MDCF

E3

Of course, going back and forth in a carriage is exhausting. But there is nothing I wouldn't do for the sake of our friendship, thought Yulia. She sometimes felt this, but Siana used to blame her for not feeling guilty for some other things. It would probably be the same this time, too.

However, Alan seemed to have decided that it would be better for her to come. So that's why he contacted me. The more I know it, the more I feel it, but it's intense. They say they've been friends since childhood, but they are more like strangers. Just enough to become familiar with each other's faces.

But this sort of favor isn't easy to ask. All Yulia could think of was how huge it was for Alan to have asked something like this.

Now I know why the girl who said she would never get married suddenly got married.

Yulia thought it wasn't just because of his handsome face. Yulia, who was struggling to hold on to the letter, felt that her motion sickness had gotten worse after opening it. Unable to endure anymore, she eventually opened the window facing the horseman's back and yelled at him to pull over for a moment.

* * *

When Yulia arrived at the mansion on the Lagarde estate, her face was pale, and she felt weak. The motion sickness had been so bad. She had overdone herself this time. Her physical condition wasn't good.

Yulia exited the carriage and she tried to catch her breath, and Alan, who had been waiting, came out to greet her. "Welcome, Yulia. Thank you for accepting my request."

"She is my friend, so I had no other choice... Thank you for inviting me, Alan."

"First, let's get you inside so you can rest a bit. Sia just laid down for a nap."

"Thank goodness," said Yulia, "I had a hard time with the motion sickness. I want to relax a bit before she wakes up."

"Of course! A maid will take you to your room. And I will let you know when Sia wakes up later."

Yulia nodded half-heartedly. She was in desperate need of a place to rest right now. Following the maid to her room, Yulia fell onto the bed without even unpacking her luggage.

There was a knock on the door. Then, again. Yulia frowned at the continuous knocking. The sunset was visible from the window when she opened her eyes half-heartedly. She seemed to have collapsed onto the bed and fallen asleep.

The knocking persisted and Yulia yanked herself up from the bed, dragged herself to the door and opened it, half-asleep. The person at the door was the same maid who had previously shown her to her room.

"My apologies, Countess Linen, but Lady Siana has woken up."

"Oh... please wait a minute," said Yulia. Sia is awake. She fixed her disheveled hair, smoothed out her dress and left the room to follow the maid into Siana's bedroom.

* * *

The maid led her to Siana's bedroom door. Alan was already there. Seeing her arrive, he greeted her.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you," said Yulia, "But does Siana still not know that I am here?"

"No. She still doesn't know."

"Won't she be shocked when she sees me like this? Will the shock be healthy for her?"

"It will be fine. Because, like you said, Siana isn't weak."

Alan smiled calmly at her and Yulia accepted his reasoning. Alan always smiled like that when he talked about his wife.