Did You Notice Anything?

Princess Iris, with her regal bearing and thoughtful expression, held a delicate porcelain cup with both hands, staring at the steaming liquid as if searching for answers in its swirls.

To her right was Hestia, who sipped her tea while occasionally glancing at her superior, the healer who had first treated Nolan, sitting in complete silence but with an upright and watchful posture.

Finally, Iris broke the silence.

"Hestia, did you really find out nothing more about that girl?" she asked in a calm tone, though her fingers tightened slightly around the cup.

Hestia shook her head, letting out a slight sigh before responding.

"No, Your Highness. Truth be told, that young lady is quite the oddity," she admitted as she carefully placed her cup on the table, ensuring it made no sound. "She's scatterbrained, that much I can say for sure. She didn't show the slightest annoyance when assigned as a church handmaid. Acted like it was her place in the world. No, she's no noble. That much I can assure."

Iris lowered her gaze to her tea, her lips curling slightly into a tight line.

"That confirms what I thought," she murmured, more to herself than to the others.

Then, Iris looked up at Hestia, her clear eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Do you think… she holds any grudge against us for treating her that way?"

Hestia seemed to ponder for a moment, her gaze drifting to a corner of the room before responding.

"I don't believe so, Your Highness. From the little time I spent with her, I can tell Emily is rather submissive, doesn't seem to harbor hidden intentions or resentments."

However, Hestia's words hung in the air. It seemed she wanted to add more but hesitated. Iris, who had a keen eye for detail, tilted her head slightly and frowned.

"What else, Hestia?" Iris insisted, narrowing her eyes. "You seem unsure. Is there something you haven't told me?"

Hestia hesitated a moment longer, bringing a hand to her chin as she searched for the right words.

Finally, she looked up at the princess and confessed:

"Well… there was something peculiar. Emily spoke with Princess Amara."

The revelation almost made Iris spill her tea. She quickly set the cup down on the table, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"With my sister? What did they talk about?" Iris asked, her voice rising slightly in surprise.

Hestia, taking another calm sip of tea, replied in a measured tone:

"Emily seemed quite curious and respectful. From what I recall, she appeared interested in learning more about monsters and demons."

Iris tilted her head, clearly puzzled.

"Curiosity about monsters and demons? That's… odd." The princess crossed one leg over the other, leaning slightly forward. "Why would she be curious about something so basic? It's common knowledge, even among commoners."

Hestia nodded slowly.

"That's what I thought at first, but then it made more sense. Emily seems to come from a place where such knowledge isn't as crucial. Maybe she lives near Nolan's neighborhood. Those areas are the safest, and information about external threats doesn't circulate much there."

Iris fell silent for a moment, processing what she had heard.

Then she let out a sigh and leaned back against the chair.

"I suppose that makes sense. Though, it worries me that someone so… uninformed, for lack of a better word, has caught Nolan's attention."

The mention of Nolan caused the other healer to look up from her tea, though she said nothing. Iris, ignoring her superior's reaction, continued.

"Hestia, what interest did my sister show in Emily? Did she say anything else?"

Hestia set her cup down on the saucer and reflected for a moment before answering.

"Not much, Your Highness. Though… Amara seemed curious too. I think she wanted to know what kind of girl has Nolan's attention."

Iris stared at her tea cup, her lips tightening slightly. She murmured to herself, just loud enough for the others to barely hear:

"So Amara is still deciding what to do…" Then, her gaze shifted towards the chief healer, as if seeking confirmation of something more, but she remained impassive.

Hestia also shifted her gaze towards the chief healer, as if she had just remembered something.

"So, what do we do now?" Hestia asked. "Nolan said he no longer needed treatment. Does that mean our role here is done?"

The other healer, who had been silent all this time, set her cup down on the table with an elegant movement.

"If Nolan has decided so, then our job here is concluded," she replied with a firm and neutral voice. "It's unwise to press further than necessary."

Iris, however, frowned and raised a hand to stop her.

"Not so fast. I don't want you to leave the capital just yet." Her tone was authoritative, though not aggressive. "Nolan was attacked recently. He might have made a hasty decision, given the circumstances. I'd prefer you to stay close in case he changes his mind."

The healer nodded with a slight movement of her head, accepting the command without question.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Finally, Iris set her tea cup down on the table with a soft 'click' that resonated in the room.

"Besides," she added in a softer tone, "I'll be visiting him tomorrow morning. I don't want him to forget that my birthday is coming up, as that day is important."