The man approaching Erina and Sandes had a large build that reminded one of Baroon following behind as a guard.

The knight with sharp eyes had short blue-green hair and thin, long black eyes that felt chilling just to look at, as if he was glaring.

“I am Cramdin Pels, Captain of the Kerenik Knights. It is an honor to meet you.”

His terribly low voice felt like it was coldly scraping the ears.

As Erina hesitated, Sandes gently squeezed her hand and smiled.

“We had to entrust the mine to someone trustworthy, so Cramdin reluctantly took charge here. Once security is somewhat stabilized, he is scheduled to join Erina’s guard.”

“What? But I already have enough…”

Erina’s gaze turned to Baroon and Silphiane standing not far away, surveying the surroundings.

“His Majesty ordered to increase the guards, so you don’t need to worry about them. If you don’t like Cramdin.”

Noticing Cramdin’s large eyes subtly drooping, Erina hastily replied.

“No, it’s just that I’m not used to having guards.”

Erina now realized a little how much her position had changed.

“I look forward to working with you, Lord Pels. I’m Erina Brill Medelia.”

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

As Cramdin extended his hand to shake, Erina slowly began to reach out her hand when Sandes moved.

“Shall we go in?”

Cramdin’s expression stiffened slightly as he held out his hand, but Sandes ignored it and led Erina by the hand.

“Sandes?”

“Yes.”

As he answered Erina while walking with his back to Cramdin, Sandes’ voice tone was strangely different.

Erina puzzled, Sandes seemingly in a bad mood, and Cramdin slightly dejected without others noticing.

Baroon and Silphiane watching from behind couldn’t help but smile.

Following Sandes, they arrived at the entrance of a long wall where the knights guarding the front bowed their heads to the two.

Passing through the entrance and following the path, they saw many people busy moving about.

The entrance to the mana stone mine, which had stood lonely when Erina first came, was now full of people coming and going, and the surrounding area that had been barren was filled with shimmering mana stones and equipment.

As Erina blankly stared at the unfamiliar scene, two people approached her.

One wore a white robe embroidered with gold thread, while the other wore a dark blue cloak embroidered with magic circle patterns.

They were envoys from the temple and the tower.

In the original story, these two went beyond being helpers to even assisting with dark deeds, worshipping Rose to the point of treating her like a god.

Whether it was because they coveted the power of the mana stones or were bewitched by Rose was unclear, but it was certain that they were a great power for Rose.

However, now that Rose did not possess the mana stone mine, such things would not happen.

“It is an honor to meet one who has received divine love. I am Rundilam, the ninth servant of the Goddess Pricellona.”

“I am pleased to meet one blessed with magical power. I am Seribel Miden of Meltias Tower.”

Their eyes were full of joy and goodwill.

Strangely, Erina did not find their gazes entirely welcome.

If the mana stone mine had not been hers, they would not only have avoided looking at her like this, but would have used every means to corner her at Rose’s request.

To hide her bitter feelings, Erina averted her gaze as she replied.

“I am Erina Brill Medelia.”

Noticing Erina’s discomfort, Sandes deliberately finished a brief greeting to the two and moved.

As Erina moved to look around the inside of the mine, she felt the two’s sticky gazes on her back.

Though the emotions in their gazes were surely positive, Erina couldn’t understand why she felt so uncomfortable.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll send the two away.”

Erina was startled by Sandes’ quiet words as they headed deeper into the mine.

“What? No, I’m fine.”

Sandes stopped walking and squeezed her hand.

He gently grabbed her shoulder with his other hand and turned her to face each other.

As Erina looked up quizzically, he gazed down softly and said:

“You don’t have to hold back anymore. Anything.”

At his kind words, various emotions welled up.

His words telling Erina, who had been afraid to depend on someone, to act spoiled as much as she wanted, made her want to indulge completely.

She had been someone who couldn’t reveal her true feelings even once, for fear that everything in her grasp would disappear.

He, who was endlessly kind to such a person, was like an inescapable swamp that she dared not emerge from.

“I will.”

Gazes focused on Erina and Sandes facing each other.

Sandes clicked his tongue and once again explained as he walked around the mana stone mine with Erina.

Erina felt her hand held by Sandes somehow tickling.

He had not let go of her hand even once since arriving here, warmly enveloping it as if handling something precious.

The gentle breath felt at her temple, the affectionate warmth rising from her fingertips, made her heart flutter for a moment, dispelling her gloomy mood.

Erina could no longer deny it.

That she was falling for him.

As Heila and Erina were talking in the reception room, Shimildeon knocked and entered with a maid carrying a tray.

“Shimildeon?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation. A lot of mail suddenly arrived for Lady Medelia, so I thought I should inform you.”

Shimildeon handed the mail addressed to Erina to her, but looked troubled.

During the Founding Festival period, gatherings or banquets could not be held, so invitations could not be exchanged.

The only mail that could move during the Founding Festival period were letters or bills.

What filled the tray of mail were all bills addressed to Erina.

Erina opened the bill placed on top.

It was billed from Samuela’s Dress Shop and the amount was considerable.

Samuela’s Dress Shop was a place loved by many noble ladies, famous for its beautiful dresses, but the prices were so enormous that even baronial families couldn’t dare to consider it.

“The senders must be people from the Medelia barony.”

“That’s right.”

It was obvious without even checking.

Even if the Medelia barony had a steady income, it wasn’t enough for all the people of the barony to engage in spending bordering on waste.

Those who knew that Erina had become the owner of the mana stone mine and would return to Medelia must have thought this was their chance.

“Shall we return them all to the Medelia barony?”

At Shimildeon’s question, Erina folded and unfolded the bill in her hand, looking at it repeatedly.

After thinking for a long time, Erina answered Shimildeon.

“No. Please leave them as they are and collect them separately for now.”

“Understood.”

As Erina put what she had been holding back on the tray, Shimildeon took all the mail and left.

“Heila.”

“Yes, Erina.”

“Which dress shop were we going to today?”

“Ramaton Dress Shop.”

It was a dress shop mainly used by high-ranking nobles or royalty, and it must have been difficult to make a sudden reservation, but strangely, they seemed to have accepted willingly.

“If the time is okay, can we leave a little early and stop by Samuela’s Dress Shop?”

“Oh, of course! Certainly.”

A mischievous smile appeared on Heila’s face.

The bill Erina had held had a pattern stamped on it that was only used by Samuela’s Dress Shop.

Heila was already excited, thinking she was going to do something interesting.

Heila stared intently at Erina sitting across from her.

Still unfamiliar with her heavily styled hair, she was lost in thought, twirling the ends of her long wavy hair.

When they first met, though she tried not to show it, she was a woman with a sad and shadowed face that was pitiful.

Erina, who had seemed about to collapse at any moment, had risen on her own even in desperate situations, and had overcome gloomy events alone.

She strongly asserted herself when she needed to be firm, and while kind-hearted, she was not simply weak.

Now blooming brightly on her own, she was truly beautiful.

She was a lovely person, both in appearance and inside.

Although she endlessly put herself down as an inadequate person, Heila thought as she looked at Erina that if she found a little more confidence, she would surely become a wonderful woman who loved herself.

“Shall we leave? If we’re going to stop by Samuela’s Dress Shop first, we should hurry.”

At Heila’s words, Erina hurried to move with her and rode in the carriage.

The Kerenik mansion in the capital was very close to the bustling area, so they arrived shortly.

Before getting out of the carriage, Erina looked at Samuela’s Dress Shop visible through the window.

Thanks to the celebration banquet held right after the Founding Festival ended, the dress shop was booming.

Samuela’s Dress Shop was bustling with noble ladies and young ladies.

Heila got out of the carriage first and opened her parasol, then Erina alighted from the carriage.

Seeing Erina get out of the carriage, some nobles exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh my!”

“Goodness!”

Unable to openly shout who had arrived, the nobles whispered to their companions and directed their gazes at Erina.

Erina looked at the dresses displayed in the window of Samuela’s Dress Shop behind the people.

The designs were excessively flashy, and perhaps because jewels were dangling all over, they looked expensive at a glance.

It was not a style Erina preferred.

Suddenly, her aunt and female cousin who loved to show off excessively came to mind.

Once a year, in a month with good income, the two would rush to Samuela’s Dress Shop to have dresses made.

Every time, they would have flashy dresses made in colors that didn’t suit them at all with their deep orange hair.

To Erina it looked ridiculous, but at the time she couldn’t tell the two straight out.

Suddenly remembering the ridiculous appearance of her aunt and female cousin, Erina let out a laugh.

Heila laughed along, thinking Erina was excited about the idea of embarrassing the people of the Medelia barony.

Though their intentions were different, Erina and Heila entered the crowded dress shop together, laughing.

In an instant, the gazes of everyone in the shop turned to the two of them.

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.