“Is that so?”

He smirked briefly. Neris felt that what he’d been wanting to say would come out now.

The reason he had been so kind to talk to her—a young friend of his cousin, without family support or any feature deserving of his attention—became clear.

Nualan began to speak earnestly.

“You’ve seen it, Diane usually can live her life no differently than anyone else. But if she goes somewhere far like the academy and happens to trip… who knows how badly she might get hurt. She stumbled while dancing earlier. Of course, that’s my fault for not catching her properly.”

“There’s no guarantee that others would protect Diane any better than you.”

Nualan’s face slightly brightened at Neris’s empathetic voice. He looked intently at Neris.

“Thank you for saying that. Honestly, Diane is a little willful because we’ve spoiled her, but I think she’s a good-hearted girl. I’m glad she has a mature friend like you… if there’s hope that Diane will get even a bit healthier, then from our family’s perspective, we’d have to accept being apart.”

Neris raised her eyebrows. She asked, surprised.

“Where is Diane going?”

“There’s a famous doctor abroad. We’ve already lost hope that Diane will ever run like other children, but you never know… if she at least recovers enough to protect herself when she falls, we couldn’t ask for more.”

“But—”

Hearing her hesitant voice, Nualan wore a resigned grin. ‘Treatment’ and ‘abroad’—Neris was too young to take such matters seriously, hence her confused look.

“No, there must be more to it.”

He knew well enough about Neris’s background. If she continued to be with Diane, this girl would enjoy privileges she never dreamed of. So the departure of Diane would be sad, but—

He spoke persuasively with a gentle voice.
“We’re sad to part with our ‘child,’ of course, but health comes first. Right, Neris? What do you think?”

Neris rolled her eyes for a while. Then, after a moment, she reluctantly agreed with him in a deflated tone.

“…You’re right, brother. If it means Diane can be healthier and safer…”

“Good, Neris, you’ve really grown up.”

Downstairs, the sound of string instruments being tuned resonated. The butler announced the start of the meal in a rumbling voice. Nualan glanced at the first floor and gave Neris a smile.

“Diane doesn’t know yet. It’s a secret, okay?”

“Yes, understood.”

Neris nodded, looking deflated. Nualan wished her a good time and promptly descended the stairs. Once on the landing, he looked up and waved at Neris.

Returning the wave with a smile, Neris quickly hardened her expression.

Nualan was trying to persuade Neris to send Diane abroad for treatment.

Treatment?

Certainly, Joyce had mentioned it on the way to the mansion. Someone had recommended a foreign doctor named Lemartre.

“Lemartre means ‘stone seller’ in Ferran. There can’t really be such a person.”

Since childhood, Diane had suffered from a fever that left one leg compromised. It was barely noticeable, but the arm on the same side also reacted slower than others. Neris had seen similar symptoms when she was a crown princess.

The Empress’s younger sister, Lady Muraiya, was known to be physically handicapped and rarely appeared in public, and even when she did, she needed a cane.

That was true. But her condition was not due to the chronic illness that people commonly assumed.

Born into the strong and robust imperial family, it was uncommon, but she too had a childhood fever that left one arm and leg slightly stiff.

Various renowned doctors had visited the palace, but no one could “cure” her.

To save face, the imperial family had concealed her symptoms, and she spent her life rarely leaving her residence. Neris learned this when she frequently visited Lady Muraiya to curry favor on behalf of her husband.

Lady Muraiya had tried everything, even inviting doctors from abroad, but to no avail.

Neris had listened to a range of stories while attending to her exacting aunt. Among them, she learned that Bista was the most medically advanced place in the continent for treating such symptoms.

Moreover, Joyce would accuse Angelo in a few years. Neris strained to recall what Joyce’s accusation had been, finally remembering that it was a criminal charge that had harmed his family.

Therefore, Nualan’s current proposal could not be good.

“Probably a trap to ensnare the Count and Countess.”

Was it a scheme to drain their wealth by employing a quack doctor? Or a plot to harm Diane and plunge the Count and Countess into despair?

Either way, she couldn’t think it would benefit Diane’s health. If something like giving away the family seat occurred to an apparently healthy Count and Countess, it would be a huge problem.

Horrible people. Receiving all the love from Diane’s family under the pretext of being family, all they plotted was to steal their share.

Moreover.

Neris placed her hand over her heart. What she had thought was hardened was pounding quickly like a child’s.

“Diane stopped going to school from this point on.”

Whether it was due to going abroad or a severe health problem.
They had only attended the first semester together. That was why Diane McKinnon had not left an impression on Neris’s memory.

It was for that reason Diane was not among the children who ostracized her.

Neris felt no need to despise Diane, and she did not know how to process that fact.