It was truly sad that the person who put the most effort into the banquet couldn’t enjoy the remaining festivities. Until yesterday, there had been plenty of stimulating things, but now it was filled with mundane daily life.

It would have been really depressing if there weren’t kind people who came to visit and alleviate the boredom. Thanks to the grateful people who spent time together considering her pitiful situation, Natasha found meaning in life again today.

Especially Meliana and Vanessa stayed for a long time as if this place were a banquet hall.

“You can go now.”

It was rather Natasha who was chasing them away, telling them to leave quickly.

“Are you sending us away? Is it because we talk too much and it gives you a headache…?”

“How could that be? I’m saying this because I feel sorry for you not being able to enjoy your time because of me. The banquet will be over soon, so you should enjoy it a little more.”

“The banquet today is held in the evening anyway.”

“You can enjoy the tea party before that.”

“What fun is tea time without you, my lady!”

The sight of them pouting and grumbling looked so adorable. It felt sincere, not flattery or pretense, and gently touched her heart. Their sincerity was awkward many times, always new, and made her happy every time.

“When you say that, I have nothing more to say. Thank you so much.”

“Hmph, when your foot gets better, you have to be my dance partner at the duke’s mansion. I heard that Duchess Celina is hosting a banquet next month! They say it’ll be held at the villa in the resort! There will be a barbecue party at night too.”

Chatter chatter.

After talking for a few more hours, the maids suddenly felt hungry. Looking at the clock, it was almost time for dinner.

With the privilege of being close aides, they had overheard today’s menu and their eyes sparkled, saying their mouths watered just thinking about it. They also gave a thumbs up to Natasha, who had planned a luxurious and harmonious menu for each meal.

Their visit was like a commotion. The quietness felt unfamiliar after the heat that Vanessa and Meliana had swept through in an instant.

Only then did Natasha open the book Sieghart had recommended and start reading. When she had read almost one chapter, a knock came from the door.

Hadn’t Sieghart said he would help with all the preparations until this evening’s banquet, which he wouldn’t attend? It was just when the dinner was about to be served, so it couldn’t be other nobles either.

Natasha allowed entry with a slightly puzzled mind.

“My lady!”

The identity of the guest was none other than Cayena.

She approached with a face that looked like she was about to cry and hugged Natasha tightly. She also sighed deeply as if upset, asking why she had gotten hurt like this.

“Is there anything I can help with? I want to help in any way I can.”

Cayena said the same thing as the two people who had visited earlier. It was a courtesy for the respected duchess, for an injured patient.

“Actually, I do have a favor to ask…”

She had refused Vanessa and Meliana, telling them it was fine and to just chat and go, but she accepted Cayena’s consideration right away without declining. She had been aiming for this moment from the start.

“Yes! Please tell me!”

“Could you wipe my body with a towel? A maid wiped me down this morning, but perhaps because the blisters burst, it’s very uncomfortable…”

“Ah… Your body?”

Cayena’s response was rather slow. It seemed she wasn’t quick to respond as it was a bothersome request.

“It’s true that this isn’t usually your job, but since most of the maids are unfamiliar faces, I feel too awkward and embarrassed… Was it too much to ask?”

“Ah, no. It’s fine! Of course I should do it if you’re uncomfortable, my lady.”

Cayena awkwardly raised the corners of her mouth. She left saying she would bring the necessary things, and returned shortly after with a basin and dry towels.

She soaked a towel in lukewarm water, then wrung it out completely. She wiped the visible parts with the damp towel. Starting with the face and neck that should be clean, she then moved on to the hands and arms.

It was when she brought the second towel to be used for the lower body. Natasha suggested to Cayena, who looked struggling, that she might want to roll up her sleeves a bit.

Cayena said it was a good idea and pulled up the skirt part with both elbows. As she was about to start the rest of the work, Natasha asked questioningly.

“What about your arms?”

“Pardon?”

“Are your arms okay? The arms will be the most cumbersome.”

Both of their gazes turned to Cayena’s arms at once. From the wrist holding the towel tightly to the arm, the sleeves were completely soaked with water. Natasha reached out to her in surprise.

“Oh my! You’re soaked! You should roll up the sleeves on your arms too…”

The nuance was that she would roll up the sleeves for Cayena, who had her hands full of items. Realizing her intention, the other person panicked and brushed off her hand.

“Ah…”

Perhaps she had struck down strongly in her urgency, as a red handprint remained on the back of the raised hand. The tingling and aching sensation snapped her to her senses.

A moment later, their gazes met again.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I was startled! That, that is… I haven’t washed today. I was embarrassed in case I smelled, so without realizing…”

“No, it’s okay. I was the one who was rude. I shouldn’t have touched you carelessly, but I did so without hesitation because it’s you, Cayena, whom I’m close with. I’ll be sure to be careful next time.”

The conversation was concluded with a brief apology. They both tried to dispel the awkward atmosphere by laughing good-naturedly.

‘I saw it.’

Natasha blankly stared at the back of the woman going to get a new towel.

‘It was definitely there…’

On that day before Natasha fell from the terrace, she had gripped the culprit’s wrist tightly in an attempt to survive. When she was forcibly shaken off, she must have instinctively scratched the other person’s flesh with her nails.

When she grabbed Cayena’s collar to roll up her sleeve, Natasha clearly confirmed that evidence.

There were a few red lines drawn on the woman’s soft flesh. As if scratched thoroughly by a fierce cat.

“Thank you, Cayena.”

“I only did what I had to do! Do you need anything else?”

“No, this is more than enough. Yes, really… Thank you so much.”

“Hehe, call me anytime. I’ll be going now!”

Natasha waved endlessly to Cayena, who was leaving with light footsteps.

In the isolation that followed after the door closed, Natasha pondered for a long time. After the deep contemplation ended, she rang the bell to call a maid.

“I heard that Charlotte Tristana also works here.”

“Yes, Lady Tristana is helping here as a temporary chaperone for the young ladies.”

“Have her come over here for a moment.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, Charlotte, who had been summoned, expressed her sympathy towards her.

“I heard you called for me.”

“I heard you were in charge of chaperoning the young lady from the Park family. Were you with the young lady all day yesterday as well?”

“The young lady had an upset stomach yesterday, so she rested in her room all day. So I took a break from chaperoning yesterday and helped with other tasks.”

“Did those tasks include my work as well?”

“…Of course.”

“Then I’d like you to tell me what you’ve learned so far.”

Charlotte asked for understanding, saying she needed time to organize her thoughts.

After thinking carefully about what to talk about for a while, she approached her, saying she had finished gathering her thoughts.

Charlotte, who sat down pulling out a chair, had a different expression from the confident smile she had just moments ago.

“Um, my lady. That is…”

“Perhaps you didn’t fulfill your responsibility?”

“Ah, no! That’s not it. It’s just that there’s something a bit ambiguous for me to say… I’m worried it might look like I’m trying to drive a wedge between you and Lady Ten…”

Natasha tensed up at Charlotte’s words.

Information so unusual that it might look like driving a wedge between their relationship.

“You can speak comfortably.”

Natasha, who had deliberately suppressed her emotions, urged the other person.

The information that finally came out of Charlotte’s mouth was truly shocking.

“…Cayena visits the imperial palace once every ten days?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. The sentries guarding the castle gates all knew her face, probably because her visits were frequent.”

According to a servant in charge of external surveillance, Cayena had been coming in and out of the imperial palace once every ten days. The woman stayed in the palace for a long time once every three months, which coincidentally overlapped with when she requested leave for family matters.

“I see, good work. Oh, you said you monitored Cayena while taking a break from chaperoning the young Lady Park yesterday.”

“Yes, I checked on her whenever I had time.”

“Was there anything suspicious?”

“Anything suspicious?”

Charlotte, who had been thinking deeply about yesterday’s events, clapped her hands as if she had remembered something.

“Ah, she changed clothes in the servants’ lounge and rushed off somewhere!”

“Clothes? What kind of clothes was Cayena wearing?”

“A very large robe that covered her entire body.”

Charlotte described in detail how ridiculous that robe was. This coincidentally matched the shape of the robe worn by the culprit encountered on the terrace.

Natasha closed her eyes tightly.

The wounds on the wrist, the robe identical to the culprit’s, the green eyes she had encountered that day…

“I see…”

When all the circumstances were put together, the culprit was finally perfected.

There was no place left to look away. Now even she could not pretend not to know.

She thought Cayena would be on her side even if the world crumbled. Even if everyone hated Natasha Charliee, she didn’t want to be hated by Cayena Ten.

Even in the moment when she was driven to the edge by everyone in the world, she believed that at least Cayena loved her.

“That child, truly…”

Her most beloved friend.

“…no longer loved me.”

In fact, she was the one who wanted her pain more than anyone else.

It was truly a lamentable thing.

An unexpected betrayal, making it even more heartbreaking.