“Your eyes are so sleepy. Don’t fool yourself. Come on, get up. You won’t go out because you’ve been forbidden by the Lady! Besides, why are you mad at me when it was Lady’s fault in the first place?”

Arianthe, who was furious this time, shouted like a dung beetle.

“I don’t know! I hate Vainti! Go away! I won’t get up without dressing, washing, or preparing for studying and homework! I won’t do it! I won’t do it!”

As Arianthe flailed her arms and legs, the sheet fluttered, and fine dust flew. Arianthe, who had been staring blankly at the dust sparkling in the sunlight, suddenly stood up.

“Where’s Meiana?”

Then Vainti and Ibi looked at each other as if they were embarrassed this time.

It wasn’t Arianthe who missed the sign. Whether Arianthe noticed that Vainti and Ibi were hiding something or not, Arianthe grumbled as she struggled to come down under the bed, seemingly uncomfortable with her temperament. When it didn’t work as she wanted, she stomped her foot in frustration.

“Take this off!”

“The Lady said so.”

As Vainti approached, Arianthe kicked her barefoot against Vainti’s knee. However, Vainti skillfully avoided Arianthe’s attack, earning the child’s anger again. Arianthe, who was glaring at Vainti with an infuriated expression, shouted again into her ear.

“Where’s Meiana!”

“Ah, Lady! My eardrums are going to fall off!”

“Where’s Meiana! Bring her to me!”

Then Ibi said, “Miss Meiana is not feeling well today, Lady.”

“Meiana is sick? Where does it hurt? Has she caught a cold? Does she have a fever? An upset stomach?”

“Ah, Lady! Please stay still! We can’t take off the sheet!”

“Vainti, you’re slow! Why is Meiana sick? How sick is she? Did you call the doctor?”

When Vainti finally unraveled the sheet, Arianthe got up as if she had cultivated laziness. Then, trying to run to Meiana’s room.

“Lady! Wait a moment. Meiana is really sick. When I called her earlier, she answered with a voice that seemed to be dying.”

“Meiana is not dying!”
Tears welled up in Arianthe’s eyes as she screamed loudly enough to make her face turn red. Vainti, realizing her mistake belatedly, quickly pleaded with the child.

“No, I mean, she seemed really in pain. So just let her be today. Maybe resting a bit longer will help.”

“What about the doctor? Did you call the doctor?”

“Meiana said not to call the doctor.”

“Why? No, I won’t allow it! If she’s sick, we need to call the doctor, and she needs to take medicine. I’ll go and talk to her!”

Saying that, Arianthe bounced out of the room before Vainti and Ibi could restrain her. Then, in front of Meiana’s room, she loudly banged on the door.

“Meiana! Meiana, are you awake? Are you in a lot of pain? Should I call the doctor? I’ll ask Father to call the doctor for you! Huh?”

Grabbing the door latch with her small hand, Arianthe opened her eyes wide in shock when she heard a click, a sound she had never heard before. Until now, Meiana had never locked the door. Arianthe could enter Meiana’s room anytime, anywhere. There was never a need to keep the door closed for Arianthe to enter easily!

The child’s face turned pale instantly. When no response came from inside, Arianthe, in a fit of rage, began pounding on the door as if she would break it.

“Meiana! Meiana, wake up! Are you okay? Open the door!”

“Lady, I’m fine. I’ll get better if I rest a little longer.”

“Meiana!”

When Meiana’s voice was heard from inside, Arianthe hung on the door latch as if she were going to break it and brought her ear close to the door with a shocked expression.

“Meiana! I’ll call the doctor!”

Meiana’s voice was heard again.

“It’s okay, Lady. You don’t have to. I’ll get up after a little more sleep, so please change your clothes and have breakfast. Dr. Ashe will be here soon.”

“Can’t I come in just once? Can’t you open the door? I’ll see if you have a high fever. I’ll check.”

“It’s really okay. I don’t have a fever. I’m just tired.”

Arianthe let go of the door latch with a sulky expression. For some reason, it was the first time since Meiana came that she didn’t show her face. Arianthe, clenching her fists and wiping away tears, held back her tears, unable to express the indescribable anxiety.

“After I finish studying, will you be better by then?”

“Yes, I promise. I’ll be better by then.”

“Then let’s go for a walk. Huh?”

“Yes, Lady. Let’s go for a walk.”

Only then did Arianthe step back from Meiana’s door and sighed. She didn’t resist when Vainti took her hand and led her into the room. Although she sat quietly when washing her face and changing clothes, her slumped appearance was pitiful to see.

“Miss Meiana will be fine, Lady.”

Ibi comforted her. However, Arianthe did not respond, keeping her lips pursed and holding back tears.