Kapitel 32: [Chapter 32] Diane's Safety
As Neris and Diane finished their chocolate, the water party was winding down, and Betty led the two children to the playroom.
The adults' time, dinner, was approaching, and the children were no longer welcome.
Thanks to the open structure of the main building, the noise of the adults rushing around on the first floor could be seen and heard from the second floor. Neris, who was leaning against the railing, looking down at the first floor, was approached by someone with a cheerful voice.
"Curious about what's going on downstairs?"
Neris didn't move her body, just turning her head to look in the direction of the voice. Nualan, dressed in a handsome black outfit, was smiling down at her.
He chuckled awkwardly when Neris didn't respond and just looked up at him.
"Are you upset that you can't attend dinner?"
"Not particularly."
The answer came from Neris's small, red lips. Nualan's eyes sparkled at her nonchalant response.
"Be honest, I won't mind. Muriel always cries when she's not allowed to attend dinner or evening parties."
"What's the point of being honest?"
Nualan's eyes sparkled again.
"You can't see well over the railing, can you? I'll carry you."
The railing on the second floor of the McKenna mansion was a decorative gold fence with intricate patterns and colored glass. While it was beautiful in itself, it obstructed the view, and Neris's small stature made it difficult to see over the railing.
Nualan's offer took this into account.
Neris looked up at Nualan again, who smiled wryly.
"Why, don't you want to?"
"You're kind, brother."
"Thanks. I have a younger sister, so I want to be nice to kids. And Diane is... well, she's family, and..."
Nualan trailed off, but the implication was clear.
His eyes glanced at Neris's skirt, hinting at her physical disability.
Neris smiled wryly. It was the first time she had smiled since meeting Nualan.
"Just because Diane's legs are a bit uncomfortable, it doesn't mean she's foolish or childish. You don't need to mention that and be nice to her, cousin."
"Of course, Diane is smart. In fact, compared to Muriel when she was younger, Diane is a genius."
Although Nualan spoke casually, Neris didn't miss the brief change in his eyes. He smiled kindly at her after finishing his sentence.
"Of course, you're not as smart as you, little miss. But you're nice to Diane, and she's very happy about it. That's why Muriel is sulking because Diane won't play with her anymore."
"Muriel liked playing with Heather more anyway. What's the point of playing with kids like us?"
"Muriel thinks Diane is cute, so she's just teasing her. She doesn't mean any harm. You're smart, Neris, so you understand adult matters, right? The Railing family is an important guest to the McKennas, and if Diane behaves like this... well, it's a bit awkward."
Nualan finished speaking, looking genuinely apologetic, and sent Neris a trustworthy gaze. If Neris hadn't already been betrayed by someone similar to Nualan, she might have believed him.
Neris knew exactly why she didn't like Nualan from the start. He was the type of person who acted kindly and considerately on the surface but only spoke to benefit himself.
However, there was no need to show her suspicion openly. Neris asked in a gentle voice:
"Is it because the adults are doing business together? That's why they're important guests?"
"Yes, that's right. You know that too?"
"I'm twelve years old. I know what business is. What does Heather's father do?"
It was natural for adults to find children more charming when they spoke logically. Nualan explained kindly, looking at Neris with a brotherly gaze.
"Heather's father sells medicine. Yeah, he sells medicine."
"Ah, you mean the kind you take when you're sick?"
Neris's eyes sparkled calmly. She had learned two things.
First, Angelo Railing and Sieve McKenna work together.
Second, unlike his frequent mentions of Muriel, Nualan didn't seem to be very interested in his sister's growth.
If he had been interested, he would have known that a twelve-year-old girl's vocabulary is quite rich.
Neris had learned what she wanted to know. She decided to confirm one more thing.
"Are you still looking for a doctor who can fix Diane's legs? Maybe Heather's father has some good medicine?"
"Of course, we hope so."
Nualan smiled wistfully.
"We've invited all the famous doctors in the empire, but they all said it's impossible to fix. But..."
His words trailed off, leaving an air of mystery. Neris asked with a concerned expression.
"Why?"
"Ah, it's not right to say this to a child. Sorry, forget it."
Nualan's eyes calmly scanned Neris's childish face. Neris narrowed her eyes, looking anxious, and pouted.
"I'm not that young. I can understand any conversation."
"Really?"
He smiled slightly. Neris sensed that he was about to reveal his true intentions.
The purpose of his kindness towards her, a 'cousin's friend' who was young, without family backing, and had no reason to be of interest to him.
Indeed, Nualan spoke in a voice that was both sincere and sorrowful.
"You've seen it, Diane can live a relatively normal life, but if she goes to a place like the academy and gets hurt... who knows when she'll get seriously injured. She almost fell while dancing earlier. Of course, that was my fault for not holding her well enough..."
"There's no guarantee that others will take better care of Diane than you, brother."
Nualan's expression brightened slightly at Neris's sympathetic tone. He looked at her face for a while.
"Thanks for saying that. Honestly, we've spoiled Diane so much that she's a bit self-centered, but I think she's a kind child. It's fortunate that she has a mature friend like you... even if it's hard to part with friends, if there's a chance that Diane will become healthier, we have to consider it, even if it means she has to be apart from us."
Neris's eyebrows rose. She was shocked and asked:
"Where is Diane going?"
"There's a famous doctor abroad. We've already lost hope that Diane will be able to run like other kids, but maybe... if she can at least recover enough to protect herself when she falls, that's all we can ask for."
"But..."
Nualan smiled wistfully, hearing Neris's hesitant tone. 'Treatment' and 'abroad' were serious concepts that Neris was too young to fully understand.
'No, it's not just that.'
He already knew Neris's background. If she continued to be with Diane, she would be able to enjoy luxuries she never thought possible. So, Diane's departure would be a sad event.
He spoke in a persuasive and kind tone.
"We're sad to be apart from our 'little one,' but her health is the priority. Right, Neris? What do you think?"
Neris thought for a while, then agreed in a resigned tone.
"...Yes, brother. If Diane can become healthier and safer..."
"Ah, Neris, you're really mature."
The sound of string instruments being tuned came from downstairs, followed by the butler's loud announcement that dinner was about to start. Nualan glanced downstairs and smiled at Neris.
"Diane doesn't know yet. It's a secret, okay?"
"Okay."
Neris nodded, still looking resigned. Nualan headed downstairs, waving goodbye to Neris from the staircase.
As soon as Nualan was gone, Neris's expression turned cold.
Nualan was trying to convince Neris to let Diane go abroad for treatment.
Treatment?
Neris remembered that Joyce had mentioned it on the way to the mansion. Someone had recommended a foreign doctor named Rémartre.
"'Rémartre' means 'quack' in Feran. It's unlikely that such a person exists."
Diane's leg had become uncomfortable after she had a fever as a child. Her arm on the same side also reacted slower than others. Neris had seen similar symptoms in the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess, Merai, rarely appeared in public and was known to be uncomfortable, needing to use a cane. However, her discomfort was not due to illness, but rather a result of a childhood fever that had left her with stiff limbs.
The royal family had consulted many famous doctors, but no one could 'cure' her condition. To save face, the royal family had kept Merai's symptoms hidden, and she had spent most of her life at home. Neris had learned about this when she visited Merai's mansion to attend to her needs for her husband.
Merai had told Neris that she had tried everything, even inviting foreign doctors, but to no avail.
Neris had heard many stories while attending to her strict mother-in-law. She remembered that Vistaria was the most advanced country in the field of medicine for similar conditions.
Moreover, a few years later, Joyce would accuse Angelo of something. Neris tried to recall what Joyce's accusation was and finally remembered that it was a criminal lawsuit that had harmed his family.
Then, Nualan's proposal was unlikely to be a good one.
"It's probably a trap that will entangle the Earl and his wife."
Was it a scheme to make them waste their wealth on a fake doctor who demanded a lot of money? Or was it a plan to harm Diane and make the Earl and his wife fall into despair?
Either way, it didn't seem like it would be beneficial to Diane's health. If the Earl and his wife, who seemed so healthy now, were to give up their position to someone else, it would be a big deal.
They were terrible people. Under the guise of family, they received kindness from Diane's family, but all they thought about was taking away their share.
But.
Neris put her hand on her chest. The place that had been stiff and hard was now beating rapidly like a child's heartbeat.
"Diane won't be able to go to school from now on."
Whether she goes abroad or has serious health problems.
It was only the first semester that they had attended school together. That's why Diane McKenna didn't leave a mark in Neris's memory.
It was also because Diane wasn't among the children who bullied her.
Neris didn't need to despise Diane, and she didn't know how to accept this fact.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein