“Deputy Commander?”

“What are you doing here? Not taking shelter from the rain.”

Renart looked down at me with a furrowed brow, as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“Ah, well…”

I closed my mouth at the look in his eyes that seemed to say, ‘Don’t tell me you were foolishly standing in all this rain.’ To be fair, standing still in such pouring rain was a foolish thing to do even by my own standards.

Judging by how quickly Renart’s hair and clothes were soaked in just the brief moment we’d exchanged words, my appearance must have been even worse.

“Lady Rosebelia!”

Daisy?

The voice came from inside a carriage parked opposite the clock tower. As I turned my gaze towards the carriage, Renart spoke up as if he had been waiting.

“I stopped the carriage when my sister spotted Lady Rosebelia while we were traveling. We’ll take you to your destination, so please come with us.”

“No, I’m fine. I left my horse nearby.”

Renart, brushing away the rainwater streaming down his forehead, said with a sigh-like tone:

“Riding a horse in this rain would be too much. It’s better to take shelter from the rain in the carriage first.”

“I…”

As I tried to refuse again, a clear voice rang out across the empty square.

“Miss, you can’t!”

The commotion was coming from near the carriage. Looking closely, I could see the hem of a dress appearing and disappearing repeatedly through the open door, as if someone was trying to get out.

Could Daisy be trying to get out of the carriage now?

“Deputy Commander, let’s go to the carriage for now.”

I spoke urgently, almost like an order, and headed towards the carriage. I had barely taken a few steps when.

The surroundings suddenly grew darker, and when I glanced up, instead of the gloomy sky, I saw Renart’s coat blocking the rain pouring down on my head.

When my gaze, which had been trailing down the arm holding up that coat, reached Renart’s face, I flinched without realizing it.

Because he had draped his coat over me alone, Renart himself was now fully exposed to the pouring rain.

“I’m fine, so please use it for yourself, Deputy Commander…”

“Lady Rosebelia, hurry!”

As I hesitated at Daisy’s urgent voice, a gentle voice settled over me.

“If you don’t mind, shall we go like this?”

“…Then I’ll walk a bit faster.”

Almost running, we reached the carriage where Daisy was waving happily. As I tried to climb into the carriage while shaking off some of the water, Renart, who had somehow approached, took my hand.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Inside the carriage were Daisy in a dress and a maid wearing a yellowish dress.

Is that Lucy, the maid Daisy would likely bring when going out?

“Oh my, you’re so soaked, what should we do? Ah, this is my personal maid, Lucy. Lucy, this is Lady Rosebelia, a knight of the White Knights and a noble lady of the Winters marquis family.”

Lucy was the maid who had always been by Daisy’s side in the original story. When Daisy described Lucy, she said the freckles on her cheeks were lovely, and true to her words, she had a cute impression.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from our young miss, you’re truly beautiful.”

“I must look a mess, but thank you.”

“You can speak comfortably to Lucy. And Lady Rosebelia’s beauty remains unchanged even in the rain. You were shining so brightly that I recognized you instantly from afar.”

How should I respond to this?

Even in my previous life, I was quite confident in my appearance, but this was the first time I’d received such praise bordering on adulation.

As I awkwardly smiled while wiping my face with the handkerchief Lucy handed me, Renart, who had just climbed into the carriage, asked me:

“Lady Rosebelia, where shall we take you?”

“I need to go to the Knights Order, no, the marquis residence…”

Neither the Knights Order nor the marquis residence was particularly close. Given the late hour and the rainy roads, it was a bit awkward to ask to be taken there.

“Our mansion is nearby, why don’t you come in and change clothes at least? We can lend you a carriage too, so you can go comfortably to either the Knights Order or the marquis residence.”

“No, Lady Daisy. I’ll just get off in front of that building. I have my horse there.”

“Why don’t you stay at the mansion until the rain subsides a bit? We can send a servant to bring your horse to our mansion.”

The pitter-patter of rain hitting the carriage roof was still intense.

Considering that Emily’s condition wasn’t good when I left the Knights Order, it would be best to ride Emily after the rain subsided a bit.

“So you’ll come to the mansion with us?”

Faced with those sparkling violet eyes, I smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll impose on you for a bit. I actually have something I want to tell Lady Daisy as well.”

*

“Lady Rosebelia! How about this dress?”

At Daisy’s insistence, spread out before me as I came out of the bath were at least ten dresses. I just gave an awkward smile as I examined the pink dress Daisy was pointing to.

“Ah, that one is a bit…”

“Then how about this one? It’s the same color as your beautiful eyes.”

This time, Daisy pointed to a light green dress.

“I’m comfortable and fine with what I’m wearing now.”

“That won’t do! You’re our guest…”

Seeing Daisy’s drooping eyes, I scratched my forehead and pointed to one of the dresses.

“Then I’ll wear the one you just pointed to.”

Since Olivia often wore green dresses, Rosebelia had avoided dresses in green shades.

I was secretly curious about how I’d look in a green dress, so it might be nice to try it on this occasion.

“Let me help you, Lady Rosebelia.”

“It’s alright, Lucy. I’m used to changing by myself.”

I took the dress from Lucy, who nodded, and went behind the screen. As soon as I changed and came out, Daisy rushed over to me as if she had been waiting.

“Oh my, you look so pretty! Lady Rosebelia! Is there anywhere uncomfortable?”

The length was a bit short and it was tight around the chest, but not to the point where I couldn’t breathe.

“It’s a bit small, but I think it’s fine.”

“I think braiding your hair and letting it down would suit this dress. May I do it for you?”

Daisy asked with eyes sparkling to an almost burdensome degree.

“What? Is there really a need to do my hair?”

“…I guess there’s no need after all?”

“The young miss is excited because it’s the first time she’s brought someone to the mansion.”

Lucy whispered to me as she passed by, pretending to just walk past. As soon as I heard those words, my mouth moved on its own.

“Then please do my hair too, Lady Daisy. Oh, but I have an urgent letter to send to my family. Could you have it delivered by messenger?”

“Of course! Lucy, bring Lady Rosebelia paper and a pen.”

“Yes, young miss.”

Lucy quickly brought paper and a pen and placed them in front of me. After I wrote a short note asking to look into what happened at the Imperial Palace today and put it in an envelope, Daisy approached and asked quietly:

“Who should I have it delivered to?”

“There’s a maid named Anne. It needs to be delivered to her discreetly…”

“Lucy, did you hear that?”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

As Lucy left the room, I was led by Daisy to sit in a chair in front of a mirror. Perhaps because I had just soaked in the hot bath, drowsiness was starting to creep in.

I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them, the reflection in the mirror had changed considerably. Behind my hair, now braided long to one side, was not Daisy.

Startled, I stood up abruptly, and the woman in the mirror gave me an apologetic look.

“Oh my, did I startle you? I’m sorry.”

“I apologize for the late greeting, Duchess.”

When I greeted her formally, Annes seemed surprised and opened her eyes wide.

“You recognized me right away?”

“Yes. You resemble both the Deputy Commander and Lady Daisy.”

Looking closely, I could see the resemblance to both Renart and Daisy, but the reason I recognized Annes immediately was because of her purple dress with an antique air.

In the original story, Annes often appeared wearing dresses in purple or red shades.

“Hoho, is that so?”

“Mother, please leave my room now.”

“Can’t I stay with you?”

When Annes asked with a bright smile, Daisy pouted her lips.

“Lady Rosebelia said she had something to tell me.”

“Ah, actually, it’s something I need the Duchess’s permission for as well.”

“My permission? What could it be?”

Something that could help both Daisy and Edwin…

To do that, Annes’s permission was absolutely necessary.

“Lady Daisy said she wants to learn swordsmanship from me.”

“Swordsmanship? Really?”

“I thought if I learned the sword, I could become a strong person. I want to be cool like Lady Rosebelia.”

Daisy said, clenching her fists. Annes’s eyes wavered at the voice full of sincerity.

“But Daisy, you’re very weak physically.”

“…So you’re going to oppose it?”

Daisy asked in a more subdued voice.

“It’s good that you have the will to learn something, but I’m worried because I don’t think you can hold a sword with your physical strength.”

“I agree with the Duchess. That’s why I think Lady Daisy needs to build up her stamina first before learning the sword.”

“Build up my stamina? How?”

“Daisy has a weak heart, so she gets dizzy even after walking a little bit.”

This was information I already knew. In the original story, whenever Daisy said she felt dizzy, they wouldn’t let her move an inch from her room.

She even ate meals in her room, and they barely let her get out of bed, overprotecting her to that extent.

“Isn’t it better to walk a little and take walks in the sunlight rather than staying indoors because you’re weak? That way you’ll get an appetite, and eating will give you strength, which will allow you to walk more.”

“I’ll give it a try. I’ve never done that before.”

Daisy’s eyes were full of enthusiasm.

I was right. Daisy needed something to be a driving force in her lifeless life.

And if that could be something that would improve Daisy’s health…

“If Lady Daisy builds up her stamina a bit more than now, I’ll teach you swordsmanship when I return from the subjugation.”

“Really?”

“Before that, Lady Daisy needs to learn a few simple movements to build up her stamina. I’m planning to entrust that task to a reliable knight colleague while I’m away on the subjugation…”

I looked at Annes, and she nodded as if giving permission.

“Alright. I can really work hard.”

Annes, who had been watching Daisy with a pleased expression, suddenly called out to me.

“Miss Winters.”

“Yes, Duchess.”

“The rain doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon. How about staying here tonight?”

“What? Here?”

“Lady Rosebelia, please do. It’s raining too much.”

I glanced towards the window. Water was continuously streaming down the windowpane.

I couldn’t ride Emily in this rain…

And since there was no immediate way to find out what had happened to Ian, returning to the Knights Order or the marquis residence would be equally unsettling.

“Miss Winters is a benefactor who saved our Daisy before. Offering a room to such a precious guest is nothing, so please stay comfortably.”

“…Then I’ll impose on you for one night.”

*

‘What on earth is going on.’

Ian, who had fallen asleep the night before, didn’t wake up even after a full day had passed. Already more than three doctors had come and gone, but they only shook their heads as if unable to determine the cause.

Following the order of Emperor Callisto, Ian’s room area was being controlled, but it was only a matter of time before Ian’s condition became known in the Imperial Palace.

On his birthday, no less, the prince himself had completely disappeared, so rumors might have already spread secretly.

Nathan let out a faint sigh as he watched Ian sweating profusely. Ian groaned and twisted his body as if in pain, but still couldn’t open his eyes.

‘It’s the prince’s birthday today, why of all days…’

As Nathan was about to check the clock on the wall, he noticed Callisto approaching from behind and quickly stood up.

“Sit down. You’ve worked hard, Nathan.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. As the prince’s aide, I should be by his side.”

Ian didn’t keep anyone close around him. It was because Enoch was always trying to steal Ian’s people. Nathan was the only one who had not fallen for Enoch’s temptations and remained by Ian’s side.

“I know it wasn’t an easy task. That’s why I’m even more grateful to you.”

Even though Ian could be annoying at times, I secretly felt proud that our prince, not that good-for-nothing Enoch, was suited for the emperor’s position.

While assisting Ian, I had occasionally imagined what it would be like if he inherited the throne, but I never dreamed I’d see him like this.

Just as I was rubbing my tingling nose, Ian’s tightly closed eyelids suddenly opened, and Nathan covered his mouth in disbelief.

“Your Majesty! The prince has woken up!”