“I wonder what this is about?”

The owner of Bellua Bookstore usually sent letters when they had successfully found a book she requested, or when they received books matching her usual purchasing patterns even if she had not specifically requested them.

Though she had decided to temporarily stop studying Arlesian… she was still curious about the letter’s contents.

Saena glanced at her nanny before opening the letter.

[To Lady Debov,

Greetings.

It has been a while since I last wrote.

I wondered why your visits had become less frequent, but it seems you were preparing for your debut.

Even someone as removed from gossip as myself has heard the news, so it must have been a successful debut. Congratulations.]

Saena startled while reading the first page.

“…My goodness, how did such rumors spread…”

Half of her wanted to know, and the other half didn’t.

[…At such a time, a very rare book has come into my possession. Though I lack your excellent command of Arlesian and cannot interpret it, judging by the shape of the letters, there seem to be many characters I have not often seen before…]

‘New characters?’

Her eyes, which had been rolling away in embarrassment, now filled with anticipation.

Someone who had dealt with antiquarian books for decades wouldn’t make such a mistake, even if they couldn’t interpret the text.

“I must see this. Yes, absolutely.”

Beyond the fact on whether she would purchase the book or not—new characters? She had to check. It might provide clues to help interpret previously undecipherable passages.

Though this was quite a self-interested compromise, such books usually disappeared quickly once a buyer was found, so checking was essential. They had contacted her first only because she was such a devoted regular customer.

After carefully setting aside the letter from Bellua Antiquarian Bookstore, she picked up a deep purple envelope.

[Saya~]

The envelope had only her nickname written in an extremely elegant hand, without any sender information.

‘Hmm, who could this be from?’

Though it bore a seal, it wasn’t a family crest. It appeared to be a personal seal.

When she opened the envelope and took out the contents, a strong floral scent wafted out. Both the paper quality and fragrance were luxurious.

Just as Saena raised the contents to read them, Yolly, who had seemed to be sleeping on one end of the sofa, padded over and climbed onto her lap.

It stretched out its neck and sniffed at the paper.

“Oh, Yolly, do you like this smell?”

Perhaps it was drawn by the strong perfume?

“Its claws might damage the fabric of your dress, shouldn’t we stop it from coming up?”

The nanny scolded the creature as it climbed onto Saena’s lap.

“It doesn’t extend its claws. Leave it be.”

“Oh my, you shouldn’t indulge it too much. It’ll become ill-mannered.”

Saena smiled gently and turned her attention back to the letter.

“Oh–?”

Someone unexpected had sent an invitation. It was from Sister Kiki.

Though it was an invitation to a tea party, the content felt more like a letter to a friend rather than formal ceremonial phrases.

‘This must be about what she mentioned when we met before.’

Saena smiled and made note of the date.

“I’ll attend this one.”

Saena set Kirsten’s invitation aside separately for sending an acceptance reply. Meanwhile, Martha’s face brightened. She seemed pleased that Saena would engage in social activities.

“Where is it?”

“From Ackroyd. A tea party.”

“Oh my, isn’t that lady famous for her salon members?”

“Yes, I believe so?”

The nanny looked at Saena with various expressions — surprise, admiration, and misty-eyed nostalgia.

“Goodness. Miss… I’m sorry. I seem to have misunderstood your social life until now.”

…No. The nanny’s understanding was correct.

This was more a result of the regression rather than her own ability, so it wasn’t something to boast about.

Feeling embarrassed, Saena turned her head and looked at the next letter.

“Hmm.”

And the next letter.

“Hmmm.”

The remaining letters were all formal and seemed like tentative invitations that could be declined.

But there were two letters that drew a strange sigh from Saena…

One was from Elizabeth, and the other was from Elaine Barnes, the prince’s fiancée.

‘Elizabeth is one thing, but why would Lady Barnes send me a letter?’

Given the atmosphere at the recent party, she thought it would be fortunate if the lady just didn’t become hostile towards her.

‘Surely… it’s not a threatening letter, is it?’

Well, even knowing it couldn’t be that, she felt uneasy and decided to read Elizabeth’s letter first, as she was somewhat more familiar with her.

[Dear Saya,

Hello. How have you been?

We’re best friends, but I feel like we’ve been neglecting each other because of various events.

Would you like to meet up for a date in Rohaton Street after such a long time?

Let’s go shopping, have tea, and chat.

I think next Wednesday would be good.

I’m looking forward to it. Please reply.

— From Beth, who always cherishes you.]

Saena put down Elizabeth’s letter, tilting her head.

‘…What is she thinking?’

Even in her previous life, though they weren’t particularly close, Elizabeth was her only female friend, so she definitely relied on her to some extent.

But Saena had learned that Elizabeth wasn’t a girl who moved simply. It wasn’t just about friendship or affection. Rather, it was closer to using her as a means.

While she was staring at the letter she had put down with suspicion, Yolly suddenly jumped up onto Elizabeth’s letterhead. Then, raising its claws, it started scratching the letter vigorously. Between its bared fangs, it seemed like a growl would escape at any moment.

“Y-Yolly?!”

Why would this puppy suddenly act like this?

Saena tried to grab Yolly in surprise, but the nanny caught her hand first.

“Didn’t you say it wouldn’t raise its claws?!”

“……”

“Such a violent beast cannot be kept by Miss’s side.”

The nanny, who had been relatively accepting until now, became very firm when Saena’s safety was at stake.

“I’m going to tell the young master right away.”

“N-Nanny!”

Perhaps their commotion was too noisy, as Yolly stopped what it was doing and crouched down quietly, tilting its head. It had been such a gentle creature until now that even Saena couldn’t explain why it had just acted that way.

“Yolly. Why did you do that? You’re making the nanny misunderstand.”

In response to Saena’s words, Yolly raised its cotton-like front paws and patted them against the now-tattered letter while wagging its tail.

“It seems to dislike the letter.”

“…Miss. I understand you want to defend the puppy, but that’s nonsense. Are you suggesting this beast can read?”

“No, really. This one seems very sensitive to smells. It must definitely dislike some smell coming from this letterhead.”

Saena defended with additional explanations about how it had sniffed at her and how it didn’t like the scent from the purple envelope.

Though she knew it was an excuse, she had taken an immediate liking to the creature and had already grown attached to it.

And after giving it a name, she really couldn’t let it go.

“…To keep an animal when you never did as a child… Hah.”

Finding her sudden attachment to animals strange, Martha narrowed her eyes as she glared at Yolly, but soon seemed to resign herself to it.

“Ahem. Shall we read the next one~”

Seeing the nanny’s apparent willingness to let it go, Saena picked up the envelope from Elaine Barnes to change the subject.

It wasn’t the golden envelope that only the imperial family could use. Perhaps naturally so, as she was still just the prince’s fiancée, regardless of how she introduced herself as the ‘prince’s bride-to-be’.

‘Hm?’

It was an invitation to a tea party. The regular tea party held at Hebeta Palace, as mentioned before.

‘…I didn’t expect she would send me an invitation after what happened.’

Honestly, she couldn’t understand it. Saena had assumed they were already on bad terms because of the incident in the lounge and dancing with the prince.

‘Lady Barnes didn’t seem like someone without grudges either.’