Chapter 32
By the time Nerys and Diane finished their hot chocolate, the lakeside party was winding down. Betty ushered the two children into the playroom.
The evening banquet was approaching—the time for uninvited children to step aside for the adults.
The MacKinnon estate’s second floor was designed with an open space in the middle, allowing a full view of the bustling adults below. Resting her face against the safety railing, Nerys silently observed the activity when a cheerful voice called out to her.
“Curious about what’s happening down there?”
Without shifting her posture, Nerys merely turned her head toward the voice.
Nualan, dressed elegantly in brown evening wear, smiled down at her.
Seeing that she only stared at him without responding, he let out a lighthearted chuckle.
“Are you upset that you can’t attend the banquet?”
“Not really.”
The reply, coming from her small, red lips, was delivered with an air of indifference. Nualan’s eyes gleamed with interest at her adult-like response.
“It’s okay to admit it. When Muriel was your age, she used to cry every time because she wanted to attend the evening banquets and balls.”
“And if I admit it, what will you do for me?”
“You can’t see much past the railing, can you? I can lift you up.”
The second-floor railing of the MacKinnon estate was a gilded fence decorated with intricate patterns and stained glass. While it was beautiful, it also obstructed the view. Given Nerys’ small stature, it was difficult for her to see the lower floor clearly.
Nualan’s offer was based on that simple observation.
Nerys once again looked at him in silence. Nualan smiled wryly.
“Why? You don’t want to?”
“You’re kind.”
“Thanks. I have a much younger sister, so I tend to be good with kids.”
“Is that why you’re good to Diane too?”
“Diane? Well, she’s young, but she’s also family. And besides, Diane is…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
His gaze briefly flicked to Nerys’ skirt. A subtle reference to what lay beneath.
For the first time since meeting Nualan today, Nerys smiled.
“Diane’s slight difficulty with walking doesn’t mean she’s foolish or immature. There’s no need for you to constantly bring it up as a reason to be kind to her.”
“Of course, Diane is intelligent. Honestly, compared to how Muriel was at her age, Diane might as well be a genius.”
Though his words were casual, Nerys didn’t miss the fleeting change in his expression.
He quickly returned to a warm smile.
“Not quite as bright as you, though, little lady. Diane seems really happy to have you as a friend. Muriel, on the other hand, feels left out.”
“Muriel enjoys spending time with Heather. I doubt she cares about playing with children like us.”
“Muriel finds Diane adorable, so she teases her. She means no harm. Nerys, you’re smart, so you must understand how adults think. The Railing family is an important guest to the MacKinnons. If Diane keeps acting this way… well, it could be a bit troublesome.”
Nualan ended his sentence with an apologetic tone, as if he truly regretted saying it.
He certainly looked trustworthy—if Nerys hadn’t already experienced what it was like to be betrayed by someone just like him.
She knew exactly why she had disliked Nualan from the start. He was the type to appear thoughtful and considerate while only saying what benefited him.
But there was no need to show her suspicions outright.
In a soft voice, Nerys asked, “The adults are doing business together, right? That’s why they’re important guests?”
“Yes, that’s right. You even understand things like that?”
“I’m twelve. Of course, I know what business is. What does Heather’s father do?”
Children speaking with an air of maturity often came across as even more endearing.
Nualan looked at Nerys as if she were a little sister, his voice kind as he explained, “Heather’s father sells medicine. You know what that is, don’t you?”
“Of course. The kind you take when you’re sick?”
“Exactly.”
Nerys’ gaze remained calm but sharp.
Now, she had learned two things.
First, Angelo Railing and Shivna MacKinnon were business partners.
Second, despite frequently mentioning Muriel, Nualan didn’t seem particularly involved in his younger sister’s life.
If he paid even the slightest attention to her, he would know that a twelve-year-old girl had a far broader vocabulary than he assumed.
Having gathered enough information, Nerys decided to confirm one last thing.
“They’ve been searching for a doctor who can treat Diane’s leg, haven’t they? Wouldn’t Heather’s father have some kind of medicine that could help?”
“We certainly hope so.”
Nualan gave a bitter smile.
“She had a fever when she was younger, and that’s when it happened. My uncle and aunt invited every renowned doctor in the Empire, but none of them could cure her. However…”
His words trailed off meaningfully.
Nerys tilted her head, her expression concerned.
“Why?”
“Ah, I probably shouldn’t talk about this with a child. Forget it. It’s nothing.”
Nualan’s eyes swept over Nerys’ youthful face.
Nerys narrowed her eyes impatiently, then pouted.
“I’m not that young. I can understand anything you tell me.”
“Is that so?”
He smiled faintly.
Nerys instinctively knew—the real purpose behind his friendliness was about to be revealed.
Why was he going out of his way to speak so gently with a cousin’s friend—a girl with no noble title, no political influence, and no family backing?
At last, Nualan murmured in a voice that almost sounded sincere.
“You saw it too. Diane can live normally most of the time, just like everyone else. But if she were to fall while alone at the academy… Who knows when she might seriously injure herself? She nearly took a bad tumble while dancing earlier. Of course, that was my fault for not holding onto her properly, but…”
“There’s no guarantee that anyone else would be better at protecting her than you, is there?”
At Nerys’ sympathetic tone, Nualan’s expression brightened slightly. He studied her face for a long moment.
“Thank you for saying that. Honestly, Diane can be a little headstrong because we’ve spoiled her, but I do believe she has a good heart. I’m glad she has such a mature friend like you… But even if parting with her is sad, if there’s a chance for her to become even a little healthier than she is now, then from our family’s perspective, we have no choice but to let her go, even if it means being apart for a while.”
Nerys’ eyebrows rose. She asked in surprise,
“Diane is going somewhere?”
“There’s a famous doctor abroad, or so I’ve heard. We’ve long since given up hope that she’ll ever run like other children, but… if there’s even a chance, even just enough for her to break her falls and avoid serious injuries, we’d ask for nothing more.”
“But—”
Nerys hesitated. Seeing her uncertainty, Nualan gave a resigned, bittersweet smile.
‘Treatment’ and ‘abroad’—these are too complicated for a child like her to fully grasp. That must be why she looks so conflicted.
Or maybe that’s not the only reason.
He already knew enough about Nerys’ background. If she continued staying by Diane’s side, she would enjoy luxuries beyond her station.
Of course, the idea of Diane leaving would upset her.
In a persuasive, kind voice, he added,
“Of course, it saddens us to be apart from our little lady, but her health comes first, don’t you agree, Nerys? What do you think?”
Nerys rolled her eyes thoughtfully before finally responding in a subdued voice.
“…You’re right. If Diane can be healthier and safer…”
“Yes, Nerys, you really are mature.”
From downstairs, the sound of string instruments tuning echoed—zzzing, zzing.
The butler announced the upcoming meal in a booming voice. Nualan glanced at the first floor before turning back to Nerys with a smile.
“Diane doesn’t know yet. Keep it a secret, alright?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Nerys nodded, looking dejected.
Satisfied, Nualan wished her a good evening and descended the grand staircase. From the landing, he glanced back up, waving once.
Nerys returned the gesture with a smile.
The moment he turned away, her face went cold.
Nualan wanted her to be the one to convince Diane to go abroad for treatment.
Treatment?
She had heard Joyce mention something about this on their way to the estate. Someone had recommended a foreign doctor by the name of Le Martre.
But ‘Le Martre’ means ‘charlatan’ in Ferran. There’s no way such a person truly exists.
Diane had suffered a fever in childhood, which had left her with slight difficulty walking. It wasn’t noticeable, but the affected side of her body also had slightly slower reflexes.
Nerys had seen a similar condition before—when she had been the crown princess.
Grand Duchess Mariah, the late emperor’s sister, had rarely appeared in public, and when she did, she was known to rely on a cane.
Her condition was real, but it wasn’t due to age or illness as society assumed.
Despite being born into the physically robust imperial family, Mariah had also suffered a severe fever as an infant. It had left her with mild stiffness in one leg and one arm.
Every renowned physician in the empire had been summoned, yet none had been able to cure her.
To maintain appearances, the imperial family had hidden her condition, and she had spent most of her life in seclusion.
Nerys had only learned the truth because she had visited Mariah’s residence frequently to win her favor for her husband’s sake.
The Grand Duchess had told her, bitterly, that she had tried everything—even inviting foreign doctors—and it had all been in vain.
Through her time serving Mariah, Nerys had learned much.
She also knew that of all the places in the world, Bistor had the most advanced knowledge regarding similar conditions.
More importantly…
In a few years, Joyce would accuse Angelo Railing of a crime.
Nerys struggled to recall the exact details of the case, but she finally remembered—it had been a criminal charge for harming his family.
That meant there was no way that Nualan’s proposal was truly in Diane’s best interest.
‘This must be a trap—even for the Count and Countess.’
Was it an attempt to drain the family’s wealth by paying an outrageous sum to a fraudulent doctor?
Or worse, was it an excuse to send Diane away and harm her, leaving the Count and Countess so devastated that they could no longer run the estate?
Either way, this wouldn’t help Diane’s health.
If the Count and Countess—who were both clearly in excellent health—were forced to hand over their titles to someone else, the consequences would be dire.
Monstrous people.
They took advantage of Diane’s family’s kindness under the guise of family, all while scheming to steal their fortune.
More than anything—
Nerys pressed her hand to her chest. She had thought she felt nothing but cold resolve, yet her heart was racing like a child’s.
‘This was when Diane stopped attending school.’
Whether she left for treatment or because something terrible happened to her, the result was the same.
She and Nerys had only shared one semester at the academy.
That was why Diane MacKinnon had never remained in Nerys’ memory.
That was why, among all the children who had shunned her, Diane had not been one of them.
There had never been a need for Nerys to despise her.
And Nerys didn’t know how to process that realization.