What book was I reading then? I probably read a myth that beautifully packaged how cruelly the gods treated humans.

Though he had grown much taller now, he closed his eyes and covered them with his arms just like back then. I slowly opened the first page of the book.

“On a deep night when even evil spirits seemed to be asleep, in a corner of the silent imperial palace corridor…”

Putting aside the swirling thoughts and vague memories, I read the printed words before me. The witch from the Eastern Kingdom who couldn’t even read or write had only changed the future by learning to read. I thought it was just a struggle to escape a predetermined fate, but looking back now, perhaps it was…

I thought that maybe I had learned to read in order to put Ricardo to sleep.

He really fell asleep before I even finished reading the first page. I covered Ricardo with the blanket Angela had brought and watched over him for a long time.

And only when evening came did I leave the library.

After returning from the library and going to bed early, I was engulfed in a nightmare as if paralyzed.

A voice like a thin, drawn-out moan. It was the same dream again. Me writhing in agony amidst terribly blazing flames.

The people’s whispers that had only been heard from afar now echoed right next to my ears.

Giggling, cackling laughter overlapped that voice. The cruel voices laughing at a person burning to death wouldn’t stop.

“Give me a chance. Whatever it is, give me that damn chance.”

And again, inevitably, that person appeared. A man walking steadily into those tremendous flames where flesh melted and blood congealed.

My heart crumbled again at the sight of him. So calmly that it was unbelievable, he moved only towards me.

He came much closer than in any dream so far. Somehow, fear crept over me.

“Don’t come.”

Whoosh, the fire spread over his body.

“I said don’t come!”

Please, don’t do this. Even in my dying moments, I wanted to stop him from approaching me. If only I could stop him, I felt I could burn and erase even a soul that had already turned to ashes in the fire.

“My lady.”

“Go away! I said go away. Please…”

“My lady, are you alright?”

At the feeling of someone shaking my shoulder, I instantly returned to reality. Gasping, gasping, gasping, I bolted upright in bed, breathing heavily as if surrounded by flames, and looked around.

Ah, it’s my room.

“My goodness, what kind of nightmare did you have to sweat this much?”

I heard Angela’s worried voice, but my rough breathing wouldn’t easily subside. The unusually vivid dream compared to other days made my heart shiver.

“This won’t do. I’ll go call for a doctor.”

“No.”

I grabbed her hand as she was about to dash out.

“I’m fine, really fine.”

“But…”

“It was just a nightmare I often have. Really. Don’t call a doctor.”

Angela propped a pillow behind my back with a worried face and drew the curtains. It was morning, as sunlight streamed into the room.

“The Duchess is looking for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes. But should I tell her you need to rest a bit more?”

“No. It’s just a little nightmare.”

As if I could dare go against the words of the Duchess of Rochester.

To meet her, I had to go through that long preparation process again. Though the process was daunting, I hurriedly got up.

Since Ricardo didn’t want to be engaged to me, I had to find another way. Though he mentioned 6 months yesterday, Pennel’s existence could be exposed to the Emperor within that time. It wasn’t right to fall out of the Duchess’s favor if I wanted to receive the Rochester family’s protection whenever I left this house.

“Shall I open the window a bit?”

“Yes, please.”

“You need to eat first. People will be swarming in soon.”

Angela opened the window and prepared a simple breakfast on the table. I wanted to wash up first, but now wasn’t the time to worry about order.

“By the way, you really started speaking informally today.”

“Ah… I promised the young master yesterday.”

“Yes, I feel a bit more comfortable now. But I was really surprised yesterday.”

“Why?”

“It was the first time I heard the young master laugh so loudly. If I had been closer, I would have seen his face too…”

She smiled innocently with a truly regretful expression. Hearing that, I recalled his breathtakingly handsome face smiling brightly yesterday. I wonder how long he slept… The library was a bit cold.

I was considering asking what Ricardo was doing now as I barely managed to swallow a piece of bread. Just then, there was a commotion outside and people rushed into the room to help with preparations.

As I was dragged around in a daze, I suddenly felt a bit strange. The preparation process was quite different from last time.

Before the first audience, I mainly learned about acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in front of the Duchess. But for some reason, this time was focused solely on grooming.

I whispered quietly so only Angela could hear.

“Are we really going to see the Duchess?”

“Yes, that’s what was said.”

“Who said?”

“The head servant.”

As we were talking, the maids appeared with the dress I was to wear today. Angela also tilted her head upon seeing the dress. It was a stunningly beautiful evening gown I had never seen before. With deep necklines in both front and back, it was hard to tell which was which.

“Am I supposed to wear this?”

“I know, this is an evening gown. I wonder where the Duchess is planning to take you? I didn’t hear anything about the Duchess going out.”

I was currently hiding within the ducal palace.

Even if it was an outing with the Duchess, where on earth would we be going in such a glamorous dress?

I closed my eyes tightly once and opened them again, but nothing changed. It was a dazzling silver dress. The bodice was made of satin with a glossy sheen, and the not-too-full skirt sparkled like moonlit water.

The decorations along the side seams of the skirt were all blue. So this dress does seem to be meant for me…

“There must be some mistake.”

I pushed aside the maid who was busily applying powder to my face and stood up. I couldn’t wear such a splendid dress without knowing why.

Just as I was about to go out to look for Freddie, he entered the room.

“The Duchess has arrived.”

I froze where I stood.

“You mean she came here? I’m not going to see her?”

“That’s correct.”

Before I could double-check, the Duchess burst into the room. She who had me wear a glamorous dress was actually dressed in casual attire. Terribly elegant and neat indoor clothes.

With a hair roller fixed to one side of my head, I lifted my skirt.

“I greet the Duchess.”

“Ah, you haven’t finished preparing yet. Forgive my rudeness for coming so suddenly, Lienne.”

“Not at all.”

“Oh, this dress.”

She smiled brightly at the dress the maids were holding. Kindly praising the maid she had brought along, saying, “As you said, the dress turned out very well.”

So that dress was indeed bestowed upon me by the Duchess.

“Lienne, I asked to see you today because I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor, you say?”

“There’s a soirée at the Enehaz Count’s residence today.”

“A soirée…?”

“Yes.”

The Duchess’s calm voice settled the chaotic atmosphere at once.

“The Enehaz Count’s residence is about a three or four hour carriage ride from here.”

I listened to her words with a sinking feeling.

“Ricardo already left for there two hours ago.”

“I see.”

“But today, Ricardo left without the family handkerchief.”

“The family handkerchief…?”

According to her explanation, there are a few rules for the annual banquet held at the Enehaz Count’s residence.

The banquet only invites adult nobles. And the men of each family must wear a handkerchief embroidered with their family crest on their chest.

“Ricardo will be quite embarrassed for forgetting the handkerchief.”

“I suppose so.”

He would be embarrassed for breaking the rules, but what did that have to do with me?

“So I was hoping Lienne could deliver this.”

She smiled slightly apologetically as she held out the handkerchief. The object really did have the Rochester lion crest baring its fangs fiercely.

I too stared dumbly at the handkerchief, unable to close my gaping mouth.

But I didn’t ask foolish questions like “Does Ricardo really need that handkerchief?” Surely the heir of Rochester wouldn’t be denied entry to the banquet just for not bringing a handkerchief.

Moreover, Ricardo had left the ducal palace two hours ago, and I had started these unusual preparations since morning.

So him leaving without the family crest handkerchief had no particular meaning for the situation I now faced.

Nevertheless, there was something I had to ask.