It's been a day or two since Lyonnel's departure.

Hera's normal days still began with reading the letters from those persistent nobles while waiting for Freya, until one letter in particular caught her attention.

The letter had a certain border around the envelope, a leafy border she was familiar with. At one glance, Hera knew who the letter was from.

Hera wondered whether she should read it or burn it without knowing what that woman wanted after finding out that her accomplice had not returned after meeting Hera.

...

With one breath, Hera ripped open the letter with her letter opener. She cast a quick peek at the door, hoping no one would walk in before she destroyed the letter after reading it.

The letter from the woman was brief and to the point. Hera couldn't even think of avoiding meeting her since she would be sending someone to secretly pick her up, and knowing Greene Mansion's low defense, she'd succeed in getting Hera to meet her one way or another.

With a click of her tongue, Hera burnt the letter along with the other letters. Leaving only Emma's letter, which was full of drawings, on her desk. Her eyes shone coldly as she saw the letters slowly burning in the middle of the fireplace before the fire began to extinguish.

Hera had already tossed a block of wood into the fireplace when Freya returned with a cup of lemon tea in her hand.

“Let me do it, Milady.” Freya handed Hera a cup of lemon tea, before adding more wood they had stocked in her room to the fireplace, not letting the fire go out. “Are you looking forward to seeing Emma again?”

“Yes.” Hera adjusted her thick coat over her thin nightgown and held the warm cup tighter, warming her cold hands. “Do you think she'll like it?”

“Absolutely, Milady. I've already beautifully wrapped it for you.”

Hera took a sip of her lemon tea, relishing the sour flavor that filled her tongue. “Thank you, Fre.”

“Do you want me to prepare a snack and a hot drink for later?”

“... It would be wonderful to bring hot chocolate.”

“Alright. Ah... Lady Ruth will catch up with us later. She will first meet Lady Elizabeth and her granddaughter, whom Lady Elizabeth wishes to introduce before they depart.” Freya gave out a brief report from Ruth to Hera.

Hera placed her empty cup on the table, her gaze deep into the roaring fire.

Freya, who is becoming accustomed to Hera's behavior, can only silently prepare the clothing that Hera will wear later. She proceeds to search through her lady's wardrobe, which doesn't have as many clothes as other noble ladies.

Freya couldn't help but sigh when she saw that the only fancy dress in the wardrobe was the one Ysmay bought for Hera, which was far different from her everyday dress. After a soft sighed, she right away chose a thicker dress and the coat she had given to her lady the day before, with one thing in mind.

Her lady is in desperate need of new clothes. How is she going to get through the winter wearing only three outfits and two coats?

While Freya was thinking about how to increase the quantity of her lady's clothes. Hera was lost in her thoughts.

Given Ruth's nature, she would definitely take Lady Elizabeth and her granddaughter to see Hera later, but she didn't want to see them at all.

It was enough for Hera to remember two memories of how she died again when she met or saw something that could trigger her memory. She didn't need to remember another one by meeting the rest of Lady Elizabeth's family.

A glimpse of Hera's memories from the dark and filthy jail flashed through her eyes. This was the second time she had ended up in prison in her countless lifetimes. Whether it was being sold to human trafficking or some conspiracy within the royal family, don't ask how she got her relationship with the royal family. It was a mistake she didn't want to repeat again.

That was also the time when Hera proposed something to Zane, several days before she breathed her last breath. However, the reason for her death in that life remains a mystery.

Unfortunately, they needed the assistance of one of the royal family's guardians to carry out Hera's request. No, they need that certain guardian power in order to carry out Hera's request. Of course, they would provide something in exchange for them using their power to make it happen without their master's knowledge.

It took them a long time to persuade the guardians, which they didn't have at the time.

Nonetheless, once the guardian agreed, they set their own conditions. The guardian had to go through Hera's mind first before deciding whether to help them or not, and whether the payment they would provide was worth it or not.

“... Now let's do your hair.”

Hera was startled by Freya's voice as she felt a sudden gentle grip on her arms. That girl had led her to sit in front of the dressing table and started brushing her hair.

Freya didn't do much with Hera's hair. She braids her lady's hair with a ribbon and pulls a few strands of hair to frame her face.

“What will you do while waiting for Emma? I've just sent Lady Rayla to pick her up.” Freya smiled widely as she put a small flower in between her braids.

“...” Hera seemed to think for a moment before standing up and starting to pull Freya out of her room and into the kitchen. “I'll help you prepare a light snack…”

Hera's presence in the kitchen is no longer a surprise to the chefs. They even stocked up on supplies and cleaned the nook where Freya and Hera have been making snacks and sweets for the past week. Hera even had her own apron that hung on the side of the refrigerator.

Hera pushed the kitchen door and greeted the chefs who had just brought out the ingredients for their breakfast and went to get her apron.

“Milady, Freya, what kind of food are you going to make this time?” One of the chefs, who was peeling a potato at the time, struck up a conversation.

“I'm not sure yet.” Hera responded as she pondered in front of the supply racks. “Did we have enough time to bake macarons, Fre?”

“Making them will take at least an hour.”

“Is that so... We don't have much time, so let's make something simple, like the one you made for me before.” Hera's hand reached out to take a loaf of white bread and a box of strawberries and kiwi, which she then placed on the table. “You know... the sandwich filled with cream and fruit?”

Freya, who knew what Hera meant, had already taken the whipped cream out of the refrigerator and began preparing everything.

While Freya sliced the fruits, Hera was tasked with spreading whipped cream on top of the bread. Soon enough, eight triangles of cream and fruit sandwiches were served.

“Should we make another type of sandwich? A salty one, in case they don't want a sweet one?” Hera turned around with a can of tuna in her hands. “Bring half of them and give the other half to the chefs to munch on later.” She made a quick suggestion.

“Alright, Milady.”

By the time they leave the kitchen with their sandwiches and bottles of hot cocoa in a picnic basket, the chefs have taken a break after finishing preparing the ingredients and are now munching on the sandwiches that Hera and Freya set aside.

Ruth had long gone to meet with Lady Elizabeth, accompanied by Mrs. Oz, as Hera and Freya put on their coats and slowly walked to the gate.

Rayla greeted them with Emma in her arms. The little girl waved at them excitedly.

“I miss you!” Emma exclaimed happily. She leapt out of Rayla's arms and dashed over to embrace Hera's legs. “I miss you so much!” She repeated it.

“Ahh... I miss you too.” Hera crouched down and hoisted Emma, who giggled as she put her arms around Hera's neck.

“Are you alright now? When will you go back to teach us?” Emma asked with so much expectation on her bright eyes.

Seeing that Hera let out a small laugh. “I'll go back to teaching you in the spring. Tell the others about that too.” Hera promised.

They walked together to the beach. Freya and Rayla found a spot to spread out their picnic blanket, laid a picnic basket on it, and followed Hera and Emma from a distance.

Zane stood nearby, near their picnic spot, and kept an eye on Hera. He knew what the girl was looking for when she made this trip to the beach.

The first time Hera knew about the flower, she searched for it for almost a year without knowing that the flower only bloomed in winter by the sea, but once she knew, the flower was easy to find.

It's Hera's habit to take the flowers and make some medicine ointment just in case. And now it could be Zane's turn to get the flower for Hera, because Rayla would never allow Hera to touch the flower since she knew how toxic it was.

The flower was not entirely a medicinal herb. Even though the petals and other parts of the plant can be used to make medication, the leaves must be discarded due to their toxicity.

There was no way someone could take the flower without carefully tearing away the leaf before plucking the flower by its root; Hera had to learn this the hard way.

Hera and the others returned quickly to enjoy the food and warm beverages Freya and Hera had prepared.

“Wait a second... I think I saw one…” Emma's enthusiastic voice rang out.

Hera came to a halt when Emma pulled her hand and pointed at the shells in the icy sand. The little girls would constantly gather any shells they came across while walking.

Emma grabbed Hera's hand again after putting the shell in the knitted pouch Hera had given her not long ago. They quickly walked towards Freya and Rayla, who were waiting.

When Zane and Hera's gazes met briefly, she nodded and glanced in the direction where the flower she was looking for had bloomed.

Hera had intended to pick the flower after they returned from their bonfire tonight, but when she spotted Zane standing near their picnic spot, she couldn't help but feel she needed the man's help.

Because of Freya and Rayla's presence, she was unable to do some activities that she usually did alone.

When Rayla noticed them walking in the direction of the blooming flower, she instantly urged them to turn back. Besides, there was Emma, who seemed attracted to the flower that shone delicately in the sunlight, without knowing the danger of the flower.

Zane instantly began walking away in the direction Hera had directed him. Unlike Hera, who had to be cautious when picking up the flowers. Zane instantly removed some flowers by the roots with his bare hands, without changing his facial expression.