On a late afternoon with sunlight seeping in, maids were diligently helping Biare with her attire in her room.

As her adornment became increasingly elaborate, Biare shook her head and said in a firm voice.

“It shouldn’t be too much. I’m visiting the foundation today.”

“The foundation? Come to think of it, you sponsor a cultural foundation, don’t you, young lady?”

“Yes, I feel like I haven’t been able to pay attention to it lately.”

Since returning to the past, Biare had been unable to visit the cultural foundation she sponsored due to having many things to handle.

The nobles of the Marta Empire tended to be stingy with donations and sponsorships, and were the type to show off just by becoming patrons.

Moreover, since it wasn’t even an essential skill for nobles, they had no interest in altruistic lives with their eyes and ears closed.

In their eyes, busy filling their own stomachs, things like donations and sponsorships were merely meaningless investments.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Biare in her younger days was not much different from them.

However, after her mother founded the cultural foundation and spared no sincere support for the commoners, her perspective on the world gradually changed.

Thanks to this, the status of the Ruschef family rose even higher among the imperial people, and the children who grew up with sponsorship were helping the ducal family in their respective positions.

When the Duchess Ruschef passed away, the activities of the cultural foundation also faltered for a while, but it was still operating well until now thanks to the staff who had been leading the foundation together.

The Duke also couldn’t bear to eliminate his beloved wife’s foundation, so he provided great financial assistance.

Thus, Biare naturally inherited her mother’s will and was putting effort into running the cultural foundation.

Although she couldn’t visit the foundation often, she stopped by periodically for major events or to check on its actual conditions.

The fact that the eldest daughter of the Ruschef ducal family had become the operator of the foundation was known only to a select few.

As she didn’t enjoy standing out in the first place, she was continuing the operation under the name of the family.

Although it started with just the will to carry on the Duchess’s legacy, now she was the mainstay of the foundation with sincerity.

As Tonio joined the Duke’s escort who left for the territory inspection in the morning, Biare’s two remaining knights and Diane got into the carriage together.

Biare, who had been looking out the window the whole time, soon turned her head and asked the knight in front of her.

“Come to think of it, were you also from the cultural foundation?”

“Yes. Thanks to the Duchess’s sponsorship, I was able to join the knights like this.”

“I see, you’ve become an excellent knight.”

He was one of those who had made a name for himself as a talent from the cultural foundation.

Biare felt proud whenever those who received sponsorship made a name for themselves in the capital like this.

Although she hadn’t wanted compensation separately, they swore loyalty to the ducal family out of gratitude.

The reason for visiting the cultural foundation today was partly to check on its actual conditions, but in fact, there was an even bigger reason.

‘I need a new confidant.’

Someone to become her shadow was now the most necessary existence for her.

She had been constantly feeling it acutely since her regression. That there was no one left who could be trusted completely.

No matter how much Tonio and Diane swore loyalty to her, they were not people employed by Biare.

Their true master was her father, Fredick Ruschef.

She needed someone who could perfectly carry out tasks without any problems when assigned, someone who could obey and even give up their life.

Therefore, under the pretext of visiting the cultural foundation, she intended to bring a new confidant.

‘That child would certainly belong to this cultural foundation.’

The person Biare had her eye on was a knight who had sworn loyalty to the imperial family in her past life.

That knight from the cultural foundation would later be recognized for his skills and become part of the imperial knights, and Biare was inwardly frustrated that the Ruschef family hadn’t recognized the talent first.

Biare planned to make that knight, who would become one of the shadows of the imperial family, swear loyalty to her before he swore loyalty to Ivan two years from now.

Eventually, the coachman opened the sliding window to announce their arrival, and Biare, getting off the carriage, was welcomed by the cultural foundation staff.

“Thank you so much for coming all this way, young lady.”

“It’s been a while.”

The staff member in charge of the foundation’s proxy management greeted Biare warmly and took charge of guiding her.

She had been working together since the Duchess was running it, so she was providing a lot of help to Biare.

“Young lady, will you be visiting the gallery today as well?”

“No, I was thinking of visiting the training grounds today.”

Gaizen was in charge of selecting children with talent in swordsmanship for the Ruschef family’s knights.

Therefore, the proxy seemed a bit surprised, but soon guided her there with a kind smile.

Entering the training grounds, all that could be seen were men, and the number of women was very few, countable on one hand.

Although the cultural foundation claimed to operate fairly based on ability regardless of gender, it seemed to lack management in detailed aspects.

Biare let out a shallow sigh and asked the knight standing silently beside her.

“Sir, are there so few women in the ducal residence’s training grounds as well?”

“Although the ratio can’t be the same, many talented female knights have joined.”

As far as she knew, the Ruschef family had a significantly higher number of female knights compared to other families’ knight orders.

Everyone was given the same opportunity according to the Duke’s will, which emphasized ‘fairness’.

There was something her father repeatedly said.

‘Equality and fairness should not be viewed the same.’

Biare chastised herself for not paying attention to those who needed the right to fairness.

Her young brother couldn’t have such attention to detail, so naturally, cracks formed in the gaps that occurred.

Biare tried not to show her emotions and simply walked down the training ground stairs silently.

At the appearance of the Ruschef young lady, people in the training grounds stopped their sword training and suddenly fell into silence.

The person who seemed to be their instructor hurriedly ran to Biare, to which she instructed them to continue their training.

To their eyes, it might have just looked like the young lady was touring the training grounds, but she was observing more seriously than anyone else.

There were only three female trainees in this vast place.

It would be natural for them to have difficulties in sword training, being at the edge of the training grounds.

Those who didn’t even attempt sword matches with women, under the misconception that they wouldn’t be a match, were sorely lacking in the spirit of chivalry.

Their biased thinking, which was not fair and leaned to one side, would have put them in a disadvantageous situation.

Observing the situation, Biare instructed the instructor to call over the most skilled trainees in this training ground.

He brought only the male trainees who were said to stand out in front of her without hesitation. As if it were natural.

Biare, with a sardonic smile, pretended to casually look around and pointed out that child who was her purpose for today.

Surprised by the unexpected call, she seemed quite taken aback, but soon approached Biare with courtesy.

Then Biare pointed to one of the skilled male trainees and said.

“You two, have a match.”

Surprised by the sudden situation, they looked at each other, and the male trainee was showing a triumphant attitude as if he had already foreseen victory.

However, Biare knew. That the female trainee she had pointed out would win.

She, who had been part of Ivan’s knight order in her past life, was establishing her position solely with skill.

The organization called the imperial shadows could only be entered by the most skilled, and she too had been selected for her outstanding skills.

However, Jo Ian, who got caught up in some incident there, was eventually abandoned and met her death without being able to see the light unfairly.

‘I’ll help you live a completely new life in this life.’

In her eyes, training at the edge of the training grounds, there was a deep desperation.

One who doesn’t settle for the current situation but constantly strives to grasp a better situation.

It would be even better if they couldn’t hide their ambition beyond desperation.

Rather, that would be easier to manage.

Thus, the match between the two began, and contrary to everyone’s expectations, an unpredictable game continued.

How much time had passed, finally the male trainee who showed a disturbed posture first dropped his sword, ending the match.

Everyone was surprised at the unexpected result, but at that moment, Biare felt as if joy was overflowing.

One who, despite having significantly good skills, hadn’t stood out just because they didn’t get a fair opportunity.

This was exactly the person Biare was looking for to complete her masterpiece.

The female trainee also seemed surprised at herself, looking at her own hand with a face full of joy while panting.

Biare, who had watched the match with interest, slowly approached her and asked for her name. As if seeing her for the first time.

“What is your name?”

“It’s Jo Ian.”

“I see, Jo Ian. Come with me.”

Surprised once again by the young lady’s sudden proposal, one of the knights who had been guarding her side all along raised his voice instead.

“Young lady…! We should speak to the Duke separately…”

“I’ll talk to Father, so don’t worry. You saw it too, didn’t you? This child’s skills.”

Biare’s gaze was directed towards the commoner knight from the cultural foundation.

He, who usually had many smiles, watched the match with a serious expression.

He too must have discovered the desperate true value in the female trainee, just like Biare.

He seemed confident that if she became part of the knight order, she would surely become the best knight.

“Yes, she will certainly become an excellent talent for the knight order.”

“You heard that? Jo Ian, will you come with me?”

“I swear my loyalty for the opportunity you’ve given me, young lady.”

She, who hadn’t stood out anywhere, vowed to dedicate her life to the young lady who recognized her.

Parting ways with the past where she was nothing but a shadow that couldn’t see the light, she would become a confidant who shines by burning herself solely for her master, even if she had to.