6. Apologies and Thanks

Since I’d stayed up later than usual the night before, it was just before noon when I finally woke up. Apparently everyone had let me sleep since they thought I must have been tired.

After getting dressed, I had a very pleasant brunch. Miss Micah made her special eggs Benedict, with bacon and avocado in between, which was very delicious.

While I sipped my post-meal tea, Gina came to me with a letter.

“Lady Noel, daughter of Marquis Wisteria, would like to see you. How will we reply?”

“I’d like to see her as soon as possible.”

Gina smiled at my response. “Then I’ll send the message.”

Just as the bell struck three in the afternoon, Lady Noel arrived at my room. I hadn’t expected her to come the same day as I replied, so I was surprised.

“Please, do sit down.”

Though I urged her to sit down on the sofa, she wouldn’t move. She looked a bit sad, almost listless.

When I tilted my head curiously, she suddenly bowed her head down.

“Lady Chelsea, I’m terribly sorry about what happened a few days ago!”

“Huh?!” I blurted, shocked at the suddenness of her apology.

Still bowing her head, she continued, “I’m sorry for what happened in my home!”

The maids, seemingly catching on to what was happening, quietly left the room.

“If I hadn’t run out into the hall after hearing my father’s scream, you wouldn’t have been caught up in everything. I really am sorry,” Miss Noel apologized, tears dropping to the floor.

“P-Please, raise your head!” But despite my panicked plea, she wouldn’t do as I asked. “Um... I could tell just how much you treasured your family during my visit.”

Head still down, she nodded along with my words.

“I don’t think there’s a person alive who could stay still hearing someone they love cry out like that.”

If I’d heard anyone from the Sargent Margraviate scream like that, I would’ve rushed out just the same as she did. They were just that kind to me. And it was because they were my beloved family that I would act.

It seemed Miss Noel was listening to me, but she still wouldn’t raise her head.

I thought back to something mother had told me: “Sometimes, when someone comes to apologize to you, they won’t accept it until you say you’ll forgive them. When that happens, you should make your forgiveness conditional.”

I heaved a small sigh and said, “I will forgive you. But only on one condition.”

“A-And what’s that?” she whispered, head still down.

“Become my friend again.”

“What?!” Shocked by my words, her face finally shot up. “But...I caused you so much trouble! Can we really still be friends?!”

“You know, Lady Noel,” I said, dropping the politeness and ladylike tone for my usual one, “that was the first time in my entire life I’d ever gone to a friend’s house to play. It was really fun. I want to see your gardens once more. The food was delicious too, so I’d like to eat it again. And I want to sneak out into town to go shopping with you. Isn’t the fact that I’m thinking like that proof that we’re still friends?”

Lady Noel’s tears started streaming down her face at my words. “I... I want to sneak out and play with you too. And have tea parties! I want to wear matching accessories, and talk about our favorite things!”

“Then we’re friends from now on.”

“Okay!” She smiled, still crying.

＋＋＋

The next day, Lord Glen came to my lab after having finished processing the events of two nights earlier. As we started our usual mana pool-growing tea party, he thanked me.

“I appreciate you helping us catch those men.”

All I could do was blink in surprise. It was just as sudden as Lady Noel’s apology.

“It was thanks to you drawing all of their attention to the top of the Spirit Tree that we were able to easily bring them into custody. The knights and mages said that the brightly glowing lawn made it a lot easier to fight too.”

My heart warmed up at his kind words. “I’m glad that I was of any help,” I said honestly, only for Lord Glen to smile brightly.

“That was my appreciation as the one in charge of the operation,” he continued, standing up and moving beside my chair. “This...is my personal thanks. Thank you for protecting me.”

He kneeled down, taking my hand into his and pressing a kiss onto the back of it. My heart leapt at the warmth of his lips, and my cheeks heated up as well.

“I was supposed to be protecting you, so I hadn’t expected you to protect me... Honestly, I was shocked.” Lord Glen looked up at me, dazzlingly beautiful.

After we’d enjoyed all of the treats, the both of us moved to sit on the sofa and chat about the battle. Apparently the huge Venus flytrap seed that I’d thrown was very useful in capturing the men. Lord Glen told me it was great at knocking people out without actually hurting them.

“The fact that it’ll always be on your side is great.”

While we were chatting about that, Ele appeared in his Spirit form.

“Has something happened?”

“Is everything all right?”

It was rare for him to show up in Spirit form.

“I have something I must ask of you, Lady Chelsea,” the Spirit King said, looking downwards guiltily.

Lord Glen and I looked at each other. He looked just as confused as I was, so he must not have known what Ele was about to say.

“What do you need?”

“About what the Fire Spirit Rene spoke about back in the Radzuel Empire’s capital...” started Ele before going into detail.

He spoke about how the Proxy—who had supposedly ordered the attack against me—was an old acquaintance of his, and that he’d like to meet her and talk. She lived in the middle of the Demonic Forest, and because Rene and the other three Great Spirits had erected a strong barrier for her, they wouldn’t be able to meet until it was removed.

We would require cuttings of the Spirit Tree of Origin in order to summon those Great Spirits, just as we had done with Rene. And the only ones who could plant cuttings of the Spirit Tree of Origin were Ele, the King of Spirits, and his contractor...

“You’d like for me to plant more cuttings so that you can meet with the Proxy?” I asked him, getting a nod back. “All right.”

My answer was instant. It wasn’t that hard for me to plant cuttings. Really, it was harder for Ele, who had to both prepare the cutting branch and safeguard it during transport. If we planted them close to the citadel, it might be easier on Ele since he wouldn’t have to preserve the branch for as long.

But as I thought that, Ele spoke again. “The cutting must be planted somewhere just as far away as the Radzuel Empire.”

“Huh?” I squeaked out of shock. We have to go that far?!

Lord Glen looked pensive. “I guessed we’d have to plant more cuttings if we wanted to talk to the Proxy, but... You mean we need to plant them in other countries?”

“In accordance with ancient limitations, the Great Spirits cannot appear if their trees are planted too closely.”

“Guess there’s nothing we can do about that then. Leave the negotiations with other countries to me.”

Since Emperor Royz of the Radzuel Empire had been the one to request it, planting the cutting had been easy. But with other countries, we’d have to get permission, a location to plant, and someone to take care of it.

“But, I’m definitely coming with you when you go to plant them.”

“You’ll come with me?”

“Of course I will,” Lord Glen said with a smile.