“She might even be dead. If you don’t want to end up like that, you should behave properly, Iris. But I take good care of my people, so you won’t be disappointed.”

“……Thank you, Lady Rozenne. It’s all done now.”

“Thank you, Iris. It was a brief but informative time.”

Rozenne smiled brightly at me. It was the refreshed face of someone who had accomplished her goal.

I left the room with that face behind me. Wow.

I patted my cheeks.

This isn’t the female protagonist I knew. Now I’m certain. To think she would bring up my story here.

I barely managed to hold back from cursing.

Shaking my head, I walked out into the banquet hall. Getting involved with someone like her would only exhaust me. It’s best to use her as much as I can and then break away.

I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy the banquet, nor was that why I came, so I quietly stood by the wall.

I thought no one would pay attention to me in my modest dress and veil, which seemed somewhat out of place here.

I had carefully chosen a dress that wasn’t flashy but perfectly formal. Laurel really knows what suits me best.

Some people occasionally spoke to me, but I brushed them off. I was here to stay as quiet as possible, achieve my goal, and leave.

Just think about the money, Iris.

You don’t want to starve again, do you?

I thought I was doing well. The debutantes were introduced, the Empress gave a congratulatory speech, and the first dance ended.

When exactly are they going to call me? I sipped my drink in front of a table.

The banquet hall hadn’t changed from the past. I was watching the men and women dancing.

But then.

“……Ires Liberk?”

Why am I hearing my name here……?

Ah, this goddamn story.

My heart sank at the quiet voice directed at me.

I knew without looking.

It was him.

Vairen.

Have I been discovered?

How? What did he recognize?

Should I pretend I don’t know? Or should I run……?

I turned around slightly. When I met those sharp eyes staring directly at me from under thick eyebrows, I had one thought.

I’m screwed.

There was no time to think. I strongly felt the need to get away from there.

I put down the glass I was holding and quickly walked away.

“Ires?”

My heart dropped at the voice from behind. His voice became firmer, as if he was certain. No, this is crazy. What exactly did he recognize me by? My back view? Is he a pervert? How could he recognize someone from behind? Plus, I’m wearing a hat and veil, and I even dyed my hair!

I shouldn’t have returned to the capital from the beginning.

I should have stayed in Lorentz the whole time. No, even if I had stayed there, there’s no guarantee I would have been safe.

Since Vairen and Rozenne were searching for me!

But what’s important now is to leave this place without being discovered. The Empress introducing me and all that—none of it mattered anymore.

As Laurel said, I should never have set foot in a place like this!

I escaped the banquet hall. Fortunately, Vairen was held back by the crowd. Noble ladies flocked to him, grabbing their daughters’ wrists and blocking his path.

I practically tumbled down the stairs.

“Move aside!”

I heard Vairen pushing people out of his way. A carriage, I need the fastest carriage available! I ran without even realizing my shoes had fallen off.

Then I frantically knocked on the door of the frontmost carriage.

“Please give me a ride just once! I’ll definitely compensate you! Please!”

Fortunately, the carriage door opened, and I jumped inside. The carriage departed simultaneously. In the distance, I could see Vairen picking up my shoes. Ha, this isn’t some Cinderella story. Actually, Cinderella only lost one shoe.

I lost both.

Vairen was glaring in my direction.

Eek!

I quickly pressed myself against the carriage seat.

“……Who are you?”

I turned my head sharply at the small, youthful voice. The carriage owner was looking at me with a prim expression.

She was a small child who looked like she had just turned eight. A doll-like girl with her hair tightly braided on both sides.

She wore an elegant dress and adorable shoes.

And.

The bright blonde hair renowned as the imperial family’s symbol, and beneath it, round violet eyes. I couldn’t mistake who this child was.

Serena.

Vairen’s half-sister.

Ha. Of all the carriages to jump into…… I banged my head against the wall.

Vairen saw me getting into this carriage, so he’ll definitely question Serena about me. I must not say anything that could reveal my identity.

Serena chattered.

“Auntie, are you here to kidnap me? Hmph, just try it. My brother will definitely find you and punish you.”

How could I kidnap you when I’m in your carriage? But the word that bothered me most in Serena’s statement was something else.

“I’m not an auntie.”

This impertinent little kid! To an unmarried woman! Besides, Vairen is older than me, yet he’s “brother” and I’m “auntie”? For a moment, I almost tore off my veil in anger.

“You are an auntie.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Why did you ride my carriage? You rode my carriage, so you’re an auntie.”

“Ugh.”

I had nothing to say to that. Moreover, this little kid was my benefactor who saved me in a moment of crisis. What if Vairen had caught me? What if my veil had come off and he had seen my face?

Phew.

Better to lose both shoes. This could have been a real disaster. What exactly did he recognize me by?

Swallowing a sigh, I opened my mouth to assess the situation.

“……Where are you going?”

“Mom says I’m too young to be at such places. So I was on my way back. I promised to read a book, brush my teeth, and wash my face before 9 o’clock. I’m a good child, so I always keep my promises to my mom.”

Serena recited her schedule. Going to bed before 9 o’clock… She really is a good child.

“Then could you drop me off on the way? I don’t care where.”

“No. My carriage will go straight there. Mom told me not to be late at all.”

Serena looked at me primly and then nodded.

“You can read me a book and help me brush my teeth when we get there. That sounds good! From now on, I’ll make you my maid!”

No, what is she saying? This could be serious trouble.

“I don’t think that’s possible, Serena.”

“How do you know my name?”

Oops.

I was so flustered that I forgot I shouldn’t know Serena’s name. A child-appropriate excuse…

“Well…… actually, I’m a fairy!”

Wow, is that the best you can do? Would a child believe this? Kids these days are so smart!

“A fairy?”

Please fall for it. It seems like a lie that matches a child’s sensibilities. Would an eight-year-old believe this?

“But I don’t see any wings.”

That was a very accurate and sharp observation. A fairy should have wings.

I made an excuse, trying not to look flustered.

“Of course. In the human world, we always hide our wings so we won’t be discovered.”

“Can’t you show me?”

“No. The fairy grandmother would tear off my wings if I did.”

“Eek!”

Thankfully, she’s falling for it. Ha, the Empress has raised her daughter to be innocent and kind. That’s really fortunate.

Serena looked around the carriage with an anxious face.

“What happens if your wings get torn off?”

“I’ll die. I won’t be able to return to the human world ever again.”

I spoke as dejectedly as possible.

“So won’t you drop me off on the way? I need to return before midnight……”

I sniffled convincingly.

Serena’s face fell, and she nodded vigorously.

“Yes! I guess there’s no choice. Um, then does that mean I become the fairy’s life’s ben… ben…”

“……Benefactor?”

“Yes! That’s it! Am I becoming your benefactor?”

“……I suppose you could say that?”

“Then grant me a wish!”

“What’s your wish?”

The child blinked her large eyes. Then with a solemn face, she said.

“I want my mom and brother to reconcile! I like both my mom and brother…… but Mom hates my brother. She says he kept taking what Tori should have. But my brother isn’t that kind of person.”

Serena suddenly became gloomy. Her small feet stomping expressed her distress.

That’s right.

The Empress wanted to make her young son the crown prince. For that, Vairen would have been an obstacle. Until her son was born, the relationship between the Empress and Vairen wasn’t bad.

For the Empress, Vairen was a card that would protect her after the Emperor’s death. But with the birth of her son, she had a safer card.

“……Do you like your brother?”

“Yes. My brother is tall and cool. And he dotes on me. He used to read me fairy tales. These days, my nanny reads them instead of my brother.”