Knowing that Arianthe was much smarter and quicker-witted than other children, she couldn’t afford to think deeply about anything other than the possibility of Grete running away.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“Why?”

“What Venti said is true. I should have handled it on my own when you weren’t around… You must have been quite surprised.”

While clenching her fist, Venti, who had been enduring, let out a snorting sound. Arianthe glanced at Venti, then stretched her arms and nestled into Meiana’s embrace.

The child remained silent. She didn’t cry or scream. However, both Meiana and even Venti could feel it. Arianthe, who was now crying her heart out, was as terrified as if she were screaming and making a fuss.

Meiana whispered while gently stroking Arianthe’s back.

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure something like this never happens again. Absolutely, from now on.”

Arianthe’s small head, nestled as if clinging tightly to her, trembled as if contemplating, then slowly nodded.

That night, Arianthe finished her meal by eating a little of the cold peach jelly that Meiana had made herself. Meiana asked if she wanted anything else, but it seemed like Arianthe had no appetite.

“Please go to sleep early tonight, my lady.”

After changing Arianthe into her pajamas and laying her on the bed, Meiana covered her with a sheet. At that moment, a small hand popped out of the sheet and grabbed Meiana’s finger.

“Can you stay here?”

“I will stay. I’ll bring some sewing work.”

“No, not that… What I mean is, tell me a story.”

Meiana knew that Arianthe’s eyes looking up at her were shaking with earnestness. And she also knew that Arianthe didn’t know how to ask to be embraced. So, she chose to express it through the words ‘tell me a story.’

As Meiana stared in silence, Arianthe held her hand more firmly. Otherwise, Meiana might run away.

Meiana let out a small laugh as if sighing and propped up the sheet, lying down on the bed. Then, Arianthe, who had nestled into her arms, lightly patted her back. She wasn’t trembling now, but the tension had gone.

“Shall I tell you the story of the needle and the thread again tonight?”

Arianthe didn’t answer for a moment. Breathing heavily while being embraced by Meiana, she soon became uncomfortable and slightly moved away.

“Sure.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Actually, has this happened before?”

Meiana’s eyes blinked silently. It was not because she expected Arianthe to say such things, but her reaction was genuinely taken aback.

“You say this has happened before… What are you talking about? Before…”

“When I was young, a maid who ate my soup said her stomach hurt. And Marshal also ate my cookies and vomited once.”

“You didn’t eat them, my lady?”

“I didn’t.”
I understood why. Only recently, and thanks to Meiana’s skillful teaching and guidance, Arianthe had just stopped being picky about meals and snacks. Until not long ago, for no apparent reason, she used to overturn plates or whimsically decide not to eat after saying she would.

Perhaps it was an instinctive rejection, Meiana thought.

Whether it was severe pickiness or a short palate, Meiana didn’t know if Arianthe’s unique taste observation around her was a result of her observation of the surroundings since she was young. Just as deer instinctively know how to avoid poisonous plants, Arianthe might have developed her aversion to meals in a similar way.

Arianthe, who had been fidgeting with her fingertips, spoke hesitantly.

“So, earlier… I figured out what happened. But I wasn’t surprised. Well, I was a little surprised, but not much.”

“My lady, it’s not something to talk about. Have you ever done it to the Duke as well?”

Arianthe, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, nodded.

Meiana asked again, “You haven’t told the Duke about it? Not once? Why?”

Arianthe clenched the sheet, lips pursed.

“Just… because if Father knows, he might worry. And Father… might get angry.”

“Who, my lady? To you?”

Arianthe didn’t answer. She neither nodded nor shook her head.

Feeling choked, as if her throat was blocked, Meiana wiped Arianthe’s head and asked again.

“So, what about those people… when Marshal or the maid got sick. When they ate what belonged to you and got sick… What happened? Who called the doctor?”

Arianthe nodded.

“Jemero.”

“Mr. Jemero? The Duke’s secretary, right? Did he call the doctor?”

“Yeah. I begged him not to tell Father under any circumstances.”

As Meiana’s expression darkened, Arianthe, who was now agitated, hugged her tightly again. The sight of the little creature desperately seeking air, like a fledgling, distressed Meiana.

“I’ll tell you the story, my lady. Stop thinking about it now and go to sleep. There won’t be such incidents anymore. Never again, now that I’m here, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Really?”

Meiana nodded.

“Yes, truly. There won’t be such incidents again. With me here, you don’t have to worry.”

Arianthe sighed softly. Whether it was relief or relaxation, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep. Meiana, holding Arianthe who had fallen asleep, spent the night in constant contemplation with wide-open eyes.

Does Cedelroi know all these facts? If he does, why didn’t he take action earlier?

What does Jocelyn’s statement mean – the one where she assured that she would never be driven away?