“What are you doing? Don’t go!”
“Just leave it be, Rebecca. This might be the last time Mother will see the lake from here.”
“…”
After everyone had left, Lania’s final laughter, directed towards Catherine, was full of meaning. Indeed, there’s no time for them to lead the group and move together. *CLUNK* After the door closed, she finally released her hand from her forehead and pulled the curtains tightly from the inside.
“You heard everything, Selene?”
◇ ◆ ◇
“M-Madam!” Selene, who was trembling behind the gray curtain, looked dismayed. “How did you know I was here?”
“Quiet, you traitor. If you want to stay in my house, at least you should keep the house owner alive, shouldn’t you?”
“Ugh.”
Selene’s lips trembled and she cried out in frustration. Meanwhile, she had managed to obtain three ribbons from Rashid, using some cunning method. There was no separate aristocracy or nobility.
“There’s no time to explain now. I have to go out immediately.”
“But, Madam——”
“It takes about thirty minutes to go from here to the Duchy, turning around the lake. In the meantime, I have to find the ring and somehow deliver it to the Duchy.” “Instead of that, Lady Lania suggested searching the lake earlier. If we had done that, whether we found it or not, you wouldn’t have to insist on it!”
“Are you an idiot?”
It’s easier said than done. Even if she stood next to Rashid today, most of the people here still belong to Lania. They won’t take her side unless they go crazy in the Northern region from here onwards.
“Even if it was obvious that either Rebecca or I threw it, who do you think people would believe if it were someone like you? And it’s not about finding it or not. If it’s Lania, she will find it somehow.”
“How can you be so sure, Madam?”
“Do you think an unprepared girl like her would even give away her mother’s heirloom?”
“…” Selene furrowed her brow with a complicated expression. She attached herself here, thinking she could enjoy the splendor, and ended up like this. She raised her head with her hand as she muttered in despair.
“Don’t give up. We haven’t even started yet.”
“Ugh, Madam.”
“Why couldn’t I find what they’re looking for?”
*KNOCK KNOCK*
The sound of someone calling her made her turn her head abruptly. Now that time was running out, her face has become more determined. “On the third floor of the Duchy, by Rebecca’s room window, there’s a balcony. Go there right away and call Mr. Darren. Gather all the people at the lake and deliver the message as smartly as possible.”
“W-What? What are you talking about?”
“Just find anyone, whether it’s an individual or a team. It doesn’t matter.” She firmly held Selene’s head, which was still shaking, and looked directly into her eyes. “First come, first served. One person, a year’s worth of free passes for the water park.”
[Now, watch what the teacher does.] Darren, who was watching over the children in the middle of the lake, plunged his head into the water. As the diving time got longer, the surprised children flocked toward him. Among them, Haniel was the one who was the most scared.
[Teacher, you’re not coming back! We thought you disappeared, but you’re catching fish and coming out!]
[But…]
[Haniel, are you still scared of falling into the water? Do you think Teacher Darren would be the same as you? Who do you think would fall into the water like you?] The duckling, the son of the artist Arteza, teased her, pecking at her with his beak. The other children tried to stop him, but he was a mischievous child by nature.
[You can’t even take the test because of this. Our mom said if she gets first place in the test, she’ll make a bed out of fresh hay for us!]
[Our mom said she’ll give us pretty ribbons too!]
[So what can you do? You can’t swim anyway.] As Haniel tilted her head and splashed water as if to say, “Look at this,” she quickly lowered her head to prevent the ribbon from touching the water. Her big brother gave this to her. [Not as good as I expected.] Although it didn’t please her as much as the one her mom tied, a ribbon was still a ribbon. Her big brother is annoying. If it gets wet, my soul might fly away. As she tilted her head downward, the ribbon almost touched the surface of the water, startling Haniel, who flapped her wings. [Oh, no!]
[Look at that. Reina can’t dive!]
“…” Once again, as she watched the duck teasing and laughing, Haniel blinked her big eyes. It’s not worth it.
Her closed beak looked like a frown, but the more she did it, the louder the teasing laughter became. [Reina, are you trying to cry again? If you cry, you’ll just look like a crybaby.]
[No, I’m not crying.]
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