Contradiction

Another argument happened because Hesta had let her mind wander while they were talking.

People could not always stay focused on the conversation in front of them. Sometimes, while talking, one person's attention drifted elsewhere. Ksenia was no exception herself. What irritated her, however, was that Hesta seemed somewhat slow to notice such things. Not once had she caught Ksenia spacing out, whereas Ksenia was extremely sensitive to Hesta's distraction.

Once, Ksenia stopped abruptly in the middle of a sentence.

"What was I just talking about?" Ksenia asked.

Hesta froze for a moment, then quickly repeated everything Ksenia had just said.

But Ksenia was not satisfied. She stepped in front of Hesta and said sternly, "You weren't listening at all!"

"I was," Hesta immediately protested. "Didn't I just repeat what you said—"

"Yes, you listened, but you only gave me twenty percent of your attention. The other eighty percent was all on something else. What I said only briefly passed through your mind—you didn't process any of it in depth!"

Ksenia watched Hesta's expression shift from hurt to shock, until she finally stared at her blankly—clearly, Ksenia had gotten everything right.

In the end, Hesta honestly apologized. That expression she wore—like someone who thought she had committed the perfect misdeed only to be caught anyway, and could hardly believe it—made Ksenia laugh whenever she thought of it.

Still, she discovered that Hesta was not always so obtuse. At least when dealing with strangers or under pressure, Hesta could also notice the slightest changes and even draw conclusions so sharp they made people want to applaud.

It was just that once she returned to everyday life, Hesta had a certain chance of turning into an idiot. This once infuriated Ksenia, because it made her feel slighted—Hesta was not incapable of such