According to A-ko's knowledge, sugar has a level of addictive quality similar to that of drugs.
The idea that sweets are good for recuperation is the same in this world. Like sugar heals a weary body, the Saint's sweet attitude, which affirmed even the weaknesses of the frail, must have deeply touched those weak-hearted individuals.
A-ko had planned specifically to "be kind to others" because it was a strategy that easily resonated with people's hearts.
"The right thing to do is to 'work hard to fill the gaps you have,'" is a painful truth to hear, but "you don't have to do things you dislike because you have other strengths," is the kindness that flows naturally like water flowing from a high place to a low one.
Kindness, it seemed, was all about "special treatment." Special treatment that nurtured one's weaknesses.
Ignoring A-ko's mental protest of "That's not it! Look up the word 'kindness' in a dictionary!" Gloria, having entered the room, asked the confused Kyla, who stood frozen.
"Why was I sleeping at such a time?"
"Ah, young miss, you were thrown from your horse by a startled bee while practicing riding and struck your head…"
"…Ah."
Gloria recalled the accident that occurred shortly after her mother passed.
She remembered firing the gardeners and stablemen for neglecting to maintain the grounds and train the horses properly.
And in both her first life and now, no one from the noble house had come to visit her after the injury. Surely they had passed the burden to the commoner, Kyla, deeming it a bother to visit an unconscious person.
Such neglect of duty should have been punished. And in her first life, Gloria certainly did so. Yet, she held back her anger now.
"I see…"
It made her stomach churn to speak casually with a commoner. But this woman's daughter had once betrayed Gloria in her first life—Kate.
So, swallowing her anger, Gloria spoke again.
"Were you the only one who came to see me?"
Gloria felt no sadness nor gratitude from the fact that only a lowly maid had come to visit her. Still, this time, it seemed she should at least feign tears.
"Thank you."
Mimicking the Saint's sugary, gentle attitude, Gloria let her eyes glisten with tears and smiled as if she were the one being considerate. Kyla, struck by the unexpected sweetness, gasped, her breath caught in her chest.