Since early dawn, Biare, having adorned herself, yawned languidly, her mind still foggy with sleep. Diane, who was assisting her with the party dress, looked at her with a worried expression.

“Miss, did you have trouble sleeping last night?”

“Yes, I’m a bit tired.”

Biare, seemingly half-asleep, lightly rubbed her partially closed, blurry eyes while responding.

Observing Diane carefully tying the dress ribbons, Biare noticed her dedication, as if Biare were the protagonist of the day.

“Please choose the lightest accessories for me.”

“Oh no, that won’t do,” Ushua, who had appeared at the door, approached Biare with a bright face.

“Happy Birthday, my sister.”

“Thank you, Ushua.”

Ushua gave her a light hug and then presented a birthday gift she had prepared.

“Biare, I specially ordered this for you, hoping you would like it.”

The gift she offered was a necklace, densely studded with topazes resembling Biare’s eyes.

“I really like it.”

The topazes, imported from the Eastern countries, radiated a precious and beautiful color.

Considering the effort her friend must have put into selecting the gift, Biare felt a tingling in her nose.

Although it was a gift she had received in the past, the emotions she felt as an adult were new, and she quietly observed the gift.

Witnessing this, Diane excitedly pointed to the topaz necklace. “Oh my, Miss, this will go perfectly with your party dress!”

“It seems so, doesn’t it? I’ll wear it today.”

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll go downstairs first.”

“Alright, I’ll be down soon,” replied Biare as Ushua headed downstairs.

The dressing maids began to move more busily.

Biare, pleased with her naturally lustrous, wheat-colored hair, decided not to have any further adornment.

Diane, seemingly a bit disappointed, respected her mistress’s wishes and finished the dressing.

After completing all the preparations, Biare walked down the bustling corridor to the downstairs, where her father, Gaizen, and Ushua were gathered.

“Our daughter. You’re truly shining more and more,” her father exclaimed enthusiastically. Biare, a bit embarrassed, responded with a subtle smile.

“I was planning to give this after the party, but I thought you might stay late tonight.”

Her father then pulled out a small gift box from his jacket, smiling brightly. “Happy Birthday, Biare.”

“Thank you, Father.”

The gift was a bellflower-shaped hairpin, similar to one she had received before. The intricately crafted diamonds emitted a soft light among the flowers.

Bellflowers were Biare’s favorite for their meaning ‘rediscovered happiness,’ which represented a hopeful leap for her.

Seeing Biare’s indescribable expression, Gaizen asked, “Sister, are you okay?”

Her father and brother, both looking concerned, assured her they could prepare another gift if she didn’t like it.

Shaking her head, Biare replied with a faint smile, “No, Father. I really like it.”
Finally reassured, the Duke left with Ushua, mentioning he would have a business discussion with the future head of the Kenshawty family.

Gaizen, who remained by Biare’s side, muttered softly, “I wanted to attend your birthday party too.”

“We can go together next year.”

Gaizen, who hadn’t yet made his debut, couldn’t officially attend social gatherings. Biare, realizing his eagerness to participate, resolved to busily prepare for his debut next year.

“I’ve prepared a birthday gift for you too.”

“What? You did?”

Surprised, as she didn’t recall receiving a gift from her brother in the past, Biare was visibly perplexed.

“This is…”

“A self-defense dagger. If anyone dares to approach you too closely…!”

Biare, unsure why he thought of such a gift, firmly interrupted him, “There won’t be a need for that, Gaizen.”

‘Still, it’s good to have a dagger like this.’

Considering its practicality, she might use it someday, Biare stroked his head.

“Don’t worry, the situation you’re concerned about won’t arise. Thank you for the gift, Gaizen.”

“…Take care, sister.”

“Sure, I will.”

The Duke’s banquet hall wasn’t far from the mansion, but given its enormous size, it felt somewhat distant.

Perhaps because she took a slightly different route than usual, the journey seemed longer.

However, Biare needed this time to mentally prepare, especially since today she would meet Dension.

‘For him, this will be our first meeting.’

With a bittersweet smile and a heavy heart, Biare approached the banquet hall.

As the doorkeeper opened the doors, the chandeliers’ twinkling lights filled her vision.

Once inside, she quickly scanned the room. The key figures from various families were already gathered, but Dension hadn’t arrived yet.

The efforts Biare put into inviting the Verdenheim family were known only to her.

With a light sigh due to her nervousness, she concealed her expression and approached the people with a bright smile.

Now it was time for her to perform the role of the seventeen-year-old lady of the Duke’s family.

“Thank you all for attending my party.”

Biare first appeared where the ladies were gathered. Feeling the scrutinizing gaze of a duchess, half-hidden behind her fan, Biare almost felt a twitch in her lips.

Despite the Rouschev family being one of the four great families of the Marta Empire, there were still those who opposed them, like the Duchess Heretia standing before her.

‘I hoped she wouldn’t attend this party.’

Knowing the Duchess’s intent in attending despite her disdain for the Rouschev family, Biare silently observed her.

“It’s a party hosted by the Rouschev lady, how could I not attend?”

Biare nearly laughed at the duchess’s mocking tone but restrained herself.

‘It would have been nice if she had aged gracefully.’

For some reason, Duchess Heretia particularly disliked Biare.
If Biare had been her seventeen-year-old self from the past, she would have been hurt by Duchess Heretia’s sharp words and strived to improve their relationship. But now, Biare had grown too much to be wounded by such things. There was no need for her to show hostility to the Duchess just because she was on the receiving end of barbed remarks.

“Is that so? I’m flattered by your attention.”

Unperturbed by the Duchess’s provocation, Biare’s response seemed to irritate her, who could only flutter her fan in annoyance.

To lighten the tense atmosphere, a gentle voice from the Duchess of Verdenheim chimed in, “Lady Biare, you look absolutely stunning today.”

“Really, you’re becoming an adult soon, aren’t you?” added the kind Duchess Lysandro, who was looking at Biare warmly. Duchess Lysandro’s son was a long-time friend of Gaizen, and they often visited each other’s estates.

‘I didn’t expect her to assist me, given Gaizen is her son’s friend, not mine.’

Surprised by the support from the Duchess, with whom she had no personal rapport, Biare responded, “Yes, my lady. Next year I’ll be an adult.”

“There must be many who wish to dance with the Lady tonight.”

Given the numerous dance requests and proposals she had received in the past, such attention no longer moved Biare. However, she was a seventeen-year-old girl at that moment.

With an expression full of anticipation akin to any seventeen-year-old, Biare replied with an excited smile, “Then I should carefully consider my dance steps.”

Not long after, Duchess Heretia, who had closed her fan and lifted the corners of her mouth, said smugly as if reclaiming lost prey, “You’re really lucky, Lady Biare. Especially with him arriving just in time.”

At the end of the Duchess’s gaze stood a tall man in a red cape. As he approached Biare, the hall buzzed with murmurs and whispers.

In that moment, Biare felt a mix of humiliation and shame, akin to a jester’s plight. Indeed, nothing seemed to go right for her.