Sara mostly talks about her day, one-sidedly. Marion listens, nodding and agreeing.
Despite being bullied and having little to no good memories, Sara only speaks of happy things.
“And then, when I opened the window, a pretty leaf came in.”
“Oh, that’s lovely.”
“And then, with that leaf, I…”
After a while, Sara’s mother speaks to her.
“It’s about time to go home now. Marion might be getting tired.”
“…Okay.”
Sara looked a little disappointed but nodded obediently.
Given Marion’s health, she shouldn’t be subjected to prolonged conversations.
But considering her morale, conversations with Sara were essential.
“Marion, please rest well. I’ll make sure your meals are well taken care of, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you very much, ma’am. Please convey my regards to the master as well.”
We placed the easily digestible sweets we had brought by the house before heading for the carriage. As we opened the carriage door, Da-u barked loudly and tried to climb in first.
“…Da-u, you should consider your size.”
“Whine…”
Da-u was enormous and clearly couldn’t fit inside the carriage.
“Da-u, you can run alongside us, can’t you?”
“Yip!”
“Don’t try to beg.”
As we left Da-u behind and boarded the carriage, it began moving.
Four attendants rode on horseback, escorting the carriage.
“There’s one fewer than usual, isn’t there?”
“They must have some other task to attend to.”
Mother held Sara on her lap, hugging her gently and stroking her head.
Sara’s ears twitched.
“Da-u is so energetic.”
When Da-u realized he couldn’t ride in the carriage, he looked sad, but now he was happily frolicking. He ran alongside the carriage, occasionally sprinting ahead before quickly returning, darting right and left as if playing.
Though it seemed like he might obstruct the carriage, the coachman was used to it and calmly guided the horses.
Neither the attendants nor their horses seemed particularly bothered by Da-u’s antics.
“Still, isn’t it surprising the horses aren’t afraid of Da-u?”
“They always play together during walks, so they’re good friends. I think the horses see Da-u as an oddly-shaped companion.”
“…I see.”
It was an unexpected side of Da-u.
Considering he was about as large as a horse, it wasn’t strange for them to regard him as one of their own.
—Gurgle.
At that moment, my stomach growled loudly.
If I was hungry, Sara must be too.
“Sara, would you like some sweets?”
“Sweets…”
“Um, let me see…”
“Miss, please wait a moment.”
As I rummaged through our belongings, the maid quickly produced the sweets we had brought. Besides the easily digestible ones for Marion, there were other treats as well.
The maid opened a box of sweets and presented it to Sara. It was filled with delicious-looking cookies.
“Um…”
Sara hesitantly looked at me and then at Mother.
She seemed unsure if it was really okay for her to eat.
She had probably experienced bullying related to sweets before.
In my previous life, I too had been tormented, like being forced to watch others eat sweets while I endured a three-day fast.
“They’re delicious. Go ahead and eat.”
“Okay!”
Sara smiled brightly, took a cookie, and began eating.
She looked so adorable.
“Eat as much as you like. You can have them all.”
“Won’t Lady Luria eat?”
“Luria had a big breakfast, so she’s not hungry.”
Trying to look cool, I said that, but—
—Growwwl.
My stomach betrayed me again with a loud growl.
“…Luria, you should eat too.”
“I’m not that hungry…”
“Just eat. Food tastes better when shared with everyone, and there’s plenty.”
Mother took a cookie herself and popped it into her mouth.
“They’re delicious. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
The maid also took one and, surprised, remarked, “Oh, these are delicious.”
“I-I’ll eat too!”
“Please do.”
“…Wow! These are better than usual!”
Whether it was because of the dispelling spell or the healing magic—or both—I was ravenously hungry.
Marion’s curse was successfully lifted.
Healing magic was applied to her body, which had been ravaged by the curse.
Right now, her stamina is low, but if she eats and sleeps, Marion will definitely recover. Once she regains her strength, Sara will be able to live with Marion.
“Sara, I’m looking forward to when Marion gets better.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Sara, who was sitting on her mother’s lap, tightly hugged a stick doll.
I want to ask Kuro later why she didn’t tell me that Marion’s illness was caused by a curse.
It must be related to the nature of the curse.
“Hmmm…”
I looked at the ceiling of the carriage. Two tails were swaying.
It seemed Kuro was up there.
I wanted to talk to her, but since Mother and the maid were present, it would be difficult.
When we get home, I’ll take a bath, eat, and tuck Sara into bed.
I’ll cuddle Sara closely in the same futon and sleep together.
After that, I’ll talk to Kuro. She’ll surely teach me many things.
◇◇
While everyone was eating cookies, one of the attendants riding a horse came chasing after us.
“…Hm?”
One of the attendants was running alongside the carriage and knocked on the window.
It seemed there was something urgent.
“What happened?”
Mother opened the small window and asked.
“The baron has developed smallpox.”
“…!”
Mother’s expression changed, and she gasped.
“We won’t be returning to the main residence. We’re heading to the lakeside villa.”
“Understood.”
“You must also avoid contact with anyone from the main residence.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll send a letter. Stop the carriage. I’ll write it now.”
After stopping the carriage, Mother moved Sara from her lap to my side, took out a portable writing desk, and began writing two letters.
Mother wrote very quickly.
“Mother, you’re really fast at writing.”
“Because, as the mistress, I always have a lot to write.”
Her writing was not only fast, but also incredibly beautiful.
“This one is for Graf. Of course—”
“We’ll deliver it in a way that avoids contact.”
Since it was a special escort, there must be various methods, like those used to convey military strategies.
“Please. This one is for the manager of the villa.”
“Understood.”
After one of the attendants ran off, Mother opened the window and spoke to the remaining attendant and the coachman.
“The fact that the baron has developed smallpox means we may have contracted it as well.”
“What!?…”
“Woof!?”
The maid turned pale, and Da-u, who had his nose sticking out the window, whimpered anxiously.
“We can’t risk spreading it to Graf, Gilberto, Lydia, or anyone else. We’ll stay at the lakeside villa near the main residence for a while.”
“Understood.”
The maid nodded with a serious expression.
“How long is the incubation period?”
“Five days. Luria, you’re familiar with difficult words, aren’t you?”
“When will it come? That’s surprisingly short…”
“Yes, just five days. If no symptoms show, we’ll be able to return to the main residence immediately. Don’t worry. You’ll receive special provisions.”
“That’s something to look forward to.”
One of the attendants forced a smile as he said that.
At that moment,
“You don’t need to reply.”
Kuro’s upside-down head appeared from the ceiling of the carriage.
“As I said before, the baron doesn’t have smallpox. It’s a curse that looks like smallpox, so don’t worry.”
“…I see.”
“The curse that was cast on Marion just returned to the baron. It won’t spread to you, so you can relax.”
“Hmmm…”
“Just wanted to report that for now!”
With that, Kuro withdrew her head.
If it won’t spread, then I can relax.
That said, even if I say it’s fine, I’m not sure they’ll believe me.
Also, I’ve never been to the lakeside villa.
I’m looking forward to it.
“Sara, it’s going to be fine.”
“…Yeah.”
After that, we didn’t return to our usual residence but headed toward the duke’s villa instead.
