One more.
One more time.
As Sera grabbed the broom on the ground, she repeatedly said 'one more time' seven times.
She changed the angle of the broom slightly each time she repeated the move while talking to herself, then startled herself when she felt someone behind her and turned around.
"...Sera? What are you doing here?"
It was Iris, who walked into the room which was to be cleaned.
She had no ability to hide her presence.
Therefore, Sera sighed in relief as she watched Iris walk slowly towards her.
The mansion was still on high alert after the recent assassin incident.
"Haah, Lady Iris."
“Puhup! What is that? That weird pose?"
"This is..."
Sera's face went red as she was standing in a strange way due to stopping midway in her training, and pulled the two brooms into her chest.
"Ahahaha...I was training. I have shown you something embarrassing."
She grabbed both brooms with one hand and lifted the end of her skirt with the other as she bent her knees slightly.
It was clumsy, but it was a curtsy that still retained its proper form.
"It's alright. It is nice to see someone make such effort to improve themselves, no matter how it looks. In fact I should be embarrassed myself. It seems like I've interrupted your training."
"Please refrain from saying improving myself. It hurts."
"Hurts?"
"Truth is, I was slacking off."
Sera smiled shyly as she replied.
She may not be able to answer to Stein this way, but it was okay for Iris.
If Ian was responsible for Riley, Sera was responsible for Iris.
The servant who spends most time with her was Sera.
Talking like friends is just another daily occurrence for them.
"Slacking off?"
"Well...Master Riley disappeared."
Riley, who had disappeared yesterday, disappeared again?
Iris's face went pale with the worry that there may be assassins still left in the mansion.
"Riley has?"
"Oh, it's not what you're worried about. Truth is...Master Stein called Master Riley in. It's the tournament season. I believe it's because of that."
"Ah."
Iris nodded as she made an expression of understanding.
"Is it hide and seek?"
"Yes. And I'm supposed to find him but...my focus turned to training halfway."
Sera awkwardly laughed.
When the third son of the mansion hides, no one can find the boy.
That was the truth.
"Oh Riley..."
"Well...Is there nothing you want from him?"
"Want from him?"
"Yes. It seems like Master Stein wants to make Master Riley do something. But Master Riley would just run away... Yet you seem different from him. Aren't you bothered? Like that talk about...the successor."
This was a question which was asked often by Ian as well.
Even the now-banished Lady Orelly was quite strict with her children.
But Iris was the complete opposite.
No matter how lazy her son was, she would just smile warmly back at him.
"Um, I don't think that's the case."
"Really?
"I've scolded Riley just yesterday as well. Weren't you watching too?"
‘I know the popcorn you've made yourself tastes nice, but how can you worry everyone around you so much?’