Even though it was a rare day off, I figured it’d be rude to linger around too long, so after having some tea, I decided to leave promptly.

On my way out, I exited through a third-floor window… This route is definitely more convenient.

I’ll use this way from now on.

“I’m home!”

When I entered the room through the window, Seriana and Teresa were working on something spread across the desk. They paused their work and turned toward me.

“Welcome back.”

“Welcome back, Princess.”

Just like Elena and the others, today was a day off for these two as well.

From the middle of next month, the autumn rainy season will begin, and preparations for it will make things hectic again. But right now, there’s a brief lull, so they’ve taken a few days off starting today.

Seriana is always busy during the day, so this timing worked out well.

It’s not like we can spend hours together late at night. Mostly because of my own schedule.

◇

After heading to my bedroom to drop off my belongings, I returned to find the desk cleared and Teresa preparing tea instead.

It seemed she had also made some for me.

I’d already had some tea downstairs, but since I was invited, I figured I’d join in.

“So? How did Elena’s treatment go? You said you’d try something new… Using that stick, right?”

Once I sat down in my usual seat, Seriana started speaking before Teresa could finish preparing the tea.

I had already mentioned that I’d developed a new treatment as a birthday gift for the two of them.

Normally, she wouldn’t pry into such things, but perhaps her curiosity got the better of her this time.

What should I do?

“Yeah, it went well! Elena and Alec were surprised by how it turned out. You can look forward to it too, Seria-sama!”

When I said this confidently, Seriana cast me a doubtful glance but didn’t press further. She simply muttered, “I see.”

After all, it was a gift from me, and asking too much about its content could come across as improper.

While it’s not strange to ask about something that will directly affect her, Seriana tends to hold herself to unnecessary standards.

Well, I hadn’t lied; I just skipped over a few details.

As I deliberately ignored Seriana’s gaze, Teresa finished preparing the tea and joined us.

Apparently, she had overheard our earlier conversation and decided to chime in.

“Although there’s no work today, Elena is coming here tomorrow, right? That will be something to look forward to.”

With a faint exhale, Teresa reached for her cup.

With that said, there wasn’t much else to add… Elena will be here tomorrow, and Seriana herself will know in three days. She’ll just have to wait.

◇

And then, three days later.

It was Seriana’s birthday.

She had been 14 years old when we first met… and now she’s 19.

Not to mention, a mother of two. Time flies.

Well, it’s not like anything drastically changes just because it’s her birthday.

Tonight, there will be a small party in the capital city, hosted by Liesel, with Seriana as the guest of honor.

It’s still before noon, so there’s time. But I need to finish the upgraded 【Mira’s Blessing】 and the massage before then.

Having already completed Elena’s treatment the other day, I now had Teresa, Fiora, and a whole group of spectators sitting on the new sofa we recently placed where Elena’s bed used to be. They all watched intently, curious about the process.

Right, right.

To live up to their expectations, I had to give it my all.

“Seria? Aren’t you going to do my face or hair?”

And so, I focused on my treatment in Seriana’s bedroom. Usually, I started with the head, but today I began with the arms instead. This seemed to puzzle her.

Typically, she’d lie down on the bed for treatment, but today, she remained seated on the edge, which may have added to her confusion.

While Elena understood the effects of the new method after her treatment, she had struggled to explain the sensation of the pressure stick, merely stating, “It hurt… but not too much.”

Perhaps that’s why Seriana seemed unusually hesitant today.

But this was simply a change in sequence.

If I massaged her while she was lying down, her carefully styled hair would end up messy. Elena had experienced that, so I planned to save the finishing touches for last.

“You’re being unusually thorough. Is the power of the blessing the same as it was for me, or stronger?”

“In terms of strength, it was higher with Fiora’s treatment. But it’s much stronger than usual today.”

“And you’re not using that stick yet?”

“I’ll use it after I finish the blessing.”

Fiora and Teresa, seemingly fascinated, kept asking questions as they observed. I answered them while shifting to the next part of Seriana’s treatment. Though she had initially tensed up, she soon realized the procedure was familiar and began to relax.

After carefully completing the upgraded 【Mira’s Blessing】—except for the head—I was ready for the next phase.

Alright!

Now comes the real deal!

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Seria・【Hideout】+1 【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind’s Garment】・【Floating Orb】+1 【Shadow Sword】【Scarlet Bee Needle】【Fairy’s Eye】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Danrem’s Thread】【Snake’s Tail】【Ankle Bracelet】【Amber Shield】【Purple Wings】・13 cards

Seriana・【Range Identification】・【】・28 cards

Elena・【】・【Green Fang】【Amber Sword】・4 cards

Alec・【Strong Strike】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】・8 cards