Asha and I went down to the first floor and stepped out onto the main entrance to greet the returning young lady. I could barely contain my anticipation.
We arrived just in time: the carriage came to a soft stop before the main gate, and for a few moments, that solemn silence that always accompanies the appearance of noble persons hung in the air. The carriage door opened, and a servant immediately hurried to place a stepping stool.
The next moment, an extraordinarily beautiful little girl alighted lightly onto the ground.
Wow...
I involuntarily froze, staring at her, and a quiet, admiring sigh escaped my lips.
Irene Regwerd — the younger sister of Kayla, who had turned eleven this year. As expected... she was truly lovely.
Thick black hair like the midnight sky. Snow-white skin without a single blemish. Enormous eyes reminiscent of a rabbit’s, and soft, chubby cheeks that literally begged to be gently squeezed.
Just as I thought...
Thump! I clenched my fist and, with complete seriousness, pressed it to my chest. Thump! Thump! With each movement, my excitement only grew.
Just as I thought... just as I thought... Irene...!
Kayla’s younger sister is the cutest girl in the world!
Although I was seeing her for the first time, it was impossible to suppress this feeling. In her doll-like appearance, regality and soft, childlike charm were miraculously combined. A little cutie who somehow managed to be both a rabbit and a puppy at the same time...!
Ahh... this was simply unbearable!
I hit my chest a couple more times, trying to calm my overwhelming emotions. Finally, after a few seconds, I managed to pull myself together.
And even if my chest now ached slightly — it did not matter.
Phew... Irene really was an incredible cutie. And when you remembered that she was also the younger sister of my beloved Kayla... it was hard to believe.
However, from the outside, all of this probably looked rather strange... if not too suspicious.
I noticed Asha glance at me out of the corner of her eye and open her mouth slightly in surprise. And it seemed she was not the only one. Judging by how Irene’s face tensed, she too had perfectly sensed my overly intense, adoring gaze.
Meanwhile, the girl had already climbed out of the carriage and was heading toward the house. Behind her, trotting slightly, came an elderly woman carrying belongings — probably her nanny.
When Irene reached the porch, Asha and I respectfully bowed our heads — etiquette was etiquette, after all.
However, Kayla’s younger sister still looked at me with a frown and wariness.
"Who is she?" she asked sharply, her eyes flashing. "And why is she staring at me like that?"
Contrary to her angelic face, the words that left the little girl’s lips were far from gentle.
For a second, I was even taken aback by such a reaction. But, strangely enough, I could not help but note: even when she frowned and drew her perfect little eyebrows together in displeasure, Irene was still an impossible cutie!
Although it seemed I was the only one who felt that way. Because Asha, noticing the tension in the air and turning slightly pale, immediately hurried to explain the situation before things got worse.
"L-lady Irene," the maid began, stumbling slightly, "this is Miss Eva Rider. She successfully passed the interview and will be working in this house starting today..."
"What?" Irene cut her off sharply, and her voice carried outright indignation. "So this is a new maid? How could you accept someone so incompetent into this house? I object!"
"Wh-what?.."
"This impudent girl dares to stare at me like that, as if she does not know the most basic rules of propriety! This is unacceptable!" Irene stamped her little foot angrily, her whole demeanor expressing outrage. "I do not want someone like her in this house!"
Asha blinked in confusion, clearly not expecting such a turn of events and unable to find an answer quickly.
"Dismiss her immediately!" the young lady demanded firmly, and her voice carried an unexpected authority for her age.
"But, my lady... I cannot dismiss her," the maid said cautiously.
"And why not? Do you dare to defy me?"
"N-no, of course not, but..." Asha hesitated, clearly searching for the right words. "Lady Irene, the fact is that this girl is not just a maid. She was hired to the house as a healer..."
"What? A healer?.."
"Yes. Miss Rider is a rare possessor of divine power," Asha explained, gradually gaining confidence. "That is precisely why she was hired: to tend to Her Grace’s treatment..."
The moment Irene heard these words, her expression changed dramatically. The mask of cold displeasure and haughtiness vanished in an instant. Now she looked at me with wide eyes, in which there was no longer any anger — only a suddenly ignited hope.
"...Is that true?" Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly. "Can you really heal my sister?.."
"I..."
But before I could answer, Asha intervened again.
"Not exactly," she said softly but firmly. "Yes, Miss Rider possesses divine power, but she is still an ordinary healer. She can alleviate the mistress’s condition, reduce the pain... but unfortunately, she cannot completely cure her."
These words hung heavily in the air.
Just a moment ago, Irene had looked at me as if a miracle had finally appeared before her, but now that light in her gaze slowly dimmed. Her shoulders drooped, and her expression became empty — as if a small hope, barely born inside, had immediately died out.
"Mmm... I see..." she murmured quietly.
Irene held her wary, appraising gaze on me for another moment, and then, without saying anything more, turned and walked past.
It seemed she had abandoned the idea of throwing me out immediately after all.
"...Only because you are my sister’s healer will I forgive you this time!" she called out as a final remark.
Stepping over the threshold, the girl quickly headed inside the house, climbed the stairs, and soon disappeared behind the door of her room. The heavy door closed behind her with a soft click.
Asha and I exchanged glances and almost simultaneously exhaled in relief.
"It seems... we got away with it this time..."
"Please forgive me," Asha smiled apologetically. "The young lady’s character... it is a bit... complicated."
"I understand," I replied softly.
It seemed that the younger sister’s character did indeed resemble the Grand Duchess herself in many ways. And yet, no matter how much she frowned and fumed, Irene remained impossibly cute! Seriously... I simply could not be angry with her.
"...Hello," after some time, when the young lady had finally disappeared upstairs, her nanny approached me.
Before me stood an elderly woman with a warm, kind face that immediately made one feel calmer. Her gaze held a gentle care and the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to looking after others.
"So, you will be working in this house now?" she asked with mild interest.
"Y-yes, hello!" I was a little flustered and even nodded awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Amanda Farris. I am Lady Irene’s nanny."
"Likewise, very nice to meet you! I am Eva Rider!" I replied with sincere enthusiasm.
We talked a little more. It turned out that Mrs. Farris was not just a nanny — she had accompanied Irene since early childhood, took care of her daily life, and was essentially one of the few who truly understood the young lady’s character and habits.
After a while, the elderly woman said goodbye and also went upstairs — to Irene, who probably had her own affairs or needs requiring her attention.
Meanwhile, this day was far from over — many hours still lay ahead, filled with new impressions.
Over the next few hours, Asha gave me a small tour of the Regwerd estate. Despite noticeable neglect, the mansion still impressed with its scale and former grandeur. Even now, its former luxury could be discerned in its appearance — like an echo of those times when life truly thrived here.
Once, these corridors had been filled with the voices of servants, the clatter of dishes, and the laughter of guests, but now all of that remained only in memory. The silence here seemed almost tangible — it settled in the corners like dust on long-forgotten things.
Asha showed me almost all the important rooms and halls, carefully avoiding the areas closed to outsiders: the private chambers, the study, and the family wing.
When the tour came to an end, she turned to me again with a polite smile:
"Miss Rider, that is all for today. You may now rest in your room."
I was about to nod and thank her when a sudden thought struck me.
"...Ah, but I heard that dinner is supposed to take place in the dining room right now, is that not so?" I asked.
"Yes, that is correct," Asha said, slightly surprised.
"May I also be present there?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.
And at that moment, my eyes apparently lit up treacherously.
"What?.." The maid clearly had not expected such a question and was momentarily taken aback.
"If it does not break any rules, I would very much like to be present in the dining room during dinner!" I added hastily, feeling the anticipation rise within me. Because dinner was the only time I could see Kayla again. And perhaps stay by her side a little longer than just a couple of minutes.
"Well..." Asha visibly hesitated, clearly not understanding my motives. Her eyebrows drew together slightly, and her gaze became thoughtful, as if she were trying to come up with at least some logical explanation.
It seemed something like this was going through her head:
She is not even a servant who waits at the table... so why would she want to go there?..
However, the "strange new healer" continued to look at her with sincere, almost childlike anticipation. And there was so much genuine enthusiasm in that gaze that it was unexpectedly difficult to refuse.
In the end, Asha gave in.
"All right..." she sighed quietly. "Then you may come to the dining room with me."