Leticia Leroy was ordinary. Her face was neither pretty or ugly, her height neither tall nor short, nothing she could do or couldn’t do particularly well, she was just nice… However, Leticia was the “naughty girl” and “apple of the eye” of the Marquis Leroy family. And if that wasn’t enough, she was the object of comparison with her siblings everywhere she went. Sadly, it was all too common. She was not as pretty as her second sister Diana, not as smart as her third brother Emil, and not as good with a sword as her fourth brother Xavier, and she wasn’t as talented for magic as her youngest sister Irene. 

But Leticia never once felt jealous or envious of her siblings. In fact, she was proud of them. And yet, she never knew that her family was ashamed of her. That was, until the moment her family abandoned her.

***

“That’s how I told you to go meet people.”

Leticia’s shoulders slumped at the sharp look and cold voice. Unable to look at him properly, she lowered her head, he shouted even more harshly.

“I told you to stay away from the Duke of Achilles!”

“But he’s really nice…”

“Look how your sister got hurt when you hung out with the Duke of Achilles!”

Leticia raised her head in surprise at Marquis Leroy’s words. 

“Diana, what’s wrong…..?”

There was a bandage around Diana’s wrist that wasn’t there yesterday. Before Leticia could approach Diana out of concern, Marquis Leroy stood in front of her. It was as if he was trying to protect Diana from something inauspicious.

“Are you trying to bring misfortune to us by tangling with that ill-fated family?”

[Misfortune is contagious.]

So stay away from the unlucky and the unhappy. That was what Marquis Leroy always told Leticia. She had to be more careful because she was unlucky. But she didn’t know why those words came to her mind now.

It was then.

“Leticia Leroy.”

Leticia stiffened at the sound of the voice calling her name. 

It was just a name call. But why was her heart beating so fast and she felt suffocating?

The moment she locked gazes with the Marquis, thinking it was her imagination, Leticia seemed to be driven off the cliff. Her lips trembled at the somewhat ominous premonition.

“You’re expelled from the Leroy family.”

She felt a thud under her feet along with the sound of something large falling on her head. 

“Father…”

She felt suffocated as she spoke, barely able to keep her voice together. She hoped the Marquis would tell her it was a lie, but there was no pity in his gaze.

Leticia squeezed her trembling hands and turned to her family. She wished with all her heart that anyone would help her. But there was no one.  It was as if they had been waiting for this day to come. It was then that Leticia realized that her family was always looking for an opportunity to get rid of her. This was just an excuse to kick her out. 

‘My family is abandoning me.’

In the end, the tears she was holding back flowed down her cheeks.

In fact, she faintly knew that such a day would come. Her family always thought of her as a troublemaker, or something they wanted to get rid of quickly.

But when she actually faced them in front of her, there was nothing she could say. Her family was everything to Leticia. She loved them even though she knew they looked down on her and ignored her. But what came back was contempt and coldness. Marquis Leroy turned away sharply as he spoke.

“From this day on, you are no longer my daughter, and do not even think of taking another step in this place.”

Leticia sank helplessly. Soon the Marquise and her siblings walked past her. She wept unceasingly at their cold appearance, not even looking back. That was how Leticia was abandoned by her family. 

“I feel better now that we have finally gotten rid of this unlucky child.”

The Marquis’s mouth rose gently as he watched Leticia walk out of the mansion. 

“Diana won’t get hurt any more, and only good things will happen now.”

Now that Leticia, who was associated with the ill-fated family was gone, only good things would happen in the future. However, on the same day that Leticia was exiled, the bronze shield with the Leroy family’s emblem suddenly fell and broke. 

***

 For generations, the three children of the Helios Empire were born with special abilities. First, the House of El had abilities related to academics and knowledge, which were now perishable; second, the House of Erebos had abilities in swordsmanship and martial arts; and finally, the House of Leroy had abilities in various fields. However, the eldest daughter, Leticia, had not yet awakened any abilities, as if she was a stranger with no relation to them.

“I think it’s your child.”

Marquis Leroy looked at Leticia with a disgruntled look on his face. Next to him, his wife comforted the Marquis.

“But I’m glad there are other children.”

“I’m sorry, Father, Mother….”

Whenever they said this, Leticia couldn’t look her parents in the eyes, as if she had become a sinner. As she bowed her head deeply, the Marquis’ deep voice descended from above her head. 

“Are you sure there is none? Not even something useless?”

“I’m sorry….”

“Can you stop saying sorry?”

 “Honey, calm down.”

“It is frustrating to look at the ashes. Frustrating!”

Leticia didn’t know how she came to be inferior to her siblings. 

“Please be patient for tomorrow.”

His wife gently wrapped her arms around him, and he nodded with a more relaxed look on his face. 

“My wife is right. Our second daughter’s birthday is coming up soon, so we have to be patient.”

Marquis Leroy and his wife loved Diana the most, even though her abilities were far more unsightly than those of their other children. It was because as soon as Diana was born, everything mysteriously fell into place at a time when they were poor and went through hardship that they had to lower their titles. 

“I’m going to go see if everything is ready for the party.”

“I’ll come with you”

When his wife rose from her seat and the Marquis naturally followed her. Leticia, who was left alone, could only stare silently at their backs. 

“My birthday has passed and yet…” 

Leticia cared so much for her brother’s and sister’s birthdays, but not even a single small gift was given to her on her birthday. Not only that, they forgot about it every year and looked at her pitifully when she told them it was her birthday. 

[How old are you already to talk about your birthday?]

Her father’s voice rang in her ears that her birthday was not that big of a deal. Beside him, her mother didn’t complain, but she didn’t say anything, as if she felt the same way as her father.

“A disaster….” 

Now, she stopped expecting any gifts. She just wanted to hear them say ‘Happy birthday’.

However, her parents and siblings never congratulated her. It was as if even that was a luxury. If her ability had awakened, her parents wouldn’t have disapproved of her, nor would her siblings have ignored her. So this was all her fault. Leticia then let out a shallow sigh and was about to head back to her room when a presence came right in front of her eyes. Diana stood there with a frown on her face.

“Can you please move out of the way?”

“Huh?”

“Do you know you’re blocking the way?”

Hearing Diana’s annoyed voice, Leticia quickly stepped aside with a panicked look on her face. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

But Deanna didn’t even pretend to hear her. Suddenly, Diana stopped abruptly and approached Leticia again. Before Leticia could ask if she had anything to say, Diana spoke first. 

“How long are you going to embarrass us?”

“What?”

“You know how embarrassed we are because of your incompetent?”

“Diana….”

“You should live in shame.”

The only stain on the prestigious Leroy family, Leticia Leroy.

No matter how good the other children were, the incompetent Leticia Leroy always dragged the family down.

The nobles admired and envied the Leroy family, but ridiculed them behind their back because Leticia’s ability did not awaken. Rumors circulated that she was an illegitimate child, a mutant, or a cursed child. 

“Do you really have no ability?” 

“I….”

“You’re pathetic.”

Diana, who stared at Leticia, walked away as if she was speechless.

Standing still for a moment, Leticia trudged back to her room. 

“Huu······”

As soon as she came into the room, she took a long sigh and lay down on the bed. She just wanted to fall asleep, but the words she heard today kept ringing in her ears.

[Are you sure you’re not capable of anything, even something useless?] 

[We have to make sure the party is perfectly prepared.]

 [How long are you going to embarrass us?]

Just as she was about to cover her ears, she heard someone knocking on the door. 

“Come in.”

As soon as she spoke with a drooping voice, the door opened and someone approached her.

“Miss.”

Leticia turned to the soft voice. There stood Mary, looking at her pitifully.

Mary quickly brought the tray of food near the bed, but Leticia shook her head. 

“I want to go to bed early today.”

It was a tiring and depressing day and she wanted to forget it if she fell asleep. As Leticia turned to her side again, Mary gently sat on the edge of the bed.

“Did something happen, Miss?”

Despite the worrying question, Leticia kept silent and closed her eyes tightly.

However, the voice that she was trying to ignore stuck deeply in her ears. 

[Pathetic.]

[Pathetic.]

Leticia buried her face deep in the pillow. But it didn’t stop her from crying.

“Mary.”

 “Yes, Miss.”

“Why don’t I have any ability?”

“Miss….”

“Diana, Emil, Xavier….and even my youngest sister, Irene. Why am I the only one lacking it?”

She always wondered. Why was she the only one without the ability? Why, of all people, she was the odd one? 

“Diana said I’m pathetic.”

“How could she say that?!”

“But I couldn’t say anything.”

“Miss…”

Mary tapped Leticia gently on her shoulder, but her deeply submerged mind was hardly lightened.

“I’m pathetic too.”

“…”

“I was born this way not because I wanted to… I couldn’t choose to be born with or without abilities…”

She was sad, but no one understood how she felt. And she couldn’t say anything because she felt like she was to blame for all of this.

“Yes, It’s my fault.”

Leticia bit her lips and curled up further, ‘If I had the ability, none of this would have happened.’

Mary, who was watching her from behind, spoke cautiously.

“You may already have it, Miss. Maybe you just can’t see it.”

“You think so?”

“Well, I mean…”

It didn’t occur to her to think that far, and Mary gave her a troubled look and fumbled with her words. Leticia couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“How is your brother, Mary?”

“Oh, he….”

Mary, who paused for a moment, answered with a bitter look on her face.

“He doesn’t get better or worse. They say to use another medicine, but it’s too expensive.…”

Leticia, who was quietly listening to Mary’s words, went over to the dressing table. Mary, who noticed that she was picking up the most expensive jewelry, grabbed Leticia’s arm.

“The Marquis will be very angry if he finds out.”

“It’s alright.”

“I’ll take your sincerity, Miss.”

Last time Leticia was scolded badly by the Marquis for something similar. So Mary shook her head more firmly and refused.

“It really is fine, Miss.”

Mary put the trinket in Leticia’s hand back in place and poured the tea. But, Leticia’s eyes were still on the trinket.

“I wish money would fall from the sky.”

“Mary.” 

“Then I’ll pick it up right away.”

Leticia smiled, realizing the joke was meant to change the subject.

“I think it would be faster to pick up the money on the street.”

“I know. I’d like to pick up some money on the street.”

Leticia drank all the tea that Mary poured and before she knew it, it was evening.

When Leticia saw that the sky was getting dark, she said to Mary, 

“You’d better get going before it gets any darker.”

“But there is still time.” 

“I’m worried about your brother.”

Mary had to take care of her sick brother and was commuting to work. It wasn’t time for her to leave, but Leticia wanted her to.

“Thank you, Miss.”

Mary bowed her head and was about to leave when Leticia called her. When Mary turned back, their eyes met, and Leticia smiled and said,

“Mary, I hope you’ll pick up money on the street.”

“Oh, Miss.” 

Mary chuckled and closed the door behind her.

****

When she had finished all the preparations for going home and left the house,

 Mary gave a long sigh when she left the mansion ready to go home. 

“My poor Lady…… “

She had never seen anyone as kind and thoughtful as Leticia before. However, Marquis Leroy tended to ignore her, and it was always heartbreaking. 

“Tomorrow I will prepare a sweet dessert.”

As she was walking home, reminding herself, Mary saw something sparkling in front of her. 

“What is it?”

She picked it up carefully with her hands. 

“Gold coin? Gold coins in the middle of a road like this!”

Mary blinked several times to double-check that she wasn’t looking at the wrong thing. By all accounts, it was a gold coin.

At that time, Leticia’s cheerful voice crossed her ears.

[I hope you’ll pick up money on the street.]

“….?”

“Can you help me prepare to go see brother Levion?” (*Brother* in this situation is for someone older, but not an actual blood related brother.)

Levion was hard at work training for his upcoming entrance exam for the Imperial Knights. Leticia wanted to be of any help to her fiance.

“Please get my handkerchief.”

“…”

“Mary?”

“Yes….? Oh, what did you say?”

When Leticia called her name, Mary raised her head in surprise as if she came to her senses. The moment their eyes met, Leticia said with a worried look on her face.

“Is something wrong? Could it be that your brother has been more ill?”

“No, I was just thinking about something, My Lady.”

Even though she said there was nothing wrong, Mary couldn’t get last night’s incident out of her mind.

It was gold coins laying in the middle of the street on her way home after leaving work.

And what Leticia said right before she left the mansion.

[I hope you’ll pick up the money on the street]

It must be a coincidence.

It just so happened to be an odd coincidence.

Mary held out a handkerchief to Leticia, thinking so intently.

“Is there anything else you need, My Lady?”

“No, this will be enough.”

After Mary gave her the handkerchief, Leticia came out and walked down the corridor.

But before she could walk far, she met someone.

It was Diana.

“It looks like you’re going somewhere?”

Diana asked, looking at Leticia up and down. Despite the unpleasantness, Leticia didn’t frown once and nodded lightly.

“I’m going to see brother Levion.”

Diana’s expression hardened at the words. Soon her hateful voice came out.

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why do you have to go?”

Leticia felt frustrated, as if she was being interrogated. After a moment of confusion, Leticia gently tilted her head.

“It’s not right for me to go to support him?”

Before they were engaged, Leticia and Levion had been close friends since childhood. He was her fiancé, but she thought of him as family. Diana’s gaze grew even higher.

“That’s very encouraging.”

Diana glanced at Leticia fiercely, then smirked and walked past her.

***

‘What was wrong with her….?’

On the way to see Levion, Leticia couldn’t get Diana’s reaction out of her mind for a long time. I called Diana to turn around, but she just walked away.

‘What’s the matter?’

No matter how much she thought about it, Leticia couldn’t find the answer. 

However, something was strange.

Leticia tightened her grip on her dress, feeling anxious that something was about to happen.

“Miss, we’re here.”

Leticia decided to think about it later and got out of the carriage. But when she actually got off, she was at a loss as to where to go.

While she was fidgeting, unable to take a single step, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“What are you doing here?”

It was Leticia’s fiancé, Levion. His silver hair shining brightly in the sunlight and his clear purple eyes looked dreamy.

“Brother!”

Fortunately, she ran into Levion at recess time.

it was just recess time, or I would have met Rivion right away. However, unlike Leticia, who approached him with a cheerful smile, Levion looked somewhat uncomfortable.

“I’ve come to cheer you on.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh …… I’m sorry if I’ve been a burden. I’m leaving now.”

Levion had never looked so blatantly inconvenienced, even if he didn’t say it.

As Leticia turned to leave with a panicked look on her face, Levion said with a sigh.

“Follow me.”

“Please wait for me.”

Leticia carefully grasped Levion’s arm as he turned away. It must have been a hard day of training as there was sweat on Levion’s forehead.

The moment she took out her handkerchief to wipe off his sweat, a sorrowful voice came out of Leticia’s mouth. It was a handkerchief that she had made and ruined for embroidery practice.

Still, she wanted to wipe it with this handkerchief, but the expression on Levion’s face wasn’t so pleasant.

“What is your ability?”

“What?”

“Hasn’t it awakened yet?”

“That’s….”

Embarrassed to answer, Leticia glanced away and lowered her head.

Her family was always unhappy with her for not being awakened to any abilities. 

And then there was another one.

“I’m sorry, brother Levion…”

Like a fool, she completely forgot.

Her fiancé didn’t like it either.

Unable to raise her head, Leticia grimaced and grasped her hands. At that moment a chilling voice rang in her ears.

“You seem to have a lot of time.”

“What?”

His dry, purple eyes went to the handkerchief. As soon as he saw the stitches sticking out, Levion frowned.

“Make something like this.”

“It’s…”

The moment she was about to say something, she felt strangely suffocated.

However, Levion sighed as if he was frustrated looking at her.

“I’ll leave you to it.”

“What? You’re leaving already?”

Surprised, Leticia’s eyes widened, but Levion only looked at her unsympathetically.

“Then is there any reason why I should stay here longer?”

With those last words, Levion left as if he didn’t need to be there any longer. And he didn’t even look back once.

“Ha…”

A laugh suddenly came out.

Leticia felt miserable as she was left behind.

Eventually, Leticia lost confidence in staying here any longer and turned away. No, she wanted to leave. If only she didn’t bump into a man who was passing by.

“I’m sorry, sir. I wasn’t looking ahead properly…” 

The moment when a bewildered Leticia looked up to apologize, something red dropped on the floor. She was surprised to see a cut on the man’s bloodied hand.

“Are you hurt, sir?”

“It’s nothing, Young Lady.”

The man tried to pass by with a casual smile. But Leticia grabbed his arm without realizing it.

Facing the man, who opened his gray eyes wide in surprise, Leticia cautiously offered him the handkerchief.

“If you don’t mind, use this….”

However, her hand, which held out a handkerchief to the man, stopped as if it was suddenly frozen.

[You seem to have a lot of time on your hands. Making something like this.]

Levion’s voice that sounded judgmental at the sight of her handkerchief echoed in her ears in a tormenting way.

In fact, to say it was sloppy would be an understatement by anyone’s standards. It was only today that the stitching seemed to stick out particularly well. Then, Leticia tried to retract her hand in embarrassment. However, the man smiled faintly and accepted the handkerchief that Leticia offered him. 

“Thank you, Young Lady.”

But instead of wiping the blood off with the handkerchief, he put it in his pocket.

“Why?”

“What?”

“I gave it to you to wipe off the blood.”

At Leticia’s words, the man rather asked with a quirk.

“Then wouldn’t that be offensive? It’s got blood on it.”

“…………………”

Leticia smiled a little at the way the man cherished her handkerchief, and put out her hand.

When the man realized that Leticia wanted it back, he gave it back to her.

Then, Leticia suddenly grabbed his hand as he handed it to her. Before he could be surprised by the careful yet soft hand, Leticia began to wipe his bloody hand with the white handkerchief.

“It got blood on it now.”

“Don’t worry. You don’t have to give it back.”

Leticia answered with a smile and wrapped the man’s injured hand with the handkerchief.

“May I ask for your name?”

As soon as Leticia raised her head after being satisfied with wrapping his injured hand, their gaze intertwined.

His black hair was as dark as the winter night sky and his gray eyes were reminiscent of thick fog. His eyes were slanted up and sharp.

The man gave off a great impression. Somehow Leticia hesitated to answer. But the way he looked at her, staring straight into her eyes, somehow tickled her heart.

“Leticia….”

Strangely, her fingers trembled lightly.

“My name is Leticia Leroy.”

***

Enoch Achilles.

It was a name known to all those who had their sights set on becoming members of the Imperial Knights.

He appeared as if he had fallen from the sky, and his ability to lightly subdue the knight candidates and his elegant swordsmanship were truly monstrous.

However, those who were jealous of Enoch, gossiped.

“He is only a Duke in name who hasn’t gone through a succession ceremony.”

“It’s hard to call him a Duke when he hasn’t gone through a succession ceremony.”

“Even if he wants to hold a succession ceremony, he can’t.”

“His house doesn’t have the money to do so.”

The only stigma was wealth.

Since the previous generation of Achilles family mismanaged the business and incurred huge debts, their situation was not good. Perhaps because of this, Enoch underwent various training in order to become a member of the Imperial Knights.

However, the problem was he always flunked the entrance exam.

When people saw him, they said this about Enoch.

“No money? No luck.”

“That’s right. So what if you were good? It’s not your lucky day.”

Unlucky Enoch.

His sword skills were better than anyone else, but on the day of the entrance exam, he always had an unexpected accident.

The first time he took the test, the Duchess who had been suffering from illness, died. And the second time, a loan shark came and made a fuss.

And now, there was going to be a third tryout soon. People even made a bet on what reason Enoch would be disqualified this time.

There was no way that Enoch didn’t know about those bad things they talked about him. Although it struck a nerve, he ignored it and just concentrated on his practice.

However, perhaps because the entrance exam was approaching, he felt more tense than usual. He even made a mistake and his hand got cut by a sword.

“Am I really that unlucky?”

He thought it was absurd, but when he recalled what happened in the past, it didn’t seem that absurd. Somehow, all the efforts he had made so far seemed useless, like sandcastles on the waves.

“I’m tired.”

Lately he had been wondering if his choices, the path he was on, were right.

He had doubts, but he never showed it to his siblings. Because he knew they believed in him more than anyone else.

“It’s pathetic.”

Enoch muttered to himself as he made his way to the infirmary.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get the results he hoped for. He was getting more anxious and frustrated as he failed every entrance exam for reasons that were not entirely his fault.

That’s when it happened.

“I’m sorry, sir. I wasn’t looking ahead properly…”

It was the same for Enoch, who walked without looking properly. As soon as he was about to apologize, the woman’s eyes turned to Enoch’s hand.

“Are you hurt, sir?”

Her eyes widened in surprise and her gaze intertwined with his.

Blue clear eyes. The moment he looked at them, he felt a strange urge to look at them more closely.

Standing without saying a word, Enoch, who came to his senses after a moment, shook his hands lightly, saying it was okay.

But the woman held out something.

“If you don’t mind, use this…”

However, her hand froze in midair. At the end of his gaze, there was a handkerchief. Enoch naturally looked down at the handkerchief on her white hand.

”Did you make it yourself, Young Lady?”

The stitches sticking out made it seem like she wasn’t very good at it. But Enoch found it cute in its own way.

“Thank you, Young Lady.”

Enoch stopped for a moment, thinking that it was offensive to wipe the blood with something that he might have to return.

So he put it in his pocket, but the woman took the handkerchief back and took care of his hand.

When the woman was wrapping his hand with the handkerchief, Enoch looked at her silently. Somehow, he couldn’t take his eyes off the pretty, meticulous tie.

“May I ask for your name?”

He was curious about the name of such a sweet and lovely woman.

Her blue eyes painted on the small, white face blinked gently. Eventually, a small voice came from between her thin lips.

“My name is Leticia Leroy.”

Leticia smiled gently and walked away. Enoch stood alone and stared at Leticia until she disappeared. Her back to him like a pink bud that had not yet bloomed.

“Leticia …. Leticia Leroy….”

He hesitated to call her name out loud.

“My luck isn’t so bad today.”

Enoch looked down at the handkerchief tied neatly on his hand. The handkerchief was embroidered with a clover with four green leaves. The green threads were a little jagged and pointy, but strangely, it made him smile.

Somehow it was a pleasant feeling.

And that day, Enoch passed the knighthood test for the first time.

“Miss, you’re back.”

When Leticia arrived at the Leroy residence and entered her room, Mary, who was cleaning the room, greeted her with a happy face. But that was short-lived. As soon as she saw the blood on Leticia’s hands, she froze.

“Miss, did you hurt yourself?”

“Huh?”

Leticia, who was confused for a moment, looked down at her hand and sighed. It seemed like she got blood on her hand when she used the handkerchief on the man’s injured hand.

“How did you get injured? Please be careful.”

Before Leticia knew it, Mary had brought a towel and wiped her hands. Not wanting to make Mary worry any longer, Leticia spoke quickly.

“It’s not my blood.”

Mary looked at Leticia with curious eyes, then Leticia explained the story briefly. After listening to the story, Mary heaved a long sigh of relief.

“I was worried that you were hurt. I’ll wash the handkerchief.”

“Oh, that’s…”

Leticia scratched her head with a troubled expression, and then a low voice echoed in her ears.

[It will get blood on it.]

She remembered the man who cherished the ugly handkerchief which had a lot of stitches sticking out.

Unlike his cold impression as if he was standing alone on an icy lake blooming in the middle of winter, he was kind and sensitive. Leticia’s heart felt warm somehow, and she said with a faint smile.

“I gave it to someone who needed it.”

“Wasn’t it your prized handkerchief, Miss?”

Mary’s eyes widened as she asked the question, but Leticia couldn’t say that she had taken the wrong handkerchief.

“Don’t worry. There’s another one.”

“I’m glad you said that.”

“Anyway, I’ll have to prepare a gift for Diana in advance.”

“What will you get?”

“You want to know?”

“Yes!”

Mary waited for Leticia’s reply with a twinkle in her eyes. But Leticia only smiled.

“It’s a secret.”

***

“Happy birthday, Young Lady Leroy.”

“I wish you a happy birthday.”

That night, on Diana’s birthday, the most prestigious nobles and their families came to celebrate.

“Thank you very much. Thanks to you, I’m going to have the happiest birthday of my life.”

Dressed in a fancy dress and the most fashionable accessories, Diana was smiling brighter than ever.

Leticia, who was watching from a distance, slowly approached Diana.

“Um….Diana.”

Diana, who was having a pleasant conversation with the guests, looked back.

As soon as their eyes met, Diana’s face turned sour. However, she quickly smiled and asked,

“What’s the matter, sister?”

“I want to wish you a happy birthday.”

“Oh, really? Thank you, sister.”

“Here’s your present.”

Immediately, Leticia presented the gift she had prepared. However, as Diana looked at the gift box, her complexion wasn’t good. Leticia noticed it immediately and asked,

“Why don’t you open it?”

“Yes.”

“I’m very curious.”

“Would you mind showing it to us?”

The noble ladies by Diana’s side said with expectant looks on their faces. They urged her to show them quickly, and Diana had no choice but to open the box. As soon as she opened it, a sigh escaped her lips.

“Ah …….”

Inside the gift box was an emerald brooch crafted in the shape of a four-leaf clover. It was a simple but pretty design. The noble ladies covered their mouths with fans to stifle their laughter.

“Did you choose it yourself?”

“I think it was popular ten years ago.”

“But still. I think it’s pretty.”

It seemed like friendly remarks, but there were sharp thorns embedded in it. As Leticia tried to speak, Diana snapped the box shut.

“Thank you for the gift, sister. I’ll use it well.”

However, contrary to her words, her expression was cold.

A Young Lady, who was watching the scene, said with a sigh of disappointment.

“If I knew this would happen, I would have brought another gift.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I remembered Young Lady Leroy said my brooch was beautiful, so I prepared it for her birthday.”

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The gift box the noble lady presented contained a brooch full of gorgeous jewels, elaborately crafted that was far better than the one Leticia had.

“Oh, my God! The brooch is so beautiful! How can you make such a fine brooch?”

Leticia shook her head helplessly as she watched the scene. It was the moment when she thought she chose the worst looking brooch in the world. She had the urge to hide it right now. Trying to hide her mixed feelings, Leticia was thinking about taking her brooch back.

Diana, whose eyes immediately met Leticia’s, smiled brightly and said to the Young Lady.

“Thank you so much for the gift. I’ll cherish it.”

The Young Lady nodded in satisfaction as she hugged Diana tightly in her arms. Leticia’s head dropped even lower as she watched them.

Diana suddenly crossed her arms as she looked at Leticia and spoke.

“I’m going to go to my room with my sister to drop off some souvenirs.”

Behind them, everyone saw the image of the two sisters who were very close.

***

As soon as they walked out into the hallway, Diana looked around to see if there was anyone there. Seeing it was empty, she shook off Leticia’s hand and threw Leticia’s gift back to her.

“Next time, don’t do this to me. Who asked you for it?”

Her sharp tone naturally made Leticia unable to answer. It was a meaningful gift that she had chosen herself, but she didn’t expect Diana to hate it so much.

“But it’s your birthday and I wanted to give you a present.”

“Then give me the right one.”

“Diana…”

“Who gives something like this these days?”

The moment Diana saw the gift that Leticia had given her, she was so embarrassed that she even felt the urge to throw it away on the spot. However, she had no choice but to endure it because of the stares of those around her. Eventually, thinking that she couldn’t go on like this, Diana spoke about what she was holding back.

“Don’t come to my birthday party next time.”

“What…?”

Leticia’s blue eyes widened as she looked at Diana. Diana’s expression didn’t change, as if she didn’t say anything wrong. Leticia grabbed the gift tightly in her hand and said,

“I’m your sister. I’m your family. But you don’t want me to celebrate your birthday?”

“Yes.”

“Diana!”

“Family?”

Diana laughed as if she was listening to a funny story. At first, she didn’t doubt that one day Leticia’s ability would be awakened. She was a kind and proud sister who took care of her siblings more than herself, even during the times when the family’s financial situation was tough. But as time went by, Leticia’s ability was nowhere to be seen, and people’s buzzing only increased.

“Don’t you shame the family enough?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”

How could she not know? The look in Diana’s eyes said as much.

“You don’t have the ability, haven’t you noticed? I’m very anxious to get stuck here and there somehow…..”

“You….”

“I feel sorry just looking at you. No, I’m embarrassed.”

With that, Diana passed by with a pat on Leticia’s shoulder. Leticia looked down at her present. It was a brooch that she had prepared months in advance for Diana’s birthday. But it got thrown away, and came back to her.

‘It’s embarrassing…’

It was a fact she already knew. But when she was asked directly, it felt different.

She nodded her head helplessly in misery and wretchedness.

‘It’s okay.’

Leticia bit her lip tightly to swallow her tears. But she couldn’t bear feeling this small and useless.

***

“It’s been a long time, Marquis Leroy.”

Marquis Leroy was happily watching Diana’s birthday party, which was going well. As soon as he turned around at the familiar voice, he froze. There stood a good friend of his late parents who had passed away. He was like a godfather to Marquis Leroy.

“Master Seos!”

Since Marquis Leroy didn’t really expect him to come since he didn’t come out of the magic tower very often, he was a little confused but couldn’t hide his happiness. Seos approached with a gentle smile.

“Thank you for coming, Master Seos.”

“It’s your precious daughter’s birthday, shouldn’t I come?”

Marquis Leroy’s expression grew brighter as he said what seemed to be obvious. It was not long before he quickly looked around to find his daughter. Seconds later, he spotted Leticia and Diana coming into the banquet hall and introduced them to Seos.

“Master Seos, this is my second daughter, Diana Leroy. “

“Hello, I’m Diana Leroy.”

Diana pink hair, the symbol of the Leroy family, and brilliant eyes. And a confident and strong expression. Diana was as fresh and bright as a flower. A smile of affection spread across the Marquis’s face as he looked at Diana.

But the moment he looked at Leticia, his cheerful expression disappeared.

“Leticia, say hello.”

It was a completely different voice than when he introduced Diana. It sounded cold like he was addressing a stranger, not a family member. What was more surprising was Leticia, who greeted casually as if she was used to it.

“Hello, my name is Leticia Leroy.”

She said with a desperate smile and a slight tremble in her eyes. She looked pitiful with her deflated appearance. After the greeting, Leticia looked at the Marquis and Seos, then said cautiously,

“Excuse me, but I’m not feeling well, may I be excused?”

Marquis Leroy clicked his tongue at her words, as if he was not pleased.

“You can’t celebrate your sister’s birthday? Get going then.”

After getting? permission, Leticia nodded helplessly and left.

As soon as she saw Leticia go, Diana said, “Father, can I go too? I want to enjoy my birthday.”

“Of course, Diana. Go ahead.”

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When Seos saw the difference in treatment, he said,

“You seem to care for your second daughter a lot.”

“My family has been revived since the birth of that child.”

“But that kid is a problem.”

“You mean your eldest daughter?”

“Yes, I’m frustrated that her ability is still not awakened.”

Seos swept his chin with a puzzled look on his face at Marquis Leroy’s words.

‘That’s strange.’

He looked at Diana and Leticia again, wondering if he was looking at them wrong. If Diana’s power was the faint sunlight leaking through the curtains, Leticia’s power was the radiant sun itself.

‘There’s no way she’s incompetent.’

He wondered why her ability hadn’t awakened yet when her energy was so strong.

‘I’m gonna have to talk to that kid.’

****

It was a very long time ago. Before Leticia was born, Marquis Leroy had a very hard time financially because his new business venture was not going well. As if that wasn’t enough, his wife was weak after giving birth to Leticia, and was diagnosed that she no longer would be able to conceive any more.

However, the business that he thought was going bankrupt prospered, and the Marchioness became healthy and later gave birth to Diana and 3 other children. And good things happened in constant succession. It was as if they received compensation for all the time they had spent in hardship. Then one day, the couple started discussing how things turned out the way it did.

After much deliberation, they realized that after they had Diana, everything worked out remarkably well.

“How great a blessing Diana is to us! I’m always grateful to God.”

It was tea time with Seos after Diana’s birthday party. Leroy had a small look of satisfaction on his face as he took a sip of tea. Seos, who was sitting on the other side, said nothing for a moment. He then suddenly became curious and asked,

“What is your second daughter’s ability?”

“It rains flowers.”

“What…?”

“They’re very beautiful.”

“….”

Leroy laughed and said he wanted to show Diana’s ability to Seos next time if there was a chance.

But Seos didn’t laugh, instead he drank his tea.

‘He is too wrapped up with his second daughter.’

It was not that Seos didn’t understand him, but it didn’t look good.

“Your eldest daughter seemed really sweet and kind.”

“What’s the use? She doesn’t have any ability. It’s a shame.”

As soon as Leticia’s name was mentioned, Leroy frowned with unpleasantness.

Seos looked at Leroy and spoke in a slightly judgmental tone.

“Don’t be too harsh. She’s your child after all.”

“I wasn’t like this at first. Ability or not, a child is a child.”

However, as the other children developed their abilities, he started to compare Leticia with them. He hoped she would develop any ability, even if it was something useless. But it seemed hopeless and he gave up. Marquis Leroy nodded his head firmly as if he had already decided.

“So I’m going to break off the marriage between Leticia and Young Master Levion.”

“Break off the engagement?”

“Isn’t the second daughter better than the first who has no ability?”

“….”

For a moment, Seos was speechless. Then as if he realized something, a heavy sigh escaped his mouth.

“Don’t be foolish. What if the child has a special ability?”

Seos still didn’t know what Leticia’s ability was, but he was sure it was extraordinary. However, Marquis Leroy didn’t even pretend to listen to Seos’s words.

“As what I have seen until now, she’s definitely incompetent.”

Seos’s expression hardened at those words. It seemed as if Leroy had already hardened his heart.

Soon Seos said with a sigh.

“Marquis Leroy, don’t just believe what you see in front of you, look wider.”

He could see himself going into hell, so he spoke more sternly and bitterly than ever. Nevertheless, the little Leticia seemed to have no ability.

‘Apparently not today.’

It was the moment when Seos tried to tell Marquis Leroy that his eldest daughter was indeed capable as well. But he didn’t think the Marquis would listen to anything he had to say right now.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been here. It’s a waste to sit still. I’ll show you around.”

“It’s not like the first time I’ve come here. I’ll look around myself.”

The Marquis, who was watching Seos as he made his way naturally to the garden, let out a long sigh.

‘When is she going to develop ability anyway?’

Everyone was envious of the Marquis. Starting with Diana, who grew up beautifully, his clever third son, Emil, his fourth son Xavier who excelled in martial arts, and Irene, who had magic talent.

However, Leticia, who had not had any ability, dragged down the Marquis, who was the center of envy and admiration.

[But your eldest still hasn’t awakened her abilities, has she?]

[Why aren’t your eldest the same as the other children?]

[You must be worried about the first daughter]

He felt an unbearable anger at those words. He knew better than anyone else that it was a mockery under the guise of worry.

“I can’t do this.”

He thought it would be better for Diana to marry Levion, since his second daughter, who had more abilities would attract more good things than the first daughter, who had none.

“I’ll have to talk with Marquis Levion soon.”

He planned to break off the engagement of Leticia and Levion, and let Diana and Levion get engaged.