The maid answered urgently.

“Wait for a moment, Madam. I called the veterinarian in town and he should be here soon.”

However, Olivia felt that time was far away.

Mello’s body was shaking as if it would stop its breath at any moment.

Olivia desperately thought.

‘I need to organize my thoughts on how to get through this situation.’

But she just couldn’t get her head around.

On top of her stopped reason, only tidal waves of fear washed over her.

It was then.

“I’ll check it out!”

Olivia opened her eyes wide at the sudden burst of a voice.

Before she knew it, Liriette was approaching them.

Olivia furrowed her eyebrows.

No matter how urgent the situation was, she didn’t lose her temper enough to entrust the puppy to a young child.

However, before she could say anything, Liriette said.

“Turn Mello’s face to the side. If the vomit goes wrong and blocks the airway, it becomes dangerous.”

“What…?”

Instead of responding to Olivia’s words, Liriette thrust her finger into Mello’s mouth without hesitation. At that moment, Mello, its eyes flipped, growled and snapped Liriette’s fingers.

Her fingers felt like they would break off.

But she endured pain and pulled Mello’s tongue out of its mouth.

Olivia covered her mouth.

“What are you doing…”

“Even if its tongue rolls in, it could be dangerous as it clogs its throat.”

“…!”

Afterwards, Liriet placed her hands over Mello’s chest and then began massaging it in a circular motion.

Once the spasm started, they have no choice but to wait until it stopped.

That didn’t mean there wasn’t anything she could do next to it.

Preparing for its airway not to be blocked, and touching its chest helped a little bit.

How much time has passed like that.

Mello’s trembling stopped. Its rough breathing also calmed down.

The moment she met its black pupils that had regained their composure, Liriette smiled.

“Are you okay now, Mello?”

At that moment, she felt Mello laugh. A dog can’t laugh, though.

Mello closed his eyes again.

Inhale, exhale.

The sound of breathing was small, but stable.

‘That’s a relief.’

Liriette, her tension released, exhaled heavily and sat down on the floor.

Then she suddenly felt a strange gaze.

Raising her head, she saw Olivia looking down at her with her eyes wide open.

Liriette was stunned at the moment.

‘I’m only 10 years old. From Grandma’s point of view, I’m less trustworthy than a quack doctor.’

It was surprising to her that Liriette treated it arbitrarily.

Liriette jumped up and put her hands together.

“I’m sorry. It was so urgent that there was no time to ask for permission.”

“…”

Contrary to Liriette’s thoughts, however, Olivia wasn’t upset in the slightest.

Is that possible. Even a factor unfamiliar with medicine could tell she knew.

Serious eyes. Skillful hands.

At that moment, Liriette looked more like a seasoned doctor than an ignorant 10-year-old.

Olivia opened her mouth as she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Did you formally study medicine?”

“No, I did a bit of personal study.”

“…I see.”

As the silence flowed, Liriette gulped.

‘Why doesn’t she say anything? Is she really angry?’

Olivia lowered her head at Liriette, who was watching her with a frightened face.

“Thank you, Liriette.”

“…!”

“If it wasn’t for you, there would have been big trouble.”

Liriette received a polite greeting from Olivia yesterday as well. She was sorry for misunderstanding.

However, the greeting of thanks now touches her more than it did then.

Liriette smiled brightly with her face turning red in an instant.

“I’m glad you were helpful to Grandma.”

“Ah,” Liriette said, correcting her words.

“Not Grandma, Madam Olivia.”

Olivia lowered her eyebrows as she looked at Liriette, who quickly corrected her title.

Olivia felt strong resentment that the child, who wasn’t of her blood, called her ‘Grandma’.

Thus she thought to teach her to call ‘Grandma’ only when they’re with guests.

But now, she has changed her mind.

“If you accidentally call Madam Olivia in front of other people, it’ll be embarrassing. So I think it’s better to make my address clear.”

“…?”

“From now on, just call me Grandma.”

“…!”

Liriette tried to ask her again, really? but she immediately covered her mouth.

For she remembered Olivia’s teaching, “If you get a question, don’t ask back with a stupid face and give the right answer.”

Instead, she answered with courage.

“Yes, Grandma!”

Olivia involuntarily raised the corners of her lips slightly as her face looked delighted, as if she had received a great present.

***

After that day, Liriette’s daily life changed.

It was the same that she received Olivia’s rigorous training from early morning till night, but one thing was different.

It was Mello.

“Woof.”

In the past, Mello slept in a corner of the room, as if it never wanted to disturb the class.

But these days, it would come up to Liriette and wag its tail. Liriette smiled and stroked Mello.

Olivia said as she looked at her.

“After class, let’s have a cup of tea in the garden.”

She didn’t mean to teach tea manners. She just wants to have tea time.

With Mello, the three of them.

A round table set on a green garden bathed in bright sunlight.

Olivia sat on one side and Liriette sat on the other.

Mello was excited and went back and forth between Olivia and Liriette. Then, after it had received enough of their adoreness to both of them, it climbed onto Olivia’s lap and fell asleep.

As she looked at Mello, who was fast asleep, Liriette lowered her eyebrows.

“I still can’t believe it. Mello is a 15-year-old grandmother…”

Just because it’s a puppy doesn’t mean it doesn’t show its age. However, Mello was uniquely like a baby.

Frizzy hair. Immaculate face. Clear eyes. Wagging tail.

Olivia replied, looking at Mello with a delightful gaze.

“It’s thanks to my careful management, but the biggest reason is Mello’s innate beauty. Originally, beauty doesn’t discriminate against age.”

A beauty to dog.

It was too childish and extreme an expression for a lady to put in her mouth.

However, there was no such emotion in Liriette’s eyes. Rather, she nodded her head as if she sympathized with Olivia’s words.

“That’s right. Mello is really pretty.”

“…”

“And I think Mello is very smart. It stays quiet throughout the class, yet as soon as Grandma says the class is over, it comes over and wags its tail. It’s as if it understands what people say.”

“Not as if. Mello really understands people.”

As Liriette opened her eyes round, as if hearing something in disbelief, Olivia raised the corners of her lips.

She had a motherly face, as if her mouth itching to brag about her child.

“I will show you.”

Olivia whispered to Mello, who was sleeping in her arms.

“Mello. Diamond.”

“…”

“Mello. Ruby.”

“…”

“Mello. I love you.”

At that moment, Mello’s tail moved gently. As if in response to the words, I love you.

Liriette covered her mouth, looking surprised.

“Wow, that’s cool!”

“Not only, I love you, Mello understands almost everything I say.”

Besides, it knew Olivia’s feelings better than any of the maids who waited on her side, or the ladies who tried to please her.

When Olivia was in a good mood, it panted and waggled its tail, and when Olivia was in a bad mood, it whimpered and licked her hand.

Olivia muttered, stroking Mello, her eyes looking as if it was the most adorable thing in the world.

“It’s the smartest and sweetest child in the world.”

It was a voice filled with deep affection for Mello. Yet on the other hand, her sad feelings were also buried.

Thus Liriette felt her heart a little choked.

Mello is 15 years old.

In human terms, it was well over a hundred years old.

It didn’t show off on the outside, but Mello’s body wasn’t healthy.

That’s why Olivia left Windsor-Ice Castle and came here. So she can keep Mello healthy for a little while in a warm place.

“I thought Grandma came here because you weren’t feeling well. Everyone said so.”

“Some people look down on me if I say I left the castle to take care of a dog. It would be better to say I came here to recuperate because I’m weak.”