There was a big annex where the servants would likely stay, and near that, there were stables, barns, sheep pens, and pig pens, each installed with its own ample space.

The vicinity was all open fields. The McKinnon family probably had more sheep and cows than one could count.

“When did your family start living on this land?”

To Neris’s question, Diane replied, trying not to seem boastful.

“50 years ago? Our greatgrandfather bought the land around here, and built a house where the original hunter’s cabin used to be.”

“That’s impressive. The house is very beautiful.”

Diane showed a slightly more proud look, but her expression soon became slightly stiff.

Always confident, Diane’s rare face made Neris narrow her eyes. Did she have something to say?

Glancing down slightly, Diane asked in a soft voice.

“Hey, Liz. It’s vulgar for a family with a short history to boast about an expensive house, right?”

Neris’s tension had been in vain. She smiled calmly.

Even the members of the oldest family in the country can’t follow half of Diane’s usual assertiveness.

“What does the length and brevity of a family’s history have to do with the aesthetic value of the main house? Your house is truly wonderful. I think you can be proud.”

At that, Diane grinned. Her clear, lakelike eyes sparkled as refreshingly and beautifully as the McKinnon mansion’s landscape, so Neris momentarily turned her gaze out the window.

Her bright and pure peers sometimes shone too dazzlingly and blinded her eyes.

“Actually, I really like our house. There on the first floor of the main building, it’s always adorned with red flowers on silk on Resurrection Day. When the snow piles up on the window sill and the candlelight reflects with the snow and water during dinner, it’s beautiful.”

“Do you have the feast with family?”

“No, many guests come. Actually, I’m not supposed to be at the adults’ dinner, but I sneak down to watch.”

So saying, Diane laughed mischievously. Betty, who had diligently looked after the two children during the long journey, forced a smile.

“You’ll have to entertain guests at the holiday dinner when you grow up, whether you like it or not.”

“That’s then, but being locked in the playroom was no fun.”

The aristocrats of Bista started attending formal dinner parties at least at sixteen or seventeen, when they were recognized as adults by their family.

Until then, they were treated like children who disturb adults, locked obediently in the playroom and sent early to bed by the nanny.

Remembering how surprised she was by that custom when she was first adopted by the Elandria family, Neris halfagreed with Betty and half with Diane.

“It would be good practice to be able to attend social gatherings even before debut. That’s why the academy is cooperative in hosting student parties.”

“Yeah, the pajama party was fun.”

Neris had to play a card game with Diane until quite late on the day Diane splendidly hosted the pajama party. Betty shuddered as she recalled her nervous impressions of that day.

“Yeah. It was fun.”
Unlike Diane, Neris was grateful for the party that day for a different reason. If the servant hadn’t spilled the drink on Angarad’s ribbon, she would have had to move in various ways more perilously.

Betty, unaware of the circumstances, was touched by Neris’s words. Indeed, Miss Neris was mature, and she graciously accepts her friend’s foolish behavior. If only our Miss had learned a little.

“On a day when it’s not snowing, it would be fun to ride a horse around the nearby area, Miss Neris.”

“Yeah. I love riding horses too.”

The excited servant’s words left Neris pondering whether to ask a potentially uncomfortable question when Diane quickly added an explanation.

“I can’t ride alone, but my brother will ride with me. Or the stablekeeper can lead the horse, and I can go slowly.”

Diane had a much older brother. Indeed, like Diane, Neris had no memory of meeting him in her previous life.

Neris imagined Diane dressed in beautiful outing clothes, wearing a widebrimmed hat, sitting in front of someone faceless, and riding around on a horse. It seemed like quite a picture.

‘Diane’s brother, so he must be naive but clear about likes and dislikes…… Something like that?’

Anyway, since he was already an adult and had graduated from the academy, he would be too busy attending to guests to expect him to ride and hang out together.

Neris guessed that much and forgot about Diane’s brother. Diane was already busy picking out various activities she wanted to do with Neris.

“We have the ‘Dog and Jackal’ set, so we must play that, and let’s go out to draw pictures. During the day, we’ll have a tea party and a ball with the children who have come as guests. Ah, Heather Reiling won’t be able to say a word if she sees you dance. I must tell her that the step she taught me was wrong!”

“Heather Reiling?”

At the sudden mention of a familiar name, Neris narrowed her eyebrows. Diane snorted.

“She’s a guest from the top of Reiling. Angelo Reiling’s daughter, and she keeps picking on me. What’s age got to do with everything?”

Angelo Reiling. At that name, Neris’s eyes darkened.

He had been one of the people she had brought in for the Elandria family in her previous life. Naturally, she knew that he was her man. Arrogant beyond belief and willing to betray others for her own advantage.

Angelo and Earl Mackinnon, both merchants, so it was not strange that Angelo was invited to the Mackinnon family’s celebration party as a guest.

Especially since it was before Angelo had grown significantly. It wasn’t strange for him to bring his only daughter around to introduce her everywhere, hoping for a connection.

“You say she picks on you?”

But the Reilings were not nobility. Neither in status nor in wealth were they a match for Diane. Heather picking on her?

That felt strange. Neris frowned.

Betty shook her head.

“Miss, I think you’re thinking too badly about Miss Heather.”

“Not true? Betty, you heard what she said to me before.”

“I heard, that’s why I’m telling you this. If I didn’t know the situation, I would want to take your side unconditionally, but we all saw and heard it during the horse neck incident.”

Neris did not relax her expression. She knew Diane could be quite sharp.

Then the faint sound of horse hooves came from outside. Diane abruptly turned her head away from Betty, who diverted her attention as if trying to calm her mistress.

“A guest seems to be coming. They’re riding quite fast?”

Indeed, the sound of the horse hooves quickly grew louder. Neris looked calmly out of the window.

The person riding the horse slowed down near the carriage. Diane suddenly cried out with a bright face.

“Brother!”

The carriage stopped, and the door opened.

Along with the clear winter sunlight, the person looking into the carriage was a young man with long brown hair tied back, his face solemn.

He had a frosty, icy expression, but in his eyes as he looked at Diane, there was an easily recognizable affection.

“Di.”
The young man lifted Diane’s right hand and kissed the back of it. The action was exceedingly sincere and followed etiquette precisely. Betty greeted.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Joyce.”

“Betty, you’ve been working hard taking care of my sister.”

Joyce McKinnon’s gaze finally turned to Neris. Her eyes sharply scrutinized Neris.

Neris thought of something from his face. She waited until he nodded first, then introduced herself.

“Hello. I’m Neris Trued.”