Chapter 101

Getting buffeted by facts and human relationships had given me a headache, and thinking about what lay ahead was enough to make me want to jump out of my skin—but I decided to forget it all for today. Racking my brain wasn’t going to produce any answers anyway.

 

“My Lady!”

 

“Oh? Elena, over here!”

 

Elena arrived exactly at the appointed time. As she stepped out of the carriage, she was dressed in a gown. My eyes sparkled at the rare sight. She was someone who had always insisted on wearing trousers, claiming dresses interfered with her studies. Since dresses were expensive and she refused to accept anything other than her academy tuition support, she used to wear cheap clothes bought with her own pocket money. Recently, she had been formally hired as a physician for House Weiss and received a salary, but she still preferred uniform-style clothing over dresses. Yet today! She had come in a gown.

 

“Elena! It looks so good on you!”

 

I clapped my eyes. It was a beautiful, greenish dress that brought out her beauty. It felt as though a fresh fragrance was lingering around her, reminiscent of grass on a midsummer night.

 

“Is… is it really?”

 

“Of course! But… what brought on this change of heart?”

 

To be honest, I felt relieved when Elena asked to go look at ballroom gowns together. Knowing her personality, I expected her to say she’d just wear one of the low-quality dresses provided by the Academy. Though she was a commoner, perhaps because I talked so much about the true faces of the nobility, she didn’t hold the typical fantasies commoners often had about aristocrats. Instead, she avoided being noticed by them, thinking it would only lead to trouble, and humbly accepted it when others looked down on her.

 

“…Actually, I didn’t buy this myself.”

 

My eyes went wide. Then who? Was it Baron Perio?

 

“Actually, there is something I must tell you, My Lady.”

 

Elena, walking toward me with the commanding presence of a commander marching to war, stood before me.

 

“The person who bought me this dress is Lord Piote.”

 

“…Eh?”

 

Under the bright, scorching sunlight in the middle of a busy street, the fact that I was standing there with my mouth agape didn’t matter to me. Piote? Why that guy? No, wait—should I have known? They met at the last festival! That “fated encounter”! Or should I call it an incident? Anyway…! Elena was so nervous she didn’t even notice the state I was in and rushed to continue.

 

“I-I know that I am someone who is lacking. For me, a commoner, to be seeing Lord Piote, the son of a Count! But… we are even thinking of marriage.”

 

“S-Stop! Piote bought you that dress?”

 

Elena nodded. I thought he was a total novice in romance, but look at him go. I waved my hand before Elena could start overthinking things.

 

“Have you ever seen me care about status? If anything, I should be the one asking you to take care of him! He never seemed to have a lick of interest in women…”

 

Wait, so the woman he said he liked before was Elena? He hid it so well. I had no idea. Since when? Was it five years ago when Elena and Piote first met?

 

“The beginning was trivial. He was by my side when things were hard, and he saved me many times when I was in danger. Naturally, my eyes were drawn to him. Come to think of it, I think I’ve liked him for a long time, too.”

 

“Congratulations!”

 

I offered Elena my sincere congratulations. So, Elena ended up with Piote. My worries had been quite useless. I had already realized this to some extent, but seeing it confirmed like this made me feel a bit hollow.

 

“My Lady?”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing. So, what do you like about him?”

 

I asked Elena mischievously. She, who always tried to maintain a dignified composure, now had the face of a girl in love. My playful side began to crawl out.

 

“Don’t you think his clumsiness is cute?”

 

“I absolutely cannot agree with that.”

 

My face flattened into a serious expression at Elena’s words. Where on earth is that hulking guy cute? It’s not because he’s my own blood that I’m being stingy. Certainly not. We stood there in the middle of the street, bickering over whose lover was cuter.

 

“That is how I feel as well—when you say Lord Evan is cute and delicate, My Lady.”

 

“Evan is much cuter than Piote! I-I can’t really call him delicate anymore, though.”

 

The scene of him slicing through monsters like a fish in water passed through my mind like a distant memory.

 

“A bear is cuter than a fox!”

 

“Do you want to be killed instantly by a bear’s paw? Foxes are way cuter!”

 

Elena and I debated fiercely before we both burst into laughter.

 

“Well, anyway, I’m rooting for you. He mentioned attending the ball, so his partner was Elena. If it’s you, Elena, I can trust you. And don’t worry about things like status.”

 

“But a marriage with a commoner will inevitably draw stares. Besides, Lord Piote is the heir to the family.”

 

“If my parents object, I’ll roll up my sleeves and step in for you!”

 

Elena’s cheeks flushed a rosy pink as she thanked me with a beaming smile. A motherly grin spread across my face. Elena is already thinking about the future. They probably only recently started dating or got engaged, yet she’s already thinking seriously about what’s ahead. Meanwhile, I’m struggling just to think about the present.

 

Talking to Elena made me think about my own future. Should Evan and I also start discussing marriage seriously? We had decided on a covenant ceremony on a whim. But no exact schedule or specific details had been set yet. There had been so many incidents lately…

 

In the past, I had no thoughts of marriage and was satisfied with my current life. But honestly, my thoughts have changed a lot recently. That’s why I suggested the covenant ceremony in the first place. Just as Elena wanted to be with Piote, my true heart felt the same. I wanted to be brave and be a little greedy. I didn’t want to lose the spot by his side to anyone else.

 

“Fortunately, the Young Duke said he would help.”

 

“Huh? With what?”

 

“I’m not entirely sure, but Lord Piote and Lord Evan had a very serious conversation.”

 

“Those two?”

 

Since Elena had become an official physician of the Duchy, perhaps she could even receive the title of Baroness if things went well?

 

“Anyway, let’s go look at dresses now. I’ll style you perfectly to my brother’s taste.”

 

“Thank you. What about you, My Lady? You’ll be attending the ball with the Young Duke.”

 

“…Right?”

 

I had been thinking about that very thing.

 

“Will you get married once you become an adult?”

 

I looked at Elena steadily. Marriage… Since we were at the age to become adults, everyone seemed interested in it. I spoke with a bright smile.

 

“Yeah. I think I will.”

 

“…Really?”

 

Elena stared at me, looking somewhat surprised.

 

“I worried about it, and at one point I even thought of running away, but I suppose I just can’t imagine a life without Evan…?”

 

As I scratched my cheek sheepishly, Elena congratulated me, saying she also found it hard to imagine us living apart.

 

“I was able to decide because of you, Elena.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It’s a difficult path. You said you’re seeing him with marriage in mind?”

 

Beyond just dating, to marriage… I was quite shocked that Elena, who faced far more obstacles and walls than I did, was the one to tell me she was seeing Piote and even considering marriage. The thoughts that had been circling in my head since the talk of the covenant ceremony became firm.

 

Even back then, I had thought it might be better to just get married since it was more efficient.

 

It felt like I was deciding on the major life event of marriage quite casually, but Evan had always given me the certainty that he would take responsibility for me, and he was steadfastly keeping those words without a change of heart. It was just that I had twisted things in the beginning by overthinking the prerequisites.

 

“I’m only telling you this first, Elena. Keep it a secret from Evan. I want to tell him myself.”

 

“Of course!”

 

Elena and I entered the dress shop together, feeling shy but smiling brightly.

 

 

***

 

 

The mansion was bustling from early morning. I was attending the ball as a graduate, but both Father and Mother seemed surprised to hear that Piote was attending with another woman.

 

“Oh my, if there’s a lovely lady you’re seeing, you should introduce her to us.”

 

“Next time.”

 

Piote replied indifferently. He didn’t seem to appreciate being the center of his parents’ attention. Father and Mother asked who she was and for at least her name, but Piote kept his mouth shut.

 

“Pina, do you know anything?”

 

“No… he hasn’t told me anything either.”

 

Although my parents were gentle, a relationship with a commoner was an unprecedented event, so I held my tongue. Piote left early, saying he was going to pick up the mysterious lady, and I hurried my preparations. I stared at the dress I had bought yesterday.

 

“Since Elena talked about marriage…”

 

My face grew flushed for no reason. I had inadvertently picked out a pure white dress. I gripped the fabric tightly. It was a dress with a subtle blue tint, but it was the kind of dress I’d bought thinking, ‘I’d like a dress like this for my wedding.’

 

Naturally, visions of a wedding between Evan and me floated into my mind. I hurriedly waved my hands to clear the thoughts.

 

“My Lady, I’m coming in.”

 

“O-okay!”

 

I heard Mary’s voice, and the maids who would assist me entered.

 

“Is this the dress you chose, My Lady? It’s beautiful.”

 

“Does it… make you think of anything strange?”

 

“Pardon? Like what?”

 

“Never mind if nothing comes to mind. Let’s get ready quickly. Evan will be here soon.”

 

I placed myself in the hands of Mary and the other maids. They applied fragrant oils to my wavy hair, powdered my face, and helped me into the white dress.

 

“Shall we use the jewelry given by Lord Eldan?”

 

“Yes. He really is such a businessman.”

 

Using me as an advertisement. I attached a golden brooch and earrings to provide a point of contrast to the white dress.

 

“My Lady, you are truly beautiful! To think you are becoming an adult like this…”

 

“Don’t overdo it…”

 

Brushing off the maids who were shedding dramatic tears, I headed down the stairs to go to the ballroom. Evan, who had already arrived, was waiting at the foot of the stairs.

 

‘There really is no one else who looks as good in a pure white suit as Evan…’

 

Without realizing it, I stopped in my tracks and looked down at him. His eyelashes, resting lightly like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings, caught my gaze and wouldn’t let go. I wanted to see the violet eyes hidden beneath them.