For a moment, the entire dining table fell silent.
At last, Chloe came to her senses. "...Is Kovishik still over there now? Or has he already come back?"
"He does go to the farm every few days," Fatima said, glancing at her daughter. "But what does that have to do with you, Chloe? You went to His Majesty's estate to ride horses, didn't you?"
"..." Chloe was slightly annoyed. She gave her mother a complicated look. Yes, yes, of course I went there to ride horses—but don't you know what I really wanted to do?
Fatima lowered her gaze, smiling faintly. "Your father and I are planning to stay there for a few days as well—"
"How long?" Xina immediately asked.
"It depends. Maybe two or three days," Fatima said. "But if necessary, one or two weeks is possible too."
"Then what about my chess lessons—"
"You can bring your chessboard and pieces with you." Fatima looked at her daughter somewhat strangely, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Hesta seems to like chess too. You could try inviting her to play against you."
"...Mom." Xina sounded helpless. "Fine, I'll do that. But could you have Mr. Dobigny come to the estate to teach me?"
"If you insist," Fatima said, "we can have Mr. Dobigny come to the estate with us. But it might be later, perhaps tomorrow or the day after... It will also depend on his recent schedule."
The conversation at the table continued. As Xina fell silent, no one paid attention to her anymore. She adjusted her emotions as well, doing her utmost not to let anyone notice the surge of vitality stirring within her. She deliberately pressed down the corners of her mouth, as though she were unhappier than ever before—but that was only because she was afraid