Meanwhile, someone whose identity was unknown kept knocking on the door. As if urging her.

“…Who is it?”

Elaina asked in a slightly trembling voice after taking a small, deep breath.

“Please tell me your name.”

Then, an unexpected name that she had never thought of came back.

“It’s Schuler.”

“…”

“I am Sinclair’s escort knight. We met before at the Aswald family.”

…Ah.

She finally remembered.

The young man with red hair who helped her get off the carriage and gave her a horse to ride.

Elaina, who belatedly relaxed, carefully opened the door.

“Hello, Lady Elaina.”

Schuler, who was standing in front of the door, politely bowed and greeted her.

“I am truly sorry for coming to see you so forcefully. I have committed a discourtesy. But there are things you need to see urgently.”

“…There are things I need to see?”

“Please wait a moment.”

Schuler left a brief word and disappeared for a while. And not long after, he brought luggage containing an enormous variety of dresses and accessories that were neatly arranged.

“If you don’t mind, may I come in?”

“Ah, yes. Please come in.”

At Elaina’s words, Schuler smiled kindly, saying he was grateful. Then, he began to move the numerous luggage to the drawing room without showing any signs of difficulty.

“Actually, I tried to deliver it to you a little earlier, but Sinclair’s intention was so firm.”

Sinclair’s intention was firm? Elaina made an expression as if asking what that meant.

“Even if time is a bit tight, he ordered to prepare the maximum variety. Also, the most expensive and time-consuming dresses.”

“…”

“So it’s no exaggeration to say that all the famous designers in Edenbell have devoted themselves to making Lady Elaina’s dress for the past few days. The same goes for the jewelers.”

So that’s why there were so many dresses.

To be honest, it was very unexpected. After all, the relationship between Sinclair and her was formed by a contract, and they would become strangers after a year.

They were going to have a wedding, but it was just a pretense to deceive the emperor who wanted to monitor him. So Sinclair had no obligation to pay that much attention.

“He ordered very decisively.”

As if sensing Elaina’s thoughts, Schuler shrugged and continued.

“Not only the dresses and accessories but also the wedding itself should have no shortcomings. He said it should be enough to make the royal family or nobles stick out their tongues. He even threatened that if your family’s reputation is not protected, he will not let a single person go.”

“Ah, I…”

“It may be a very presumptuous remark, but isn’t all of this Sinclair’s fault?”

Schuler lowered his voice significantly and whispered in Elaina’s ear as if it were a big secret, even though no one was listening.

“So, Lady Elaina, you don’t have to think about anything and just choose the dresses and accessories you like. In fact, no matter what you choose, you will shine. It’s because Sinclair personally explained the designs that would suit Lady Elaina.”

“…Sinclair did?”

“Of course. But everything I just told you is a secret. It seems like I would get into a lot of trouble. Especially the part about it being all Sinclair’s fault.”

Promise, you will keep it a secret, right?

At Schuler’s earnest request, Elaina nodded and smiled slightly.

“The process of wearing them will be complicated, so you will need help. I called a maid who specializes in costumes. She will probably arrive soon. Lady Elaina, you can take your time choosing. If there is anything else you need, please feel free to tell me anytime.”

Is there anything else I could possibly need here? It seemed like even if they brought a princess or queen from any empire, they would all be satisfied and still have more.

“I don’t think I will have to tell you that I need anything else separately, but for now, I understand what you mean. Since Sinclair and the others have done their best, I will also do my best to choose.”

Schuler smiled brightly at her kind tone.

“If you don’t mind, may I offer you some tea? The journey here must have been quite arduous.”

“Of course, it would be a great honor for me. But is it really alright for me to commit such a discourtesy…”

“Please don’t say that. Then I will bring out the tea. Please sit comfortably on the sofa and rest.”

Elaina limped and turned around, roughly organizing the luggage she had laid out on the table and gathering it in a corner.

And she left her seat to serve tea to Schuler. Fortunately, a sensible maid had prepared various delicious teas.

But Elaina did not know. The moment she turned around, the box placed on top of the old diary fell with a thud and opened weakly.

Thus, Schuler saw the ring that Ren had given her.

“I brought the most popular tea because I didn’t know what your taste would be. I hope it suits your taste.”

As Elaina set down the tray with the teacup on the table, she finally realized that Schuler had been looking at the fallen ring.

She was a little flustered, but in fact, it wasn’t something she had to hide if she thought about it.

It’s just that she felt embarrassed to be caught by Schuler, who didn’t know the story, for her foolish heart that still couldn’t throw away this ring…

However, Schuler’s expression as he stared at the ring was a little strange.

“First of all, I will gratefully drink it, Lady Elaina. It is truly an honor.”

Schuler, who finally turned his gaze, said with a smile.

Elaina slowly sat across from him and began to put the luggage she had pushed aside back into the bag.

Schuler seemed to stare at it intently, then spoke very carefully.

“It was a very nice ring.”

“…Ah, yes. It is.”

“If you don’t mind, may I ask where that ring came from?”

Come to think of it, wasn’t Sinclair also interested in this ring?

Could it be that Ren was related to the imperial family? Elaina narrowed her eyes slightly, then slowly opened her lips.

“It was a gift I received a long time ago. But if you ask where this ring itself came from, I have nothing to say. Because I don’t know either.”

“…Didn’t the person who gave you the gift tell you?”

“No. I didn’t hear about that.”

For a moment, Schuler’s expression became subtle.

“I searched for it because there was a seal engraved inside the ring, but no noble family in Edenbell had such a seal.”

Yes. I searched so many times.

Worried that Ren might not be able to find me after that accident.

Some longing was so strong that it even blurred resentment, making Elaina do stupid things over and over again.

Now it has all become meaningless, but…

“…”

A silence as heavy as lead descended between Elaina and Schuler. Schuler looked like someone who was pondering something. So Elaina waited for his reaction without saying anything.

It was not until a long time had passed that Schuler opened his mouth again.

“You won’t be able to find that seal anywhere in Edenbell.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s not from Edenbell. It’s the seal of another empire.”

…Another empire?

Then did Ren go far away and couldn’t come back?

Was it not that he abandoned me?

Elaina’s blue eyes, which contained the ring, wavered violently.

Even though she had told herself over and over again that it had become a meaningless object…

“…But I can’t remember exactly which empire it was. I apologize.”

Now he could understand a little. Why that scoundrel Sinclair approached this insignificant woman of all people.

‘They knew each other… He even gave her his mother’s keepsake…’

The homeland of the empress, who must have turned into white bones by now.

The place that has now become a ruined country.

It was also the homeland of the ring, the seal of the imperial family of a distant empire.

However, he couldn’t say everything. The reason was simple. Because Sinclair didn’t say it directly to Elaina himself.

Nevertheless, the reason he threw a clue was also simple. Because whenever Sinclair talked about Elaina in front of him, he always had a face full of regret.

And this woman also had the same face.

Schuler was not unaware that his actions were very presumptuous, but he quietly thought.

Perhaps Sinclair Butler and Elaina Aswald are trapped in the same past.

And that’s because of each other’s absence…

“Ah, I think the maid has arrived.”

What stopped Elaina’s thoughts that kept chasing each other was the sound of a carriage coming from outside and Schuler’s voice.

Elaina, who finally came to her senses, put the bag containing the ring under the table with a somewhat awkward expression, and Schuler quickly rose from his seat with a grin.

“The tea was really delicious, Lady Elaina. And it was an honor too. Then I will take my leave now. I hope there will be something that you really like among the dresses that Sinclair has chosen one by one.”

Just as he did when he first visited the villa, Schuler bowed excessively to Elaina.

Not long after that, Schuler left the villa, and as he said, the maid in charge of the costume entered the drawing room with a polite greeting.

Schuler’s worries were unnecessary. The dresses were all beautiful without exception, and the maid who was helping her change even blushed and chattered.

She said that everything suits Lady Elaina so well that it is difficult to even give an opinion on which one is the best.

Dresses, accessories, shoes. She was also very distracted by the explanation of the makeup and hairstyle to be done on the day, but Elaina thought it was rather fortunate.

If she was this busy, at least she wouldn’t be able to sink into thoughts about Ren and wander in the past.

Anyway, Elaina successfully chose a dress, and not long after, another maid visited.

She stayed at the villa that day and the next day, doing her best to make Elaina shine the most. Caring for her skin, applying fragrance to her body. Doing such time-consuming things.

But even until the day before the wedding, Sinclair did not come.

And finally, the wedding day dawned.