Terik, as if he had just heard the story, quickly regained his composure and started working.

Erina also acted normally, seeing Terik’s usual demeanor.

“This is a letter sent from the Imperial Palace.”

The letter, decorated with a red ribbon on golden paper, was longer than expected.

The contents of the letter were a list of properties returned to Erina by the Iolls family due to the annulment of the marriage.

It stated that for assets that could not be returned, they were replaced with equivalents.

After the Emperor’s confirmation of the prepared items, they were handed over to Erina.

Erina stopped at one part while reading the letter.

It was the section listing what Peiron had taken from Medelia.

Her eyes fell on the building that had completely disrupted Erina’s married life.

It was the only thing her parents had left in Erina’s name, which Romdrick had promised not to touch.

In the end, the building that had become Mirea’s as part of the strategic marriage deal had returned.

Erina felt strange as she slowly finished reading the letter.

Terik, holding the documents that came with the letter, spoke when Erina seemed to have read a good portion of it.

“It appears there are quite a few building deeds and land titles among the items sent from the Iolls family. I’ve organized a list here.”

Erina received the document summarizing everything on one page and read it.

There were buildings Erina knew about, and lands in areas she didn’t know.

“For now, leave everything as is. I’ll think about disposing of them.”

“Understood.”

As Erina flipped through the bundle of building deeds and land titles, the signature on each document caught her eye.

It was his signature that she used to trace with her fingertips alone in her room in the early days of marriage, longing for even the slightest touch.

Erina felt strange seeing the signature that was familiar yet something she didn’t want to see again.

When she thought she was possessed rather than having returned in time, she only wished to escape from him.

She only wanted to get away from the Iolls family that had made her life miserable, and hoped they would hurt as much as Peiron and Rose had trampled on her heart.

She had always been on edge because of Peiron and Mirea, but when did she stop caring about them?

“Perhaps it’s because I’ve found peace of mind.”

“Pardon?”

Terik inquired about Erina’s muttering.

Erina smiled, gently stroking Peiron’s signature with her finger.

“Viscount Semul, how is the Iolls family doing?”

“Currently, Count Iolls has handed over the position of 2nd Knight Division Commander to the vice commander and has entered the 8th Knight Division. The Countess of Iolls is not participating in social circles at all.”

Peiron had taken great pride in being trusted by the Emperor and sitting in the honorable position of Knight Division Commander.

Erina became a little curious about how he felt now that he had fallen, after mistreating and distrusting her until the end.

Would he resent her, or would he feel sorry?

“It’s reported that more than half of the real estate that formed the backbone of the Count’s assets has been liquidated due to the marriage annulment. As a result, it seems they are facing severe financial difficulties with no immediately available assets.”

No. He might not even be thinking about her, but rather agonizing over not being able to meet Rose.

That’s the kind of man he was until she left the Iolls mansion.

“They’ll collapse.”

“Unless Count Iolls achieves something remarkable, that’s the expectation.”

As long as the United Small Kingdoms don’t start a war, the Asilaum Empire will remain peaceful during Erina’s lifetime.

It was clear that Peiron, a knight to the bone, would find it difficult to recover unless a war broke out.

“How about the Asila family?”

“The Asila family?”

Terik was puzzled when Erina mentioned the Asila family, which seemed to have no connection to her.

It wasn’t a family that had exchanges with the Medelia Viscounty, nor was it close to the Iolls family.

“Is there a reason you want to keep an eye on them?”

“Because the mistress who boldly entered the Iolls mansion was Rose Asila.”

Terik gasped in surprise.

Perhaps because it was an unexpected figure, he seemed more surprised than anticipated.

No one could have imagined it.

That beneath Rose’s innocent and pitiful face lurked the image of a moth rushing in, burning herself to take what belonged to Erina.

“Is there anyone mentioned separately in social circles as Count Iolls’ mistress?”

“Lady Modim, who confronted Lady Asila over the Sun’s Tear, is considered the most likely candidate, but…”

“But Lady Modim didn’t quite fit as a mistress, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Moreover, the Count even took care of Lady Modim at official events.”

Knowing all the truth and realizing she had returned in time, Erina found it difficult to ignore Rose any longer.

Moreover, she was concerned about what Rose might do when cornered, as it was unpredictable.

“Please keep a closer eye on the Asila family and the Iolls family from now on.”

“Understood.”

Rose’s behavior when she called Erina out to speak nonsense clearly seemed like she was preparing something.

So there was no harm in making sure she was prepared as well.

[This is the timeline separator]

Busy days passed by, and suddenly it was the day of the charity party.

“Finally, after so long, Erina will…!”

Heila’s face was overcome with emotion as she looked at the dress, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Heila.”

“Finally, we get to adorn this beautiful face!”

Erina had been working hard to sort out the messes her uncle had created without the ability to handle them, and to recover even a little of the fortune wasted over 18 years.

She had to work tirelessly, and among the flood of invitations, she only accepted the Duchess of Borbom’s charity party and declined all others.

Heila, having just ascended to the position of Countess, thought Erina would attend numerous parties and gatherings.

However, Erina stayed in the mansion and was busy only working.

Erina, having never properly adorned herself, did not know how glamorously she could transform.

Heila found this very regrettable.

Finally, an opportunity to dress up to her heart’s content had arrived.

“Just trust me, Erina.”

Surprised by Heila’s grave expression, Erina reminded her of the party to calm her down.

“Heila, it’s a charity party.”

“Erina, the big spenders at charity parties dress very extravagantly. With this much wealth, they express their willingness to spend freely through their attire today.”

In truth, as it was Erina’s first time attending a charity party, she couldn’t know if Heila’s words were true, but she had no choice but to believe them.

“Look. Even the Samuela Atelier knew and sent such a glamorous dress.”

The dress made and sent by Bilche was indeed glamorous, as Heila said.

The A-line dress, reminiscent of the Milky Way with silver chiffon overlaid on smooth and shimmering dark blue silk, was engraved with beautiful patterns in silver thread.

Unlike Bilche’s other dresses, it wasn’t adorned with dangling jewels, but it sparkled and shone enough to attract even more attention.

Erina, who preferred a neat and modest style, felt burdened by the dress from Samuela Atelier.

“Now, we don’t have much time, so hurry up and move.”

Under Heila’s direct command, Erina was washed and adorned.

Her hair, usually left down, was braided on the sides, decorated with tiny jewels, and then put up.

After finishing simple makeup and putting on the dress, Erina was beautiful enough to make the maid helping with her outfit gasp in admiration.

“Look, Erina.”

Heila showed Erina, who had finished preparing, her reflection in the mirror.

Erina found her image in the mirror unfamiliar.

When was the last time she had dressed up so carelessly?

“The finishing touch would be the beautiful shoes that will guide Erina to a happy path, right?”

Heila took out the shoes sent as a set with the dress from Samuela Atelier.

The silver shoes, sparkling as if to blind the eyes when hit by light, had dark blue branch patterns wrapping around the heel like vines.

“As expected of Samuela Atelier.”

While the Lamaton Atelier, preferred by high nobles and royalty, led the pure and delicate style, Samuela Atelier led the style that pursued the epitome of glamour.

“It’s finished!”

“Let’s depart.”

As soon as Heila announced it was done, Erina, worried about being held back longer, hurried to move.

“Erina.”

Erina received and opened the letter that Heila suddenly held out.

The person who sent the letter was Bilche, who made the dress.

[ Duchess Sereni Borbom, 3rd Princess of Tula Kingdom. Countess Mila Izak, cousin of the King of Smale Kingdom. Countess Connie Jabel, 2nd Princess and illegitimate child of Trumto Kingdom. I hope for the next opportunity. I’ll be waiting. ]

Besides the Duchess Borbom, known to have married into the empire as a legitimate royal, two other people were written in the letter.

From the hidden information about the lesser-known noble ladies, Erina could understand what Bilche wanted.

Erina held out the opened letter to Heila.

After reading the letter, Heila grinned and said.

“How clever. Trying to increase sales like this.”

Ateliers were places where many stories circulated in various ways.

As much as it was a place where one fully revealed oneself, explicit stories also circulated.

However, ateliers also demanded as much confidentiality.

One of the things high nobles wanted from ateliers was that their stories didn’t leak outside.

Bilche, after checking the current state of affairs, took a huge risk and sent a letter to Erina.

“It’s saying they’ll reveal information for sales and reputation. High-quality information unknown to others.”

At Heila’s words, Erina thought quietly for a moment, then nodded and said.

“It’s not a loss for us, so it might be good to use it moderately.”

Then Heila folded the letter, put it away, and replied.

“I’ll make sure to put Samuela Atelier ahead of Lamaton Atelier in future schedules.”