Chapter 19: Round and Round

“How do you do, Lady Faustina.”

First meeting.
First meeting.
First meeting.

It was important, so she repeated it three times in her head.
They had only exchanged glances at Bernhard’s birthday party, and this was the first time they had actually spoken.
And yet, Aeria spoke as if they were old acquaintances reunited after a long time, leaving Faustina deeply shaken.
The corners of Faustina’s mouth twitched as she frantically searched for the right response to her second great nemesis, now wearing the face of an innocent young girl.

Aeria’s brothers were just as stunned by this exchange.
So was Cain, Faustina’s brother.
If Faustina’s understanding was correct, this should have been their first meeting.

She couldn’t stay silent.
Steeling herself, Faustina met those bold, fresh-green eyes head-on.

“It has been quite some time, Lady Aeria.
You still look as pale and unhealthy as ever.
If you are feeling unwell, wouldn’t it be better for you to retire early?”

Aeria’s eyebrow twitched.
In the past, Aeria had avoided sunlight as much as possible to preserve her fair skin and become the type of woman Bernhard preferred.
Faustina had often mocked that translucent beauty, calling it the complexion of a sickly patient.

“Oh my, thank you for your concern.
Lady Faustina, despite usually wearing such a vacant expression, you do seem to observe things properly.
I had thought those eyes of yours were merely decorative.”

Sarcasm met sarcasm.
Her expression was refined enough to serve as a model noble lady, but her words were far too sharp for that.
Seeing their younger sister exchanging venom with someone who was supposedly a stranger left both families’ brothers utterly dumbfounded.

The first to move were the twin sons of the Laris marquisate.

“Ari, what on earth is going on?”
“You shouldn’t have any acquaintance with a lady of the Wittgenstein family.
It’s rude to speak that way to someone you’re meeting for the first time.”

Cain, snapping back to himself, also tried to admonish Faustina.
His point was perfectly reasonable, but Faustina couldn’t afford to care right now.
That greeting from Aeria.
If—if her suspicion was correct, then Aeria was…

“Lady Aeria.
You—”

Just as Aeria was about to say something in return.

“Kyaa!”

A scream rang out, one Faustina knew all too well.
She instantly turned toward the sound and saw Elvira standing there, her dress for today’s tea party stained red.
Nearby was a young noble holding a glass with a small amount of red liquid left inside.

(Huh…?
Wait.
This… I know this.
I’m sure…)

The memory of the tea party—one she had been utterly unable to recall until now—suddenly began replaying vividly in Faustina’s mind.
What came next flooded in at a dizzying speed.

Her vision spun.
Her head hurt.
It hurt, and it felt hot.

“Fauna!?”

She heard Cain’s startled voice.
Round and round, the world spun, and Faustina could no longer stay upright.
She collapsed.

“Faustina!!”

The last voice she heard was… whose, again?