As soon as Diane was seated on a bench nearby, Nuallan and Joyce left their seats to entertain the upper guests. Neris also got up, saying she needed to go to the bathroom.

Diane didn’t want to be left alone with Heather but couldn’t tell her not to go to the bathroom, so she just stayed put.

“Diane Miss, the mansion was lonely without you.”

Heather hesitated for a moment as Diane closed her mouth and stared at the lake, then spoke kindly. Diane scowled.

“You’ve been to our house a lot while I was gone?”

“I’ve been there a few times. My father owes a lot to the Count.”

Heather’s voice was really humble and modest as she said this. Diane stared at Heather sharply before looking away.

When Diane did not respond, Heather spoke again a moment later.

“Miss, how’s life at the academy? Have you made many friends?”

“You saw my friend.”

“Other friends besides Miss Neris?”

“Liz is my best friend.”

Maybe. Diane smiled as she recalled Neris introducing herself as a ‘friend’ yesterday. Heather looked uncomfortable.

“I, Miss… pardon my overstepping, but didn’t the Count mean for you to make various friends of appropriate stature when he sent you to the academy? Miss Neris is certainly very smart, but, um…….”

“What?”

Diane turned her head sharply to glare at Heather.

Heather’s delicate face trembled with fear. Anyone would have felt sympathy for her pitiable expression, but Diane did not relent. Three nearby ladies, passing by, saw this and approached.

“What’s going on here?”

“Isn’t that the daughter of Railing? Why did you upset Diane?”

As the ladies made a fuss, people’s attention was drawn more and more to them. Diane was inwardly flustered, and Heather explained with an embarrassed look.

“I, I dared to speak about Diane’s friend and angered her. It’s my fault.”

The lady who initially asked what was going on chuckled.

“Heather and Diane have been close since childhood; it’s understandable to worry.”

“Diane is still young and may not understand, but you must choose your friends wisely.”

Diane’s eyes widened. She could not comprehend the situation. Why did they say such things about Neris? What do they know about her?

After blinking several times, her lips trembling with anger, Diane retorted.

“My friend is smarter and more dignified than anyone else at school. I chose my friend very carefully.”

“Oh, my, well…….”

The ladies exchanged glances and sneered. Diane tried to assert herself again but just then Neris returned.

“Diane.”

“Neris!”

Though the person she had been waiting for had returned, Diane looked at Neris’s face, worried before pleased. Had she heard the conversation just now?

Neris’s expression was as calm as ever. The ladies glanced at Neris as she politely lifted her skirt to greet them.

“Three Madams.”

That address wasn’t something one could use so naturally just by attending a few social lessons at the academy.

The ladies, who had just heard rumors that this Neris was a lowborn girl trying to cling to naive Diane for money, were internally puzzled. Wasn’t that the vibe?

“What’s wrong, Diane? You look worse than before I left.”

“No.”

Though the remark was true, Diane did not want to unnecessarily explain something that might hurt Neris, so she just brushed it off. The ladies soon left, leaving only the three girls on the bench.

“How’s the place you fell? Does it hurt?”

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t a serious fall. To Diane’s response, Heather spoke with a worried expression.

“Miss, there are dance lessons at the academy, right? How are you participating? I’m worried since you fell like this today.”

“Just something.”
Dianne spat out with a grumble. The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became.

Heder had always been like this since she was young. She would say things to upset people, then put on a pitiful expression as if she did nothing wrong, and the adults would take Heder’s side.

After emphasizing that the subject she brought up was nothing serious, she would add words like ‘I’m sorry if I upset you,’ and only Dianne would end up looking strange.

Why did the adults believe Heder so much? Does she not speak ill in front of others?

While Dianne was puzzled, Heder spoke to Neris affectionately.

“Miss Neris, does our Miss Dianne participate a lot in class?”

“Yes.”

Neris smiled faintly. At her piercing gaze, Heder blinked her round eyes several times and smiled back.

“Miss Neris, you look very diligent. Dianne has been praising you, saying you’re smart and graceful.”

“Really? Dianne always sees me better than I actually am. I heard about Heder too. You played together since you were young? How old is Heder?”

“Sixteen years old. The same age as Miss Muriel.”

“I see Muriel always hanging around with you. Since you’re about the same age and see each other often, you must be close.”

“Close? With my status, I can hardly pretend to be a lady’s friend.”

“Really? You know that well?”

“Yep.”

Neris’s last words flowed out as calmly as all her previous words. Heder blinked for a moment, unable to determine if she had heard correctly.

“What?”