Celestine mumbled something as her gaze landed on Lady Johanna with such hatred showing in her eyes, "Lady Yessenia, I do not have any hidden motive..."
a loud slap echoed across the room followed by another slap, and slap again. How unfortunate, her milky skin is now imprinted with Yessenia's hand and is now swollen. Everyone was afraid to stop her mainly because she's radiating a scary aura, they were frightened at the sight of her that they had forgotten Wren.
"Though, she has high endurance," Wren commented after seeing that she was still standing in front of Yessenia and was looking at her straight, "Clean Yessenia's hands."
Johanna is the first one to look at her in the eyes and it infuriates her. The feeling of her slap is indeed painful, but hatred is filling her. She wants to take revenge against Yessenia who slapped her.
Anna gently applied ointment on Yessenia's swollen hands on the other hand is trying to remember what kind of family Johana has. She was haughty and planning to give a small punishment, after all, they did bother Celestine.
"I believe she was the granddaughter of Viscount who was given a title after contributing to the war 80 years ago."
ah... wait, how come Boaife knows this? "I read some books during my free time."
Boaife with books? Wait, when did that happen?
Wren was absolutely astonished by what she heard. All this time she thought Boaife is kind of a spirit that wouldn't touch a book.
"That's disrespectful." she couldn't help but to comment after seeing her thoughts openly showing on her face. They have long forgotten that they were besides the other young ladies when they started to argue.
They stared at two and were sure that Boaife was Wren's maid, but what kind of maid is she?
"You... how could you cry with the situation you caused?!"
Everyone looked once back and saw tears cascaded down on Johana's swollen cheeks followed by sniffles. Yessenia grimaced at the sight, holding her tears after she saw the disgust in Yessenia's eyes.
It hurts and the only reason why she's crying. Her cheeks were burning and wants to order an ice pack. But her words were stuck in her throat and the only way she could convey her feelings is to cry.
"Yessenia you slapped her on both cheeks."
"So what? Laxus did not cry when I slapped him."
"Laxus and Lady Johana are very different. She is weak like a kitten while our dear cousin is like a panther. Think." Wren retorted at her ridiculous claim. I mean, why would she compare that kid to their stupid cousin?
"But kittens are cute. She is looking nothing like it." she said while pointing at their group. Ariana flinched and lowered her head to avoid Yessenia's gaze.
"You are right. But don't rub it on their faces." Wren suggested, but Ariana and the others feel humiliated.
"Young Miss you shouldn't say it out loud. What would you do if they suddenly cry harder?"
A fun fact about working at Duke Vacarella is that everyone including the maid are bold enough to say something at times like this like Anna.
Also, Anna also of noble blood, her father is a viscount in the North. The reason why Anna has a lot of confidence despite being a maid. Everyone can see that she is of noble blood basing on how graceful she is while serving as a maid.
"I only stated the truth,"
"Young Miss, can't you see that she looks uglier now after you insulted her?"
"What ..."
Celestine laughed at her remark but hastily held it by fake coughing. Even Ariana is staring with eyes open wide at the maid who openly insults a noble kid.
"Want to have a bet, Celes?"
"are you really a daughter of the duke?"
"Why are you asking me that?" she tilted her head with pure innocence, "I have never seen someone initiate a bet at our age."
"Really? This is normal in my household." The twins and Yessenia often bet on things and not even once she won.
She would join them occasionally depending on what they bet and her probability of winning. Eventually even all of the research and praying she did to won at every bet she made, she still lose. She thinks it's either they were cheating or she had bad luck.
"It will be best if you know that they are far from normal. You can refuse her for your own good."
Wren doesn't know if she should feel offended or glad about it. Somehow, she saved her from explaining, but it feels like an insult. She's very much more normal than the others.
"Anyway, now that you--" Yessenia's words were cut off after a loud burst of the door, three people with flashy clothes entered with their wide eyes until they landed it on the two Vacarella's before rushing towards Lady Johana.
"Goodnesss! My daughter!"
"You shouldn't run like that." Wren warned her too late and the Viscount immediately slides, his butt hit first on the cold, wet floor before he could shout for help. Unfortunately, it serves as an ugly entertainment for the two girls as they saw an old, fat, man whimpering. Disgusting.
"Acck!"
The two Vacarella watched on how they fussed over Johanna and the Viscount. They don't like it at all.
The Viscount stood wobbly, angrily even for the humiliation, "there is a mess and you haven't cleaned--"
"after seeing the viscount in person I finally understood where Lady Johana takes after." it is a sincere compliment from Wren and despite the fact that she was smiling, the Viscount is shivering. That smile is somehow like the Duke.
"Da... daddy..." Lady Johana clings to the Viscount who has his head lowered. Due to Yessenia's intense gaze, the whole room is gloomy.
"the reason why this place isn't clean up is because I said so, Viscount."
He slightly shakes and clenches his hand in anger or fear, "My lady, I apologized if my---"
Yessenia raised her hand, "I do not want another apology. Discipline your daughter well. She's lacking in etiquette and manners."
"Oh my," Another one seems to have entered the room as she scanned the area, "Celestine I told you to watch over here."
"I did." she said and the maids hurriedly cleaned the room while Yessenia sat on a couch with Anna serving her a new tea on the other table.
Celestine's mother took the other kids outside with the viscount and Wren stayed to continue their little tea time.
This was also Celestine's first time having a friend that her mother lets her continue.
"It seems we made another room a mess."
"... and you have not made any friends, Young Miss."
"I have made a friend. This one isn't one of my cousins just to be clear."
"..." the fork that Anna holds dropped on the ground as her eyes are full of disbelief, "Did you threaten her or did you hit your head?"
"Believe me that's the first thing I asked Wren."
Just what do they think of me to have these questions?
"Everyone will be surprised if they also hear it."
Boaife and Anna are now joining teams and Wren has no idea what they meant, "what? why?"
she sighed, a heavy sigh before answering Wren, "Because you always avoid people after coming to a gathering."
"When did I ever do that?"
Boaife glared and gave an answer, "Really? Do you remember when Galan invited you to Ceisia's birthday and--
"that is because I do not want to!"
"Then, how about when Raelle invited you to join her in p---"
"I hated her."
Boaife twitched and smiled wickedly like Wren had answered her own questions. It is exactly what she meant, She doesn't socialize with her peers and doesn't like the idea of befriending someone.
Outside of the salon, the Viscount could hear the two tease each other. He gritted his teeth and fists clenched tightly.
"Dadd---"
"Aish!" he snapped his daughter's hand and looked at her with a glare, "You made a mistake," she bit her lips as she nodded, "Yes, I apologize..."
This does not ease his anger. There is a business proposal he submitted to Duke Vacarella and he is afraid that this will affect it. If the Duke didn't agree on the proposal they will lose a huge sum of money and his daughter just did so!
"Go apologize to the Young Ladies and do it properly." Johana flinched at his tone.
She thought that he could comfort her and yet, she received a despising glare that made her tremble in fear.
"... yes." He should have sided me. Apologizing is the first time I will do it.
"I'm sorry about what happened, Lady Yessenia." Celestine bowed which Wren interrupted her as she invited her to join the conversation.
Since it was meaningless, after all they were only talking about some trends in the capital.
"I heard you were Wren's friend. I am Yessenia, daughter of the witch.,
Celestine awkwardly smiled at Yessenia's introduction. A unique way of introducing herself.
"The cakes now are delicious." she complimented which Wren gave another wry smile. She meant that the cakes are delicious after the other noble kids left.
The two of them were in a bliss and share the same mind after the kids left.
"There are more sweets that you may like if you go around South. I could show you around." Celestine said with a smile.
She was also hoping to guide the two Vacarella's around, but they are going home tomorrow since they have to study to pass the next admission of the academy.
"We should try them next time, Celes."
"Really?" Wren nods with a satisfied smile on her face as she sips her tea, "After all, my bucketlist here isn't complete..." she then showed a long paper with a neat handwriting with checkboxes on it.
It is too many that even Celestine is having a headache. They already did some of the checklist, but ran out of time. Especially the part where they could enjoy a festival around this time.
suddenly Yessenia spit out the tea she was drinking, staining her dress. Anna came immediately to clean it, "This is not you, Young Miss."
Yessenia coughed a few more times before Wren said, "This is why we always tell you to slow down eating." Wren sighed as she patted Yessenia's back.
Unfortunately, Yessenia remembered the thing her mother said before they left the Estate.
"Wren!! Mother said that under a full moon there will be two seeds connected to one plant."
Wren and Celestine blankly stared at Yessenia as she said it, they waited for a moment, then she added, "well that is not exactly it. But somehow... it is?"
she says at her random rambling and rolling the bucket list she has. The words Yessenia just said is like something she just thought of.
"why are you asking us?"
"because I am not so sure what you meant! Why are we going on with riddles?" Wren groaned as she massaged her temples.
Honestly, what is the connection of two seeds to one plant? Is she supposed to plant something? Thus, she decided to not take it seriously as they spend their time inside the salon while waiting for the time.
Unknown to herself that she will soon understand what it meant, after all, what Mavis sees comes true.
***
"Take care, Wren and Yessenia"
"We will write you a letter"
"We will come back soon"
the three girls exchanged words before departing from the Bates Estate. Not as much happened after the Viscount, but after seeing how he observes them. Wren knew there was something the Viscount was afraid of.
Of course, she will find out after coming back. Now that she thinks of it, It must be a week after she sends Cervi to his mission.
"I wonder if he's back home..." she whispered at the window while staring at the sunny sky while maintaining the mana she's sharing with Cervi.