Renzille moved to the plush love seat in her room, settling herself comfortably in its softness.
Across from her, the family physician had already begun unpacking his tools and supplies on the table in front of him, preparing to tend to her injuries.
While the physician was preparing, Renzille's gaze flickered to Leira, who stood near her bed with her arms crossed.
Standing silently behind Leira was her chosen beast man whose eyes were gleaming with concern as his gaze fixated on Renzille's swollen cheeks.
Renzille's returned her gaze to the physician when he began to tend to the injuries on her cheeks.
With gentle yet efficient hands, the doctor applied ointments and bandages, treating the marks left by the Count's harsh blows.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, and the sight of Leira silently watching along with the beastman hovering nearby, the tension that was hovering only worsened in Renzille's opinion.
The treatment process was quick because the physician worked diligently.
The application of ointments and bandaging proceeded smoothly, the doctor's skilled hands moving with precision so soon enough, the treatment finished.
Renzille's marked cheeks already received the necessary attention, but the atmosphere in the room remained suffocating.
"The procedure is done, my lady." The physician informed Leira, accompanied with a gentle sigh through his nose, and he was just about to set the bandages aside when an unintended graze to Renzille's hat caused it to fall.
The hat fell to the ground and it revealed the injury hidden beneath, eliciting a gasp of surprise from the physician.
"Goodness!" The physician looked horrified. "My lady, what happened to your head?"
Leira didn't waste time to step closer to Renzille, her eyes fixed on the unveiled wound, a deep frown emerging on her face.
"When did you receive this injury?" The white haired noblewoman asked, her lips curled down into a scowl. "Did the Count do this to you as well? Did he keep raising his hand on you?"
Renzille cleared her throat, her gaze unwavering as she addressed the physician.
"Please change the dressing of this wound as well." She stated firmly, leaving no room for the man to refuse. "Afterward, you may be dismissed."
The room fell into a hushed silence once again, the indirect indication of her words sinking in.
The physician nodded silently and proceeded to attend to the second injury, while Leira's gaze lingered on Renzille, an unreadable expression etched onto her face.
Renzille sat quietly, allowing the physician to do his job without interruption.
Her silence added questions on Leira mind, but it also assisted on the physician to focus intently on his work, diligently attending to the injury on her head.
The only sounds that broke the silence were the soft movements of the physician's hands and the occasional rustling of bandages, but it was enough to make Renzille feel uneasy— especially with Leira's intense gaze on her head.
Once again, the physician finished his task, his experienced hands efficiently tending to Renzille's injuries.
"That should suffice for your wounds." The man stated as he started packing his tools, ensuring everything was neatly stored in his briefcase. "If there is nothing else, then I shall take my leave."
Renzille watched the physician exit the room, silently acknowledging his hurried departure to get away from the brewing tension inside her bedroom.
"Thank you for your assistance, big sister." Renzille spoke up, her eyes glued to the door as she added. "However, I request that you now leave my room and let me be with my betrothed."
The weight of her words hung in the air as Renzille met her sister's gaze with the same intensity of the older Thillion's gaze, signaling that she was serious.
Leira held Renzille's gaze for a moment, her eyes conveying unreadable and unfamiliar emotions.
"Actually, I had planned to come and fetch you this morning, intending to attend the ceremony together because I knew the Count wouldn't bother." Leira started with a sigh, averting her gaze away from her little sister's eyes.
"But when the maid informed me that you had already departed, I decided to wait." The oldest confesses, a hint of disappointment evident in her voice. "I figured that you'll come back once you realize the ceremony is best done with a family member.."
Renzille blinked in astonishment, momentarily taken aback by her sister's revelation.
However, Leira wasn't done.
"Unfortunately, you took too long to come back so I had to go there myself and when I arrived, you already left." Leira let out a sigh as she shook her head, not bothering to be formal with her little sister anymore.
"I really wanted to be the guardian of your coming of age ceremony, but it can't be helped now." She said, a tone of finality accompanying her words.
"You.. You were planning to escort me to the ceremony?" Renzille inquired, her voice dripping with doubt.
Leira simply nodded slightly in affirmation, her nose scrunching up in seriousness. "That was my intention. I didn't want you to face the event alone just because our father was nothing, but a walking piece of useless meat."
Renzille stifled the laughter that wanted to creep out of her throat, but still, there is still doubt and confusion.
In her first life, Leira had consistently chosen to remain indifferent, never caring to show support or attend the event in question, but now, she was confronted with Leira's unexpected change in behavior.
Renzille couldn't help, but wonder about the possible reasons for this drastic shift in her sister's actions.
Leira is not stupid, nor is she dumb.
So when she saw Renzille's bewildered expression— her bizarre choice of words the other day crossed her mind once more.
"You've undoubtedly undergone a transformation, my dearest little sister." Leira remarked bluntly, almost sounding proud and happy. "The question that plagues me is whether this change has been for the better or worse."
Once again, the formality that befits nobles returned to Leira.
She could tell that Renzille wasn't as comfortable as her so she decided to not push the matter onto the third born for now.
Renzille offered a stiff nod to her older sister and gestured gently towards the door. "I want to be alone at this moment so please, allow me to be alone.. With my beastman."
Leira shifted her gaze on Renzille's chosen beastman, the slightly taller beastman who stood quietly behind her— the individual that had caught her attention when she hurried into Renzille's room, but ignored because she was more concerned at her little sister.
However, with Renzille's injuries now treated, she has the time to assess the beastman, carefully studying the beastman before her— her curiosity piqued by his silence and stoicism.
Kreios held Leira's gaze without flinching, his expression remaining blank.
After a second, Leira broke the staring contest with a soft chuckle. "It seems your choice in beastmen is far from terrible, little sister.. Quite a good beastman indeed.
There was a tone of approval coloring her words as she regarded Kreios with an appraising look, pleased with Renzille's keen eyes.
"Anyway, I shall take my leave now." Leira hummed and began to walk towards the door, but then, she stopped before it, only to face Renzille. "Tomorrow, I will return to check on you."
Leira reached for the door handle and proceeded to exit the room, leaving Renzille alone in the room with Kreios.