For dinner, crispy layers of thinly spread and baked potatoes, with mushrooms inserted between the layers—she had no idea about the fact—appeared. And when Maeyana, who had made new pajamas, appeared, Arianthe’s excitement reached its peak.

The neckline was gathered with wrinkles, and a white pajama covered her feet, spreading out more and more as it went down.

It wasn’t particularly rare or challenging in design, but Arianthe turned round and round in the soft blanket-like fabric, giggling.

“Look, Maeyana! Isn’t it like what angels wear?”

When Maeyana put on the headband made with pajamas, Arianthe nodded her head passionately.

“It’s not just the clothes; the lady looks like an angel too. Look, wings are about to sprout, right?”

When Maeyana pretended to inspect her back, Arianthe hugged her tightly, laughing louder. As the scent typical of a child nestled in her arms, Maeyana felt a warm corner of her chest.

“I asked Father earlier, and he said it’s okay to go to the Sylas house tomorrow.”

Somehow, now it made sense why Arianthe was so excited. She seemed so absent-minded, as if she didn’t know what to do with her excitement about meeting her friends, just like when she stole sugar.

“Ah, it’s Swan!”

When Maeyana turned her head, Swan was really standing at the door. It was unclear whether it was just passing by or whether Arianthe, who was so excited, came to see what was going on.

“Master Swan, you came just in time. It wasn’t even a moment before I was about to visit you.”

Leaning against the door, Swan blinked his round eyes.

“For me? Why…?”

“I’m giving you this.”

When Maeyana offered the neatly folded pajamas, Swan’s cheeks faintly reddened. After looking at Arianthe, who couldn’t leave the mirror after putting on pretty pajamas and was not coming out, Swan took what was offered by Maeyana and said slowly.

“Is this pajamas?”

“That’s right. I made a new one for the lady and thought I’d make one for you too. It’s not fancy with decorations, but it should be comfortable to wear and sleep in. It’s chilly at night, so it’s time to change your pajamas now.”
Swan looked down at the new clothes in his hands without saying a word. As he gently touched the pristine white fabric without a speck of dust, he felt a slightly thicker texture. Unlike Arianthe’s, Swan’s pajamas had ribbon decorations on the sleeves.

“…Thank you, Maeyana.”

“Why are you saying that for something like this? Since I made the lady’s, it’s only natural to make yours too.”

“Even mine… I didn’t know you’d make mine too.”

“What are you talking about?”

When Maeyana asked again, Swan turned his gaze with a bashful face. The words Jocelyn had said… The idea that no one cared about him in this mansion stuck to his mind like moss and wouldn’t fall off.

While feeling grateful for Maeyana’s favor of making his pajamas, Swan found himself suspecting her intentions unintentionally.

Maeyana’s gaze quietly stared at Swan’s face. Her eyes were so straightforward that Swan felt even more embarrassed. He felt like Maeyana knew everything about what he was thinking and what Jocelyn had said. Even though it shouldn’t be the case.

Swan, with an increasingly uncomfortable expression, tried to escape by hunching his shoulders and grabbing the pajamas.

“Thank you, um… I’ll wear it well, Maeyana.”

“Just a moment, Master Swan.”

Swan, who had turned his body as if to escape, looked at Maeyana with a bewildered face. For a moment, a vague fear seemed to open its mouth under his feet, as if it were going to devour the boy.

Maeyana knows everything. Swan thought. The story Jocelyn told me… Maeyana undoubtedly knows everything. About Arianthe’s birth, and all the words that prompted him, saying Arianthe didn’t qualify to be a lady.

And the fact that Swan himself just listened to Jocelyn’s words from beginning to end was also revealed. It felt like tears were about to fall at the thought of how overwhelming the problem was for a ten-year-old to handle.

“Master Swan, come over here.”

Prepared for an immediate sharp criticism, Swan opened his eyes, tightly closed, at Maeyana’s gentle voice.

Holding Swan’s hand, she led him into the living room and unfolded the small partition that Arianthe had used when changing into pajamas.

“Master Swan, come here.”

Arianthe poked her head out beyond the partition and said.

“Yes, Lady. So, you shouldn’t peek, right?”

“Don’t peek! Don’t worry about it.”

The creaking sound faded away. Swan stood there with a puzzled expression, holding the pajamas, wondering what all this was about.