Her mother had told her to skip dinner, so she did not go to the dining room. She stayed in her room writing the continuation of what she had started at lunch. She was not hungry. The head chef had been thoughtful and had Nadia bring her a meal. Consomme soup with plenty of cabbage and bacon and fresh baked bread and a thick steak. She smiled wryly thinking it was quite lavish for something being passed along secretly.
"Please thank the head chef for me."
"I am sure he will be pleased."
"Please do."
One of the few people in the mansion who cared about Seratina. Since she had asked him when she was little not to openly defend her because it would put his position in danger, he had been supporting Seratina from the shadows ever since. The head chef had served the Platine family since the previous duke's time and had earned the deep trust of the previous duke and duchess. Even her father could not fire him on his own whim so Seratina's worries were unfounded. Though she did not know this herself.
She had finished dinner and would soon take a bath.
"Come to think of it, I wonder what Feres is coming to the capital for."
Feres was basically a shut-in who did not voluntarily go outside. If he said he was looking for something it must be something very important to him. Even when he wanted something he would just send a familiar or use magic to get it.
"Something Feres would want..."
Limited to things in the capital...
"...No good. I cannot figure it out at all."
Even when she did not limit it to Feres and thought about what mages in general would want she could not figure it out at all. If she got the chance to ask on the day she would try asking.
"I want to see you just once. But... if there is someone else you love by your side that would make me happy too."
The feeling that she would be happy if he was not alone but living happily with someone was genuine. Even though he had said he was used to being alone when he lived with her, he often said he did not like being alone. Feres was lonely at heart so she wished for him to be happy.
The next morning. When she had finished her morning preparations with Nadia and was about to head to the dining room Seratina suddenly stopped walking.
"My lady? What is wrong?"
"Hmm..."
Having been told to skip dinner yesterday and having stayed holed up in her room the whole time, her parents would surely lecture her twice as much as usual. Complete with unwelcome sermons. Thinking about it that way made her not want to eat in the dining room.
"I will eat in my room so could you have my meal brought up?"
"I wonder what the master and mistress will say later..."
"If you say I am being selfish you will not get scolded, so it is fine."
"That is not what I meant… I am worried about you Milady."
"Thank you. I am used to it, so I am fine."
"...I understand."
Even if something happened Seratina had magic. She could easily deploy a defensive barrier. She patted Nadia's back to send her off to get the meal while she herself stayed in her room waiting for food.
Tap tap
"Hm?"
She heard a tapping sound at the window and when she approached and opened the curtains a small bird was tapping with its beak. When she opened the window the small bird perched on Seratina's palm and chirped.
"Peep peep peep."
"Lance...?"
The small bird seemed to be Lance's familiar that she had met at the guild yesterday and she received a message conveyed in magical language.
"Thank you."
As thanks, Seratina shared some of her magical power and sent the bird flying into the sky. Just at the right moment Nadia came bringing the meal. She sat down and asked Nadia who was arranging the meal on the table if her father and mother had not said anything.
"No nothing to me. But they are quite angry with you Lady Seratina..."
"I figured as much."
Those two did not like anything Seratina did.
"I will go out after I eat breakfast."
"Where will you be going?"
"Same place as yesterday. I will not be buying anything today so I will go alone."
"That will not do. I will accompany you as well."
If she said she was going to the guild to meet someone she would definitely be asked for a reason. She pondered whether there was a way to cleverly deceive while eating the opera cake that had been provided. It was possible to use magic to divert the other person's attention and make them obey her. Since it would be troublesome if they became suspicious later she wanted to think in the direction of not using it. She pondered whether there was a way to get Nadia to understand. But seeing the expression that hid firm resolve she probably gave up thinking it would be impossible.
"Please try to understand somehow. I will not go anywhere dangerous. I will be back within an hour of leaving the mansion so please forgive me for that."
"...I understand."
Even though she had been prepared to do much more persuading Nadia agreed though she seemed quite dissatisfied. Relieved for now Seratina began eating the breakfast Nadia had brought.
True to her word, when she finished breakfast she began preparing to go out. She smiled wryly at Nadia who seemed to want to say something and decided to buy her a souvenir. While trying to remember what Nadia's favorite things were she went outside before meeting anyone from the duke's family. She got into the carriage that had been waiting and asked the coachman to go to the same place as yesterday. While swaying in the carriage she recalled the message Lance had sent.
Feres was supposed to come to the capital in three days. That was supposed to be the case but... she had received word that he had suddenly changed his schedule and arrived in the capital today. Surprisingly the second princess was with him too. Feres had apparently come as the second princess's escort and was currently at the castle. The schedule had been moved up due to the second princess's strong desire and it seemed she had been very sad about not being able to attend the crown prince's birthday party the other day... She had had Feres cast powerful healing magic on her and forcibly healed herself or so it seemed.
Even though human recovery abilities vary greatly from person to person forcibly speeding up the predetermined rate of recovery puts strain on the body. Was the reason the princess wanted to heal herself to that extent because she wanted to see the crown prince?
She had heard that the crown prince and second princess had a good relationship. Seratina could understand the feeling of wanting to see someone you love even a little sooner. If she had loved Schwartz, what would she have done? Even though she did not like him because she had memories from her previous life she might have ended up loving him.
"This is something that probably no one can know for sure."