11 Gwen

I was tying Lily's hair into a French braid when Mari came in holding a letter. Erin was at my side, braiding Amy's hair, while Freesia ties my hair. We all looked at Mari together when she arrived.

"Milady, a letter came from Count Riviere's address." She says and handed the envelope to me.

My hands instantly stopped moving and took the letter from her.

My eyes saw the seal and blinked. Why are they sending me a letter?

I was curious and also a little bit apprehensive, thinking that it might be a death threat or something.

I'm just being a little dramatic, that's all.

I opened the seal and pulled the missive inside. My eyes scanned the whole thing rapidly, looking for the words, death, die, kill and more along these lines but found nothing.

As I've said, I'm just being dramatic.

It was actually a note, requesting an audience with me, and the sender was Gwyneth herself.

Is she going to threaten me in person? How bold!

Nahh, I might be just over reacting and thinking way too deeply into this. I mean, how daring could one be to go and terrorize someone from a Marquis residence? Unless they were a duke or from a royalty, no one openly opposes, much more from a Count title which is a rank lower than ours.

So yeah, I might be just over reacting.

"Count Riviere? Isn't that the same girl who was being so rude to milady? You know, that same girl I told you last time? The one who kept bitching about her shoes!" Erin blabbered, intensely ranting off to the others.

"Oh? What does the letter says milady? Is she terrorizing you?" Amy chimes and looked at me.

Everyone waited for my reply in anticipation. They all looked so serious that I found it funny. They seemed so ready to go to war any minute.

"She says she wants to meet me." I replied and put the note back inside the envelope.

"She said that? Is she going to bully you in person? How audacious!" Erin exclaims.

I pursed my lips and looked at Erin who looked raging.

So I'm not the only one who's being theatrical.

"M-milady?" Lily mutters. She looked very worried so I patter her head to reassure her.

"Don't worry, I'm here~ She might just want to talk so let's not jump to conclusions first." I pointed out.

Erin stopped and looked calmer now. The others nodded in affirmation while Lily sighed in relief.

I stood up and went to the vanity. I then grabbed a pen and paper from the drawer and started writing.

"What are you going to say milady?" Mari questions.

"I'm saying yes and to come tomorrow," I replied.

There was a short silence and I ignored them. I finished writing and put it inside the envelope, then sealed it afterward.

"Send this to the Count's," I ordered Mari. She took it and went on her way immediately.

"B-but, is it okay?" Amy mutters.

"If it is what milady wants, then we abide by it," Freesia stated and everyone went silent again.

I honestly don't know what to expect but I'll just see what's in store for tomorrow. For now, though, I need to inform the kitchen about my incoming guest.

"I'll go to the kitchen to notify them," I said and stood up.

"We'll come with you milady!" Erin says and stood up as well. Looking very much excited.

Actually, we have been holed up in the kitchen these past few days, learning to bake. I have also given every cookies and cupcake I have made to Nathan, the other knights, and to father.

I honestly thought that Nathan's warming up to me. Sometimes, whenever I go into the backyard to find him and give him something, he looked like he was really waiting for me.

Or maybe, it's just my imagination.

We all made our way to the kitchen. As we go around a corner, I spotted Nathan who was coming in the opposite way.

As soon as he's near, I stopped to greet him.

"Good morning, brother!"

Nathan, who stopped walking as well, looked down at me and nods.

See? He was not like this before you know! He just ignores me and looks at me in disdain before, now he nods!

Maybe I'm not imagining it…

"You're going to train again today?" I asked and looks up at him. He's so tall…

"Hmm…"

There's that too! That hum thing! He never responds to whatever question I throw before. Even though it's not a proper answer but that counts right?

"Anyway, Gwyneth was requesting an audience. I already said yes and told her to come tomorrow," I informed him.

Nathan's forehead creased a little, then he stared at me. His eyes were like looking right into my soul.

"Are you going to be okay?" He suddenly uttered.

I blinked in surprise.

"I'm going to be fine! You're here and dad after all, so I'm not really worried~" I answered and smiled at him.

"Hmph," Was his only response, and moved along.

I stared at his back while smiling. What a big tsun you are brother!

-----------****

I was calmly drinking my tea while Gwyneth looked like she was very uncomfortable sitting in front of me.

I was waiting for her to say something, or do something. Like throwing the tea on my face and mock me, things like that but ever since we sat down here, she just squirmed like a fish out of water.

This tea tastes good, wonder what this is…

"Uhmm…"

This is it. She's going to talk now.

"I-- I--"

"…"

"I-- I-I'm sorry!" She suddenly yells with her eyes closed tightly.

She sure loved yelling huh.

"Actually, I wasn't mad because of your maid stepping on my shoes. My grandfather gifted it to me so I was just being sentimental. Please tell her that I am really sorry as well." She disclosed, looking very sad all of a sudden.

Ahh, is that so?

"He died last winter and I'm still not over it." She added.

I immediately stopped drinking and put down my cup.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

I didn't know that there's another value to her shoes. She didn't really clear that out the first time as well, so the fault is in both of us. At least we cleared that misunderstanding now.

I suddenly felt bad because of what she said.

"He was such a great grandpa. The greatest of all!" She uttered, out of the blue.

I got surprised when she started rambling on, telling stories about her and her grandfather but I just listened. Occasionally letting out some remarks.

"He used to read me stories at bedtime… Now, no one's reading me stories anymore…" She whispered, her face filling with remorse.

Uhh, I mean she's 15 right? But eh, there's nothing wrong with that I guess…

"What about your dad? Or your mom? They don't read you something?"

Gwen shakes her head and played her fingers on the teacup handle.

"I like my grandfather's voice more."

Wow, she must really love him.

She talked about some memorable things she had with her grandfather while smiling in nostalgia. She looked really happy so I didn't stop her. Also, I really enjoyed listening to her.

"I actually thought you were a bitch. I apologize." I declared after a while.

Gwen looked wide-eyed at first but she didn't look offended.

"It's okay. Everyone else's thinks the same. I'm sorry, I yelled," She apologized again. Her cheeks were stained red, and she looked very flustered. It makes me want to tease her.

"Can I call you Gwen?" I asked after some time had passed.

Gwen's eyes widened and blinked.

"S-sure! I… can I call you Nadia as well?" She uttered shyly.

"Of course! We're friends now anyway." I said and gave her a smile.

"F-friends?"

"You don't want to?"

"N-no! I want to be friends with Nadia!" She cried out and blushed profusely afterward.

She's so cute.

We talked more mundane things for a while when the door to the room opened. We both looked at whoever it was and Nathan entered unannounced.

"Nathan! Do you need anything?" Nadia asked, looking at him.

Nathan looks at both of them and stared hard at Nadia. Looking for something and examining her expression before he looked back at the other girl. The girl shyly looked at him but he ignored her.

"Nothing." He replied and stood there in indifference.

Nathan had heard the report of Uno beforehand. The other girl, whoever her name was, was a spoiled brat. That's what he concluded after hearing the rundown of her profile. He also knew that this girl had yelled at Nadia, in the café.

She might be yelling again so he's checking. He doesn't want anyone looking down on the Herman family, that's all.

Nadia blinks at him.

"Ah! This is Gwen, she's my friend now!" She announces, wearing that stupid grin on her face.

"H-hello~" The girl shyly greeted.

Friends? But didn't she disrespected her? What is she thinking?

Nathan stared at Gwen with raised eyebrows but said nothing and then looked back at Nadia again.

Whatever. I don't care.

"I'm going now."

Nadia was confused.

Ohh? That was all? I mean, what did he even came here for?

"Okay, goodbye~," I said, expecting to see him walk out without a glance but he was still standing there, not moving an inch.

"Is there something else?"

He was not going out like what I expected him to do. Maybe there's more? Why isn't he saying anything?

"I will be in the study…" He added and I got more confused.

"??? Okay?"

"…"

There was a long silence and I noticed that he was now frowning. What did I do?

"If something happens…" He muttered.

I stared at him hard. I don't get him, seriously.

"… study." He says and gets out of the room.

There was a long silence again. I was sure that I looked really bewildered because honestly, I really am.

What was that?

"I think he's worried so he might be telling you that he would be in the study if something happens," Gwen explains and smiled.

"Your brother is caring."

I looked at her in surprise.

"Really?" I was skeptical. Nathan? Caring? Worried?

I mean, sure?

"That's what I understood." She says.

"Hmmm… He's cute isn't he?" I teased while smirking.

What did I say, he's a big tsun.

We talked for a while more before Gwen said her goodbyes. I walked her to her carriage which was waiting outside, ready to depart.

"See you soon! Maybe I'll visit your house next time. Have a safe trip~" I stated and beamed at her.

"Thank you~ I'll wait for your letter then!" She replied and was about to enter the carriage but stopped and looked at me.

"Thank you for today. I was really happy when you said that we are friends. You are my first-ever friend." Gwen says while blushing and smiled at me genuinely with sparkling eyes.

Ahhh she's really adorable!

"I'm happy as well~" I replied and smiled back.

She then climbed inside the carriage and I watched her leave until I couldn't see the carriage anymore.

I went back inside and felt someone's gaze on me, so I looked up. I saw Nathan from the window of the study, looking down. He then turned around and left.

He's such a cutie…