I’m going to die of boredom.

Herietta, who had been passing time by looking out from the veranda, let out a deep sigh. White breath rose through the cold night air and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

It would be nice if she could disappear from here like her breath. Having been thinking nonsense, she stretched her body out.

Her back and shoulders were a little sore. It was natural.

This was because Lilian said that she had to prepare meticulously from head to toe for her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so she had so many ornaments on her hair that it was hard to find an empty spot in it. The weight itself was so heavy that just standing with her head upright seemed to give her a headache.

It’s just useless.

Herietta furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the long white lace sleeves that hung below her wrist. Seeing Herietta who had finished dressing up, Lilian was very moved, but Herietta herself was dissatisfied. It was because she was unfamiliar with the reflection in the mirror and did not like it. She was forced to wear clothes that did not suit her, and she looked rather tacky due to being overdressed.

She wanted to rip off the lace on the cuffs, as well as all the ornaments on her hair. But she managed to put up with it after thinking of her parents back in her hometown.

Four months have already passed since Herrietta came to Lavant. Appalled at her self-indulgent, free-spirited behavior and her complete ignorance of manners or her dignity as a lady, the Mackenzie couple had sent Herietta to Lavant.

Although Lavant was not the capital of the kingdom, it was nonetheless a large city incomparable to her hometown, Philioche. They believed that as their daughter interacts with more people and attends social gatherings, the way she thinks and behaves will change. The Mackenzies were desperate to correct her behavior even though it was hopeless.

Lilian was Herietta’s aunt whom she had never met since birth. Herietta was unfamiliar with the person she was suddenly meeting, and she was worried that Lilian might treat her awkwardly.

However, Lilian welcomed her so warmly even though it was their first time meeting that her worries were overshadowed. On the contrary, she looked very happy. And Herietta soon realized why.

She didn’t even have time to unpack and adjust to the new environment. The night she arrived in Lavant, Herietta was led by Lilian to attend social gatherings. This was possible because she was not yet sixteen, and she did not have to make a formal debut yet.

So she attended social gatherings, from small tea times with fewer than ten guests to dazzling balls with hundreds of guests. The number of times the two of them have attended social gatherings over the past four months had become too many to count with ten fingers.

As time passed, Herietta grew weary of her busy lifestyle day in and day out.

On the contrary, Lilian grew more and more lively and her enthusiasm burned. She was looking forward to seeing her niece who came from the countryside to meet someone from a decent family at the party at least.

But contrary to her wishes, Herietta, who was still young, was not very popular with men. Moreover, her free-spirited and innocent words and behavior could not be easily accepted by the nobles who grew up in a rigid and formal environment.

Herietta was naturally alienated from the group, and when she attended social gatherings, she was more likely to spend time alone in the corner of a room or on a balcony than converse with others.

She was cheerful by nature, but it was difficult for her to bear the loneliness she was feeling. She endured it day by day, looking forward to the day she would return to her beloved hometown, Philioche.

‘One full moon ahead. All you have to do is wait for one full moon.’

Herietta hardened her heart. She put her body slightly forward and leaned against the balcony railing. The feel of the cold marble passed through her palms, and a cool but pleasant wind stroked her hair.

She lifted her head and looked up at the night sky which was like a dark indigo scarf, where countless stars were densely packed like a dazzling powder made of diamonds.

Pretty.

She truly admired the scenery of the beautiful, clear night sky.

The night sky in Philioche was also pretty.

Herietta, who was looking at the night sky, slowly stretched out her hand towards a twinkling star. The desire to hold that beautiful star in the sky in her hand surged for a moment.

However, her fingertips, though containing her earnestness, were only wandering in the air without reaching the stars. Somehow, the longing spread to her heart.

* * *

How much time had passed? Judging that it was time for her to return home, Herietta left the balcony and entered the ballroom. Although it was quite late, there were still many nobles inside. They seemed to be in a very good mood for the most part, as they were drunk with alcohol and entertainment.

Herietta, who exchanged eye contact with several people she knew, cautiously walked around looking for Lilian. Coincidentally, the ball she attended today boasted the largest scale and number of guests at any social gathering she had ever attended. It was not as easy as she expected to find Lilian who had a small stature among so many people.

Wouldn’t it be better to stand by the entrance and wait patiently for her? As Herietta pondered, someone grabbed her elbow. Startled, she looked back.

“Herietta. Where in the world have you been hiding? I’ve been looking for you all night.”

Lilian frowned. Her cheeks were stained red, perhaps due to the excessive amount of champagne she had drunk.

“Auntie, actually I…”

“Let’s talk about it later. Come with me first. I have someone I want to introduce to you.”

Lilian mercilessly cut off Herietta’s words. It was clear from the beginning that the other person’s words did not matter.

She took her hesitant niece’s hand and headed somewhere. When they arrived, a friendly-looking middle-aged woman and a short young man were waiting for them.

Lilian pushed her niece forward. Herietta was confused and could not understand the situation.

“Herietta, say hello. This is Baroness Welch and Sir Derek Welch, the eldest son of the Welch Barony.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Derek Welch.”

The man named Derek took a step closer and gave Herrietta a greeting. Perhaps around twenty-five, the man had dark brown hair and eyes that looked a little ferocious. Although short, he had an average appearance.

“I am Herietta Mackenzie.”

Herietta bowed slightly and greeted politely. Derek discreetly looked her up from head to toe.

“I was told you’re from Philioche. Is life in Lavant uncomfortable?”

“My aunt took such good care of me, so there was no room for discomfort.”

“That is a relief. Lady Jenner said Miss Herietta sings well?”

“It’s… She’s just calling it whatever she likes. It’s not to the point of showing off.”

“Ah, so you’re saying you didn’t learn it formally?”

Derek politely continued the conversation. However, he couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face. Was it because she was younger than he thought? Or did she not live up to his expectations?

Herrietta, who was still only fifteen, held back her desire to run away immediately and answered his questions.

Dry questions and dry answers went back and forth. It was the kind of conversation that would pose no regrets even if the conversation was cut off right away. Had it not been for Lilian and Baroness Welch, who was looking at her and Derek with happy eyes, they would have parted ways sooner.

Derek kept his gaze away from her while he was talking to her. It was evident that he too had long since lost his interest in her.

Herietta let out a sigh. Even if it was rude, she couldn’t stand this situation any longer. She opened her mouth, determined to leave the place under a reasonable excuse.

“Excuse me, Sir Welch. I’m sorry, but I’m very tired right now.”

“Huh?”

Derek looked over Herietta’s shoulder and exclaimed. His eyes widened.

“It’s Redford…”

Redford?

In response to Derek’s astonished reaction, Herietta naturally turned and looked at where his gaze was directed. Soon, she noticed that the mood inside the ballroom had changed.

The noisy ballroom earlier had become enshrouded in a heavy stillness that it felt strange. The noblemen got up from their seats and hurriedly fixed their disheveled clothes, while the noblewomen, blushing, each covered their mouths with half-open fans and whispered in secret.

Who is it that they’re reacting like this?

The atmosphere was so solemn that it seemed as if the king of a country had appeared. Herietta tilted her head. As if attracted by an invisible magnet, she unwittingly moved towards the place where the people’s eyes were directed to.

Many people had gathered by the entrance of the ballroom and were all eager to talk to someone.

“Sir Edwin. Thank you so much for attending. I sent you an invitation just in case you were going to stop by, but I didn’t know you would respond.”

The young Count who hosted the ball tonight said. Although he was quite young, he was known for being arrogant and vain. It was unbelievable how his attitude had turned a complete 180. It was at this moment that she wondered if the king had really come.

The crowd split into both sides of the room. And at that moment, she was able to glimpse the figure of the mysterious newcomer that caught everyone’s attention.

He was a tall, well-built man. The first thing that caught her eye was his brilliant blonde hair, which seemed to have been made by melting high-purity gold that had not been tainted by any impurity. It was so wonderful and unique that it could easily draw people’s attention from afar.

The next thing that caught her attention was the robes he was wearing. The blue fabric embroidered with gold thread looked very luxurious despite its relatively simple design. At a glance, it seemed to have been through the hands of a seamstress who was quite famous in the kingdom.

As he listened to someone, his face was slightly bowed. Then, he nodded and straightened his body and looked straight ahead. As a result, his face, which had been hidden earlier, was caught in Herietta’s field of vision. Upon seeing his face, Herietta unconsciously held her breath.

Is it okay to describe a man as beautiful? Herietta asked herself.

But other than that, she couldn’t come up with an appropriate word to describe his appearance. His face featured a broad forehead, two serious-looking eyes, and a straight nose that ran between them. Lastly, beneath it lay perfectly symmetrical red lips.

If there was something that the Creator worked so hard at day and night, it must have been that man. And if a person could charm another person just by looking at them, then it would also be none other than that man.

Herietta was so stunned and stared at the man’s perfect-looking face with admiration.

Is he really just twenty years old? His calm eyes and serious mood only made him look mature, but on closer inspection, he looked a little younger than she had initially thought.

His perfectly shaped lips moved as he started speaking. But no matter how much she listened, she could not hear his voice

Suddenly, Herietta wondered if his voice would be as cool as his perfect appearance.

While the young Count was delighted with the appearance of the unexpected big shot, he seemed anxious to monopolize him at any moment. The Count swept away those around him with his sharp-edged eyes and whispered something into Edwin’s ear.

Edwin, who had been quietly listening to the Count, nodded once. Then the Count led him away excitedly. Those who were murmuring around them turned back with regretful expressions.

“This is it.”

Herietta stood blankly and saw Edwin following the Count. Curiously, the Count was guiding him to where she was standing. With each step they took, the gap that existed between him and her gradually narrowed.

Ten steps.

Seven steps.

It was as if both of her legs had been rooted and embedded on the ground. She could not move even a single step. Her thought circuit stopped, and the world also seemed to have stopped with it. The people who existed in the enormous ballroom disappeared, and only she and Edward were left.

Two steps.

They were so close that If he took a step closer, then she would be very close enough to reach out to him.

Herietta’s eyes fluttered. Her heart twitched like a fish taken out of water. Her hands trembled at the uncontrollable tension. She was so nervous that she couldn’t even fathom whether she was inhaling or exhaling.

Everyone paved the way for the two men. But Herietta was immobile and stood glued to the ground. Could it be that her existence was questionable? Edwin’s eyes turned to her as he followed the Count.

Their eyes only met for a moment. But that brief time was enough. An intense tremor, as if she were struck by lightning, spread throughout her body. His eyes were the same color as the deep blue sea. His blue eyes with long eyelashes were breathtakingly seductive. Her legs trembled.

Plop.

Her knees suddenly bent, and at some point, Herrietta sat down on the floor. Because of the extreme tension, it seems that her legs did not even have enough strength left to support her light body

The people saw her crumple and sink to the floor, but they didn’t care. They only cared about Edwin. He was the only one who possessed a splash of color in the room that seemed to have turned monochromatic as he entered. Everyone was fascinated with him.

Edwin’s gaze, which had passed Herietta earlier, fell back on her.

“Ah… th, that.”

Herrietta’s mouth trembled. Her head went blank when she realized he was looking at her. She knew she was acting like a fool but she really couldn’t think of anything.

“Ov, over there, that’s…”

That was the moment Edwin stopped walking.

Everyone held their breath as he stopped. He looked at Herietta for a moment. His inner feelings were ununderstandable with such a strange look.

Then he turned and approached her, leaned over, and extended his hand towards her.

Herietta looked at his long fingers covered by the white gloves. Maybe she was dreaming with her eyes open. Or she was lost in an imaginary land.

The distance was so close that they could feel the breath of the other person. Edwin had a faint musk scent. Herietta grabbed his hand as if she were possessed by something. Warmth passed through his thin gloves.

For a moment, she was terrified. It was because she was afraid that he might laugh at her or despise her.

But upon making eye contact with him, she soon realized that her expectations were completely wrong. He did not ridicule her or despise her. He was neither pitying nor disdainful. There were no emotions there. He was looking at her but not looking at her either.

It was indifference. There was only complete and utter indifference towards others.

Thud. It felt like she had been hit in the head with a big hammer. At the same time, something that was trying to penetrate deep in her heart was mercilessly trampled on.

Edwin helped Herietta stand up. Like a doll hanging from a thread, she moved without power as he held her up. She wondered if her body was floating, but at the next moment, she was already standing on her two feet.

Are you okay?”

Edwin looked into Herietta’s eyes and asked quietly. But he didn’t seem to ask for an answer. As proof of that, as soon as he confirmed that she had gained her balance, he took back the hand he had extended to her. After giving a polite nod, he went back to the Count who was waiting for him.

She didn’t even have time to say thank you.

Click, clack

The sound of his heavy footsteps moving away from her was unrealistically loud in Herietta’s ears. She looked back at him, as hard as a piece of stone. There was still warmth in the hand she touched him with.

‘Are you alright?’

It was a soft but stable voice. It was so wonderful that it perfectly matched his beautiful appearance.

‘Are you alright?’

The word kept echoing in her head. Her thoughts went into overdrive. She wanted to face Edwin once again, at any cost. She wanted to see her image in his eyes and engrave herself in his mind. As long as she could confirm her existence through him, nothing else mattered.

“Wait…!”

Herietta!”

When Herietta unconsciously chased after Edwin, Lilian, who ran after her, grabbed Herietta’s shoulder.

“!”

Herietta was startled. The moment she felt Lilian’s hand on her shoulders, she realized what she was trying to do. It felt as if the magic spell had been broken. Colors were applied to the gray world, one by one, and a sound began to fill the quiet hall. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Au, Auntie?”

Seeing Herietta’s confused look, Lilian put on a worried expression.

“Herietta! What happened? Why were you sitting on the floor? Did you get anemia?”

“No. It’s not like that…”

“Rose argued that I wouldn’t have to worry about your health, but what is this? I guess I’ll have a doctor see you when we get home.”

“…”

“By the way, don’t you know how surprised I was that you suddenly went away like that? It seems that the Baroness and Lord Welch have become embarrassed by your sudden action. When we meet them later, make sure to sincerely apologize to them… Herietta, Herietta! Are you listening to me?”

Frowning, Lilian scolded her niece, had her mind elsewhere. But Herietta did not listen to her. She kept her head straight and desperately looked at one spot in the room.

“Aunt. Who was that person?”

“That person?”

Lilian glanced at where Herietta’s gaze was directed.

“Are you talking about Count Shanks?”

“No. The young man who was with the Count.”

He was the one who helped me up. Herietta thought, blushing. Then, Lilian’s expression changed as if she understood what was happening.

“You are talking about Sir Edwin. The tall and blonde gentleman.”

Herietta nodded eagerly at the familiar name. Edwin. Even the name was charming. Her eyes shone with the most life since she came to Lavant. Seeing this, Lilian made an ambiguous expression. Lilian, who seemed to be thinking of something, asked.

Do you know the Duke of Redford?”

“Redford?”

“Yes. The Duke of Redford. Their family has a long history because it had existed since the founding of Brimdel, and is considered one of the most influential and wealthy families among all the nobles in existence. It is said that they have the noblest bloodline in Brimdel, except for the royal family. In fact, most of the heads of the Redford family have married women of the royal family, so it’s no wonder that they are known as such.”

In the back alleys, there were even jokes that the legitimate heirs of the Redford family had purer royal blood than the current royals. But there had never been a person powerful enough to question whether it was true or not.

“Sir Edwin is the heir to the Duchy of Redford. He is, in a word, the next duke.”

“The next duke…”

Herietta repeated Lilian’s words. A duke. To the daughter of a Viscount who was at the bottom of the noble class, he was a very distant and high-ranking person. Only then did she understand why Count Shanks was so happy to see Edwin.

“Auntie. How can I see Sir Edwin again?”

“Sir Edwin?”

Rose said that she would marry the prince of a country no matter what. But as she grew older, she understood the laws of this world, and in the end, she gave up that marriage to a poor Viscount in the countryside.

Lilian, who had recalled the past, responded to her niece in an even softer tone.

“Herietta, I apologize if my words hurt you. I also want you to have big aspirations and I want you to achieve more. This is what I sincerely wish for you, no matter what anyone says.”

Lilian stroked Herrietta’s head.

“As you said, no one can stop you from dreaming and chasing after it. But unfortunately, there are things in the world that are impossible no matter how hard you try, and there are things you cannot have.”

“…You mean Sir Edwin?”

Herietta asked with sad eyes. Lilian nodded.

Even if the sky fell, it would still be impossible.”

Even the last hope she held onto was utterly shattered. Herietta lowered her head. She felt as if she had been sentenced to death.

She looked down at her hand with eyes full of regret. It was the hand that Edwin had held a while ago. The warmth from his hand still lingered.

“However… I don’t think it will be easy for you to forget.”

15, It was fleeting, yet everlasting. There had never been anything in her life that she had been so strongly drawn to and wanted more than ever. And it seemed like it would be the first and the last.

Lilian gently raised Herietta’s head and made her look at her.

You will forget. The world is big, and there are countless wonderful men in this big world.”

“Are those guys more handsome than Sir Edwin?”

Herietta asked. Lilian, who looked down at her clear eyes, hesitated to answer for a moment. Her niece’s eyes were full of trust and faith. After a moment, Lilian nodded.

“Of course.”

At a young age, she hadn’t even made her debut. Lilian firmly believed that Herietta would soon forget Edwin’s existence and it would merely be like a midsummer night’s dream.

* * *

Time passed smoothly. It had already been a year since Herietta came to Lavant.

Once she turned 16, she made her debut to commemorate her coming of age. It was a once-in-a-lifetime debutante party that any noble woman valued. But she wasn’t very interested in that as she was still heartbroken. She couldn’t even remember the name of the man who had escorted her.

Still, she had only one reason to attend the ball.

Maybe we can meet today.’

Although she knew the odds were slim, Herietta did not give up even though she went home disappointed every night. She repeated endlessly to torture herself with hope.

On the way back to her house, Lilian clicked her tongue as she saw her niece getting into the carriage, feeling depressed. Even with her strong self-esteem, she now had to admit that she was completely wrong with her expectations.

Half a year had already passed. Nevertheless, Herietta was still unable to escape from Edwin’s shadow.

Lilian couldn’t understand her niece. No matter how attractive he is, how could she be so fascinated by just seeing him once? In the past, she introduced several children from a wealthy family to her, but it was all in vain. Except for Edwin, Herietta did not show any interest in other men.

“Rose sent a letter. She was wondering when you would come back.”

As usual, Herietta should have returned to her hometown long ago. However, she refused to leave Lavant after she had lost her heart to Edwin. It was amazing how she could be so determined while she missed Philioche so much.

“I’ll stay a little longer.”

Herietta responded helplessly, leaning her body against the back of the chair. Rattle, rattle. The carriage running on the stone road swayed rhythmically.

“A little longer. How long is a little longer? Until Sir Edwin leaves Lavant and heads for the capital?”

“…”

Sir Edwin is notorious for not attending social gatherings. As proof of that, you haven’t met him once since that night until now, haven’t you?”

“That’s not it. I saw him a while ago.”

Herietta answered with a stern expression on her face. Then Lilian snorted at her.

“Are you talking about the day you waited and waited in front of the Marquis of Richconell’s mansion?”

“It was a long shot, but… I saw him.”

Herietta’s voice became smaller.

She trembled with impatience, as she had not seen even a strand of Edwin’s hair for quite some time. Then, when she heard that Edwin was starting to visit Marquis Richconnell often, she eventually set out to visit the mansion. Of course, she didn’t know anyone in the Marquis’ mansion, so she had to wander in front of it, unable to step through the high grate door.

She had already gone to the Marquisate every day for fifteen days. When she began to feel deeply skeptical of her own actions, Herrietta finally saw Edwin. When she saw a horse-drawn carriage approaching with a crest of a golden lion, the emblem of the Redford family, she leaped with joy.

But it was only for a moment that she basked in joy. She hurriedly hid nearby, fearing that she would look suspicious wandering around for no reason.

The grate that seemed to never open opened, and the carriage slid into the garden. Then it stopped in front of a mansion so large and majestic that it could not be compared to the Mackenzie’s mansion.

Perhaps anticipating Edwin’s visit, Marquis Richconell came out of the mansion himself and waited for Edwin.

Soon the carriage door opened, and a tall man got out of it. She couldn’t see his face properly because he was far away, but she could tell who it was without having to check it.

The time it took for him to disappear into the mansion was really short, but Herietta was satisfied with that. It felt like rain had finally fallen on dry land after a long and severe drought.

“Herietta. I’m really worried about you. I am afraid of the loss and pain you will experience when you finally realize that you cannot be with him.”

Lilian said to Herietta, who was preoccupied with memories of their meeting. She was genuinely worried about Herietta. She had long ago given up telling her not to dream. She just wanted her niece not to be hurt.

‘I would like to stop my heart if I can.’

Herietta muttered in her mind. She didn’t know how reckless and ignorant she would appear to be. But if she could have stopped herself through sheer willpower, she would have stopped it sooner.

Leaning helplessly against the back of the chair, she closed her eyes. Another day passes like this yet again.

* * *

Most people like to interfere and get involved in other people’s affairs. And even more so when the subject is a very famous person.

One day, the news of the engagement of the perfect heir of the Duchy of Redford to the beautiful and only daughter of the Marquisate of Richiconell spread quickly throughout the kingdom like wildfire. It was then that people understood why Edwin had left the capital for so long and stayed in Lavant, including his frequent visits to Marquis Richconell.

The combination of the two was absolutely perfect. Although they do not stand out as much as the Redford family, the Richconell family was also known to be one of the most prestigious families in Brimdel. What’s more, Vivian, the only daughter of Marquis Richconell, was so beautiful that rumors circulated about dozens of men waiting in line to propose even before she made her debut.

Everyone in the kingdom sincerely offered their congratulations and rejoiced in the union of these two wonderful people.

Except for one person.

And that person was Herietta Mackenzie.

When she first heard the news, Herietta felt like the world was falling apart. Her eyes darkened and it felt as if the floor was going to explode. If this was a terrible nightmare, she just wished she would wake up as soon as possible. But unfortunately, she wasn’t dreaming; it was the harsh reality.

The wounds of her broken heart which she got from being unable to confess her love properly were so deep that it could not be expressed in words. It was not enough to describe it as just sad and empty.

“That’s why I warned you earlier. It’s useless.”

“…”

“Time will take care of everything, Herietta. No matter how sad and difficult it is for you right now, nothing in this world lasts forever. Soon, you too will forget all this sadness and get over it, and wonder when it happened. Then nothing will happen again.”

Lilian comforted Herietta with a pitiful, sweet gaze as her niece kept crying.

Herietta refused to eat, and she cried every day and night, exhausted. Several times, she even lost consciousness. Realizing that the situation was worse than she thought, Lilian turned to the Viscount Mackenzie couple for help.

Viscountess Rose Mackenzie, who immediately traveled to Lavant after receiving the call, was terribly surprised. No matter how long a year has passed, it was difficult to recognize the appearance of her daughter, which had changed for the worse.

“Herietta, daughter, how did you become like this? There really won’t be any left of you at this rate.”

Rose was truly sad.

“Would you like to return to Philioche with me? The air is clear and clean there, so it will help heal your weary mind and body.”

Rose suggested. She knew that her daughter was struggling with a broken heart, but she didn’t know exactly who it was. It was because Lilian deliberately kept quiet because she was worried that it would just cause trouble.

“Besides, we all miss you. Without you, who used to be a troublemaker, the mansion seems too quiet. Especially Hugo, that kid misses you a lot.”

Herietta, who was lying on the bed with a blanket over her, responded to the name of her younger brother whom she had not heard from in a long time. He was six years younger than her, and he was only nine when she left Philioche.

Herietta recalled Hugo chasing after her while calling out ‘sister, sister’ like a duckling in the water. Then, the affection and longing for her hometown, which had been buried somewhere in the depths, welled up like a spring of water.

It was all because of Edwin that she insisted on staying in Lavant from the beginning anyway. However, he was now another woman’s man, and he left for the capital immediately after his betrothal. Now, there was no reason for Herietta to remain in Lavant.

Soon after that, Herietta and Rose boarded the carriage heading to Philioche.

* * *

Herietta sat by the window of her room and looked out of the window. It had already been a year since she returned to Philioche with Rose.

The time she thought would never flow, eventually flowed like water. Has she gotten used to the flow?

As the days went by, the sun seemed to set faster and faster. Sometimes she wondered when the day had even passed.

Herietta began to read the letter she was holding in her hand. It was a letter from Lilian in Lavant.

After she returned to Philioche, Lilian regularly sent her letters of greetings. To Lilian, who had no children due to her husband’s early death, Herietta was the closest thing to her own child.

The letter, filled with small stories from her daily life, ended with a promise, that was not a promise at the same time, that she would visit Philioche soon to see Herietta, as always.

Herietta grinned. She could still guarantee that when the next letter from her aunt arrived, she still wouldn’t have visited Philioche.

As Herietta tried to fold the letter with a smile on her face, she saw a postscript added to the bottom of the letter.

[PS: Recently, strange stories have been circulating in the kingdom, Herietta, I hope you didn’t hear it.

Even if you heard it, it probably doesn’t matter now, but just in case.]

Herietta tilted her head. It was an odd postscript, and she didn’t know what it meant. It was like Lilian had hesitated several times to write it, as there were ink marks as if she had pressed a pen with force.

Herietta couldn’t even guess what the strange story Lilian was talking about. Philioche was a very small town with a population of less than five hundred, and because it was located far away from the capital as well as downtown, interaction with the surrounding area was rare.

How serious is that? Most of the people here don’t even know how old the current king was, or how many wives or children he had. Other villagers would be surprised to hear it, but at least it wasn’t unusual here.

Creak.

“Sister!”