Not long after lunch, Serena began to say her goodbyes.
"Sorry, I actually still have business to attend to," she said, tidying her hair in front of the small mirror by the door. "But I stopped by when I heard the news about Veracci."
I nodded. This was nothing new. Serena never stayed in one place for long. There was a large shipment to Hartwell that she needed to oversee personally, and knowing her nature, she had probably been restless since earlier thinking about the delivery schedule.
But as she stood at the threshold of the front door, her steps came to a halt. She glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes landing on Veralyn standing near the dining table, still wearing my spare clothes that were clearly far too large for her frame.
"Oh, right, Recci," Serena said in a tone far too casual to not be suspicious. "How long are you going to let a woman as beautiful as Veracci walk around in clothes like that?"
Veralyn reacted immediately. Both hands reflexively touched the sleeves folded at her wrists, as though she had only just realized how poorly the clothes fit her.
"No, there is no need," she said quickly. "This is already enough."
But Serena had already turned around completely, facing Veralyn with a smile that did not accept refusal.
"Ah, just so you know," Serena said lightly, "Recci here is actually one of the wealthiest people in the kingdom. You really do not need to hold back."
Veralyn turned to look at me.
Her gaze shifted. Not with dramatic surprise, but more like someone who was reassembling their entire assessment of the person standing before them. A commoner who had produced a hundred gold coins the night before without hesitation. Surely, part of her had already suspected that I was no ordinary person. But hearing it said so directly still seemed to leave her momentarily at a loss for words.
"Ah, right," I said, pretending I had just remembered. "Serena, could I ask you to pick up some clothes for Veralyn?"
Serena raised one eyebrow. Then, with a movement too quick for me to react to, she stepped closer and whispered right beside my ear. Her smile turned sly.
"You once told me the reason you were saving money was to rescue someone," she whispered softly. "And it seems that person is Veracci."
I swallowed.
"Are you sure you do not want to take her on a date? After spending that much money?"
I could feel my face heating up. Inside my head, I began cursing my younger self who had talked far too freely to Serena as a child. A naive little boy who had no idea that every word he spoke would be stored by his friend for over a decade and weaponized at the most inopportune moment.
Yet I also had to admit, in the deepest corner of my mind that I would never voice out loud, Serena had a point. It would indeed be a waste not to seize this golden opportunity.
Serena pulled her face back and put on her usual smile, as though nothing had happened.
"Ah, sorry," she said, clapping her hands together, "I need to head straight to Hartwell for the shipment, so I cannot come along for shopping." She glanced between the two of us, her smile widening. "Why don't you two just go into the city together? Buy some clothes for Veracci."
I looked at her.
Her eyes said, "Do not waste this chance, you idiot."
I sighed.
"Fine," I said flatly, trying my absolute best to keep my voice from betraying my heartbeat.
Serena smiled with satisfaction, then waved toward Veralyn.
"Veracci, take care of yourself! And make sure Recci does not only buy books for you."
Veralyn tilted her head slightly, not appearing to fully grasp what had just transpired between Serena and me.
"Very well," she replied simply.
Serena winked at me, then stepped out the door with a light stride and a soft hum that gradually faded among the trees.
The door closed.
Silence filled the house once more.
And I stood there, realizing that Serena Valenrose had just engineered a date without my consent.