"Aristocrats have it tough. Oh, that's right. I visited the Academy to explain myself and then sent a letter to the orphanage I grew up in, but I should also ask if it's okay for me to stay and help around the castle during the summer break."
The white-haired girl in a worn-out maid uniform she found in one of the storage rooms of Graniteis Castle nodded solemnly before tilting her head while asking with an indifferent expression.
"..."
"..."
Not only Victor but the elderly butler Johan and the few guards running around all stopped in place, staring in disbelief at the indifferent girl who didn't seem to understand what kind of commotion she unintentionally caused.
Well... she might not have understood it or simply wasn't bothered about it in the slightest.
"Uh-oh… is… is that a no…?"
The white-haired girl blinked a few times while leaning back before asking in a flat voice.
"Miss Clara…?"
"Young Lord, please, simply Clara is more than enough."
Victor gulped down his saliva and gasped, to which the girl waved her hand dismissively and sent the young man an encouraging smile, for the first time changing her expression.
"Dear Goddess! It's a miracle!"
"Miss! What?! How?! S-since when your course was gone?! And where were you yesterday!?"
While the guards cheered out in amazement, the elderly butler shook his head and inquired in disbelief.
"I have no idea what happened, but I suddenly could move again. I went to the toilet and then bathed. I wanted to tell someone that I somehow got back to normal, but there was some commotion after I was done, and everyone seemed busy, so I decided to make food for everyone. I left it in the dining room, and after eating alone, I went to sleep. In the morning, I made breakfast and sent the letter to the orphanage where I was raised. Afterward, I went to clear things out with the Brylant Academy and went shopping since I used the food that was in storage. Oh, I used my own money to buy those. It's the least I could do to repay what you all did for me."
Clara explained with a shrug as if spending close to a year frozen in time was nothing worth attention.
Although it at least seemed that it was only her body that was frozen and her mind was conscious the whole time.
"Hold on… you made food for everyone…"
"Yes."
Victor flinched and shook his head before asking, to which the white-haired girl answered affirmatively with a clueless expression.
"...and while looking for her, not one of you found it suspicious there was food waiting for you despite seemingly no one being there to prepare it…?"
The young man added, slowly turning around and staring between the bewildered butler and the guards.
"I… I thought one of the guards made it…"
"...we thought that sir Johan made it…"
The elderly butler admitted awkwardly, followed by the same type of answer from the guards.
"Oh… the sisters and kids at the orphanage would always say that I'm too lax for my own good… umm… am I the reason for all of that commotion…?"
Only then did the realization strike the white-haired girl, and she asked apologetically.
"There is nothing wrong about that. What is important is making sure that your affliction is gone, Miss Clara. A medic should…"
"Clara."
Victor breathed out before pointing out, only to get interrupted by the white-haired girl.
"Just Clara is okay, young Lord."
"O-okay… Umm, first thing first, while it appears the curse that struck you has vanished, it is important to make sure that it's a permanent state and it will not return. If it's not a bother, would you agree for medics and researchers to examine you? If, by any chance, the reason for your recovery is something about your skills or maybe a developed resistance, it could prove extremely valuable in treating others afflicted with similar ailments."
The girl repeated herself with a stoic expression, making the young noble gulp down his saliva awkwardly before continuing to speak while dropping the honorifics and using names altogether to get out of the awkward situation.
"Oh. Yeah, that makes sense. I'll cooperate."
The girl raised her brows as if only then and there, realizing that waking up from a state of being frozen in time for close to a year was a big thing worth a closer look and attention.
"..."
"???"
She then casually walked up to Victor, stopping by his side and grabbing onto his sleeve with seemingly not a single thought behind her eyes, as she clearly expected to be taken for a checkup that very moment.
"...Miss…"
"...?"
The elderly butler spoke up, getting the girl's attention, but judging by her clueless expression, she didn't find anything wrong with her behavior.
"She's probably still confused. Please notify the head medic, if there's no emergency requiring their attention call them over. Traveling might not be a good idea for Miss Clara since the reason for her improved health could very well be something in town."
"Clara. Just Clara is enough, young Lord."
Victor cleared his throat and instructed the butler, pointing out in a serious voice, only to get corrected by the calm white-haired girl.
"At once, young Lord. You all return to your duties now that everything is cleared out!"
The elderly butler bowed his head to the young noble before turning towards the handful of guards and calling out.
As Johan turned his back to Victor and Clara, his expression sharpened, and he looked at all the guards.
-Getting better just like that is too good to be true. It might be demonic possession. The Young Lord might be in grave danger. They cannot be left alone. We cannot allow for another tragedy. If this is indeed a demon's trick, protect the young Lord at all costs.-
"Yes, Sir!"
The elderly butler mouthed an order, and all the guards responded in unison.
"Oh, so we're not going right now? Then let's go to the kitchen. I'll make that dish you like so much, young Lord!"
"...o-okay…?"
Clara perked up and declared, moving forward without even considering letting go of Victor's sleeve and pulling the confused young man with her.