Three weeks after the event with the little boy, Helena returned to the hospital often and helped the nurses with whatever she could, mainly by sweeping and collecting meal trays. Some staff were surprised because they didn't know Dr. Ravenna had a niece, and apparently, noble little girls doing housework is like seeing a house cat humanly take a potty in the toilet. Eyes were always observing everything she did.  

Of course, Helena only goes to the hospital after her classes. Sometimes, she can't go because she gets so tired that she falls asleep early. The little girl even ends up skipping meals, too, and that doesn't sit well with Laura, but the head maid doesn't seem to have the heart to wake Helena up for even a glass of milk when the girl is so tired.

"Little Miss, today you will not skip lunch. If you do, I will personally tell your father!" 

Helena is pretty sure Laura just said something, but she didn't pay attention. 

This math problem really sucks! 

"Little Miss, did you hear me?" Laura smacks the table, making Helena look up.

"Oh, I didn't actually. What did you say, I'm sorry?" 

The little girl gulps and thinks... Laura looks scary when she's angry.

With a sigh, Laura repeats, "You are not skipping lunch today. Seriously, I should have put my foot down sooner. Look at you," she grabs her wrist and gestures to it, "you've gotten so thin." 

Before Helena can say anything, an unexpected voice comes from the doorway to the family library, "Let me take a look at her." 

To their surprise, it's Uncle Ruben. All posh and the spitting image of Helena's father. Minus a good decade. 

Laura questions him and says, "Doc..err...I mean, Sir Ruben? Why are you here?" 

"Do I need a reason to visit family?" 

Now that I think about it, I guess not. In my past life, I would do the same often when I was in the States and wanted to see my nieces and nephews. Helena slips into Haley's memories for a moment. 

Helena gets up from her desk. The room slightly swirls at the sudden movement, but the feeling would disappear like always. Hunger can be gratified as long as there's some food around, and she lives as a noble; there's time for food at any time. 

"Did you come to see my father?" she asks, running to him with wobbling legs and then stopping before him to curtsy as best she can. 

"Stand still." 

He kneels to Helena's level and suddenly seems cross as he analyzes her eyes. 

With a heavy sigh, he says, "Why is this child like this? Do you not have enough food? Her cheeks have become sunken." 

The little girl's heart instantly breaks. His words are directed towards Laura. 

"No, Uncle Ruben, Madam Laura always feeds me whenever I want. I just..." 

"No, Little Miss, Sir Ruben is correct. I knew that skipping meals would damage your health. I should have corrected the habit a long time ago." 

Helena feels like crying because she got Madma Laura in trouble, but the adult in her wants to kick her Uncle in the knee. Being five, she runs to Laura and wraps her tiny arms around the maid's knees, hoping she'll forgive her for getting her in trouble.

"Don't hate me, Madam Laura. I'm so sorry, and I'll listen to everything you say from now on! I will." The little girl's tears run down her cheeks, but Helena doesn't care.  

"Oh, Little Miss," Laura sweeps Helena in her arms and squeezes her tight, comforting her, "I will never hate you. Don't cry now. Shhh." 

"I didn't realize she was such a crybaby," Uncle Ruben says as he stands over the little girl's classwork with a funny look on his face. 

"Are you really learning this?" He asks. 

Helena's tears steadily dry as Ruben picks up her paper and stares at her, mildly amused. She's still mad at him for yelling at Laura, but she's pretty sure he was just concerned for her. 

"Uncle Ruby, don't get mad at Laura anymore. She's special to me, okay." 

Helena gives him the scariest adult face she can make as a five-year-old, but it fails because he stifles a "pfft," trying to keep himself from laughing. 

"It seems you skip meals because of your schedule, but that's a load of crap," he tells them, not caring he used a bad word. 

"Laura, how many classes does this girl have?" 

The maid sighs and starts, "About... Four on Mondays through Wednesdays and five on Thursdays and Fridays." 

Something dark passes through her uncle's eyes.

"At the bequest of who?" 

Laura stiffens up. She didn't want his hostility directed at Helena, but it was the child who insisted on the classes. 

"It was me," Helena bravely states.

His facial expression softens, and he hesitates before offering his arms to hold her next. Something tells Helena to accept his embrace. There's a promise somehow that it'll be full and parental. 

"Child, what are you trying to do? Is it because your parents are busy? Do you think they'll acknowledge you if you work yourself to death?" 

Helena doesn't want to worry them, but she can't deny it. She hopes they will see her in a better light if she tries her hardest. 

"I have to learn these things because one day I might have to protect Daddy and Mommy. I might not ever have a brother. This is the only way to prepare for the worst." 

Ruben and Laura are stunned into silence by the little one's answer. Helena knows it gives away that she's older mentally than she looks, but the baby face won't let them get in over their heads about it. 

"That bastard," her uncle breathes out. 

"Neglecting you to the point that you have such thoughts."

Her uncle scoffs and commands, "Madam Laura, cancel her classes for the next three days and get her back on a feeding schedule." 

Laura gives Helena a stern look so as not to talk back, and she replies, "Understood, sir." 

"Give her a meal now. I'll be checking if she ate well after meeting with the damn Duke." 

He puts Helena down and tenderly pats her head as he walks out to meet Helena's father. Watching him get so worried about her fills her with great warmth. 

Look, Helena, we have another warm hand guiding us. Aren't you happy? 

"Come now, Little Miss," Laura sounds just as cross as Uncle, but she gently takes Helena's hand and starts toward the dining room on the first floor.