Are we going to part ways feeling this uneasy?”

She smiled slightly and tried to joke again.

Magnus, as if he had made up his mind completely, didn’t even look at her as he sneered and answered.

“What does it matter when we’ll never see each other again anyway.”

“Ah… that’s true, but……”

Serena was actually a bit flustered.

It’s because she hadn’t been rejected so openly many times in her life.

She was awkward with human relationships.

When you’re tossed around for a long time, people gradually wear down without realizing it.

After starting university, all her friends disappeared, and when she was with Lemerun, there was no time to make friends.

Naturally, it had been too long since she had dated or done anything like that.

Nevertheless, understanding the other person’s feelings was easy for Serena.

Usually, if they want something, you just need to give it to them, and if they want their feelings to be catered to, you just need to put yourself down and lift them up.

When flattering, there’s no need for emotional exchange. You just need to talk about the other person’s great points, what they did well, and their good points.

With exaggerated gestures, saying things that would make them feel proud and pleased, tailored to their taste.

Conversely, when being scolded, you just need to exaggerate any faults you can think of, lower yourself a bit more, and speak as if you regret it.

It was similar when apologizing somewhere on behalf of a professor.

Even if there wasn’t a grain of sincerity, the expression had to be serious, as if she herself was nothing.

Saying things like she’s sorry for wasting their precious time, or that she understands how upset they must be.

In reality, she doesn’t understand, nor does she particularly empathize with other people’s wasted time.

Of course, if she thinks about it as time she could have spent writing reports, it feels wasteful, but what can’t be helped can’t be helped.

It’s more efficient to deal with the task at hand rather than looking back on what’s passed.

Serena pursued extreme efficiency.

In South Korea, in ‘Gosteina’ where Lemerun was, and even now, it’s the same.

She had lived like that in all three of her lives.

If the other person says to do something, she does it, and if they say not to do it, she doesn’t.

That’s just it.

At the very least, doing just that doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings and maintains smooth relationships.

No one wanted to form deep connections with Serena, who didn’t know how to refuse or reject even while being pushed around by work and professors.

Unless you form deep emotional connections, relationships are simply about not making ‘me’ uncomfortable for others.

In that sense, Serena’s life was quite bleak.

There were set standards, and although she had to crumple and stretch her body to fit those standards each time, since all the bones in her body had been broken in the beginning, now it was possible without hesitation.

Serena actually doesn’t mind being ignored by someone.

She could smile calmly even if she was cursed at to her face, and she didn’t think much of it.

Being laughed at by others, being forced to pour drinks at gatherings, or her peers being jealous were even less of a concern.

However, not knowing was a trauma, not being acknowledged made her shrink, and being considered useless brought anxiety.

Right now, Serena doesn’t understand Magnus.

But she’s smart enough to understand that he’s indirectly saying, ‘Even if I tell you, you won’t understand, so it’s not worth saying,’ which makes her even angrier.

“……”

After thinking of a few more things to say to probe him, Serena firmly closed her mouth.

It had been a while since she had been ignored like this, so she was also a bit panicked right now.

“…If that’s how you want it, then so be it.”

Serena didn’t push any further.

Magnus told her not to.

So it’s right for Serena not to do it.

She acted according to that proposition so far, and there had never been any problems.

“But I don’t understand why you’re angry.”

She scratched her head and shifted her gaze to the window opposite to where he was looking.

The carriage moved quickly in the heavy silence.

* * *

Serena didn’t come out of her room again. And Magnus didn’t come to her room either, regardless.

Even though a whole month had passed since that day.

Purr–

Purr–

Serena blinked as she looked at Nyx, the black rabbit, sleeping obliviously with even its nostrils flaring.

‘What is this? A ball…?’

It’s too round to be called a rabbit.

Clearly, when it first arrived, it was a thin and quite cute rabbit, but what is this now?

It looks like it would roll all the way to the corner if you poked it.

‘About a month left?’

It’s about time to start moving, or it’ll be troublesome.

In the meantime, her appetite had dropped, and she hadn’t been eating properly, so fortunately, her cheeks that had become plump were now slim again.

Though they seem to have become a bit too slim.

“Nngh……”

About a month and a half left now? It’s not long until she leaves this mansion.

“I need to make samples too… and I haven’t sent the documents because it’s bothersome, but I need to send those too…”

She also needed to set up a workshop.

Although the Merchants Association said they would provide accommodation within their premises for a while, it doesn’t suit her temperament to be in a place where people come and go.

And then…

‘What on earth did this one come here for?’

She had signed the contract so she had to fulfill it, but now this spirit rabbit seemed to have no motivation at all.

Serena thought that it was about time to do the work she had been putting off.

After living like trash for about a month, her accumulated fatigue had eased along with her mood.

“Nyx.”

She called the rabbit, suppressing her lingering desire to call it Blackie.

The rabbit, which had been twitching its ears, rolled away from her.

“…Hm? Tonight’s dinner is pesticide-free cabbage leaves grown in premium soil with plenty of fertilizer…”

Hop!

The rabbit jumped up.

No, it tried to jump up but sank back down.

Its body was too bulky to leap nimbly.

Wobbling, the tilting body rolled straight to the floor.

Roll, roll, roll, the rabbit rolled well until it hit the wall and stopped.

“……”

[……]

Seemingly embarrassed itself, Nyx quietly flipped through its notebook in its fallen position and showed a frequently used page.