It was already afternoon when I finished preparing to go to Viscount Rowe’s residence.

“Blanche, you must never take it off even when you go inside, as wolf ears might appear.”

I adjusted the bonnet Blanche was wearing, fixing it securely.

“Mmm, I understand. Mama, how does Shu Shu look?”

Blanche seemed pleased, holding the bonnet and twirling around.

“Very pretty.”

Her light purple dress swayed gently.

“Hehe, will Papa also say Shu Shu is pretty?”

Blanche, having made up for her lack of sleep, was full of energy.

“Oh? It’s Grandfather!”

She ran to Earl Boston, who had just returned from an outing.

“Grandfather!”

“Blanche, my lovely treasure!”

Earl Boston lifted Blanche as she ran to him.

“Uncle, you’ll hurt your back.”

“It’s alright, Larien. I should hold her as much as I can while I still can.”

“Oh, Uncle… Blanche, come down. You’re making Grandfather tired.”

I was worried about Earl Boston, who was trying not to show his struggle in holding Blanche.

“Grandfather, Shu Shu wants to get down.”

“Blanche, your grandfather is fine.”

“Don’t get sick. Live with Shu Shu for a long time!”

Earl Boston broke into a broad smile.

“For our Shu Shu’s sake, Grandfather must live a long life! Oh, Larien. Are you going somewhere?”

Earl Boston looked at me and asked.

“I’m going to Viscount Rowe’s residence. Jade came yesterday, and somehow I received an invitation.”

“…Viscount Rowe? He came when I wasn’t around. That cunning fellow.”

Earl Boston’s expression suddenly turned serious as he put Blanche down, clearly displeased with Jade.

“Grandfather, the Viscount isn’t a bad person.”

“Darling?”

Blanche said to Earl Boston, her eyes downcast.

“Don’t hate the Viscount. He’s Shu Shu’s Papa.”

“Blanche. You… How did you know that? Did your mother tell you?”

“I just knew it as soon as I saw him. That the Viscount is Shu Shu’s Papa.”

Earl Boston was taken aback by Blanche’s confession, but soon smiled bitterly.

“Alright, this grandfather was wrong. I won’t hate him.”

He carefully tidied Blanche’s disheveled hair.

“Promise!”

“Yes. Be careful and come back safely, and listen to your mother, alright?”

“Yes!”

Earl Boston gently stroked Blanche’s cheek and handed me a jewel box wrapped in fine velvet.

“Uncle, what is this…?”

“Open it. I was going to give it to you later, but you never know what might happen when you go out.”

Inside the jewelry box was a pendant with a pinkish hue.

“Uncle, what is this pendant?”

“Do you remember I told you our ancestor was a witch? This pendant is a relic of the witch. It has been passed down to the women of Boston for generations.”

Inside the pendant was a small portrait.

Wavy light brown hair proving membership in the Boston family.

Pink eyes reminiscent of warm spring, like Rachel’s.

It was a portrait of Diane, Earl Boston’s daughter, whose life I was living instead.

“Diane lost it, and we found it in the territory. That rascal Diane had put her own portrait inside the pendant.”

So this was why Earl Boston had suddenly visited the territory.

“Does this pendant have some kind of power?”

“If you put another person’s trace inside the pendant and wear it, others will recognize you as that person when they see you.”

It was certainly dangerous to go around as ‘Larien’ in Langrangsha.

The pink potion I took five years ago also made me change into the last person who touched it for a certain time.

“There, it’s done.”

Earl Boston went behind me and fastened the pendant himself.

“Mama disappeared!”

Blanche, who had been watching, put on a serious expression.

“Blanche?”

“Grandfather, it’s clearly not Shu Shu’s Mama, but it smells like Mama. What’s going on…?”

As if truly recognizing me as Diane, Blanche tilted her head, sniffing.

I turned to meet Earl Boston’s gaze.

“…Diane?”

The corners of his mouth, which had been smiling gently, stiffened.

“Grandfather, why are you crying?”

In an instant, Earl Boston’s eyes clouded over, filling with faint tears.

‘Even though it was Uncle who gave me the pendant, he’s surprised to actually see me as Diane.’

The emotion in his eyes was a mixture of affection and longing.

“Shu Shu gets sad when Grandfather cries. Don’t cry.”

Blanche held his hand.

“Thank you, Blanche. My treasure shouldn’t be sad. Grandfather won’t cry.”

Having composed himself, Earl Boston said he would see us off and went outside with us.

“Well, I’ll be going now, Uncle.”

“Wait, wait. Larien. I’m sorry, but could you say goodbye as if you’re leaving?”

As I was about to get into the carriage, he asked with a bitter smile.

“…I’ll be back.”

“Yes, take care.”

For some reason, I couldn’t help but feel concerned about Earl Boston, who seemed to be standing there unsteadily.

Upon arriving at Viscount Rowe’s residence, I saw another carriage in front of the main gate.

‘Who could it be?’

A woman with green hair was lingering nearby.

Our eyes met as I got out, holding Blanche.

“…Diane Boston? Why are you here?”

The woman recognized ‘Diane’ and approached me, raising her eyebrows.

Blanche lowered her head and hid.

‘Green hair is the symbol of the Winst family…’

The only person likely to come to Viscount Rowe’s residence was Sharlin Winst, Jade’s fiancée.

Judging by how she casually called my name, she seemed to have been acquainted with Diane.

“You haven’t been coming to the sorority meetings, and you’ve completely stopped attending social events…”

From the context, Sharlin appeared to be in the same sorority as Diane.

‘I suppose I can call her by name too.’

How should I treat Sharlin? I recalled Diane’s manner of speaking.

‘Diane used polite speech with everyone, regardless of status.’

I had a sense of how to interact with Sharlin.

“It’s been a long time, Sharlin.”

“Yes, it has been. By the way, who is that little girl?”

Sharlin pointed at Blanche.

“…My daughter.”

“So your sudden disappearance was because of your daughter.”

“Is there a problem with that?”

I unintentionally responded sharply to Sharlin’s sarcastic tone about my recent absence.

“Your personality has changed a lot since I last saw you.”

“…”

“I was just talking about you with our classmates recently. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m also soon… Never mind.”

Sharlin added, placing her hand on her stomach, telling me not to misunderstand.

‘What was she about to say?’

“More importantly, Diane, what brings you to Viscount Rowe’s residence? Surely you’re not here to see the Viscount?”

She eyed me suspiciously, wondering if I might be Jade’s guest.

It was clear she would be displeased if she knew I came to meet him.

“No, I’m here to meet Lady Ayla.”

When I said I was here to see Ayla, not Jade, Sharlin visibly relaxed.

“Why aren’t you going inside?”

Normally, the butler should come out to greet a noble guest, especially the master’s fiancée.

“I… came to see the Viscount, but they said he wasn’t here, so I was about to leave.”

Unless Jade had ordered them not to let Sharlin in, there was no reason for such treatment.

Even if he truly wasn’t there and she was leaving, it would be proper to see her off.

‘She must be embarrassed about being turned away at the door.’

I chose not to point out Sharlin’s lie and simply nodded.

Her bloodshot eyes indicated she had been crying until just moments ago.

I wordlessly offered her a handkerchief.

“I, didn’t, cry.”

Indeed, there was a subtle trace of tears in Sharlin’s voice.

‘It seems Jade wants to unilaterally break off the engagement.’

Sharlin took the handkerchief and clutched it tightly.

“Don’t you dare tell our sorority sisters about today. I won’t stay quiet either.”

Even her sharp threat only made her seem more pitiful.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of attending the meetings anyway.”

“…But why has your daughter been hiding all this time? Is she sick?”

“She’s not sick, just very shy around strangers.”

Blanche, who had been fidgeting in my arms, slightly raised her face.

“Why… does your daughter resemble the Belaste princess when she’s yours?”

Sharlin’s face turned pale upon seeing Blanche.

“…The Belaste princess is my cousin, isn’t she?”

Since it was true that Larien had married into another family, I had no need to make up an excuse.

“The Belaste princess is… your cousin, Diane?”

“She’s my aunt’s daughter, so yes.”

“Of all people…”

This wasn’t just a reaction of surprise.

“Diane. Please, I’m begging you, even if you happen to see the Viscount, avoid him. No, to be precise, don’t let your daughter meet the Viscount.”

“…Pardon?”

Sharlin nervously bit her nails.

“Even though she’s still young, she resembles the Belaste princess so much. If the Viscount were to see your daughter…”

Her request to keep Blanche and Jade apart revealed a hint of hostility towards the ‘Belaste princess’.

‘Harboring ill feelings towards someone she’s never met…?’

I had never interacted with Sharlin.

“Viscount!”

Sharlin’s anxious face suddenly lit up.

The sound of approaching footsteps followed.

‘…Jade?’

I turned my head, following Sharlin’s welcoming gaze.

Jade was walking towards us.