The riley house is a merchant with wide connections, and their accomplishment awarded them the seat of Baron. Henzel is the first son of the Rileys and studies on business management to help his father, as well as learning the ways of a noble in this Academy. His innocent personality enabled him to act friendlily with anyone. He is also allied with Schneider and understands him well, and one of the few friends I have. Henzel enjoyed the coffee I made and sometimes will come over for a cup.
There is another friend which I treasure as well… As soon as she became a fifth year student, she had to take a break from the Academy to help out with her parents who have work overseas.
While the answer to his question of me having a tea party by myself, I could only put up a vague smile. Henzel eyes was then directed to the table.
"…Spiders? Are you testing out a different kind of tea party?" Henzel, tilting his head with his blue eyes wide opened.
"Aren't they cute?" I gloss over with a smile.
The natural-head he is, he did not question further and just replied with a "Yes they are" and return a smile while sitting on the chair opposite of me.
I then brewed a cup of coffee for Henzel.
"Hmm.. Rhonya-jou's coffee is definitely the best. How about making a business out of it?"
"It's not as good to be able to open up a business for."
"No no no, I will definitely pay to drink this." Henzel with a grin on his face. His likeable grin is not to flatter, but is truly to convey his true feelings. Hence why I was able to smile from my heart.
–It is true that I am interested to try a job such as one of brewing coffee like this.
That it's possible to just stop being a noble daughter and start a café instead.
Then I can relax and lay back more than I could now.
As I absentmindedly thought of so, I realized that Henzel was more silent than usual. Usually, he would start topic one after another and talk much more.
"…Henzel-sama?"
He was glaring at the half-filled tea cups and half-eaten sweets on the table which was served to the noble daughters' just a moment ago.
Henzel then directed a kind gaze towards me. "Rhonya-jou, please call me Henzel without formalities…. Leaving that aside, are these spiders a kind of harassment?"
I instantly averted my gaze.
"Are you alright?" As Henzel sneaked a look at me with a worrisome expression but I replied him with a grin.
"…They are cute spiders indeed."
But Henzel's expression did not change. He then took a spider which climbed on my hand onto his own.
"True that they are cute spiders… But when something happens please rely on Schneider, will you?"
"….Thank you for worrying about me Henzel." I then expressed my gratitude, Henzel finally returned back a smile.
That night, Schneider visited me when I had just finished my preparations to sleep.
"Rhonya… Is it true that you harassed Misano-jou?" I was shocked towards his question.
Speaking of which, there was a scene as this in the novel as well. Where Misano-jou herself confessed to Schneider about how Rhonya harassed her and so she counterattacked.
The shocked Schneider then approached Rhonya to ascertain her intentions and promised Misano-jou to stop her.
"…Schneider… I believe you would know that I did not harass anyone?"
Schneider was not content with my answer and spoke up.
"It may be true that recently I had become close to Misano-jou, but I was definitely not planning to cheat on you."
"…I understand that…but I did not harass Misano-jou because I was jealous of her."
"But, you… Previously, you have ever made a servant give up his job.." I was shocked towards Schneider continuous denial. The servant he talked of was the young lad whom previously stopped working in the main house, but had then been employed to work for my grandfather. Even though I was not responsible for that incident…
"…He, he felt liable hence he gave up his work…"
"..." Schneider looked hesitant. He seems to be suspecting me. That I am someone who would treat others badly over small matters.
Even though we had long spent our times together, even though he looks at me more than anyone else… But he now hold suspicion in his heart towards me.
"…Please believe me, Schneider." As I embrace his cheek with both my hands and prayed for it.
"It's a misunderstanding from Misano-jou's perspective, I did not harass her. I beg you please believe in me."
Then Schneider loosened the strength in his shoulders and smiled at me.
"I believe in you, Rhonya."
–But I knew. Even though you said you believe in me now, your heart will turn away from me.
I felt my first love's vividness started to fade. The hope in heart soon turned into despair.
Now alone in my room, I flipped over the sandglass presented to me by my grandfather. The green sands were shining like bright jewels. I stare upon the falling sands and dazed off.
In that instant, I thought of my figure working in a snugly café.
…Let me begin my preparations to accept my fate.
The happiness of my first love, it's time to let you go. When I was 9, I thought to this sandglass of how long 7 years was, but thinking back now it passed in a blink of an eye.
Eventually all the beautiful sand fell completely down. I left the sandglass unflipped, closed the lights and shut my eyelids.