Chapter 49

I pulled out a sheet of paper from the drawer.

I pressed the letters firmly onto the pretty paper and sealed it well.

Then I sent it to Han Jihyeok at the Egret Training Camp.

* * *

Training Camp Commander Cali called Alexis.

Alexis, who was swinging a wooden sword, approached Cali.

Cali looked at Alexis with a pleased expression.

‘This kid, he really resembles me when I was young.’

“Are you popular with the girls?”

Alexis frowned.

“Did you call me just to say that?”

“So prickly. Yes, I did. A bouquet of flowers arrived for you from Astra.”

Cali handed Alexis a letter.

Alexis's eyes widened when he saw the letter Cali handed him.

A letter with a squirrel carrying an acorn drawn on it.

As soon as he saw the letter, the children around him crowded in.

“That looks like it’s from a girl!”

“Do you even know any girls outside? Huh?”

Shooing away the noisy children with one hand, Alexis carefully tore open the envelope.

[Do you want to come out?]

Alexis's eyes widened.

‘You’re awake.’

Han Jihyeok visited Egret once a month.

Since Erylot woke up, it hadn’t been a month yet, so Alexis didn’t know Erylot had woken up.

Throwing down the wooden sword, Alexis ran outside.

He looked around for a while at the exit.

No one was in sight.

Then.

“Over here!”

A child in a hoodie jumped out from the bushes, raising both arms.

As Alexis quickly approached, the child took off the hoodie.

“Your hair… is down.”

“It gets in the way if I tie it up.”

“Yeah.”

“I wrote the letter.”

Erylot smiled and grabbed Alexis’s hand.

Then she stumbled and ran.

Alexis’s eyes widened.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m going to give you a gift. Come here!”

The place they arrived at was an old, abandoned building.

They climbed the external stairs together.

The stairs were so old that they creaked loudly with each step.

When Erylot reached the top floor, she spread her arms wide.

“It’s a gift for the start of your training.”

Alexis looked up, following Erylot’s gaze.

A night sky that seemed to be showering stars.

Alexis had always been on the run, evading trackers.

At night, he always hid in dark, deep places, and he could never go out.

During the day, he was accustomed to walking with his head down and never thought about looking at the sky.

“Our Astra sky, I love it so much.”

Alexis’s eyes sparkled like stars.

Erylot walked with her hands behind her back.

This was where Erylot, in her first life, would run when life became too hard.

A place where she received comfort and barely managed to endure.

“This is now our secret place with Alexis.”

“Secret… place?”

“Yeah. A hideout.”

“Hideout.”

“It’s a place to come when you’re feeling down. Even if you’re alone, looking at the stars will make your heart feel better.”

Alexis stared at Erylot.

A strange and peculiar girl.

She looks so small but sometimes seems as big as a mountain, and though she seems to know nothing of unhappiness, she has very mature eyes.

“Alexis.”

“Yeah.”

“Royals’ eyes turn golden when they grow up.”

His eyes are blue now.

Erylot looked at Alexis without smiling.

“When your eyes turn golden, let’s destroy it.”

“...”

“Everything that makes us unhappy.”

“...”

“It’s a pact.”

Erylot extended her fist.

Alexis, who had been staring at the small hand, lightly bumped his fist against hers.

.

.

Time passed, and seven years later.

Erylot’s tenth summer arrived.

* * *

On a day when roses were in full bloom.

At the Astra Dukedom, a debutante ball was held.

The Great Hall of the Dukedom, where the children of direct, collateral, and ennobled noble families gathered.

The children entered with excited faces.

The Great Hall, which could accommodate 100 people, was bustling with children.

Even the dignitaries from the distant capital came to congratulate the children on their debut.

The direct line children appeared on the second floor.

The attention of the children, who had been chatting, was immediately drawn to them.

“Hello, Lady Lianthin!”

“Lady Dione, it’s been a long time!”

“Mr. Balzac…!”

The noisy Great Hall.

The direct line children displayed their splendid talents and appearances.

It was a debutante ball that even the capital paid attention to.

Balzac leaned against the railing with his hands in his pockets, exuding a wild charm with his red hair that reached his neck.

Joshua walked over from a distance with a frown.

With his neat blonde hair and lake-like eyes, he received all the attention from the women.

If Balzac was like a sculpture, Joshua had a crafted charm.

“Balzac.”

“Stop nagging.”

“Try to behave in front of others.”

“I’ve been running around the mountains with the guards for two days straight. Instead of worrying about me, nag at someone else. Over there.”

Balzac pointed to the first floor.

Joffrey and his group, dressed provocatively, were chatting.

He was strutting around among the collateral line children as if he were the king of the group.

Lianthin, who walked over to Joshua, grimaced.

Her curly hair, which used to reach just past her shoulders, now reached her waist.

Dione, who was being cornered by the collateral line children on the first floor, was visible.

“Dione!”

When Lianthin called out to Dione with wide eyes, the collateral line children hesitated.

Dione quickly climbed up.

“Were you stupidly caught there again?”

“I was talking to them….”

“Stupid.”

The people on the first floor gasped as they looked at the direct line children.

They were staring at the direct line children with awe.

Balzac said, as if he were bored.

“How long do we have to stay here?”

“Until Grandfather leaves.”

“I’m so bored.”

At that moment, a soft voice was heard.

“Don’t even think about running away. Big brother.”

A person who had been in a corner on the second floor slowly walked towards the railing.

Pale, translucent skin.

A beautiful face with graceful curves.

Golden eyelashes that sparkled like gold.

Eyes that shone like precious gems.

Lips that were perfectly shaped.

A beauty mark by the eye.

Lush, golden hair that reached her waist.

A girl with a face as beautiful as a rose in full bloom.

The girl blinked and looked at Balzac.

“I said I would congratulate you on your debutante ball.”

The first floor erupted in a murmur as they saw the girl.

“Erylot Astra.”

“Dirty blood?”

As soon as someone muttered, people gasped and focused on the source of the sound.

At that moment, a man strode into the hall.

The owner of one of the three most prosperous territories in the Astra Dukedom,

Daimond Astra.

“Follow me quietly. You’re the father of the one who just spoke.”

Balzac leaped down from the second floor.

Joshua walked down the stairs gracefully.

“The one who just spoke, come this way.”

The face of the middle-aged man, who looked like the boy’s father, turned pale.

The twins placed their hands on the boy’s shoulders, and Daimond placed his hand on the middle-aged man’s shoulder.

“Smile.”

“Smile, smile.”

* * *

After the debutante ball ended at night.

Daimond’s territory was as quiet as a graveyard.

The hired staff stood quietly against the walls, and the soldiers all had their heads bowed.

Erylot sat on the sofa with her arms crossed.

In front of the sofa, the twins knelt side by side.

Daimond stood beside the sofa with his hands behind his back, cautiously observing the situation before speaking.

“About what happened today….”

When Erylot glanced at him, Daimond shut his mouth.

Erylot blinked.

Heidi and Betty, who saw her long eyelashes flutter, forgot the situation and sighed, “Ah….” before snapping back to reality.

‘Our lady is even more beautiful today.’

‘The rose and ruby of Daimond’s territory…!’

If you mentioned the Daimond family of Astra, there would be no one in the distant capital who didn’t know them.

Daimond Astra was already famous for his beauty, but the twins and Erylot had grown to be even more beautiful.

Especially Erylot, who had rapidly grown over the past seven years, was known as the precious daughter of the Daimond territory.

Erylot held a teacup with her long, white fingers and said,

“I’m grateful and sorry for fighting for me.”

“Sorry?!”

Balzac tried to stand up but was pushed back down by Joshua’s elbow.

Erylot looked around and said,

“But did we really need to engage in a group fight with the soldiers? They were guests invited from the capital.”

The 3-meter-tall soldier, Mosko, defended himself.

“It was because Lord Jangtil led his knights…!”

“He hid behind them and begged for mercy.”

Balzac added,

“The first to grab a weapon was Lord Jangtil…!”

“He used a tray to shield his head.”

Daimond also mentioned,

“He refused to apologize even when asked….”

“Father grabbed Lord Jangtil’s tongue and made him apologize.”

“...”

“...”

Erylot looked at the family members who had engaged in a fierce fight at the debutante ball.

“Those who hit Lord Jangtil, raise your hands quietly.”

“...”

“...”

Daimond quietly raised his hand.

Erylot closed her eyes tightly.

“Who said ‘We’re done for, damn brat!’ when Grandfather arrived.”

“...”

“...”

Balzac quietly raised his hand.

Erylot’s brow furrowed.

“Who pretended to fight with Lord Jangtil’s side and pulled off Uncle Valderic’s wig.”

“...”

“...”

Joshua quietly raised his hand.

Erylot’s eyebrows twitched.

Erylot slammed the teacup on the table and stood up.

“How are we going to clean this up—!”

The shoulders of the large men trembled.

* * *

The managers ran in, crying.

“Lord Jangtil has formally lodged a complaint with the royal palace!”

“Last month, we half-killed Bricken and had to prepare 2,000 pages of documents…!”

“We almost had to pay compensation for damaging the Great Hall’s pillars…!”

I looked at the managers, who had suffered from various ailments over the past seven years, with pity.

“I’ll go see Grandfather.”

The managers’ faces brightened as if they had found a ray of light in the darkness.

Poor bald uncles.

Just because they worked in our castle….

I sighed and looked at Heidi and Betty.

“Should I get a hat?”

“What about the Caplin hat we bought from Mrs. Rita’s dress shop last time? It suits our lady so—much!”

Heidi and Betty, who had both been promoted from junior to senior maids and now led a team, suggested.

“Anything.”

“Caplin, Caplin!”

“Red? Black?”

The maids ran to the dressing room, saying, “Nothing would suit you—!”

I looked at the three sinners standing against the wall while they fetched the hat.

“Don’t take out your frustrations on others. Okay?”

“Sure.”

“Yeah.”

“Got it.”

I looked at my father and the twins with narrowed eyes and headed towards the carriage.

Just as I was about to get into the carriage, the maids ran over and put the hat on me.

“Knew it would be red!”

I waved lightly to the two delighted maids and got into the carriage.

The carriage moved quickly.

Really quickly.

‘It won’t take more than two hours.’

The carriage, with 12 <Speed> blessing stones embedded, was bound to be fast.

My hands trembled when I bought this carriage.

Ten years have passed since I returned as Erylot, but a part of me is still a commoner.

‘I have to show that I have money.’

I used to wonder why nobles were so extravagant.

But showing off wealth is very helpful in society.

‘Well, it’s fine.’

I’ve made it to a place where I can afford this.

All thanks to my father, who conquered kingdoms to find seasonal fruits all year round.

Soon, the carriage stopped.

I got out and entered the main castle.

“I see you, my lady.”

“I see you, my lady.”

Hilda and Greta, who had been promoted to senior staff, greeted me.

Especially Hilda….

“Hilda… Mrs.?”

She had become a maid in charge of greeting.

Hilda said, “Oh,” and covered her cheeks with both hands.

“Congratulations on your promotion.”

“Thanks to you, my lady~!”

Hilda said, very pleased.

Hilda, Greta, and I walked together towards Grandfather’s study.

Hilda looked around and said,

“Lord Decon and Lord Gustav seem to have had a big argument.”

“Why Gustav? He doesn’t get angry easily.”

“They were debating where to build the hospital.”

“Futile arguments. The hospital is ours~!”

I was aware of the castle’s situation through Hilda and Greta.

Before I knew it, we had reached the study.

I cleared my throat and knocked on the door.

“It’s Erylot.”

“Come in.”

As soon as I was given permission to enter, I rushed in.

“Grandfather!”

Grandfather acted as if he was delighted to see his granddaughter.

I ran to him like a ten-year-old child but paused for a moment.

‘Were the nobles gathered here?’

I felt a slight letdown but composed myself.

Repair costs for the Great Hall! Hospital!

‘The hospital is really important.’

Our territory has become incredibly vast due to my father’s land acquisition, but there are only two hospitals.

I smiled and greeted the nobles.

“It’s been a while.”

“Lady Erylot, you’ve grown so much every time I see you.”

Grandfather and my soulmate, Lord Debussy, also bowed.

After receiving their greetings, I ran over and stood beside Grandfather.

“What’s the matter?”

“I keep receiving calls from the Capital Academy. I wanted to ask Grandfather. I think it would be good to receive education at the Capital Academy, where Grandfather’s acquaintances are.”

The nobles widened their eyes.

“Calls from the Capital Academy?”

“What for?”

Lord Debussy laughed and said,

“Lord Eneron, the headmaster of the Capital Academy, visited last time and, for fun, had Lady Erylot solve the entrance exam questions.”

“Hmm… and?”

“She scored a perfect score. Lord Eneron was in a frenzy, saying he’s never seen a ten-year-old score a perfect score and asked to send her.”

“Wow. I knew Lady Erylot was excellent, but this is impressive.”

Lord Debussy asked Grandfather,

“What do you think of having such a talented granddaughter?”

“Nothing. Just a nuisance.”

But Grandfather’s lips were trembling.

‘It was worth staying up for three months and ten days to study.’

I knew Lord Eneron was coming through the Comment Reading Blessing.

I also knew he was a strange person who, when drunk, would make children solve exam questions.

‘I studied hard.’

Is there anyone who dislikes a well-educated grandchild!