As Mirabe mulled over her thoughts, the butler returned from a phone call. He shot a nce at Keir, then leaned in to whisper something to him.


    Jim listened, furrowing his brow briefly before casually saying, "Not interested."


    "Got it," the butler nodded, expecting that response. "I''ll let them know."


    Jim waved him away.


    Watching the butler leave, Mirabe, always polite and thoughtful, said, "Uncle Chester, if you have things to do, feel free to go ahead."


    "No, not at all," Jim replied with a warm smile. Even if he were busy, it wouldn''t hold a candle to the joy of spending time with his niece.


    "Okay," Mirabe said softly, gently running her fingers over the gift box she held. Just then, a servant brought over a ss of water. She epted it with a polite "thank you."


    As she took a sip, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message on Messenger. Knowing it was rude to check her phone in front of her elders, Mirabe resisted the urge.


    It wasn''t until ten minutester, when the Messenger call tone chimed, that she finally pulled out her phone. Seeing the caller ID, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, though it seemed she half-expected it.


    "Uncle Chester, I need to take this call," Mirabe said, standing up with her phone.


    "Of course," Jim replied gently.


    With a nod, Mirabe stepped out into the garden corridor before answering. By then, the call had ended, so she quickly dialed back.


    The line connected swiftly. "Nellie, is there something you need?" Mirabe asked, her eyes wandering over the garden.


    Nellie''s breathing was light on the other end. After a pause, she finally spoke, "Rea, where are you right now?"


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, nced back into the hall through the ss door, and simply said, "I''m at Merrywoods for a school exchange event."


    "Ah, that makes sense. The picture you posted didn''t quite look like anything from around here," Nellie''s voice was a bit hoarse, her fingers gripping the phone so tightly she hadn''t realized.


    Mirabe nodded, "Yes, Nellie, your sharp eye caught it right away."


    A deep bitterness shadowed Nellie''s eyes. How could she not recognize it? How could she ever forget? This ce had been her sole motivation for years, despite knowing she could never return...


    "Nellie, you didn''t just call about the photo I posted, did you?" Mirabe asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice, as if unaware of the emotions beneath.


    Nellie knew Rea was perceptive. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "I was just curious about the location in your photo."


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, knowing the family matriarch wouldn''t resist asking. She cleared her throat and sighed lightly, "To be honest, Nellie, this is where my Uncle Chester lives."


    Nellie was taken aback by this revtion, her voice instinctively rising, "What did you say?"


    Twenty minutes ago, when she saw the photo Rea posted, she couldn''t help but wonder why Rea would post a picture of that ce. She even questioned whether the secret she held in her heart had been


    discovered by the young girl, prompting her to take and share that


    photo to catch her attention.