13. What Kind of Relationship (1)

“Miss!”

Saena returned to the mansion more mentally than physically exhausted and fell asleep after undergoing another simple treatment in her room.

She really wanted to sleep in late today. But her nanny barged in first thing in the morning.

“Miss, wake up!”

“Mmm, why…. I want to sleep more.”

“You can’t. We’ve received a visitation request!”

A visitation request?

“…This early in the morning? Don’t tell me it’s for today?”

“Yes.”

Who would send a letter requesting a same-day visit this early in the morning?

Though it was more polite than showing up unannounced, requesting a visit on the same day was considered rude in noble society.

Especially when dealing with noble ladies who needed long preparation times.

“…Who is it?”

“House Ackroyd, House Dimitri, and House Aberdeen!”

Ah. Yesterday Kirsten had looked worried seeing Saena’s skin still showing red marks, unable to hide her concern — seems she couldn’t wait any longer.

“I should get up.”

She couldn’t grumble about friends coming to check on her out of worry.

The nanny quickly instructed the dressing maids to come and helped Saena.

“By the way, I heard you came back wearing a different dress yesterday? What happened?”

Like Martha, she reacted sensitively to Saena’s every move since waking from her comatose state.

She seemed to know everything, like she’s receiving separate morning reports about Saena.

“Ah, tea splashed during yesterday’s tea party. Since my dress was ruined, Her Highness the Princess gave me a new one to wear home.”

Since no scars remained, she didn’t bother mentioning the treatment.

Despite getting treatment at the imperial palace, her skin hadn’t completely lost its redness, but after returning home and applying the potion the Duke had given her before, it instantly returned to its original color.

It made all the fuss at the imperial palace seem pointless.

“What? Oh my. Did your hands shake? Did you suddenly feel weak?!”

The nanny started treating her like the frailest person in the world again.

“Why would my hands shake….. I was perfectly fine. It wasn’t like that.”

“Then did some stupid maid make a mistake?! Were you burned? Where–”

“No! I’m fine! I wasn’t burned anywhere, just the dress was ruined.”

“Ugh, which incompetent person can’t even serve tea properly! This could have been serious!”

She couldn’t bring herself to say it wasn’t an incompetent maid but the Prince who did it.

Somehow, she felt the nanny wouldn’t stop criticizing even if she told him it was the Prince. Better to stay quiet than risk having her commit lèse-majesté.

“Are you really sure you weren’t burned anywhere? Early treatment is crucial to prevent scarring.”

“Yes. Really, there’s nothing. You can see for yourself.”

Nanny Martha still seemed unsatisfied and watched Saena closely with hawk eyes during her bath and while dressing and undressing. Only after inspecting everything herself did she leave to prepare for the guests.

‘Why won’t she believe what I say?’

It’s not like Saena habitually lied, but strangely, they never believed her words when it comes to her health.

‘Looks like we’ll need this again after seeing your tomboy behavior last time.’

The Duke had said that too last time.

She hadn’t acted like a tomboy — she was just a victim.

Well, after confirming the amazing effects of the potion again, she didn’t even feel like complaining anymore.

“Miss. The carriages have passed through the main gate.”

After finishing a light lunch, when afternoon tea time came, maid Smila announced the arrival of the guests.

Saena rose and headed downstairs. She wanted to meet them at the portico to show them she was perfectly fine.

“Saya!”

“Why are you out here?”

“Are you okay?”

They brightened upon seeing Saena waiting at the portico and approached. Though they each came in their family carriages, they arrived and disembarked simultaneously as if they had departed from the same place.

“Welcome, sisters. Lady Floria… huh?”

She thought there would naturally be three, but another person stepped out of House Ackroyd’s carriage. It was Kayan.

“Kayan?”

“Saena. I heard about what happened yesterday and came along because I was worried.”

“It wasn’t anything serious. But welcome. I’m glad to see you.”

Though she had grumbled about who would send a letter so early in the morning, that brief complaint vanished. Rather, because of that, she could feel their sincere concern. Saena could give them a huge smile out of gratitude.

The four of them temporarily stopped in their tracks upon seeing the radiant smile blooming on her face.

“This way. Thank you for visiting.”

Saena thought their hesitation was because they didn’t know where to go, so she turned around and started leading them.

“Is it true? What Sister Kiki said?”

“Yes. Did you think it was a lie?”

“Wow. When she smiles, it’s no joke. Does she not know herself?”

“Yeah. She seems smart but is quite oblivious about things like this.”

Completely unaware of the quiet conversation behind her, Saena just walked briskly ahead.

“Welcome, ladies… and…”

The nanny, who naturally expected only ladies, looked at Saena in confusion upon seeing Kayan among them.

“He’s House Ackroyd’s young master. He’s her brother and my friend.”

Saena quickly explained.

“Ah, I apologize. Young Master Ackroyd. This way, please.”

The nanny welcomed the visitors with a bright face again and guided them.

“This is my nanny.”

“I am Martha Demichel.”

“Hello, Nanny.”

“Are you the ladies who got our miss to go out? Thank you so much! Please continue to look after her!”

“Nanny….”

“Our miss likes staying inside too much, really, sigh…”

Everyone laughed as if they understood completely.

“We’ll have to invite her out more often then.”

When Kirsten said this with a slow smile, the nanny brightened.

“That would be so very appreciated.”

“…Nanny!”

“Hoho. I’ll have tea brought in. Please wait a moment.”

As soon as the nanny left and they sat down, Kirsten grabbed Saena and started fussing over her, checking here and there.

“Let me see. No, take it off!”

“…S-sister?”

“The redness hadn’t completely faded yesterday, did you treat it properly before bed?!”

“It’s all better! Really. Completely fine!”

Saena quickly answered as Kirsten looked ready to actually strip her dress off.

‘Kayan is here too….’

When Saena glanced nervously at Kayan, he had turned his head completely away. Even from his profile, she could see his embarrassment.

“Hmm…. Hmmm…. Hmmmm. It really is better?”

After checking various places for a while, Kirsten’s face showed she hadn’t expected this.

“W-well, it wasn’t completely hot tea to begin with.”

“What are you saying? I saw your chest and arms were all red.”

“It just looked that way, but maybe because the initial treatment was excellent, it got better quickly.”

Though she seemed to find something strange, since the visible evidence supported Saena’s words, Kirsten didn’t press further.

“Phew, thank goodness anyway.”

“I know. Imagine if it had scarred. I was so worried Kiki might terrorize someone high up.”

“…Eh?”

“You should have heard how she cursed yesterday without naming names…. Tsk.”

Evian said while shaking her head.

…Could she have cursed the Prince?

Though hard to believe, it seemed entirely possible given Kirsten’s personality, making Saena break into a cold sweat.

But she felt so grateful too. Had anyone besides family ever cared for her like this? It felt like various wounds from the past were healing significantly. Saena renewed her determination to treat these people really well.

“Thank you… so much for worrying about me.”

“Hey, why so formal again?”

“I’m just so grateful….”

Saena smiled broadly while tensing her eyes to keep a few tears from escaping.

“What’s this?”

“Why, why are you like this?”

“Yeah. This is weird.”

Why did they look uncomfortable with words of gratitude? Such unrewarding people.

Just as the atmosphere started to become awkward, the nanny and servants with trolleys entered the reception room.

“Excuse us. We’ll serve the tea.”

The nanny had been bustling about early preparing for guests, and soon the table was full.

Not only was the tea at just the right temperature, but the tea foods were especially luxurious today. The various cookies and scones were warm, the chocolate cake and éclairs gleamed. The eaten mess remained springy, and the cut fruits looked fresh without a single blemish.

She must have ordered all new tea foods to be baked to match.

“Oh my, we shouldn’t only have gatherings at your house or ours. The desserts here are amazing!”

Kirsten exclaimed after tasting several tea foods on her personal plate.

“I know. And the tea is excellent too!”

Evian nodded.

“The nanny seems to have put in a lot of effort because friends are visiting. Ah, friends… right?”

“Oh my, Saya. You consider us friends? I’m touched.”