Chapter 22

"Um, this is, well..."

I hadn’t expected to be asked about this ring, and a flustered voice escaped my lips.

Since I had a good idea who had given it to me, I found it hard to be honest with Gerald, who seemed to have a crush on me. However, I didn’t want to lie, so I hesitantly opened my mouth.

“I received it recently.”

“From who?”

“Well, I don’t know who it’s from.”

Then Neil asked, “What, you’re wearing something from someone you don’t know?” as if scolding me.

“It’s not like that. I received it through a knight I know, so I think it’s safe. It’s actually a protective magical item made by the country’s top magician, and it’s safer to wear it.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. I wonder how much it costs. For someone to give you such a thing, they must really like you, Saedy.”

“I don’t think it’s like that.”

If the sender was who I imagined, it certainly wasn’t out of romantic feelings.

Even I, who hadn’t noticed Gerald’s affection, could clearly see from his behavior over the years that he had no romantic feelings for me.

He is a very kind person, so he must be worried about me as a childhood friend and former fiancé.

“Anyway, I plan to wear it all the time.”

“If that’s true, then it’s better to do so.”

Neil seemed to understand, but Gerald continued to stare at me intently.

“... The engagement was broken off, right?”

“Huh? I’m sure the documents were properly exchanged and it was broken off.”

“I see.”

Why did he ask that now? Could it be that Gerald also thought of the same person as I did?

Eventually, he said, “I think something more calm would suit Saedy better,” and drew a curve with his well-shaped lips.

“Next time, I want to give Saedy something that suits her.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Beside me, Neil was saying, “Saedy is popular,” with a laugh.

◇◇◇

“Eliza’s birthday party?”

“Yeah, I’m thinking about what to do.”

A week later, on a sunny afternoon, I was having tea with Gerald in my family’s garden.

Thinking that Norman might still be in that place, I was feeling anxious every day, but I was doing what I could.

In the meantime, I received an invitation to Eliza’s birthday party, which mentioned that Gerald should come too. I immediately wrote to him and decided to consult with him.

“Sure, let’s go together. I also want to investigate her.”

“Okay, thank you.”

I looked into the noble daughters named “Eliza” who matched the criteria, but no one had shown any unusual behavior since Eliza was replaced.

That’s why Gerald suggested we should investigate Eliza Haines, with whom I had interacted.

He read the invitation from Eliza for a while, then turned his gaze to me.

“... Would you have invited me even without this line?”

He asked me seriously.

“Yes, I think I would have invited you first.”

When I answered without hesitation, he smiled so happily that my heart skipped a beat.

I hadn’t noticed it until Neil pointed it out, but now that I paid attention, there were many moments when I thought he might like me.

I had always thought that romance wasn’t for me, so I still felt uneasy. At the same time, I remembered what Neil had said and felt a complex mix of emotions.

“I’ll come to pick you up on the day. Don’t leave my side.”

“Okay, I understand. Thank you.”

With the decision to go together, I got motivated.

And on the day of Eliza’s birthday party.

The maids had prepared me well, and I was dressed as a noble lady. Gerald came to pick me up right on time and praised me so much that I felt embarrassed.

Of course, I was still wearing the ring.

When we arrived at the Haines manor and got off the carriage, Gerald and I still attracted a lot of attention. People say that rumors last for days, but it feels like they will follow us for a lifetime.

I had heard that the Haines family was quite wealthy, and the estate was indeed vast, with a mansion that was surprisingly large and luxurious.

“Happy birthday, Eliza.”

“Saedy, and Lord Gerald. Thank you for coming today. Hehe, please enjoy yourselves.”

The birthday party venue was also quite large, but it was filled with a large number of guests. From the happy atmosphere, it was clear that she was well-liked by many people.

First, we went to greet Eliza, the guest of honor. She was beautifully dressed and more beautiful than anyone else, making me stare in admiration.

Could the person who took our bodies really be this skilled? We were pushed away by the waves of people coming to greet her, and we moved away from the scene.

“Now, what should we do?”

“Maybe we can naturally get a conversation with the baron and his wife...?”

No matter how well we act, we are still strangers. There must have been changes or inconsistencies at the time of the switch.

With that in mind, we decided to look for the baron and his wife first. As we walked through the crowded venue, I accidentally bumped into a tall man and reflexively apologized. Suddenly, I heard a familiar, puzzled voice call my name.

When I looked up, my eyes met with deep, night-like eyes.