Adelheid’s face was exactly the same as before the regression.

She had black hair and blue eyes, just as in my memory.

She was still a young lady with a round face and petite body that made one want to protect her.

Perhaps Adelheid’s fate would soon be just as terrible as before the regression.

Thinking that to myself, I let out a shallow sigh inaudible to others.

In fact, before the regression, I didn’t particularly like this Adelheid.

Partly because her family was humble, but mostly because she looked too small and fragile.

I thought that if Johannes were to marry, a more strong and reliable “knight” would be better.

But if Adelheid were to die in a carriage accident like before, Johannes would be completely broken.

Even if I didn’t approve, Johannes had chosen Adelheid anyway.

He truly loved Adelheid.

I still vividly remembered how Johannes had fallen apart, unable to bear the grief after Adelheid’s death.

So this time, I had to protect them.

Both Johannes and Adelheid.

After steeling my resolve, I smiled at Adelheid, who was waiting for my response with a tense expression.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Johannes. You seem to be as lovely as I was told. Is Johannes treating you well?”

“…!”

Both Adelheid and Johannes looked startled at my response.

It seemed they had expected me to disapprove of Adelheid.

Although I had told Johannes before that it was alright for me to meet Adelheid, they must have still been worried deep down.

Wanting to completely reassure them, I added:

“If Johannes ever gives you a hard time, come to me anytime. I’ll scold him for you.”

“S-Sister! Who says I’m giving her a hard time… I always treat Adel with the utmost care and consideration.”

“Is that so? Is it true, my lady?”

When I asked, Adelheid nodded with a brightened face.

“Yes, it’s true! Johannes is always more kind and considerate than I deserve. That’s why I’ve always wanted to thank you, Lady Yulia. It must be thanks to you that Johannes has become such a wonderful person.”

Why did I unconditionally oppose Adelheid before the regression?

Having a proper conversation with her, I found Adelheid to be a cheerful, proactive, and wise young lady who knew how to say things that made people feel good.

If I had known she was such a fine lady, I would have supported their love even before the regression…

Regretting this, I replied to Adelheid.

“Thank you for saying that, my lady. I’d like to do something for you in return… Hmm… How about I send you a new carriage?”

Adelheid’s family, the Frankberg viscounty, was currently struggling with financial difficulties, and their family carriage was quite old.

And that was the cause of Adelheid’s death.

The worn-out parts of the carriage wheel had broken while climbing a narrow mountain road.

The carriage, teetering on the narrow path, rolled straight down the mountainside.

For that reason, wanting to prevent such a terrible accident, I offered to give a carriage as a gift, but Adelheid shook her head in alarm.

“Oh my, I couldn’t accept such an expensive gift! It’s far too much!”

“There’s no need to feel burdened. I’m giving it simply because I want to. You’re someone precious to my dear brother. I want you to always wear, eat, and ride the best.”

“Lady Yulia…”

After I went that far, it seemed difficult for Adelheid to refuse further, and she finally accepted the gift.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept. I’ll take good care of it.”

Afterwards, Adelheid left, saying she wanted to boast about receiving the carriage to her friends.

I also had something I wanted to say to Johannes alone, so I called him out to the second-floor terrace of the banquet hall and said:

“She seems like a good lady. Treat her well.”

“Yes, sister. But… I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to welcome Adel so enthusiastically. Even giving her a gift.”

“I’m worried. I heard that a distant relative of one of our members died in a carriage accident. The old carriage broke down on a mountain slope and fell…”

“Because of an old carriage? Ah, now that you mention it, the Frankberg carriage was quite old too, but I hadn’t paid attention to it.”

It seemed that Johannes had just now recalled that Adelheid’s carriage was old.

Now that I would soon send a new carriage, and had indirectly hinted to Johannes about the accident, everything was perfect.

Adelheid’s death would definitely not happen.

After changing their fate for the better, I quietly called out to Johannes.

“Johannes.”

“Yes?”

He looked at me with violet eyes identical to mine.

Unlike before the regression, Johannes’ eyes were clear.

No sadness dwelled in them.

Looking into those eyes, I spoke words I had long wanted to say for the first time.

“I want you to always be happy. That was true in the past, it’s true now, and it will be true in the future.”

It would have been good if I had said these words when he was in despair after losing Adelheid, but back then, I couldn’t.

I was a fool who loved my brother deeply but didn’t know how to express that love.

Hearing my sincere feelings finally expressed, Johannes stared at me blankly for a moment.

Then, as a cool night breeze caressed our cheeks, he finally smiled and replied.

“I also want you to always be happy, sister. That’s my oldest wish and my most earnest wish.”

After sending Johannes out of the terrace, I remained there alone for a while, looking up at the night sky.

Johannes, whom I had cared for since he was a baby, had grown up.

He had matured and was now paired with a wonderful lady.

Perhaps their ending would be similar to that of ordinary fairy tale protagonists.

Just as most fairy tales end with “And they lived happily ever after,” Johannes and Adelheid’s lives would likely end in such an ordinary way.

Some might say this is nothing more than a common love story.

But to me, who had watched over Johannes’ growth as his guardian, this was the most precious and beautiful story.

A beautiful story to engrave in my heart and cherish for a lifetime.

“…”

I kept looking up at the stars for a while, trying to sort out the various emotions swirling within me.

It was when I finally lowered my head, my neck starting to feel stiff.

“…?”

I spotted a familiar face in a secluded corner of the garden.

It was Karl.

As the second-floor terrace where I stood was higher than his eye level, he didn’t seem to have noticed me yet.

I was about to call out to him loudly to greet him, but I closed my mouth.

Looking closely, he wasn’t alone.

He was talking with someone.

I couldn’t tell who his conversation partner was.

Unfortunately, that person had their back turned to me.

What are they talking about?

Whatever it was, it was rare to see Karl with such a serious expression.

He usually just grinned all the time.

Now his expression was so hardened that he looked like someone at a funeral rather than a banquet.

So I was just quietly watching, unable to call out to Karl, when it happened.

“Ah.”

As if sensing my gaze, Karl suddenly looked up at the second-floor terrace.

Only then did I give him an awkward smile and wave.

Receiving my greeting, Karl showed a slightly flustered look before smiling as usual.

Soon, Karl sent his conversation partner elsewhere and walked towards the terrace.

“Vice Captain, you were there?”

“Yes, what were you doing in the garden? It looked like you were talking to someone, a friend?”

“Not a friend… more like a business partner.”

A business partner?

I couldn’t understand what kind of business partner a knight of the Silver Knights would have.

I was about to ask if he had some personal business, thinking he might be doing other work, when Karl spoke first.

“More importantly, why are you out on the terrace, Vice Captain? You’re so beautifully dressed, why aren’t you dancing more?”

“I came out to talk with Johannes for a bit. Now I’m alone, sorting out my thoughts.”

“Sorting out your thoughts? Did you have a serious conversation? Should I come up there and listen?”

“No, stay there. It’ll be faster if I go down.”

For Karl to come here, he would have to climb the stairs.

But I could get down to the garden where Karl was even faster.

“Vice Captain?”

Karl showed bewilderment as I took off my cumbersome shoes and dropped them below the terrace.

I smiled at Karl while leaning on the railing.

“Hold onto my shoes. I’m coming down there now.”

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.