Chapter 31

“This one!”

Melissa’s expression suddenly turned triumphant.

Natalianne’s brow lifted slightly, but Melissa proudly spread the hem of her dress.

“This is a gift from Mother! There are others that look similar, but this one is the real thing!”

A gift from Mother?

That?

Natalianne’s eyes darkened.

After a long silence, she seemed about to say something but clicked her tongue instead.

“Never mind. You really don’t have a clue, do you?”

“Sorry?”

“Nothing.”

Anyone else would have been stunned that Natalianne stopped herself mid-sentence, but Melissa only tilted her head and smiled brightly.

“Oh, right! Did you read the rolling paper yet?”

“Not all of it—”

She paused and saw Melissa’s eyes sparkle. Her lips twitched as if they were itching to speak.

Natalianne gave a quiet scoff.

“Not all of it, but I glanced through.”

“Then did you see the picture in the top left corner?”

“Picture?”

Natalianne frowned slightly, searching her memory.

Wasn’t that just some weird-looking worm?

If that counted as a drawing, then sure.

Nodding half-heartedly, she watched Melissa beam proudly.

“Shilen drew that! Isn’t it adorable?”

“…Shilen?”

Who is that.

Natalianne’s brow creased. Then she remembered Linburton’s letter mentioning a child Demius had taken in and named Shilen.

‘Ah.’

Her forehead furrowed in irritation.

For some reason, every time she saw that child, her head throbbed sharply, like being struck with a hammer.

She’d tried to send the kid away the moment they met, but that fool Demius insisted on bringing her inside the mansion.

‘So annoying.’

She had left for the Magic Tower before the child could settle in, but it seemed he had even given her a name since then.

And it just had to mean “silence.”

‘Disgusting taste.’

While pondering whether family was truly a necessary concept in the world, Melissa’s cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts.

“I actually wanted to bring Shilen to the surprise party too, but she suddenly disappeared! Don’t worry though, she’ll definitely be at the next one!”

Who’s worrying.

Natalianne pursed her lips, then caught a certain word that made her pause.

“…Next?”

“Yes, the welcome party for the subjugation team!”

“Ah.”

Her expression cooled instantly. But the next words Melissa said made her eyes widen.

“Should we plan it together starting tomorrow?”

“Together?”

“Yes!”

Melissa nodded with an enthusiastic smile.

“What would you like to handle, the food or the decorations?”

“Neither.”

“Oh my, so you trust me with everything? I’m touched!”

How did she even reach that conclusion?

Natalianne stared in disbelief as Melissa asked again.

“Do you have any favorite foods?”

“…Not really.”

The question caught her off guard. She thought for a moment, and then Melissa spoke again.

“What about from the food you had this morning? Did you like anything?”

“That thing…”

A particular dish came to mind, and she asked without thinking.

“The round one, that was a cicada, right?”

“Yes! How was it?”

“Well…”

She turned her gaze aside and muttered, “Not bad.”

“It’s good, right?”

Half the people in the estate would faint at that answer, but Melissa’s eyes sparkled with delight.

“They’re in season right now! Though my favorite kind doesn’t live around here. Those ones are this big!”

Melissa held her arms wide to show the size.

“When you grill them, they taste just like beef!”

“Beef isn’t even that great.”

“Then what do you like?”

“Vegetables.”

She answered without thinking, then blinked in realization.

Oh, I actually like vegetables.

While she was still processing that, Melissa’s eyes lit up like a spark.

Natalianne flinched back, but Melissa leaned forward eagerly.

“I grow vegetables in the garden out back! The soil here is amazing, so everything grows well. It’s perfect since you like vegetables. I’ll make you a salad next time. Even Mr. Bamel said it tastes great!”

The garden?

A faint memory flashed, and Natalianne turned away, muttering under her breath.

“…Is that alright?”

“Sorry?”

Her conscience pricked. She fidgeted and murmured, “…I froze it.”

“Oh!”

Melissa clapped her hands, her face lighting up.

“Right, that! Actually, the grapes froze too, and they got sweeter afterward! I was thinking of turning them into wine. If it turns out good, could you freeze them again for me?”

“Make wine?”

Natalianne frowned.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

“…!”

Natalianne’s eyes widened.

She looks younger than me.

True, people from the Eisenhart lands tended to be taller and sturdier than those from other regions.

But the woman in front of her was smaller by a whole head and looked so delicate she might blow away in the wind.

So when her brother had brought home someone that young as his wife, she’d thought he’d finally gone insane and had treated Melissa coldly, trying to drive her out.

‘And he’s actually a year younger than her?’

The realization struck like lightning. She turned her head abruptly and snapped,

“Still, don’t expect me to call you sister. I’m going to kick you out anyway.”

“Of course. I’ll be leaving in a year.”

“What?”

“Oh, I let that slip.”

Melissa’s eyes widened, then she smiled sheepishly and pressed a finger to her lips.

“This is a secret, okay?”

…A secret?

Before Natalianne could respond, Melissa suddenly clapped her hands again, her mind already racing elsewhere.

“Right! Mr. Bamel said he’s testing a new salad recipe. Should we go see?”

It felt like she had just overheard something she wasn’t supposed to, but in the end, Natalianne could only follow as Melissa took her hand and led her away.

* * *

Something felt off.

Lately, the servants of the Eisenhart estate had been sensing a strange calm.

Lady Natalianne had returned, so why was it so quiet?

There were no sounds of dishes breaking every morning, and the buildings beyond the main gate still stood unharmed.

True, the vegetables in the garden had been partly frozen during an incident recently, but the lady who tended it had been overjoyed, saying the grapes had become sweeter.

And so, the same question spread quietly among the servants.

‘Why is everything so peaceful?’

It shouldn’t be.

The senior servants, including the butler who had served the family for years, stayed on guard, preparing for the worst.

But the newer workers had begun to relax, lulled by the quiet days.

That was until, on rare occasions, they glimpsed a woman in a black veil walking down the corridor.

Oh no.

‘The lady!’

Snapping back to reality, they would bow deeply until she passed.

Tap. Tap.

The sharp sound of heels drew closer, tightening the air in the hallway.

They bowed lower, terrified that their heads might end up like the shattered front gate.

But Natalianne didn’t spare them a glance and walked right past.

“This is strange!”

Finally, someone couldn’t contain their unease any longer.

The one who blurted out was Bamel, the head chef.

Realizing his voice had come out too loud, he quickly glanced around.

Seeing no one nearby, he leaned forward and whispered urgently,

“Something is wrong. The lady has returned, yet the entire estate is quiet!”