“So, are you saying you’re going to go play with the Emperor’s family tomorrow?”
"Yes."
Aila nodded with a sheepish expression at Laura's question. She had called her out to tell her about the outing.
She was sure this news would eventually reach Byron's ears. She figured it would be best to tell Laura herself.
Wouldn't Byron feel reassured if Laura proved herself still valid as a source? By dropping these baits one by one, she could eventually force him into stepping into her trap.
“Why are you telling me this now? It’s tomorrow...”
Laura responded with a sharp, sharp voice. This was what she'd heard when she'd called someone who'd been left out and given the news.
“I’m sorry, I just heard about it.”
When Aila apologized with a disgusting expression on her face, Laura sighed helplessly.
“Anyway, then, behave yourself tomorrow so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicions... Have you spoken to the Duke and Duchess about me?”
Laura gave a few words of advice, then changed the subject.
“Your story? What story?”
"I'm asking you to reinstate me as your personal maid. Surely you haven't done it before?"
She glared at Aila with all her might in her eyes.
Aila barely allowed Laura to stay in the mansion after she had almost been kicked out for causing an accident, but she was still talking like that, still out of her mind.
Aila wanted to scoff and ask why she had to do that, but she held back and put on a look of pity.
"That's... I guess it's because the damage you've done is so extensive, both of them are really angry. Just mentioning your name makes them cold, so it's a bit awkward to talk."
At her words, Laura's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. She was angry that Aila had pointed out her mistake, but she couldn't be angry because she wasn't wrong.
"You'll still try, right? I can't keep going like this. Look at my hands. They're all swollen."
Laura brought her hand, which had become increasingly rough, in front of Aila's eyes and cried.
‘...You’re telling me all these regrettable things. I guess it must be hard.’
Aila nodded with a gloomy expression, trying to suppress her laughter, feeling a bit amused.
“Yes, yes. I’ll try.”
Of course, she had no intention of doing so, but Laura sighed, feeling a little relieved by Aila's words.
"If you don't have anything more to say, how about we head back now? The Duchess will be here soon."
"Yes? No, I've said everything I wanted to say. I'll be going now."
Laura flinched, her face flustered at the mention of Ophelia. She pretended not to notice, but she seemed quite frightened.
It was understandable, since the usually gentle lady would take on a cold expression whenever she saw Laura.
It was also said because she wanted to send Laura back quickly, but it wasn't a lie that her mother was coming.
She had made an appointment with her to pick out the clothes she would wear tomorrow together.
Roderick questioned why it was necessary to choose clothes that were comfortable and easy to move in, but Aila didn't think so.
Even if she were wearing the same comfortable clothes, she wanted to wear something that suited her and looked pretty, even if it was just a little bit. It was because she wanted to show Winfred, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, that she was happy and doing well.
"I told you that the reason we met this time was because Winfred was worried about me after hearing about my curse. I need to put him at ease."
Strictly speaking, Winfred is older than her in terms of physical age, but isn't Aila older than him in terms of spiritual age?
It was embarrassing and regrettable to have worried a friend who was younger than her.
So, she had to quickly show him that she was living a good life with lots of love and without any problems.
As Aila made that pledge, the time for her appointment with Ophelia approached. She greeted her mother with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Mother.”
"Have you been waiting long, Aila? Let's go pick out some clothes."
As soon as she entered the room, Ophelia eagerly grabbed her daughter's hand and spoke. She seemed even more combative than Aila in choosing her daughter's clothes.
Thinking that it was the first time in a long time that her daughter had met the boy she liked, Ophelia unconsciously became passionate.
"It should be appropriate for the season, occasion, and location, while still looking pretty. If it looks overdone, you're out. But it shouldn't look sloppy either, so it should still look like you put in a little effort."
Ophelia said in a serious voice.
“Oh, I see... By the way, where are we going tomorrow? Like Mother said, I’m trying to choose clothes that fit the place and the situation, but I don’t know exactly.”
Aila, feeling a bit awkward because her mother seemed more enthusiastic than she was, asked hesitantly.
She had only heard that it was a suburb of Venator, but since she didn't know exactly what kind of place it was, she had no idea what to wear.
"Ah, I'm planning to go to the royal forest. The lake in the vast garden was truly beautiful. It's been over ten years since I've been there myself, though. I vividly remember riding horses with your father and strolling along the lakeside at sunset."
Ophelia looked as if she were dreaming, lost in memories.
“Wow, I want to ride a horse there, too! Then I’ll have to wear riding clothes.”
Aila responded happily to her mother's words. Since she started riding lessons, she'd acquired several sets of riding clothes, so it seemed like she could just wear her favorite.
“Hmm, our daughter looks really pretty in her riding outfit...”
Ophelia stuck out her lower lip and looked at the hanging clothes, as if it was a shame that she was only wearing riding clothes.
Certainly, Aila looked great in riding clothes. With her long, muscular legs and perfectly toned body, the tight-fitting trousers accentuated her healthy beauty.
'But if I just put them in riding clothes, it seems a bit insincere, like there's no twist.'
Ophelia rubbed her chin in deep thought. But wouldn't it be a hassle to change clothes midway through a day trip?
“Yes, let’s do it this way.”
After a moment of thought, she nodded with a solemn expression, as if she had found the answer. A good idea had just occurred to her.
‘...What will I say when I meet Aila?’
In the carriage on the way to meet her, Winfred wiped the sweat from his hands on the hem of his shirt and thought.
He imagined countless times the moment he would be reunited with Aila.
Should I greet her warmly, or should I just smile and silently extend my hand and escort her?
But now he couldn't even speak to her affectionately or pretend to know her.
This was because Aila and he had not yet officially met.
Fortunately, the curse on her body was lifted, but without knowing where Byron's spy was hiding, he couldn't make that mistake and interfere with Aila's work.
‘I can’t help you, but...’
Winfred let out a deep sigh. No matter how much he thought about it, it felt like there was absolutely no way he could help Aila, and it was frustrating.
Even if that wasn't the case, he was very worried about how to talk to Ayla right now.
He wanted to apologize to her for the heavy sins his uncle committed, but hadn't he already done so when they met by chance in the Inselkov Kingdom?
And Aila told him that it wasn't his fault and that he didn't need to feel sorry.
'Also, I'm that kid's only friend...'
Winfred's face flushed at the resonance of the words "one and only." It felt as if they had become incredibly special.
Of course, he didn't want to remain just 'friends' with Aila.
“Hmm, hmm.”
And his father, Hiram, sitting across from Winfred, was watching the scene with great interest.
After being exhausted for a few days due to the story of Aila's curse, it seemed like he had completely regained his energy as he performed a monologue on his own like before.
While he was observing his son's emotional changes, the carriage arrived at its destination.
Winfred got out of the carriage with a pounding heart.
The place itself was nothing special. It was a place he often visited with his father on holidays to hunt and go horseback riding.
But today was different. He would see Aila soon.
“Hmm... It seems the Duke’s family hasn’t arrived yet. I guess we’ll have to wait a bit.”
Hiram asked with a mischievous expression. He was so eagerly awaiting this meeting, and he was wondering what to do about the disappointment.
But contrary to his father's expectations that Winfred would be disappointed, he shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened.
He had been waiting for so long to meet her, but waiting for a little while was nothing to him.
Hiram, not particularly pleased with his son's reaction, sat down on the swing chair hanging from the large tree with a somewhat withered face.
It's only fun when it's burning brightly, but what's the fun in playing with it when it's so aloof?
While Hiram, feeling a bit sad for no reason, let his body sink listlessly into the rocking chair, Winfred paced around anxiously, waiting for Aila to come.
Finally, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from far away at the entrance to the forest.
The family of the Duke of Weishaffen had arrived.
"Yes."
Aila nodded with a sheepish expression at Laura's question. She had called her out to tell her about the outing.
She was sure this news would eventually reach Byron's ears. She figured it would be best to tell Laura herself.
Wouldn't Byron feel reassured if Laura proved herself still valid as a source? By dropping these baits one by one, she could eventually force him into stepping into her trap.
“Why are you telling me this now? It’s tomorrow...”
Laura responded with a sharp, sharp voice. This was what she'd heard when she'd called someone who'd been left out and given the news.
“I’m sorry, I just heard about it.”
When Aila apologized with a disgusting expression on her face, Laura sighed helplessly.
“Anyway, then, behave yourself tomorrow so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicions... Have you spoken to the Duke and Duchess about me?”
Laura gave a few words of advice, then changed the subject.
“Your story? What story?”
"I'm asking you to reinstate me as your personal maid. Surely you haven't done it before?"
She glared at Aila with all her might in her eyes.
Aila barely allowed Laura to stay in the mansion after she had almost been kicked out for causing an accident, but she was still talking like that, still out of her mind.
Aila wanted to scoff and ask why she had to do that, but she held back and put on a look of pity.
"That's... I guess it's because the damage you've done is so extensive, both of them are really angry. Just mentioning your name makes them cold, so it's a bit awkward to talk."
At her words, Laura's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. She was angry that Aila had pointed out her mistake, but she couldn't be angry because she wasn't wrong.
"You'll still try, right? I can't keep going like this. Look at my hands. They're all swollen."
Laura brought her hand, which had become increasingly rough, in front of Aila's eyes and cried.
‘...You’re telling me all these regrettable things. I guess it must be hard.’
Aila nodded with a gloomy expression, trying to suppress her laughter, feeling a bit amused.
“Yes, yes. I’ll try.”
Of course, she had no intention of doing so, but Laura sighed, feeling a little relieved by Aila's words.
"If you don't have anything more to say, how about we head back now? The Duchess will be here soon."
"Yes? No, I've said everything I wanted to say. I'll be going now."
Laura flinched, her face flustered at the mention of Ophelia. She pretended not to notice, but she seemed quite frightened.
It was understandable, since the usually gentle lady would take on a cold expression whenever she saw Laura.
It was also said because she wanted to send Laura back quickly, but it wasn't a lie that her mother was coming.
She had made an appointment with her to pick out the clothes she would wear tomorrow together.
Roderick questioned why it was necessary to choose clothes that were comfortable and easy to move in, but Aila didn't think so.
Even if she were wearing the same comfortable clothes, she wanted to wear something that suited her and looked pretty, even if it was just a little bit. It was because she wanted to show Winfred, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, that she was happy and doing well.
"I told you that the reason we met this time was because Winfred was worried about me after hearing about my curse. I need to put him at ease."
Strictly speaking, Winfred is older than her in terms of physical age, but isn't Aila older than him in terms of spiritual age?
It was embarrassing and regrettable to have worried a friend who was younger than her.
So, she had to quickly show him that she was living a good life with lots of love and without any problems.
As Aila made that pledge, the time for her appointment with Ophelia approached. She greeted her mother with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Mother.”
"Have you been waiting long, Aila? Let's go pick out some clothes."
As soon as she entered the room, Ophelia eagerly grabbed her daughter's hand and spoke. She seemed even more combative than Aila in choosing her daughter's clothes.
Thinking that it was the first time in a long time that her daughter had met the boy she liked, Ophelia unconsciously became passionate.
"It should be appropriate for the season, occasion, and location, while still looking pretty. If it looks overdone, you're out. But it shouldn't look sloppy either, so it should still look like you put in a little effort."
Ophelia said in a serious voice.
“Oh, I see... By the way, where are we going tomorrow? Like Mother said, I’m trying to choose clothes that fit the place and the situation, but I don’t know exactly.”
Aila, feeling a bit awkward because her mother seemed more enthusiastic than she was, asked hesitantly.
She had only heard that it was a suburb of Venator, but since she didn't know exactly what kind of place it was, she had no idea what to wear.
"Ah, I'm planning to go to the royal forest. The lake in the vast garden was truly beautiful. It's been over ten years since I've been there myself, though. I vividly remember riding horses with your father and strolling along the lakeside at sunset."
Ophelia looked as if she were dreaming, lost in memories.
“Wow, I want to ride a horse there, too! Then I’ll have to wear riding clothes.”
Aila responded happily to her mother's words. Since she started riding lessons, she'd acquired several sets of riding clothes, so it seemed like she could just wear her favorite.
“Hmm, our daughter looks really pretty in her riding outfit...”
Ophelia stuck out her lower lip and looked at the hanging clothes, as if it was a shame that she was only wearing riding clothes.
Certainly, Aila looked great in riding clothes. With her long, muscular legs and perfectly toned body, the tight-fitting trousers accentuated her healthy beauty.
'But if I just put them in riding clothes, it seems a bit insincere, like there's no twist.'
Ophelia rubbed her chin in deep thought. But wouldn't it be a hassle to change clothes midway through a day trip?
“Yes, let’s do it this way.”
After a moment of thought, she nodded with a solemn expression, as if she had found the answer. A good idea had just occurred to her.
***
‘...What will I say when I meet Aila?’
In the carriage on the way to meet her, Winfred wiped the sweat from his hands on the hem of his shirt and thought.
He imagined countless times the moment he would be reunited with Aila.
Should I greet her warmly, or should I just smile and silently extend my hand and escort her?
But now he couldn't even speak to her affectionately or pretend to know her.
This was because Aila and he had not yet officially met.
Fortunately, the curse on her body was lifted, but without knowing where Byron's spy was hiding, he couldn't make that mistake and interfere with Aila's work.
‘I can’t help you, but...’
Winfred let out a deep sigh. No matter how much he thought about it, it felt like there was absolutely no way he could help Aila, and it was frustrating.
Even if that wasn't the case, he was very worried about how to talk to Ayla right now.
He wanted to apologize to her for the heavy sins his uncle committed, but hadn't he already done so when they met by chance in the Inselkov Kingdom?
And Aila told him that it wasn't his fault and that he didn't need to feel sorry.
'Also, I'm that kid's only friend...'
Winfred's face flushed at the resonance of the words "one and only." It felt as if they had become incredibly special.
Of course, he didn't want to remain just 'friends' with Aila.
“Hmm, hmm.”
And his father, Hiram, sitting across from Winfred, was watching the scene with great interest.
After being exhausted for a few days due to the story of Aila's curse, it seemed like he had completely regained his energy as he performed a monologue on his own like before.
While he was observing his son's emotional changes, the carriage arrived at its destination.
Winfred got out of the carriage with a pounding heart.
The place itself was nothing special. It was a place he often visited with his father on holidays to hunt and go horseback riding.
But today was different. He would see Aila soon.
“Hmm... It seems the Duke’s family hasn’t arrived yet. I guess we’ll have to wait a bit.”
Hiram asked with a mischievous expression. He was so eagerly awaiting this meeting, and he was wondering what to do about the disappointment.
But contrary to his father's expectations that Winfred would be disappointed, he shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened.
He had been waiting for so long to meet her, but waiting for a little while was nothing to him.
“She'll be here soon, I guess.”
It's only fun when it's burning brightly, but what's the fun in playing with it when it's so aloof?
While Hiram, feeling a bit sad for no reason, let his body sink listlessly into the rocking chair, Winfred paced around anxiously, waiting for Aila to come.
Finally, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from far away at the entrance to the forest.
The family of the Duke of Weishaffen had arrived.
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