There must have been many adults who comforted their shoulders with the tragic story of losing their parents. But beneath the comforting words and actions, they would have felt a chilling greed for power and distrust of testimony.

So they probably hadn’t hoped for anyone’s understanding over the past years. Because it would hurt again.

As time passed, their wounds were left untouched, accumulating quietly and diligently like thick dust. Now that they were finally facing those wounds properly, it was understandable to feel great sorrow.

“Sob, I’m sometimes afraid that Edmond resents me. Everything I have was achieved by Edmond alone. Wouldn’t he feel resentful or wronged that he alone went through such cruel experiences?”

“On the contrary, it must have been a sliver of hope to live on.”

Clunk, suddenly the terrace door moved.

Worried that someone might be eavesdropping, I was about to separate from Lilien when a white-furred cat appeared, stretching its two legs.

Relieved, I patted Lilien’s back again.

“Do you really think so? I’ve always been an unreliable elder sister…”

“You know what? I actually admire Lilien.”

“Me?”

Lilien lifted her tear-stained face abruptly.

Her eyes were full of reverence, clearly conveying the thought: How could someone like Etricia…?

“Look, Lilien always easily accomplishes what I find most difficult.”

Lilien sniffled in disbelief and glanced at me.

“A mature person expresses their emotions honestly. The fact that you can open up about the past like today is because Lilien has inner strength.”

I had often marveled inwardly at how she could be so purely honest.

While I could easily express light emotions like cute or lovable, I had a stubborn side that refused to acknowledge when I was hurt by needless pride and ego. It meant I had grown into an adult who was clumsy with expressing emotions.

So I was taken aback when I emotionally poured out about Antra to Edmond.

Did I open my heart first while trying to open his? Ha, a self-deprecating laugh burst out.

I shook my head to shake off the frivolous thoughts and looked down at Lilien again.

She had stopped crying by now and was rubbing her reddened eyes as she looked up at me. Her silvery hair swayed gently in the breeze.

“But Lady Etricia, you keep speaking as if you believe my words… do you believe Edmond’s testimony? It’s not some metaphor. A monster really turned into a human…!”

Lilien repeated the same question several times, as if to confirm. She even gave examples of paradoxical theories about how monsters cannot become human. As if trying to test my belief.

I laughed, pinching the tip of Lilien’s nose.

“I believe it.”

Lilien’s expression brightened immediately at my answer.

What’s not to believe? There’s even me, who entered a book with all my past life memories intact. Though now it’s fully my world.

The banquet hall was still dazzling and people were murmuring. I had no desire to return to the hall. Lilien must have felt the same, as she sniffled and began to open up the conversation.

“By the way, Lady Etricia, what were you doing here?”

“Earlier, I was savoring the scent of the season. It’s early summer, you know.”

“Sniff sniff, I don’t smell anything though?”

“I heard some people can’t smell it.”

“…That’s a bit unfair. We have the same noses.”

Pfft, I burst out laughing at the silly joke, feeling encouraged. We faced each other and giggled for a while, exchanging light conversation.

Edmond quickly crossed the corridor dimly lit by the banquet’s glow, then stopped.

Having reluctantly retreated due to Etricia’s firm attitude about conversing with Devon, he had disposed of the noble man who had pestered her, and was now on his way back, concerned about her being left alone.

Suddenly, he heard the cold conversation of noble men.

Edmond was unfazed, having heard gossip about himself mixed with childhood memories countless times before. It was just the conversation of privileged classes seemingly bewildered by the shifting flows of power.

That’s when the voices of his elder sister and Etricia spread clear and pure like crystal-clear water. A gentleness that cleanly washed away the voices of the noble men that had bored into his eardrums. He followed their melodious voices, drawn like a bee seeking flowers. Upon discovering them, Edmond unconsciously hid behind the terrace door. What he heard next greatly agitated him.

‘I’m sometimes afraid that Edmond resents me.’

Resent? He swore he had never once resented his elder sister. Thinking he should correct this misunderstanding, he was about to burst out when he kicked the door.

Clunk−.

Fortunately, thanks to a cat that had been sleeping behind the door rubbing its face against his leg as it passed by, he avoided the embarrassing sight of being caught eavesdropping on the ladies’ conversation.

As he calmly composed himself and was about to head to the terrace:

‘On the contrary, it must have been a sliver of hope to live on.’

Edmond stopped abruptly.

Etricia, did she have the ability to read people’s minds? She had clearly expressed his feelings.

Without even giving him a chance to step in.

Thanks to that, it seemed his elder sister’s misunderstanding had been cleared up fortunately.

He should have felt uncomfortable having his heart read, but it felt as if an early summer breeze had swept over his heart.

‘But Lady Etricia, you keep speaking as if you believe my words… do you believe Edmond’s testimony?’

Next, Lilien’s voice was heard. She was asking if she believed the words of that young, foolishly honest boy.

Edmond sneered. There was no way she would believe it. Because no one except his elder sister had ever believed him. Even he might not have believed it if he hadn’t witnessed it himself.

As he was about to turn away with a cold smile:

‘I believe it.’

Edmond’s eyes widened.

A clear, firm voice.

That voice caught Edmond’s ankles, rendering him unable to move.

A breeze blew onto the terrace, causing his hair to flutter. In that moment, Edmond felt as if he had instantly reverted to a boy being comforted.

There was someone who believed. Even if it was just words, it held great meaning for Edmond.

He stood there for a long while before moving.

It was truly a night without nightmares after a long time.

Hmm, how did it come to this?

I gave a dry smile at the awkward situation.

The morning after the banquet ended, Lilien visited with an excited face, informing me of the time and place and inviting me on a date. It was an opera featuring a handsome actor currently popular among noble ladies.

Of course, Edmond was with her. Lilien had brought Edmond along almost forcibly, even though he said he had to visit the duke’s estate after breakfast.

Then, as soon as we sat in our designated seats, Lilien artificially hit herself on the head.

‘Oh my! I forgot I promised to go to the cheese market with my classmate! Sigh, can’t be helped. I’ll go ahead, so you two enjoy the performance, then!’

I was dumbfounded and couldn’t even stop Lilien as she disappeared in a hurry.

‘This is… too obvious, isn’t it?’

I should have realized when the coachman “accidentally” circled the square three times, making us arrive just in time for the entrance.

On the other hand, I couldn’t help but chuckle at her cute trick.

As I was contemplating whether to pretend to be fooled, I made eye contact with Edmond, who had the same dumbfounded expression as me.

Of course, Edmond would want to leave.

“Shall we leave now…?”

Edmond lowered his eyes. After being lost in thought for a moment, he rested his chin on his hand placed on the armrest.

“Let’s watch.”

“Really?”

“If it’s my elder sister, she’s probably hiding in another seat watching us.”

“Come on, surely not to that extent?”

Edmond sighed softly and opened his mouth.

“When I was about 8 years old, she suddenly suggested playing hide-and-seek, but when I finished counting and looked up, she was watching me count through my room window.”

“Pfft, and then?”

“When our eyes met, she hid, so I immediately went up and found her. Seemingly embarrassed, she praised me, saying no one could be better at seeking than me.”

“That’s so like Lilien.”

“I was so bewildered that I still remember it.”

As Edmond spoke with a voice tinged with laughter, he made eye contact with me who was chuckling, then seemingly flustered, he rubbed his mouth with the hand that had been supporting his chin. Though it was too dark to see clearly, I think he was smiling too.

Yet he cleared his throat awkwardly, as if unsure why he was rambling on like this.

An uncomfortable silence fell.

Feeling embarrassed as well, I fiddled with the opera glasses I had brought, then used them to look at him.

Edmond furrowed his brow.

“What are you doing?”

“They said there’s a handsome actor, so I’m looking.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Someone might hear.”

“Even if they hear, they won’t be able to argue once they see this beauty, right?”

“That mouth of yours is a chronic disease.”

“The cause is right in front of me, can I bill you for medical expenses?”

Edmond’s lips reacted slightly to my silly joke thrown out of awkwardness.

Oh, that’s strange. He’s not usually one to laugh. I lowered the opera glasses and asked.

“Did something good happen to you today?”