278 WELCOME FEAST edited

Though their spar went unnoticed, upon discovering Xiao Tianyao was waiting for Senja and not for her, Rindy grew puzzled and anxious.

**Something was amiss…** She thought because Xiao Tianyao had barely paid her attention even though she was his fiancée.

........

The dining table had a spread of delicate food with inviting aroma.

Senja was eating silently while listening to their conversation. Because, 'Senja' wasn't a talkative girl, her silence didn't make much of a difference. Also, she didn't really know what she should talk about, hence silence was certainly golden.

Elder Dam broke the news to Carye and Rindy that Senja had lost her memories and asked them to help her with all that she needed and if possible, try to tell her of things that could help trigger her memory back.

Rindy looked at Senja as a realization dawned upon her, **That was why she dared to talk so boldly before. As it turns out, this ugly girl has lost her memory…** She covered her smile with her handkerchief.

"Don't worry grandfather, Rindy will help little sister to remember everything." Rindy said with high spirit.

Senja didn't take any of this seriously. For no knew better than her that no matter what they tried, however hard they tried, certainly and most definitely, she would never be able to remember anything. How could she when it wasn't her memory to begin with nor had she arrived here with it?

How could she possibly possess someone else's memory when the real one was out there somewhere, and alive? At least that was what Uncle Su had told her. Senja was more concerned about the possibility of the real granddaughter turning up out of nowhere and knocking the doors one day. Until such time, she needed to find a good excuse.

From their conversation, Senja could gather snippets of information regarding the situation inside the Black Sword Clan.

Her father, Wang Yu, was in the Kingdom of Rockstone running some errands for the Emperor, her grandmother had passed away two years ago, and how Elder Dam missed her now that he had finally retired and spent a lot of time at the Black Sword Clan mansion.

Senja was a little relieved when she discovered that her older stepsister, Hikari, was now married and didn't live with them.

They talked about Senja, when of the times she was a little girl and how obedient she was. As Elder Dam reminisced his granddaughter's childhood there was pride in his voice even as Carye and Rindy looked on with a subtle sinister smile. Or was it that only Senja could feel it? She wasn't sure about it.

Senja knew right away, from the very moment she watched the show of fake affection from this pair of mother and daughter, that her days to come in this house weren't something to look forward to. Thinking up to here, she sighed.

"What happened my child?" Elder Dam looked at Senja beside him when he heard the girl's sigh.

Senja put down her bowl and spoke somewhat wearily, "Grandfather, I am really tired. Sleeping inside the carriage wasn't comfortable. Can I go back to my room?"

"Sure, my child." Elder Dam nodded empathetically, "I will walk you back to your courtyard."

And thus, the welcome feast came to a close.

When Senja walked back to her own courtyard with Elder Dam, Carye signaled Rindy to escort Xiao Tianyao to his room. But Xiao Tianyao turned down her offer.

It wasn't his first visit and he was almost a part of the Black Sword Clan too. When he was training in swordsmanship, he had lived here for almost a year. Back then, Senja wasn't even born yet. Afterwards, he had visited the Black Sword Clan regularly when Elder Dam was still active in Military.

So, he didn't need Rindy to accompany him because Elder Dam had given him his own courtyard that he had occupied since the first time he was here.

Rindy looked dejected, but all she displayed was a smile as Xiao Tianyao walked out from the room.