This statement made the three adolescents flinch.
The two Vanderwales were mumbling, "Really? He's doing this now?"
While Nera was just staring at the green-eyed man that was staring back at her with a big smile.
Duke Vanderwale, from what little she knows of him, is known as someone intelligent in the Empire. It is also said that he is one of the best Vanderwales to hold the title. Just like her father when it comes to the Ponterises.
So, she expected him to be as strict as him but to her surprise, it was the complete opposite of how her father is.
'This is Duke Vanderwale? I was expecting a lot more... pressure. I mean, a different kind of pressure.'
"...If I may, wouldn't Uncle be too comfortable even though we have just met?"
"Oh, don't worry. Me and your father go way back, right?" The Duke enthusiastically answered.
"Way back? With father?" Nera's eyes widened.
Ian blinked a few times and scoffed.
"Ha! He never mentioned me to you?!" The Duke laughed out loud and put his hands on his hips.
"Father, we should step inside for now..." Jasmine smiled and pointed her hand to the door.
"Oh, of course. Let's go." Duke Vanderwale nodded as well as Jamie with his arms crossed then he walked inside first with haste.
'...Is this guy avoiding me?' Nera thought but shrugged it off as it didn't concern her that much since she went here to talk with Jasmine.
She doesn't remember much about Jamie de Vanderwale except for the fact that he helped her and Marin with the antidote and defeat the villainess by the end, but he is the least of her concerns for now.
The Duke, Jasmine, and Nera sat down in the living room, but Jamie chose to stand, continuously glaring at Nera.
'But okay really, what's up with him?' Nera continued looking at the maids that were preparing the tea and snacks in front of them to avoid the glare from the future Duke. She wanted to ignore him but with her heightened senses, she couldn't help but notice.
"So hm, he really never mentioned me to you?" Duke Ian pouted as he crossed his legs and arms, sitting down on the sofa of their living room.
"Ah, yes, Your Excellency." Nera shook off her thoughts on Jamie's stares and nodded.
Jasmine looked at Jamie and patted the seat beside her. Jamie, sighing, went and followed his sister.
"Why do I need to be here?" Jamie whispered to his sister.
"So that you'll get to know Nera." Jasmine whispered back.
"Why do I need that?"
"So that you'll know it doesn't matter if she's an 'idiot'," Jasmine air-quoted, "Because she's a great person."
"I don't care about that, I already have a 'great' first impression from her." Jamie shrugged his shoulders.
"Start caring then won't you!" Jasmine crossed her arms. "What do you mean? Is that why you mentioned her in your coming-of-age party?" She saw her brother nod.
"We can talk about this later." Jamie put his finger over his lips and eyed his father pouting. Jasmine sighed and made a mental note of asking him about it later.
Despite Nera having a good hearing, she didn't pay attention to what Jasmine and Jamie were talking about since Ian kept rattling about Namilde to her. Her attention was a hundred percent on the Duke.
Duke Ian had a surprised expression as he heard what Nera said after asking multiple times again. "That asshole!"
Nera flinched and so did his two children.
"Don't I tell you two about how great friends Namilde and I are?" Duke Ian looked at his two children for confirmation and they nodded.
"Indeed, Father does tell us about his experiences with Marquess Ponterise and the other heads of the founding families," Jasmine answered.
Nera raised her eyebrow. She really hadn't heard of any connections with the Duke and her father.
'If that was the case, I would've met the Vanderwales many times but there's no reason for the Duke to lie about this.'
"That protective bastard, ah!" Ian shouted in frustration.
'And the way he's cursing the Marquess Ponterise...I think they are close.' Nera chuckled.
"He's never told you about the things we've done together? I thought we were best friends. A traitor! Nami is a traitor!" Duke Ian stood up and marched his way out without another word.
"...That was interesting," Nera spoke after the three of them watched him go out of the room like a storm had suddenly left.
"I'm sorry. He acts like that in front of us most of the time. I'm surprised he acted like that in front of you. He must really want to treat you as a daughter." Jasmine apologized.
Nera chuckled, "I have a lot of questions for my father when I get home then."
Jamie then stood up and walked out without a word a well.
"Like father, like son?"
Jasmine laughed and covered her mouth then frowned after sighing. "I don't know why yet but he doesn't like you very much. I only forced him to greet you, since it's proper that way."
"Oh, so that's why he kept glaring at me."
Instead of thinking it was unreasonable, she thought about why the man treated her with such impoliteness.
Most people with long hair naturally had a prejudice against people with short ones, the pride of intelligent people is not to be trifled with. It was stupid and absurd, especially with Jessica's memories, but Nera shrugged at the idea since it was how this society brought up these kinds of ideals to everyone.
Jasmine nodded with a sad expression on her face.
"I don't mind it. Let him think the way he does. What matters to me is my loved ones." Nera replied as she sipped on the warm tea served.
Jasmine blinked a few times and scoffed. "This is why I wanted him to meet you. He doesn't really have a lot of friends too." She waved her hands in front of her. "But I wouldn't force you to be friends with him if you don't want to, of course!"
Nera slowly nodded at her words, "It's fine. I know where I'm wanted."
Jasmine smiled and sipped on her tea, "By the way, what did you want to tell me?"
Nera breathed out, "Can we talk somewhere more private?"
"Oh, let's go to my room then..."
They arrived at Jasmine's room and sat down on the chairs.
Nera pursed her lips. 'This is it.'
"You're the smartest friend I know so, I needed to ask this."
Jasmine lightly blushed at Nera's compliment, "Ask away."
Looking straight into her friend's eyes, putting together all the courage she built up from earlier, Nera asked,
"Would you be interested to know if there was another way to heal people?"