Neris stared at Heather blankly.

Of course, she was not surprised by either Heather’s appearance or her words. It was all within expectations.

She had deliberately passed by the room where Heather was staying and came this way, and had deliberately scolded the servants loudly enough for Heather to hear.

What Joan had told Neris was better information than expected. Although she felt guilty, from Joan’s position, she wouldn’t want to bear the full responsibility for the misconduct assigned by her superior.

Deliberately showing the intention to ‘fight with Angelo’ was tantamount to indirectly saying ‘Therefore, I need all the help you can give.’

‘Muriel was carelessly talking as if this house would soon be hers.’

It was worth deliberately riling up both Muriel and Heather. Being still young, they were bound to act zealously when their usual concerns were touched.

So whatever their plan was, it had to proceed more hastily than the original schedule of the cunning adults. Whether because signs were revealed, or because the first button of the affair was already fastened.

Heather, watching Neris thinking such thoughts, hesitated for a moment, unsure of what attitude to show. And soon she decided to focus on the fact that her pride was hurt, and that she didn’t like that fact.

No matter how she thought about it, there was nothing Neris Trude could do now.

She glared and hissed.

“That traitor will disappear, and so will you. You’d better not act up.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Neris’s reply was crisp, as was her hand gesture of slightly lifting her skirt. Neris was a knight’s daughter and Heather was not, so that gesture exchanged among nobles was, of course, mocking.

Heather was furious, but since her opponent was not someone she could win against in a war of words, she had no choice but to turn away.

I’ll go tell father and it will all be solved! I should ask him to get rid of that annoying girl right away! If necessary, even by executing the plan faster!

Sightseeing trips to enjoy the nearby scenery during the day, banquets and balls in the evening, indoor entertainment on days with bad weather – the dreamlike festival period passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the festival.

The children, excited after receiving lots of gifts in the morning, ran around the mansion, while the adults smiled bitterly thinking of the expenses incurred for festival gifts.

It was a strange day if even the lowest servants in any household didn’t receive ample coins and fabric. Children of relatives, and even guests’ children, if not yet of age, received exotic toys, expensive quill pens, silk ribbons, and the like.

However, the children’s joyful time ended when the evening banquet came. Those who were not yet adults by imperial standards, that is, children under seventeen, had to go to the playroom or bedroom when the sun set.

Children who regrettably fell under the age limit insisted they could sit still and act like adults during the banquet, but the rules were strictly enforced.

As everyone who could attend the banquet gathered on the first floor, the second floor and above of the mansion was even quiet. Adults chatted softly as they passed through the central hall on the first floor towards the banquet hall.

The holy water font in the hall, created by breaking through the second floor, was especially large, almost reaching the ceiling. Guests glanced at the lavishly decorated font as they passed by.

“Have you heard the news that the Count will invest in Atrapalea?”

“My dear lady, anyone who hasn’t heard that talk in high society now is considered out of touch with the times. Well, do you have any thoughts on it yourself?”

The banquet hall, decorated with red ribbons and brilliant candles, was hot with talk of diamond mines.

Those with means were desperate to get even one more piece of information from Angelo Railing, who had brought news of the mine.

Angelo, who had been making a name for himself since collaborating with the McKinnon family, humbly yet confidently announced that almost all the necessary investment funds had been raised, and that his expectations were as high as those of the Count and Countess.

All the necessary investment funds had been raised, they say, well it’s true that in business, the more money you have, the more you earn.

Thinking that the operator of the small Railing trading company was deliberately raising his price, the nobles’ eyes gleamed as they tried to find out what conditions he had in mind.

Watching this, Joyce, with an unusually cheerful face, said to his cousin:

“I should visit Atrapalea once. If the environment is as good as we hope, I should take Di there. I’m really grateful to Angelo Railing.”

The doctor named Le Martre, whom Sibna had found, was someone who specialized in treating cases similar to Diane’s.

He seemed to have no intention of making house calls to foreign countries, being from Kamikles where Atrapalea is located. Although they hadn’t told Diane yet, the Count and Countess, along with Joyce, were thinking of taking her all the way to where that doctor was for treatment.

Nualan frowned. Of course, he knew about that plan too.

“Nothing is more important than Di getting healthy, but do you really want to all go together? Wouldn’t it be better to just send Di? Since he’s a famous and strict doctor, it won’t be just a penny or two in costs.”

“We have that much money. And we have no choice but to do it that way.”

Joyce gave a bitter smile, but even beneath such a smile, expectation and joy were evident.

The memory of the day he first met his much younger sister was still vivid to him.

Diane, who had been so small and fragile it was even frightening, followed him especially once she became able to recognize people. The baby relied on him without a trace of doubt and sought sleep leaning her hot cheek on his shoulder, even though he was not very popular among his peers due to being brusque and poor at expressing himself.

Diane was the person Joyce loved most in the world. On a day when he was much younger than now, the moment he first thought that even his cute sister’s breath sparkled like sunlight, Joyce vowed to give her his everything.

Yes… even if the result would be the loss of his title.

All nobles of Vista must attend the Noble Academy.

That legal clause was enforced even if individuals didn’t want it, as it wasn’t created for friendship among nobles. Even an individual’s health didn’t become grounds for exemption from the law. Unless it was a serious situation where one could barely even get up from their seat.

So for Diane to skip the Noble Academy and receive full-fledged treatment, she had to cease being a noble.

That meant, in other words, that the Count and Countess had to pass their title to someone else.

Fortunately, the McKinnon family had many successor candidates worthy of inheriting the title. Especially Sibna, who cared about his niece’s health and even found out about Le Martre through Angelo, who worked with him.

Although the field Sibna was in charge of at McKinnon Trading wasn’t doing well, people who care for and look after those around them like that tend to survive in the end. Because the people they’ve helped will support them.

So there was nothing to worry about.

If Sibna inherited the title of Count, Nualan, who would naturally become the heir to the Count, had always taken good care of his younger cousins. Although Muriel was ill-mannered, perhaps because she was raised too preciously at home, she might change a little once she became a noble lady.

If they left the country giving up their title, they would of course have to leave behind their connections and real estate. They would take as much gold as needed to settle in a new place, but all the advantages they enjoyed in Vista would have to be abandoned.

The decision might have been more difficult if Angelo Railing hadn’t brought news of a diamond mine in Atrapalea that was good for investment.

However, the Count was still healthy, and they thought that the news of a new business item in the area where the doctor happened to be might be a sign of fate telling their family to start a new life.

Nualan, who knew the plan well, gave sincere advice.

“Don’t think too extremely. Once you decide, it’s irreversible, so look carefully. It’s not even certain that Le Martre is definitely a doctor who can cure Di.”

Joyce nodded.

“Don’t worry, I’m not saying we’re going to leave urgently right now. We should go after understanding the situation well. We’re going to a foreign country where we don’t know anyone.”

Besides, treatment doesn’t necessarily have to be long-term. Who knows, maybe the doctor will see her and cure her instantly.

The McKinnon family members hadn’t given up such hope yet.

Cling cling cling. As the cousins’ conversation ended, a clear sound came from the Count and Countess’s seats. The Count, who had tapped a glass with a silver spoon, stood up with a smiling face. Everyone’s attention focused on him.

“Everyone gathered here…”

The meaning of the festival, gratitude to God, infinite prosperity for everyone’s health and business. As the customary words continued, he suddenly pointed to a specific person.

“Although all my siblings were born under the same parents, they are all different. Among them, Sibna McKinnon truly has a greater love for family than any other sibling. I’m not sure if I could do the same as him if I were in the same situation.”

Joyce nodded in agreement. The mild-mannered Sibna smiled bitterly and blushed.

He had never been the center of attention like this before. Especially from the Count and Countess’s enormous number of guests who enjoyed meeting people.

The Count made a few more vague remarks about the gratitude he and his family felt towards Sibna, and then concluded.

The guests exchanged glances. According to etiquette, guests always take precedence over family. But there must have been a reason for deliberately singling out and praising one of his siblings, in front of so many guests.

Then what could that reason be?

Naturally, more people approached Angelo. Everyone knew that although Angelo had now expanded his business area, he was originally a person who supplied medicines and naturally had close connections with Sibna. So he must know something.

Dishes made with luxurious ingredients and delicate cooking methods filled the table. While eating, Joyce engaged in appropriately polite conversation with those around him, and by the time dessert came out, everyone was somewhat tipsy from the several types of alcohol that had been served alternately.

As a few people slipped out for reasons such as a walk, card games, or smoking, Nualan stood up.

“Where are you going?”

To Joyce’s question, Nualan winked.

“I’m going to check on our young lady.”

“She’ll be fine. Muriel isn’t that young anymore, Nu. If it were our baby, I’d understand.”

“I’m going to see your ‘baby’. Last time I saw, Di’s friend was craning her neck to look at the first floor. I should check to make sure there are no accidents since the second-floor railing is dangerous.”

Joyce immediately understood what the second-floor railing meant.

When you enter the main building through the first-floor entrance, there’s a hall where the ceiling is open up to part of the second floor. Because of this, there’s a railing installed to prevent people walking on the second floor from suddenly falling to the first floor.

Any guardian of a young child would be anxious about leaving the child near that railing. And to Joyce, who had an overprotective tendency, the possibility of Diane holding onto that railing and looking down at the first floor felt like disastrous news.

“I’ll go with you.”

“If she’s in her room, will you give her a goodnight kiss?”

“Of course.”

Joyce’s confident answer made Nualan burst into laughter. However, at that moment, Angelo approached Joyce.

“Young master, regarding the matter of visiting Atrapalea that you mentioned, there are some points to discuss…”

Seeing Joyce’s troubled face, Nualan waved his hand with a reliable expression.

“Discuss thoroughly. One person is enough to check.”

That was true.

Joyce knew that Angelo was a busy person too. He swept his sharp eyes once between the banquet hall door and Angelo, then nodded.

“Give Di a kiss for me.”

“Oh, you’re hopeless. Alright. I’ll kiss her instead, so don’t be jealous later.”

Nualan laughed cheerfully and left the banquet hall. Those who heard their conversation around them smiled bitterly. The McKinnon Count’s family really had an exceptionally good relationship.

Walking in the first-floor hall, Nualan stood in an appropriate position and looked up at the second floor. There was no one there, but he wasn’t perturbed.

There were plenty of ways to lure out children who might be sulking for not being able to attend the adults’ party and make them have a bit of an ‘accident’.

A vicious light flashed in Nualan’s eyes.