After finishing, Diane’s face was grim. As she spoke, she also started to reflect on whether she herself had made a wrong judgement.

Did she keep pinning an uncommitted crime on Heather just because she disliked her gaze? Anyway, Diane had no evidence.

On the other hand, Neris wore a light smile. Her eyes, clear and sharp like crystal, quickly scanned the opulent decor of the reception room.

Red silk ribbons and glass ornaments decorated branches of a fir tree that stood in place of a holy tree. Not just this room, but most of the MacKinnon mansion was adorned like that. It was an impossible feat without significant wealth.

So, it wouldn’t be strange if there were multiple people with motives.

“You don’t have to doubt yourself, Diane.”

Diane’s eyes widened at the words, as if Neris had read her thoughts. Neris spoke calmly.

“You were more certain in the carriage on the way here.”

“Yeah, I was… but seeing her face again makes me wonder if she really had bad intentions. There’s no evidence that she started the rumor, Liz…”

“As I’ve told you before, I trust your judgement.”

A friend’s words sent ripples through Diane’s heart. What initially seemed like minor doubts soon turned into self-belief and courage, filling Diane’s small frame.

“She really is bad!”

Diane muttered quietly and stomped her foot. Neris nodded her head.

“This is your house, and she’s trying to kick me out after you invited me. And jealousy at that?”

Neris’s eyes once again swept the room. She gave a cold snicker.

“Diane, do you remember what I told you?”

“Huh? When?”

Diane remembered most of what Neris had said. Which one was she referring to? At that innocent question, Neris raised her eyebrows.
Some words must be derived from the context of the conversation, and some words are not, Diane. Why is it that the rumor has it that you’re suspicious of Heder because of ‘jealousy’? There are far more plausible reasons to suspect someone.

Diane understood only about half of what Neris said. However, when she successfully recalled what Neris had said about Muriel, she realized something.

Neris nodded her head firmly.

“You wouldn’t be the first to show jealousy. Why would you be jealous of Heder Reiling? Yes, Diane. The rumor was probably started by her. She probably broke the wooden horse with a high probability. But she was the first to claim that the reason for your suspicion lies in jealousy. Then who is really jealous?”

Who would it really be unbearable for?

A child who is overwhelmingly loved by not only family but also servants, always dressed in the finest clothes, and even receiving dream-like gifts from guests of noble status.

A child who, while boasting about being smarter than others, has to flatter her peers.

Although it wasn’t a difficult story to understand, Diane was silent for a moment as if she had never thought about it in that direction. Even though she usually showed such insightful behavior.

A moment later, Diane looked at Neris with a face that couldn’t understand.

“Then why did Muriel say she and Heder went in and out of the room almost at the same time? Is Muriel also involved in this?”

“I didn’t see it firsthand, so I don’t know exactly. But tell me, Diane. Is Muriel smart?”

“No!”

“I thought so.”

Haha. Diane unknowingly burst into laughter at Neris’s neat retort.

That laughter filled the parlor like bubbles for a long time. The warm parlor, where the clear winter sunlight poured in, seemed to shimmer in golden light thanks to that refreshing laughter.

Neris stared blankly for a moment at that sight. And then quickly pulled herself together and put strength into her eyes. Diane, who didn’t notice the short change, asked with a full smile on her round face.

“Did Heder deceive Muriel?”

“I’m not ruling out the possibility that Muriel and Heder worked together to ruin your precious gift. But it doesn’t seem like Muriel is good at lying.”

At least, any adult could recognize that level of lying. Unlike someone.

Diane nodded her head seriously.

Neris put her elbows on the table and propped her chin in her hands. Such a simple action was so graceful that Diane was momentarily captivated.

Even though Neris usually acts mature, she looked like a high-born lady even when showing such a relaxed demeanor.

‘Not that she looks uncomfortable otherwise.’

Neris effortlessly perfected even the most complicated posture taught by Lord Sheridan, as if drinking chocolate.

Diane thought that she was probably the only one who saw Neris make such a movement. And that thought made her feel a little proud.

Neris, who had no idea what Diane was thinking, said casually, lost in deep thought.

“In and out of the room back and forth? I don’t know where she found the wooden horse. If she hid it among other items after breaking it, Muriel might not have seen it. There was more than one gift, so she wouldn’t have been constantly checking on the horse.”

“I don’t know where she found it. When I found out about the situation, it seemed to have already been placed on the table.”
Diane pondered, it seemed that Muriel had entered after Heather. Had Muriel claimed the horse had died? What Muriel had definitely claimed was—

“I didn’t see a broken horse.”

Having found her answer in Diane’s expression, Neris sneered coldly.

The chocolate, initially warm and steaming, had now cooled and become thicker than before. Inhaling its sweet aroma, Diane wore a deflated expression. Neris, observing Diane’s slightly protruding, irritated lips, broke the silence after a brief pause.

“Diane, Heather is not a big problem. Right now, it’s just a minor misunderstanding among children, so everyone is being nice to Heather. Your parents and your brother care about you the most. So, if you clearly express that you don’t like her, they’ll keep her away. I have my own people to worry about.”

Angelo Railing, interested in the McKinnon family.

Sibna McKinnon, who works with him.

And Nuarlan McKinnon, hidden behind Muriel’s sharp words.