A few days had passed since Serelith had made her friend.

One day, she was playing with Shyamu in her favourite corner of the garden—the one her mother used to tend. Laughter echoed across the garden until Celene, passing by, grew envious. She didn’t like the fact that Serelith was smiling and laughing.

She approached them and commented on Shyamu,

"Eww, how dirty you are. Sister, why are you playing with that dirty boy? Don't tell me you're dirty too"

The maids serving her laughed.

Serelith replied, “He is not dirty. He is my friend.”

Celene mocked, "An orphan playing with a dirty boy. Perfect match."

Serelith responded, “Shyamu is not a dirty boy, Celene. He is my friend. He may be of low status, but unlike you and your mother, he doesn’t ridicule anyone.”

Celene got annoyed. "You meanie!”

Serelith calmly said, “You're only mean because you don't like that I am happy.”

Celene burst into loud sobs. The maids surrounding her tried to calm her. The head maid—who was loyal to Marlena—stepped forward, about to slap Serelith.

But Shyamu stopped her.

Shyamu said, “If something happens to her, Lord Tharald will be furious. And you will have to bear the consequences.”

The head maid recoiled, shocked that a mere stable boy would dare to meet her eyes, “Are you threatening me? A lowly piglet like you?”

Shyamu replied, “You’re no different from me. Take it as a threat or not—I’m telling the truth.”

The head maid raised her hand again. “You—”

Celene cried even louder. “Papa! Papa!”

She ran away, the maids following her. The head maid shot a glare at Serelith and Shyamu, but Shyamu returned the glare without flinching.

Serelith said softly, “You shouldn’t have stopped her.”

Shyamu replied, “So what—should I sit like a coward and watch her slap my friend? Impossible. You’re not eve—”

Serelith cut in, “Thank you.”

Shyamu blushed. “Pleasure is all mine.”

Meanwhile, Celene ran straight to Count Elric’s office.

“Papa!” she cried.

Count Elric was shocked to see her in tears. “What happened, my little baby?”

Celene sat on his lap and whimpered, “That girl was mean to me. She insulted me... and Mama.”

Elric was furious. He gently wiped her tears.

“Don’t worry. I’ll teach her a lesson. She’s been disobedient lately.”

Celene stopped crying and smiled. “Thank you, Papa!”

She kissed his cheek. Elric smiled back. But his eyes burned with anger toward Serelith. He handed Celene a chocolate.

She giggled and skipped away.

Elric called his butler. “Summon Serelith.”

The butler bowed. “Yes, My Lord.”

Back in the garden, Serelith was still playing with Shyamu when she saw her grandfather. She ran to him, arms wide. “Grandpa!”

Lord Tharald smiled. “What is my little flame doing?”

“I’m playing with my friend!” Serelith replied cheerfully.

Tharald looked at Shyamu. “You made a friend?”

Serelith beamed. “Yes!”

Shyamu grew flustered about his appearance, afraid Lord Tharald might disapprove. But

Tharald gave him a nod and patted his shoulder.

“Status doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you have a good heart. As long as you won’t hurt her." He paused, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“You'll always be welcome here.“

Shyamu replied, “I won’t, my lord.”

Tharald said, “You seem like a good soul.”

Just then, Elric’s butler arrived. The butler bowed low, his face was an unreadable mask.

"My lady, My Lord requests your presence in his study. Immediately"

The warmth from Lord Tharald's hand on his shoulder seemed to vanish. Serelith looked at Shyamu, then at her grandfather. The sun was still shining, but a shadow had fallen over the garden.