HSTYM 06

Chapter 6

As soon as Herace returned from Lambert Mansion, she asked a maid for some cold water and drank it.

She was still fine at that point.

If Xenon’s drawing had not arrived the next day, she probably would have forgotten about it and moved on.

Xenon had put the drawing they made that day into an expensive frame and sent it to the Lorca Viscount’s residence.

The moment Herace saw it, she tried to smash it against the floor by its corner, but Viscount Lorca barely managed to stop her.

Only Viscountess Lorca, who had no idea what was going on, stared at them with wide eyes.

“Put it in the storage room right now!”

“Herace, what happened?”

“Oh, dear. Why are you out here? It’s nothing. Go back inside.”

And so, the painting of the girl with the coy smile had no choice but to be sent to the dusty storage room.

Then the next day came.

It was the last embroidery lesson of the week.

Which meant it was also the day Herace had to go see the Lianeric Young Master again.

Viscount Lorca, who had heard the general situation from the maid, nervously watched his daughter.

“Herace, but a promise is a promise…”

“What promise? I never made any promise.”

“But if you suddenly stop going, won’t the Young Master feel disappointed…?”

It’s not about him feeling disappointed. You’re probably worried that Xenon will use his mana again and make his health worse.

Herace answered bluntly with a sulky expression.

“I got angry and left, so the Young Master probably doesn’t want me anymore.”

Contrary to her expectations, there was no contact from Lambert Mansion.

She had canceled her visit on Friday without saying anything, but no servant came to pick her up, and Xenon did not even scold the Lorca family as Viscount Lorca had been tremblingly afraid he would.

Whether such a scolding would have meant much was another matter, but for Viscount Lorca, who was a loyal servant willing to give everything for the Lianeric family, it should have been quite a blow.

Yet Xenon showed no reaction at all.

As her father became noticeably anxious, it did not take long for her mother to learn what had happened.

Her mother reacted more calmly than Herace expected.

“It must have been very difficult for you, Herace, suddenly having to serve a child who is higher in status and older than you.”

Her mother first comforted Herace for all the trouble she had gone through before continuing.

The Young Master’s status was technically nothing more than that of a Duke’s son who had been pushed aside into a back room, and although he was two years older than her, considering the age she had been before possessing this body, he was basically just a little kid to Herace.

“But what are you going to do next week? Your father said you promised to meet him three times a week. Even if you didn’t go on Friday because you were angry, won’t the Lianeric Young Master be waiting for you next week?”

“I don’t know. He can just gather those stupid children again and have another jewel competition.”

He’s wasting his family’s money, ruining his health, and making a complete mess of himself.

Seeing Herace looking so sulky, her mother felt sorry for her and held her while trying to persuade her.

“Don’t be like that. Go out, clear your head, and then we can talk about it again when you come back. You said you had plans with Isaac this weekend, so why don’t you go meet him?”

“Right, Isaac!”

The moment she heard the name Isaac, Herace’s face brightened like someone had turned on a light.

Isaac was Herace’s old childhood friend.

He was one of the few friends that Herace, the serious transmigrator who disliked arrogant children, actually liked.

Isaac was kind, honest, patient—in short, he was a good boy.

He tended to treat Herace as if she were the most precious person in the world, so she thought of him as a loyal subordinate she was especially fond of.

But the people around them always praised how close the two friends were.

“I completely forgot that it was today.”

“That’s right. Go and have fun with Isaac, then come back.”

Unable to resist her mother’s urging, Herace left the mansion.

Isaac must be waiting impatiently for me to arrive by now.

She took a carriage to the Count Velasquez residence, where Isaac was staying.

“Herace!”

As soon as she entered the mansion, Isaac came running toward her excitedly, just like a dog greeting its owner.

He was a little too big to be called a normal dog, though. A large dog would be more appropriate…

Herace liked it when Isaac, who was as big as a mountain, treated her like someone precious. It always made her feel strangely proud.

Today was no different.

“I’ve been waiting for you. I had tea prepared in the tea garden, so let’s go quickly.”

“It’s been a long time, Isaac.”

The two of them sat in the tea garden and caught up after being apart for so long.

Isaac said that six months ago, his father had suddenly taken him to their territory, where he had been receiving lessons to become the heir, and that he had only recently returned.

“My goodness. Who would have guessed that the reason your father suddenly told you to come was because of heir training?”

Isaac let out a helpless laugh.

Still, it was nice to see him looking healthier and a little more tanned than before.

“Herace, has anything happened to you?”

“Anything?”

Of course something had happened.

She could not exactly say that nothing had happened.

“You know which family my father is loyal to, right?”

“Your father? Viscount Lorca? …Oh, the Lianeric family?”

“Exactly. I was sent there as a playmate.”

“What?”

Isaac’s eyes widened in surprise.

His expression showed that he was not completely unaware of what was happening at Lambert Mansion.

“Don’t tell me the Lianeric Young Master? Not the daughter of Marquis Velks?”

“Marquis Velks can’t officially use the Lianeric name. I went to Lambert Mansion.”

“My goodness, Herace.”

“So you know about Xenon’s personality too.”

In truth, it was difficult to say that Xenon was full of confidence or pride.

After receiving a death sentence and recklessly spending both mana and money, he seemed more like someone who had given up on everything.

“…Let’s just say I’ve only heard things here and there.”

Considering Isaac’s personality, which did not like speaking badly about other people, he did not seem to want to say anything bad about Xenon.

“It’s probably mostly true. Apparently, he gathers children together, makes them fight each other, and gives a reward to whoever wins. He even told me to join them.”

“……”

Isaac put a hand to his forehead with an awkward expression.

Herace could tell what he wanted to say from his expression.

He did not want to insult Xenon, but he was obviously a troublesome Young Master.

“So you stayed there?”

“You know my personality. I ran out immediately. And then he said that next time, he wanted only me to come.”

“And then?”

“So…”

Herace could not tell him that she had tried to tell a thousand stories but had been figured out after only four.

Even if Isaac was trustworthy enough to keep a secret, she still could not tell him that.

“Anyway, it didn’t end well. I said I wasn’t going anymore, the Young Master didn’t react, and my family became a complete mess. Both Mom and Dad.”

“That makes sense. You’ve had a hard time, Herace…”

“If I had a kind personality like you, things might have gone better. Or maybe if I had just been completely reckless.”

Isaac smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Herace put down her teacup and let out a deep sigh.

“I have to go to the Lianeric Young Master next Monday. I pretended to resist in front of my parents, but I’ll probably have to go anyway. I don’t know what he’ll make me do this time.”

“Haha…”

“It would be nice if I could go with you. Isaac, you’re kind, so I think you could calm him down too.”

She had only said it casually.

She had no expectations at all. She was simply complaining.

But Isaac’s answer was completely unexpected.

“Should I?”

“Huh?”

“Should I… go with you and meet the Young Master?”

For the first time, Herace, who had been lowering her head and speaking without much thought, raised her head in surprise.

Isaac rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, but he was not the kind of person who said things he did not mean.

“You want to meet him? What are you going to do when you meet him?”

“Well… I could try to persuade him to get along with you better… or maybe I could see what kind of person he is…”

“Why would you need to see what kind of person he is?”

“……”

At those words, Isaac’s face turned red all the way up to his neck, and he could not answer for a moment.

“Isaac?”

“Anyway, I might be able to help mediate between you and the Lianeric Young Master. If that was an uncomfortable suggestion… I’m sorry, Herace.”

“Why are you apologizing? You have absolutely nothing to apologize for! I’d be happy to have you come.”

Even as she said she was happy, Herace was still confused.

Why does he want to come with me?

His family was not poor enough to care about the jewels Xenon gave out.

And even if he went there, meeting Xenon would probably only give him a headache.

Even so, after hearing his words, Herace felt much lighter.

Going together would surely be much better than going alone.

“Really? Then should I tell my father and Lambert Mansion that you’re coming with me?”

“Let’s do that.”

It would be just like him to turn Isaac away at the door if we showed up without contacting them first.

If they said no when they were contacted, there was nothing they could do.

If they said yes, then Herace would be happy.

Herace nodded with a light heart.

The tea they drank afterward had already gone cold, but it still tasted good.