When Annan returned from Siltovis, Eldest Sister and Second Sister dragged him home.
Leila even skipped fishing to escort Annan back to the Reeves family Residence in front of the City Lord's Mansion. If he hadn't been so apologetic, she would have tied him up with fishing line.
"You've visited Aunt Susan so many times, but you won't even come home. Did you know Eldest Sister's legs have gotten worse?"
Already feeling guilty, Annan froze. "Have Eldest Sister's legs gotten worse again?"
"No, I was trying to scare you." Leila chuckled, then put on a stern face. "But you really haven't visited her in ages!"
"I've been busy..." Annan looked away.
Whatever the case, they had arrived.
Annan pushed aside the urge to tell them the truth, made himself relax, and went inside.
The servants had prepared Northern Frontier dishes. Pale-skinned Idelia sat quietly at the table, her skin almost translucent under the Magic Lamp.
The dining room felt oddly cold until Lily hopped onto the Wheelchair as though she belonged there and looked up at Idelia.
"She says you smell comforting."
Idelia smiled and reached out to stroke the purring Lily.
The mood warmed again, and Annan asked Idelia what she had been doing lately.
"Sitting in the Wheelchair for too long gets... stuffy. I had a carpenter improve it."
"That's a good idea. We could even sell Wheelchairs. Call them Idelia Wheelchairs?"
"No."
Idelia had learned from Faster's example: after Fast Pants became popular, he felt as though someone was calling his name wherever he went.
All right. Wheelchairs would have to remain Wheelchairs.
Annan then asked Leila how many pounds of fish she had caught today.
"Seven fish!" Leila hacked at her beef with her dinner knife.
"They must have weighed dozens of pounds altogether!"
The smile