Chapter 3

"Keisi, you really are beautiful."

"Yeah, I guess so."

On the day I turned 19, I was back in the capital city for the first time in eight years. If I were to die again, it would be on my 20th birthday. With five months still to go, I figured it wouldn't be a problem to leave the sanctuary for a while.

Today, Keisi, a noble lady I was close to in my past, was getting married, and I was currently in the middle of the celebration party.

A few years ago, I had run into her by chance while she was visiting the sanctuary as a tourist. She had kept my identity a secret from everyone else and we occasionally exchanged letters. Her offers to live together or provide support were kind, but I had declined them all.

Still, I couldn't refuse her invitation to see her in her wedding dress, which led me to be here now.

Incidentally, I was borrowing Keisi's dress, shoes, and accessories. Although I had left the preparations to her, the reflection in the mirror looked like a noble lady, and I was honestly surprised.

"You're beautiful too, you know."

"Really? Thank you."

Now, I was with Martin, the son of an earl, who had been a good friend of Keisi's and mine back then.

Despite it being eight years since we last met, he treated me as if nothing had changed, which made me happy. I was glad to have someone with me, as attending alone would have been daunting.

"I'm going to touch up my makeup a bit."

"Okay."

After telling Martin, I headed to the restroom alone. I could feel people's gazes on me, but no one seemed to recognize me as Rizetto. Keisi had made sure to avoid inviting anyone from my family.

It had been eight years since then. My appearance and demeanor had changed significantly. Besides, I was supposed to be quietly living in a convent due to the rumors spread by my stepmother and stepsister. That was fine with me.

Eventually, after leaving the restroom, I tried to return to Martin, but I got lost in the similar-looking corridors. It had been a while since I had been in such a large building. My current home was so small that I could move from one wall to another in just ten steps.

In the middle of this, I noticed a man standing at the end of the corridor. From his attire, I could tell he was a high-ranking noble.

As I debated whether to ask him for directions, he suddenly turned to look at me, even though I hadn't made a sound. For a moment, I felt a terrifying presence, something like hostility or even a death threat, in his eyes.

But then, his demeanor softened, and he looked at me with wide, gem-like, slanted eyes, as if he were incredibly surprised.

"–Finally, I found you."

He was a man of breathtaking beauty. The moment I saw his almost violently beautiful face, I couldn't help but gasp.

He was looking at me and murmured, "I found you." I glanced around, but there was no one else there.

At the same time, I felt an urge to run. An alarm went off in my head. I didn't know why, but instinctively, I felt it would be bad if this man recognized me. I decided not to ask for directions and pretended not to notice him, turning my back on him.

But as soon as I started walking, a voice came from right behind me.

"Why are you running?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Ah, your voice is beautiful too."

I hadn't realized he had closed the distance so quickly.

He was standing right next to me, looking at me with an expression that seemed on the verge of tears.

"I've been looking for you for a long time. I've lived until today just to meet you again, Rizetto-sama."

And then, with a serious expression, he said something that sounded like it belonged in a romance novel.

–Wait, how does he know my name?

"Riz? Where are you?"

Suddenly, I heard Martin's voice, apparently looking for me. The moment I looked up, he reacted visibly.

"…May I ask what your relationship is with the man who just called you?"

"Uh, we're childhood friends who haven't seen each other in eight years."

"Is that so. Do you have a lover, fiancé, or husband?"

"No, I don't…"

Caught off guard by his intensity, I answered without thinking. He smiled, satisfied, and called me "Rizetto-sama" again.

"Um, I don't deserve such formalities."

"No, Rizetto-sama, where are you staying now?"

This man wasn't listening to me at all. I wasn't stupid enough to give personal information to a stranger, though I had already let slip a few things.

"Um, excuse me, but I really need to go now."

He smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry for detaining you. My name is Ralph. I hope to see you again soon."

Ralph, as he introduced himself, seemed to let me go easily, and I felt a sense of relief.

I bowed slightly again, turned my back on him, and hurried in the direction of Martin's voice.

–At that time, I didn't know that his "soon" would be the very next day.