Chapter 4

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Baudi pushed my wheelchair into the dining room.

"Good morning, Father, Mother."

My slightly stout father opened his mouth in surprise and then his face lit up. Mother, with her long, seductive eyelashes, widened her eyes in surprise and then smiled as usual, but very happily.

"Good morning, Reimi! Come, let's eat together."

Father pulled out a chair for me, and Baudi carried me over in a princess hold.

Hmm, being carried like this is still embarrassing, isn't it? I wonder if there's any way to avoid it.

Maybe this is why Reimi used to eat in her room? But being carried in a princess hold by someone you like is a perk, I think. Reimi is shy, so she might have found it embarrassing.

After Mrs. Bora prepared my meal on the table, the three of us started eating. After all, we are nobles, so we eat separately from the servants.

Reimi, being a proper noble lady, has perfect dining etiquette!

It's great that I don't have to think about these habitual parts. I was surprised by myself when I put the teacup back on the saucer without making a sound. Amazing, Lady Reimi.

"Still, it's good to see Reimi feeling better. About yesterday—"

"Father, I can't just be depressed all the time. I'm thinking of gradually building up my strength."

I cut off Father's attempt to bring up the topic and warned him.

"Y-Yes, that's good. Let's—"

"Mother, by the way, can you make my dresses with short hems longer? It's a waste not to wear them when I have them."

"Hmm, let's try to alter them a bit and change the shape."

I'm grateful that Mother doesn't bring up the engagement at all. Father, it's only the day after yesterday, so I wish you would read the room a bit.

Or is it that? Because I'm showing a cheerful face right after the engagement talk, you think I'm being positive about it?

How sweet, that's not the case at all.

My anger and sorrow are hotter than magma and deeper than the Mariana Trench. I will never forgive that idiot, never.

After I changed the subject a few times, Father realized I didn't want to talk about it and stopped bringing it up.

Instead, he kept repeating, "It's good to see you feeling better."

Come to think of it, he was repeating 'feeling better' strangely during the meal... something seems off.

It's like a prelude when there's something hard to say, isn't it?

Look, Mother... her eyes are narrow, but she's making eye contact with Father! Father is nodding too, I can tell! I'll pretend not to notice, though.

It must be something bad.

Well, it can't be worse than the engagement with that idiot, right?

Father, who seemed to have made up his mind, took an envelope from his jacket pocket and gently placed it in front of me.

"Um... it's a letter for Reimi."

"A letter for me? Can I read it?"

After confirming and getting a nod, I pulled the letter out of the already opened envelope.

Still, it's quite an impressive letter.

I read the contents silently and then gently put it back in the envelope.

Why would a duchess's daughter invite a reclusive countess's daughter to a tea party?

Even when I recall Reimi's memories, I can't remember any connection with the duchess's daughter, Arela Brechst.

Seeing my troubled face, Father panicked.

"Sorry, Reimi, I usually try to decline such invitations, but they insisted. They say they are doing their best to cheer you up. But, you know, if you feel unwell, you can come back immediately. Baudi will be with you, so you'll have support. I would like to go with you, but I have work..."

Yeah, it's a bit hard for a low-ranking noble to decline an invitation from a super VIP like the duchess family. The hierarchy among nobles seems to be very strict, and Reimi's memories include feeling exhausted from tea parties.

But the letter is genuinely caring and doesn't seem to have any ill intent, so I don't think it will be that bad.

I'll try my best for Father's sake, who showed me a real sad face.

"It's fine, Father. The duchess's daughter is kindly hosting a tea party for me, so I'll enjoy it."

Even if I end up being a spectacle, I have to live with this body for the rest of my life, so if I have to go out eventually, it might as well be at this tea party, Reimi. So, stop feeling sad for no reason.

Sentimentality just doesn't suit me anymore.

After finishing the tea after the meal, I saw Father off with Mother as he hurried to work, and then Baudi pushed my wheelchair back to my room.