After we finished eating, Veralyn rose from her chair and began collecting the plates and bowls from the table with practiced movements. Her hands moved with courtesy and efficiency, like someone who was accustomed to maintaining order in all things.
I wanted to stop her, to tell her she did not need to do that. But seeing the way she moved, I decided to let her be. Perhaps this was her way of feeling useful. Or perhaps it was simply difficult for someone like Veralyn Silvercrown to sit idle without doing anything at all.
"I apologize for the poor meal," she said suddenly, without turning around. Her hands were still busy stacking the plates. "It was my first time cooking."
Her voice was flat as always, yet there was something beneath those words. Not embarrassment, but an honest admission delivered without seeking justification. A woman who had mastered everything she had ever studied was now acknowledging her failure in the simplest of tasks.
"It is not a problem," I answered with a serious expression. "That was already a good start."
Of course, the story inside my head was quite different. There was something amusing about watching a woman who was usually flawless in every regard make a mistake as simple as adding too much salt. But I was not foolish enough to say that out loud.
Veralyn gave a slight nod, then continued washing the dishes in the wooden basin near the stove. I leaned back in my chair, letting the morning air flowing through the window fill the room.
That calm did not last long.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three raps at the front door. Quick, light, and brimming with an energy that was far too much for this early in the morning.
I raised an eyebrow.
She is here earlier than usual.
Normally, she would show up closer to midday, carrying a bag full of chocolate and a stack of business reports for me to sign. Arriving this early meant something had made her rush.
I rose from the chair and walked to the front door. When I opened it, the morning light momentarily stung my eyes.
And behind that light, a woman with golden blonde hair stood with a smile far too wide for any normal human being at this hour.
"Hellow, Recci!"
Her voice echoed all the way into the house. Possibly into the forest behind it. Possibly all the way to the capital.
Her name was Serena Valenrose.
The daughter of the landowner in the village where I was born. Her family was one of the most respected in the village, yet they had never built walls between themselves and the common folk. Serena herself grew up running through the fields alongside the farmers' children, including me. That was how our friendship began.
And now, the girl who once raced barefoot along the rice paddies was the head of Crescentia Group, the wealthiest conglomerate the world had ever known.
Life was full of surprises.
"How are you? Doing well?" Serena asked, tilting her head to the side. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with a curiosity that never seemed to fade.
"Ah, yes. Same as always," I replied flatly.
Serena opened her mouth to say something else, but the words evaporated instantly. Her gaze had caught on something behind me.
Or rather, someone.
I had not even had time to turn around before Serena shot past me. She moved so quickly that the rush of air from her stride brushed against my face.
"Veracci!!"
Serena crashed into Veralyn with a hug so tight that the silver-haired woman nearly lost her balance. The plate she had just finished washing almost slipped from her hands.
"I am so glad you are alive!" Serena cried, her voice trembling somewhere between relief and anger. Her arms wrapped around Veralyn as though letting go would make her disappear.
I stood in the kitchen doorway, mildly stunned.
"You two know each other?"
Serena turned to me without releasing her hold. "Yes! Vera and I are best friends!"
Best friends. Information that had never existed anywhere in the game.
I shifted my gaze to Veralyn. And there it was.
A smile.
Not the calculated, faint curve she usually wore. Not the flat expression she kept as her default. It was a genuine smile. Small, nearly invisible to anyone who was not paying close attention, but there was a warmth in it that I had never seen before.
It was the first time I had ever seen Veralyn Silvercrown look this happy to see someone.
A quiet sense of relief settled in my chest.
Thank goodness. She was not alone in this world.
Serena finally released her embrace, though both hands still gripped Veralyn's shoulders. Her eyes, usually bright with cheer, were now clouded with concern.
"When I heard about what happened at the ceremony, I rushed straight back to the capital to find you," she said, her tone softer than usual. "I am so sorry about your engagement, Vera."
The smile on Veralyn's face faded.
"No..." she replied quietly. "It was my fault. So much so that my engagement was annulled."
Serena went still for a second.
Then her expression changed.
"Your fault?" she repeated. A sharp edge suddenly cut through her usually cheerful voice. "That should be the fault of that idiot prince."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Oi," I said quickly, "watch your mouth. He is the heir to this kingdom."
Serena turned to me with a look that was entirely unimpressed.
"I could not care less," she said without a shred of fear. "He hurt my friend. He is nothing but a child."
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. Not because I disagreed. Quite the opposite. I agreed completely. But saying that out loud in this world was the same as inviting trouble.
I exhaled and pressed my fingers against my temple.
On one hand, I had the prince's former fiancee who had nearly been executed now living in my house. On the other, I had the owner of the wealthiest company in the world who had just insulted the future king under the same roof.
This morning was far too eventful for my liking.