In a vast kitchen, a woman with black hair tied back was quietly putting away the dishes in the drawers with care.
A plate slipped from her hands, about to shatter on the floor, but the woman quickly and precisely caught it just in time.
— That was close…
She put the plate away just as the door opened.
— Yuna, it's us.
Eric and Lara had just entered the room.
Yuna turned toward them and didn't seem particularly surprised to see them.
— Young Master Eric, Lady Lara… what are you doing here?
Lara walked closer with a wide smile.
— Since you've just arrived, you probably don't know yet, so I'll tell you—
— If it's about Young Master Noa returning to the capital with a blue-haired girl, I've already been informed.
Lara froze in shock.
— What?! How?!
She noticed someone behind the table.
Sitting on the floor, Ethan was eating a slice of cake, with Rex sitting on top of his head.
Lara immediately understood.
— Change of plan…
Yuna asked Eric how he had been doing all this time, while behind them Lara tied a saucepan with a string in front of the door.
— I'm doing pretty well. I haven't been sick since I was seven.
— In your case, that's not really surprising. And is your father in good health?
Eric touched his chin while thinking.
— I think so. He sleeps a lot more than usual, but I don't think it's a problem.
Lara approached while tossing away the remaining piece of string.
— You haven't been sick since you were seven? You're really lucky… The same can't be said for me and Ollie.
— Hey, do you often talk about Noa to Oliver?
— Huh? No! Are you crazy?! I value my life!
Hearing them talk, Yuna slightly lowered her eyes.
Suddenly, a dull noise echoed near the door.
They all turned around.
Noa was sprawled on the floor, head lowered, rubbing his forehead.
He had just bumped into the saucepan Lara had hung in front of the door.
— Revenge!
Lara shouted joyfully behind Eric.
— Hey! Why did you do that?!
— You can't say he didn't deserve it!
Without losing her composure, Yuna walked toward Noa while the other two continued arguing.
Noa tapped his forehead with two fingers.
Yuna crouched in front of him and gently placed her hand on his forehead.
Noa looked up and met Yuna's gaze.
— You've grown so much, Young Master Noa… I'm glad to see you in good health.
Noa looked into her eyes for a few seconds before standing up.
— I'm glad to see you too.
Lara interrupted their conversation and changed the subject.
— So… do you know anything more about the girl who arrived with you?
Noa first asked if she was the one who had placed the saucepan in front of the door.
She replied that it wasn't important and told him to just answer the question.
— I don't know much about her… except that she's a princess and her name is Atela. From what I've heard, she comes from the Kingdom of Garion.
Lara and the others were shocked.
— Wait a minute… she comes from the Kingdom of Garion? But you said you found her in the forest!
Yuna started thinking.
— That means… no, that's impossible… Did she leave the Kingdom of Garion and arrive here without any means of transportation?
Lara spoke up.
— No way, that's impossible. Even with transportation, traveling the distance between the Kingdom of Garion and the Eastern Empire would take months, no matter the speed.
Noa shrugged slightly.
— She must have arrived by some kind of means… When the patriarch saw her, he was already informed of her disappearance. So she must have left the kingdom not long ago.
— Well, if that's the case, I'll just go ask her myself.
Lara placed her hands behind her head and walked out of the room, closely followed by Eric.
— I'll go get her. They should already be done with the patriarch anyway.
Noa watched them leave. He was about to go out as well, but his hand was suddenly grabbed by Yuna.
— I'm sorry… but I can't let that slide.
Noa didn't really understand what she meant.
— Your clothes… The family meeting is soon, and you really intend to show up dressed like that?
— I don't see what's wrong with my clothes.
— You're wearing a dark blue hoodie, black pants, and black boots. It's not that I have anything against dark colors… but you should really make an effort to look presentable.
A drop of sweat appeared on our protagonist's cheek as he realized he didn't really have a choice.
— Okay… I'll go change. Ethan, can you come with me?
Noa opened the door while Ethan quickly swallowed his cake behind the table and hurried to follow him, with Rex still sitting on his head.
Yuna, now alone again, smiled softly before returning to her work.