Chapter 6
When she first met them, she acted as she had with Yuel—warm and approachable. She tried her best to be friendly, and because of that, she thought she had become at least a little closer to them.
Though she had been a bit clumsy at times, they still responded kindly. It wasn’t exactly the same excessive friendliness she had with Yuel, which could be a little uncomfortable, but… she was grateful nonetheless.
Because of that, Seria had felt at ease. So this is what having friends feels like, she thought.
That was until the gossip she had just overheard completely crushed that notion.
“Saying she’s sick… I guess being around her is tiring.”
“Being sick is one thing, but… well, her personality is a bit…”
The following laughter tightened her chest.
Seria, who had arrived earlier than the scheduled time, was forced to listen to unkind words about herself. Even though she was usually blunt and fearless, she couldn’t possibly shout, “Are you talking about me behind my back?” and confront them.
Instead, she hid behind a pillar, holding her breath as she eavesdropped.
“She’ll leave soon anyway. Let’s just put up with her until then.”
“My father insisted I get close to Lady Seria, so I came… but I guess being her friend is impossible.”
“But Lady Seria seems to think of us as friends. Surprisingly innocent, I’d say.”
“Hmm… I find that kind of funny.”
Looking back, even the children she had casually met before seemed somewhat uneasy around her, constantly asking if she was tired or unwell.
Hearing this gossip, she felt foolish, wondering if they, too, were talking badly about her, and she became naturally dejected.
“If you’re so worried, just leave. My illness comes suddenly, whether I’m sitting here talking or running outside.”
In the end, Seria had no choice but to leave the gathering. They treated her either as a noblewoman of high status or as a patient, so there was no way she could make real friends.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have told them I’m sick.’
She had only started revealing her symptoms after parting ways with Yuel. She hadn’t gone into detail but had hinted at it just in case she collapsed suddenly like before. Now, she wasn’t sure if that had been the right decision.
‘I thought it would be fine…’
Believing she could make another friend like Yuel might have been arrogance. Of course, she understood that this situation wasn’t their fault—they were forced by their parents to attend. They probably couldn’t genuinely get along with her, now that she realized it.
Moreover, people with rare illnesses and those without naturally lived in different circumstances. But Seria didn’t want to force herself to fit in just to socialize. Perhaps her confidence came from having Yuel as her pillar of support.
A sigh escaped her lips. Today, more than usual, she felt the absence of a “true friend.”
‘Every day was fun when I was with Yuel…’
Thinking back, Yuel never spoke boringly, never treated her with formality, never acted cautiously as if tending to a patient. Most importantly, he would never gossip behind her back.
This was something she instinctively knew—and anyone who had met Yuel would agree.
That was why, as time passed and she met new peers, she missed Yuel more and more.
‘Come to think of it, his letters have been less frequent lately…’
Did Yuel miss her as much as she missed him? The letters that used to arrive every other day now took a week to reach her. Seria fiddled with a letter she had received earlier and pouted.
If Yuel became careless with her, she knew she would be upset enough to want to go scold him in person.
“Boring…”
Her days were monotonous and dull. Ever since Yuel, she could never go back to how life had been before.
‘It wasn’t this boring back then…’
Now that she knew what fun felt like, boredom inevitably felt doubled.
Seria sighed heavily and sprawled listlessly on her bed.
“Seria, may I come in?”
“Yeah.”
Gari knocked and entered, approaching his youngest sister with a soft smile.
“Why are you lying there?”
“I’m bored.”
“Is playing with friends not fun?”
“Not at all.”
Seria buried her face in the pillow and answered apathetically. Her life had become monotonous, dull, and full of longing—a time perhaps meant to heal her wounds.
Gari, sensing her listlessness, found it somewhat cute but also worrying.
Still, as usual, he drew a gentle line on her lips with his and stroked her hair. In a sweet, soft voice, he whispered:
“Shall we go together?”
Seria reflexively turned her head. He hadn’t specified where, but she could tell.
“Really?”
“I happen to have business nearby. Lady Kitty and I are meeting in ten days.”
Kitty Sevens was Gari’s fiancée. Seria wasn’t particularly concerned about Gari meeting his fiancée—or even who she was.
“Will Yuel be there?”
If Yuel was there, it would change everything.
“He won’t come. We’ll stay at the Sevens estate, but the Richard Marquis family is nearby.”
“Really?”
“I plan to send a letter to the Richard Marquis if you go… would you like to…”
“Of course!”
Seria jumped out of bed, grinning widely and running around the room. Leaving Gari, who looked on with amusement, she took out stationery from her drawer to write her first reply to Yuel.
“You’re writing a letter to Yuel?”
“Yes.”
As soon as she answered, she scribbled something quickly and prepared to send it. Gari watched curiously, but Seria just smiled.
“Yuel, I have good news. Do you remember Lord Gari Kester, eldest son of the Kester Duke family?”
“Yes, Father.”
“He will be visiting the mansion.”
Yuel nodded reluctantly. Gari Kester, protective of Seria, seemed frightening despite his kind expression. But Yuel wasn’t particularly close to him, so this visit didn’t feel like “good news.”
“And… here, take this.”
As if predicting Yuel’s reaction, the Marquis chuckled and handed over a letter. Yuel’s eyes widened as he took it, a look of disbelief spreading across his face.
“Better to read it yourself.”
Yuel nodded vigorously, careful despite his impatience.
The letter had no sender, lacked any formality, and the handwriting was atrocious—but Yuel couldn’t help but smile wider than ever.
“I’m coming too.”
It could only be from Seria.
“Brother! Hurry, hurry!”
Seria ran lightly, urging Gari along.
After a full day of travel by carriage, Seria finally arrived at the Sevens estate, where she had to remain for a week—out of respect for the fiancée, apparently.
Seria behaved herself and, when the appointed time came, prepared to head to Yuel’s house faster than anyone else.
“Alright, let’s go.”
No sooner had Gari spoken than Seria climbed into the carriage. She had urged him to depart quickly, and the driver started the horses immediately, getting them to Yuel’s house earlier than expected.
“I was worried we arrived too early,” Gari murmured, looking out the window.
The Richard Marquis family, ever proper, had prepared in advance to receive guests.
“Yuel—!”
Seria rolled down the window and thrust her face out, shouting. Seeing Yuel after so long filled her with joy.
“Put your head in, Seria.”
Gari scolded her briefly, his gaze firm. She huffed but obediently withdrew her head.
Soon the carriage stopped at the Richard estate’s main gate. Gari lifted Seria from the carriage, and the many servants bowed as they arrived.
“Thank you for visiting.”
“I should be the one thanking you for the warm welcome.”
While Gari and the Marquis shook hands with smiles, Seria suppressed her urge to dash straight to Yuel.
His fair skin still looked soft, and his smooth black hair caught her eye as always.
Grasping Gari’s sleeve in anticipation, he chuckled and gestured, signaling that she could approach Yuel. Seria bolted forward and hugged him tightly.
“Yuel!”
“Se…ri—ugh!”
She hugged him so tightly that Yuel, cheeks red, waved his hands in the air, unsure whether to let go or hold on.
“Have you been well?”
“Y-yeah… but if you’d just let go—”
“No!”
Seria refused immediately, hugging him even tighter. Gari and the Marquis only smiled approvingly.
“Huh?”
Still holding Yuel, Seria noticed a small girl over his shoulder and tilted her head.
‘Who is she?’
The girl’s black hair reached her waist, and her lake-like eyes sparkled like jewels.
After a moment, Seria realized:
“Ah.”
‘She must be Yuel’s sister.’
It was astonishing how similar they looked. Studying her closely, Seria wondered how she hadn’t recognized it immediately.
“Hello, I’m Seria.”
The girl still clumsy in etiquette nodded lightly in greeting.
“Seria?”
“Yes?”
“Your name is Seria?”
The girl’s eyes widened, realization dawning.
“Yes, that’s right. Seria Kester. You can call me Seria.”
Satisfied, the girl shouted with a mischievous smile:
“You’re the sister my brother was looking for in his dream!”
