Would others even imagine that such a noble and dignified face could contort like that?

Kasha calmly continued speaking.

“I… discovered this fact by chance… while researching lost magic and magic stones. I… have nothing to gain by cursing you.”

Despite his murderous smile, Kasha’s gaze did not waver in the slightest.

Their intense gazes clashed. As neither looked away first, the two stared intently at each other’s faces for dozens of seconds.

Trying to read the truth, emotions, or confessions hidden within.

Breaking that silence, Kasha opened her mouth.

I need to say something more. Before he leaves.

“I…”

I just want to help you?

But in reality, it was no different from trying to use him to find the mastermind who had obtained the magic stone. Those words wouldn’t come out. Kasha bit her lip.

What are you hesitating for? You decided to do what you want in this life.

Speak your truth.

“I…”

As if telling her to speak, he raised his platinum eyebrows.

“I want you to be happy.”

That was Kasha’s true feelings. Something that didn’t reach him before her regression.

Would these sincere feelings get through to him this time? Or would he reject her again and walk his lonely path?

Twitch. His face contorted upon hearing her words. As if finding it ridiculous.

At that moment, the curtain rustled busily.

“Kasha. I’m coming in.”

It was Daril. Just as the curtain was about to open, Leon firmly held it closed. Realizing his entry was blocked, Daril burst out angrily.

“What on earth are you doing that I can’t come in? My little sister is still only nineteen years old!”

Ignoring Daril’s outburst, Leon did not release the curtain. Then, with his other hand, he took something out of his uniform’s front pocket and held it out to Kasha.

A clean white handkerchief with gold trim. With Leon’s initials embroidered on it.

“Cover. Your neck.”

“…”

Only then did Kasha touch her neck. There was still a burning sensation. The handprints must have left severe marks.

She silently took the handkerchief and quickly wrapped it around her neck. As soon as she finished disguising it, she reaffirmed to him once more.

“Come find me.”

“…”

However, Leon still just looked down at her as if mocking her. Finally, he muttered in a low voice.

“What to believe, what to destroy. We’ll see in time.”

As soon as his murderous declaration ended, he released the curtain. And as the curtain opened, Daril appeared behind it.

“What is the meaning of this? For a man and woman of marriageable age to be alone together for so long…”

“Then excuse me.”

Leon seemed to have no intention of listening to Daril’s scolding. He sharply cut off his words and left the balcony without lingering. Without looking back at Kasha even once.

It was the same departing figure as in her memories before regression, when he coldly left her behind.

“What’s with that Leon fellow? I thought he was a decent person since he’s so highly trusted… But Kasha, what’s with that handkerchief?”

Grumbling about him, Daril suddenly turned to look at Kasha and paused.

Kasha silently fingered Leon’s handkerchief wrapped around her neck.

Some things have changed from before the regression.

Though I’m not sure if it’s in a desirable direction.

‘I suppose I should believe there’s still hope.’

“Just what did you two do…”

I’m not sure what he’s imagining, but Daril’s muttering grew increasingly troubled.

Regardless, Kasha left him behind and exited the balcony.

Whoosh.

As soon as she pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, she felt the gazes in the hall focus on her.

Especially toward the handkerchief around her neck.

“Oh my. What’s that? Isn’t that the handkerchief only given to the Holy Knights?”

“No way, Sir Leon… Impossible!”

“But they were alone on the balcony until just now…”

“What on earth is going on?”

“I heard there were marriage talks between the Grand Duke’s family and the Tyrot ducal family…”

Gazes so sharp they felt prickly. Tongues ready to chew her up and spit her out.

Odette’s gaze must be among them somewhere.

Click. Click.

Leaving them behind, Kasha strode across the long hall.

Enjoying the bewildered gazes upon her.

Unlike before, without being hurt or broken.

‘For now, that’s enough to start with.’

Looking up at the brilliant lights of the ducal mansion, she murmured thus.

“Still no letters from anywhere today?”

It had been over a week since Miss Kasha returned from the ducal family’s ball.

And since that day, she had been asking Sena the same thing every afternoon.

If there were any letters for her.

Each time, Sena had to shake her head with cold sweat.

‘Poor thing. She must be waiting for invitations from other nobles…’

After her debut, at least a few houses connected to the Lyuschino family sent invitations out of courtesy. But for some reason, this time it was quiet as if by agreement.

‘She looked quite pretty that day, though…’

Sena looked at her mistress with a pitiful expression.

Knowing or not knowing her mood, Kasha kept her nose buried in the papers on her desk without lifting her head.

‘Is she very disappointed? Or… is she waiting for him?’

Sena cautiously approached Kasha.

“Miss. Shall I ask Chef Hansen to make some pudding for a snack?”

“Sure.”

It was fortunate that the young lady’s appetite had increased lately.

In the past, she would just nibble on some salad and end her meal, but these days she emptied every plate brought to her.

‘They say when ordinary people change, it means their time is near.’

Sena left the room with an uneasy look, but returned hurriedly not long after.

“Is the pudding ready already?”

Kasha lifted her head.

“No, that’s not it… He’s here, Miss!”

Sena’s face was excited.

“Here… who?”

Kasha turned her head while wearing her glasses.

“The one you’ve been waiting for!”

Sena was panting, having rushed up the stairs.

‘Could it be Leon?’

Kasha jumped up from her seat.

“Is it really him?”

“Yes! He’s waiting in the reception room. Shall we go down now?”

“Yes. Oh, wait.”

Kasha took off her glasses and looked at herself.

She was a mess from poring over blueprints and research materials for days on end.

She regretted refusing Sena’s offer to help her dress in the morning and sitting at her desk instead.

Sena seemed to understand the problem immediately upon seeing Kasha’s expression. Her face became resolute as she exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, Miss!”

Sena is certainly a capable maid.

Kasha thought as she looked at her transformed appearance.

To perfectly complete makeup, hair styling, and even changing clothes in that short time. She felt sorry for how frustrated Sena must have been in her previous life, unable to demonstrate her skills due to her indifferent mistress.

‘Leon came sooner than I expected.’

A week had passed since that day. She was excited to see what answer Leon had brought.

Kasha tried to smooth out her expression, which had unconsciously tensed up with nervousness.

‘What to believe, what to destroy. We’ll see in time.’

Recalling his eyes that didn’t hide his clear anger still made a corner of her heart cold.

However, on the other hand, she found herself a bit amusing for secretly imagining how dazzling he would look today.

Finally, as she descended the stairs, the spacious reception room came into view.

A tall man was sitting on the sofa in the center of the reception room. Due to the backlighting from the sunlight streaming through the window, only his silhouette was visible.

Thump.

Suddenly, the memory of the hot hand tracing down her spine on the balcony that night at the ball came to mind, and her heart reacted.

‘Was I that surprised then?’

Dismissing her reaction as due to fear, Kasha slowly took a deep breath.

That’s when it happened.

The man sitting on the sofa turned around.

“Ah, Kasha. You’ve come.”

A tone as if he were the host and Kasha the guest visiting him.

Arrogant and narcissistic gestures.

It’s Simon Blanche.

Not Leon.

Kasha’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

She glanced back at Sena following behind her.

She sent a look asking what on earth was going on, but Sena just blinked as if wondering why she was acting that way.

‘Well, the old me would have run out barefoot at Simon’s visit.’

Kasha thought as she furrowed her brow.

‘Come to think of it, today is that day.’

Today in her previous life.

Simon came to visit her when she had suffered irreparable wounds at the ducal family’s ball. She felt as if Simon, who came to see her when everyone else turned away, was her only salvation.

So she stupidly cried like a child in front of Simon, who comforted her kindly. Simon patted her back as she cried, putting on all sorts of airs trying to look cool.

Even before that, but especially after that day, their relationship tilted even more clearly.

Kasha did everything Simon wanted, fretting that even he might leave her.

She didn’t even think deeply about what the magical tools he requested would be used for. She just did everything he ordered to satisfy him, to become a necessary person for him.

It was only after receiving a hard blow to the back of her head from him that belated realization came.

The man before her was nothing but a villain – transparent, dripping with arrogance, and even lecherous.

She could still vividly remember his sharp boot trampling her before she was sent to the execution platform.

Her fist clenched automatically in rising anger, her nails digging into her palm.

The desire to inflict the same pain on him right now surged. If she couldn’t do that, she at least wanted to send away that face she couldn’t bear to look at immediately without dealing with it.

‘But since our fates are already deeply entangled at this point, I can’t avoid encountering Simon right away. Then it would be wise to at least extract some clues about the mastermind from him.’

Kasha barely composed herself.

“Kasha. What are you doing there? Come here and sit down.”

A voice pretending to be affectionate. The tone feigns consideration, but his arrogant attitude of not even standing up from the sofa.

‘Simon Blanche. A truly fitting entrance for you.’

Kasha let out a crooked smile.