Sesenia, who couldn’t remember the past when she met Rohan, rubbed her chin.

“Yes. Mother said that. She said the young lady resembles the late Duchess a lot. Although Elzere might look more similar outwardly, she said you resemble her in your strong personality and resolute aspects.”

“Mother……”

Sesenia suddenly remembered her mother.

“She passed away when I was five.”

At that moment, Rohan’s expression changed ever so slightly.

“Is that not right?”

“No. It is correct. We even held the funeral.”

Sesenia clearly remembers. Her father wailing. And her mother’s words, caressing her cheek, saying she loved her and to live only as herself.

‘But how did she pass away?’

Was it because she was so young at five that she couldn’t remember? Sesenia couldn’t recall her mother’s final moments. She had only heard from someone that her mother passed away due to poor health.

“It’s a bit sad.”

“Pardon…?”

“It’s been so long that I can’t remember my mother’s face or scent. She loved me so much… I’ve only heard through Father that Elzere elder sister looks exactly like Mother… That’s the only way I can remember her.”

Did she really resemble her mother? Such a thought suddenly occurred to her.

The Duchess who left the world without leaving a single portrait. The mother Sesenia remembered was only a blur. She could remember things she had said and other details, but nothing else came to mind.

Especially the physical aspects were severe. Although she was young, Sesenia’s face darkened at the thought that she couldn’t recall anything at all.

“Rohan, do you remember? My mother?”

“No. Neither I nor my mother remember well. Just that she was a very kind person… Strangely, we can’t remember any physical features. It’s as if something was injected, we only know that she resembled Lady Elzere…”

“I see.”

“But young lady. My mother said that Madam loved you, Sesenia, more than Lady Elzere. So don’t be too sad. Someday……”

“Someday?”

Rohan was about to say something but shook his head.

“It’s nothing. Anyway, I’ve sold the cotton and firewood as you instructed. I put all the special conditions. For a week, we agreed not to reveal that we purchased Hepria cotton.”

Rohan handed over the organized documents to Sesenia with a quite proud expression. Seeing him change the subject as if trying not to reveal something, Sesenia didn’t press further.

Recalling memories would only increase longing. Instead, Sesenia skimmed through the documents Rohan had prepared.

“Well done.”

There was no response.

“I’ve also increased security.”

“I thought you’d be curious about increasing security for an empty warehouse, but you’re not?”

“Everything you do must have a purpose, young lady.”

“I’m a bit worried that you trust me too much… Feel free to share your opinions if you have any.”

As if he had been waiting for those words, he handed over other documents.

“Please look at this, this, and this too.”

“There’s a lot to look at.”

“By the way, what are you thinking of for the next business? Given the profit we made from this…”

He seemed somewhat excited. Rohan, who was always stiff, was busy spreading out documents about potential next business items, seemingly pleased with the profit from this venture.

“This will be wrapped up soon. And we’ll wait for spring to bloom. The next one will unfold after that.”

“I see.”

“Now I should go to the temple. Teddy, you stay here.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

“No.”

“But to protect the master, I should…”

Teddy naturally clung to Sesenia’s side.

“No. The reason I specifically came here is you, Teddy.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Teddy, you will become the most precious thing I own.”

“Precious… thing? Someone like me?”

“Yes. So I won’t show you to anyone. Especially not at the temple. Not until that day comes. So, Teddy. Learn many things and change. So that I won’t regret buying you.”

Strictly a master-servant relationship. So that neither would develop other feelings for each other. Sesenia drew that line.

The most precious thing, and until placing that precious thing in the most precious place. She would keep it in a treasure chest, caressing it preciously so no one would covet it.

To Sesenia, Teddy was the most precious raw gem in the treasure chest.

“Ah…”

“Understand? So listen to me and stay here.”

“If that’s what you wish… Yes, I understand.”

Seeming to misunderstand her intent, Teddy looked at her with quite a happy expression.

“I’ll make sure you don’t regret it, that you’ll think you made a good purchase.”

A single remark casually made, perhaps uttered to make the situation advantageous to oneself, might have brought about a change in someone’s life. Like now.

Teddy’s eyes shone brightly as if filled with sunlight. Teddy, who had just been living each day diligently since meeting Sesenia, now looked forward to the future. The future with Sesenia that he would live in.

“Then Rohan, please wrap things up.”

“Yes, young lady.”

With that, Sesenia boarded the carriage again with Lizbeth.

“Let’s go to the temple.”

Having already heard the final destination, Lizbeth told the coachman, and the door closed. The carriage moved with a clattering sound.

Contrary to expectations that Silian would appear and say various things once the carriage departed, he kept his mouth shut without showing any biological response.

“Do you think he ran away in the meantime, young lady?”

Finding it strange, Lizbeth looked around for a while before speaking.

“If he ran away, there’s nothing we can do.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yes. Even if he ran away, Silian will eventually come looking for me. Because I’m the only one in the world who can protect him.”

Seeing Sesenia’s confident appearance, Lizbeth nodded as if she understood.

Such actions gradually gave Sesenia faith. That Lizbeth was also someone who had traveled back in time.

‘Wasn’t traveling back in time my family’s secret technique?’

Or is there another way to travel back in time besides that? Or maybe this time’s Lizbeth simply has memories of the future?

Numerous questions filled Sesenia’s head.

One question became one curiosity, and one curiosity gave birth to two more questions, tormenting her until they arrived at the temple.

**

“We’ve arrived, young lady.”

Only upon hearing those words did Sesenia stop her thoughts.

“Alright. Let’s get out.”

The carriage door opened. In the past, this was a temple she used to visit often. The Imperial Temple tried hard to gather people with divine power, and one of their methods was to appoint noble young ladies as saints.

Those with even a little divine power were treated more preciously, and Sesenia was one of them.

Thus, as soon as Sesenia appeared, the priests quickly approached.

“You’ve come, Saint Sesenia.”

She received somewhat more precious treatment, and since she had visited often since childhood, Sesenia’s steps were light.

“Have you come to pray today?”

“I’ve come to see the High Priest.”

“Pardon? Ah… Did you… make an appointment?”

“No. I came without an appointment. But as a saint, shouldn’t I be able to see the High Priest?”

“For a moment, I thought you were Lady Elzere.”

At the name Elzere that came from the priest’s mouth, Sesenia’s eyes changed.

“Did my elder sister come to see the High Priest often?”

“Yes. She came frequently. Of course, since she’s someone without a saint’s power, her meetings with the High Priest were rarely realized.”

“I see. You don’t know the reason separately?”

“No. We’re just lowly beings, how could we know the reason? Then, I’ll check if you can see the High Priest. Would you please wait in the third moon’s prayer room for a moment?”

This was why Sesenia liked the temple.

“Yes.”

She had always been compared to her elder sister Elzere. And at the end of those comparisons, there was always the prevalent saying that her sister was better after all.

Elzere said it was the opposite, but in reality, because Sesenia had passed all the credit to Elzere, Sesenia often received the evaluation of being the lacking younger sister.

Elzere was much more beautiful in appearance, had an outgoing personality, and got along well with people. In contrast, Sesenia didn’t get along well with people, and the prevailing opinion was that her face wasn’t as good as her sister’s.

But it was different here.

At the temple, Elzere was measured to have no divine power at all. In contrast, Sesenia was measured to have high divine power even among those called saints. Thanks to that, because of that, Sesenia received more precious treatment here than anywhere else.

The only place where she could do as she wished.

“But young lady. Did that person follow us out?”

“Who knows. Are you worried?”

“A little… I think he’s a bit… strange… I wonder if it might be bad to be close to him…”

“You don’t need to worry. As long as his own safety is guaranteed, he’ll be more docile than anyone and help me.”

“Young lady… why do you need so many people?”

It was the first time. The first time Lizbeth had asked such a question. So Sesenia’s eyes widened a bit as she was walking towards the prayer room.

“Ah.”

“Are you… trying to get revenge?”

“Yes. Revenge. I’m trying to turn the most brilliantly shining world black.”