Chapter 11

“Merrily, is Serina still not awake? I haven’t seen her at all today.”

Aura looked around before speaking.

“No, Young Lady Serina woke up early today and even ate breakfast. I think she may be playing in the garden. Maron, you were with the Young Lady until the end, right?”

“Y-Yes! That’s right! Young Lady said she wanted to quietly play alone in the garden today, so I only helped prepare the tea party.”

Maron stuttered for a moment since she had not expected the question to be directed at her.

A moment ago, she had remembered the adorable way Serina looked at her while calling it a secret. Maron quickly fixed her posture and answered calmly.

At that, Merrily stared sharply at Maron with suspicious eyes. Aura also seemed to sense something strange and asked with a slight smile.

“Oh my, Serina said she wanted to play alone in the garden? And ‘quietly’ at that……. I wonder what she’s planning.”

Normally, Serina did not like being alone unless she was playing in her room.

She always brought servants along with her or dragged her studying brother around to spend time together.

More importantly, she was not the type to stay quiet. She was only satisfied after making a huge commotion while playing.

‘Though…… whenever she was planning something, she sometimes stayed alone.’

Aura smiled softly while looking at Maron.

It was a signal saying she did not have to speak if she did not want to.

“You don’t have to say anything if it’s difficult. I’ll figure it out soon enough anyway.”

Watching from beside them, Merrily lightly poked Maron’s arm with her elbow.

Startled, Maron nervously opened her mouth.

“U-Umm……. Actually…… Young Lady said she wanted to hold a secret tea party with the Imperial Princess, so I helped her. Maybe…… Young Lady was trying in her own way to become closer to the Imperial Princess? And since Young Lady promised to keep it secret, please don’t tell her I told you. I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed in me…….”

Maron imagined adorable Young Lady Serina feeling betrayed by her.

With a gloomy expression, she clasped her hands together and pleaded desperately to Aura.

Seeing that, Aura let out a quiet laugh.

“Then I’ll keep it a secret that Maron told me. Maron, do you think the tea party is still going on right now?”

“Yes. Since they planned it for three in the afternoon, they’re probably happily talking together by now.”

Maron answered after checking the large clock fixed on the wall.

Aura stood up and looked toward the garden outside the window.

Far away, she could faintly see Serina and Helia sitting together.

“Then…… shall we go secretly peek at that cute little secret?”

‘So Serina made such an adorable little plan.’

It would be nice if it worked and the two became inseparable friends.

Aura imagined the children happily chatting together while enjoying tea.

However, a sudden uneasy feeling crept into her mind.

Because she remembered the chaos Serina had caused during her pretend-play before.

‘Surely Serina didn’t plan something strange again while trying to become friends with her……?’

She still vividly remembered the horrifying sight of Helia crawling around like a dog under Serina’s orders.

‘No, I’m probably overthinking it.’

Aura resumed her steps.

However.

The scene waiting for Aura when she arrived at the garden was completely different from what she imagined.

‘Goodness…… am I really seeing this correctly?’

Aura blinked her eyes.

Instead of the warm and friendly tea party she expected, reality was terrible.

Helia’s face and dress were completely soaked, with water dripping down from them.

And right beside her, Serina was still holding a teacup tilted toward Helia.

What was worse, she looked proud of herself.

At that moment, Serina seemed to notice someone’s presence and looked forward.

Her pupils shook, her hands trembled, and the teacup slipped from her hand with a clatter.

Seeing that sight, Aura was shocked.

‘I hoped it wasn’t true…….’

Who would ever imagine that their own daughter would deliberately bully someone?

A heavy thought crossed Aura’s mind.

‘I need to discipline her properly.’

With firm resolve, Aura called out in a low and solemn voice.

“Serina.”

“M-Mom……?”

What should I do?

The moment Serina saw her angry mother, her mind began spinning rapidly.

First, tell the truth!

Second, carefully watch her mood and run away!

Third, make excuses and say it was part of a game!

‘Which one is best? The first one……?’

No! Then I’ll get scolded even more!

Serina remembered the time she messed up the library before.

She had honestly explained the rumors about Imperial Princess Helia and ended up getting scolded much worse.

‘Then should I run away?’

No way! If I get caught, I’ll be scolded even more! Not just by Mom, but by everyone else too!

‘Then…… the only thing left is excuses! Excuses are the best after all!’

If I say it was just a game, I’ll probably get scolded less! I already played strange pretend games before anyway.

What if I say I became interested because I’m obsessed with villainess stories lately? That part is actually true too!

After thinking hard with her little brain, Serina finally found a solution.

Serina made eye contact with Helia and quickly waved her hands desperately.

It was a silent signal saying, > ‘Please stay quiet!’

Then she hurriedly spoke to her mother.

“Mom, it’s a misunderstanding! It’s really not what you think!”

“Then explain to me what exactly I’m looking at right now.”

Aura coldly pointed at Helia’s soaked appearance as she spoke.

At that, Serina calmly and shamelessly began making up a story.

“This is just playing! The reason we’re playing like this is……. well, you know, I really like villainess stories lately. So we were roleplaying. I’m the villainess! Weird things happen at tea parties all the time, right? So I was copying that!”

It’s not completely a lie. Half of it is true!

Ehehehe, she totally can’t tell, right?

Serina confidently looked toward her mother.

Aura crossed her arms and looked at Serina as if waiting for a better explanation.

‘Ah, I need to push harder!’

I thought my explanation was perfect, but maybe it was still lacking?

I need to say something before Mom asks the Imperial Princess!

She can’t find out I’m lying! Especially because there’s no way the Imperial Princess would take my side!

Serina rolled her thoughts around desperately again while searching for another move.

At that moment, she noticed Maron approaching the garden.

In a flash, Serina quickly pointed toward Maron and continued speaking.

“Umm……. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Maron! Maron knows! She knows I’ve been reading romance novels with villainesses in them!”

“H-Huh?”

“Is what she’s saying true, Maron?”

“U-Umm……. Yes, it is. I lent her a few romance novels because she was curious about them……. Just a few, really!”

Still not understanding the situation, Maron hesitated briefly before answering Aura’s question.

“I see. So it’s true that you read novels. Then Imperial Princess Helia also agreed to this game, correct?”

This time, Aura directed the question at Serina.

It was a sharp and precise question that struck right at the core.

‘Gasp!’

Does my plan really not work against Mom after all?

Then before the Imperial Princess can answer no, I should act first!

My goal right now is to get scolded less somehow!

Serina slowly shook her head from side to side.

“N-No……. I wanted it to feel more real, so I didn’t tell the Imperial Princess about it beforehand…….”

As little scolding as possible. Something hard to punish…….

Serina’s voice gradually became quieter as she spoke.

Aura fell silent in thought for a moment.

Soon, she approached Serina, lowered herself to meet her eye level, and gently held her shoulders while speaking in a firm but soft voice.

“Serina, reading novels and roleplaying are both fine. But whenever you do something with another person, it’s important to ask for their consent first. And even if they agree, you still must not cross the line. Respecting others is basic manners.”

Serina carefully nodded her head.

Aura looked toward Helia, who was completely drenched, and continued speaking.

“Even if it wasn’t your intention, what you did to Imperial Princess Helia is not a game. It’s bullying. Don’t you think you went too far too?”

Smiling apologetically and worriedly toward Helia, Aura stretched out her hand and softly chanted a spell.

“Wind, sweep everything away.”

A warm and gentle breeze wrapped around Helia’s body. Her hair and white dress fluttered softly before drying completely in an instant.

Without leaving behind even the slightest trace, it became as clean as if nothing had happened.

“Imperial Princess Helia, as Serina’s mother, I sincerely apologize for not teaching her proper behavior well enough.”

Placing a hand over her chest, Aura lowered her head and sincerely apologized to Helia.

The silent Helia finally opened her mouth.

“It’s alright. Lady Serina was only playing. The water was warm, so I wasn’t hurt either. It was a unique and interesting experience.”

Watching that scene, Serina’s eyes sparkled brightly.

‘Then is it over now? Are we just moving past this?’