While my brother Orie was eyeing me with keen interest, completely unaware of my feelings, Father had joined the war that was making my situation difficult.

“It seems His Majesty also found our little lark quite lovely.”

Though few words were exchanged, the conversation revealed enough. The Emperor, his gift, the enormous box—and the dress I had shredded to pieces upstairs.

Levi stared at me intently before tilting his head slightly to one side. His eyes were full of questions, likely wondering why I had cut up the dress sent by the Emperor with scissors.

But what could I possibly say now?

As I silently sipped my tea, Father’s expression darkened, perhaps remembering what I had said recently. He seemed to understand my hysterical behavior and excessive eating(?) since returning from the banquet.

“Well, since we have a guest today, let’s discuss this matter later.”

Father spoke, and brother Allentain nodded in agreement.

But I felt I needed to address the matter of the Emperor right away. A sudden defiance rose within me.

“Father, the gift His Majesty sent was quite disappointing.”

“……”

My single comment instantly chilled the atmosphere at the table.

“He sent a dress that’s not my style at all, and I don’t want to accept his gifts.”

“Leonora.”

“If he sent the gift because he favors me, I dislike it even more. This might sound hasty, but I don’t want to be close to His Majesty, Father.”

“……”

Father’s expression only darkened, as this wasn’t the first time hearing such words from me, but brother Allentain seemed quite surprised.

“What are you saying, Leonora?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. So if he plans to send more gifts in the future, please stop them.”

Brother Orie’s innocent eyes gradually widened.

I felt sorry for startling my kind brother, but I wanted to end any entanglement with the Emperor right here.

At that moment, brother Allentain spoke with a rather serious expression.

“Leonora.”

“……”

“Yes, as you said… His Majesty seems to have taken a liking to you.”

With my brother’s words, my heart felt like it dropped to my feet.

He continued with merciless statements, showing no consideration for my situation.

“I’ve been by his side for quite some time, but I’ve never seen that look on his face before.”

What kind of look was he referring to? Did he smile pathetically after falling for my face?

Ugh, the mere thought made me nauseous.

“Besides, sending a dress to a woman… You must understand what this means.”

“……”

“His Majesty is a good person. I don’t understand why you’re reacting so emotionally, but I—”

My brother claimed he’d never seen such an expression on the Emperor’s face before.

Similarly, I had never seen this kind of expression on brother Allentain’s face either.

He ran his hand through his hair before speaking again.

“How about getting to know him better by seeing him more often?”

Seeing him more often won’t make things better.

“But—”

“If the Emperor chooses you, you can’t refuse simply because you dislike him.”

My brother and father were right.

Just saying I dislike him isn’t enough.

“Father, I know some things from what Avery told me.”

“What do you mean?”

“That His Majesty is constantly surrounded by rumors of affairs. And I don’t understand why he’s selecting another Empress when the current one hasn’t passed away.”

I noticed a flash of embarrassment cross Father’s face and continued.

“I want to marry a man who will love me and look only at me.”

As I said this, something intensely hot began to rise in my chest.

It was a complex, solid emotion I couldn’t quite describe.

Brother, I won’t get to know that person better, nor do I need to.

I know the Emperor better than anyone.

No one in this world knows that bastard better than I do.

“I have something to say.”

I tried to maintain a dignified expression.

But anyone sitting across from me would have noticed my flushed cheeks and rapid breathing.

“Something to say?”

“Yes, something I’ve been contemplating for a very long time.”

A lie, of course.

“Go ahead, tell us.”

Father swallowed dryly, staring at me intently.

“The three of you love me, don’t you?”

I looked at Father and my brothers in turn, speaking with determination.

“Of course, Leonora.”

“I promise to do anything for you.”

“Then I believe you’ll support my decision.”

I kept circling around the topic, unable to get straight to the point.

I simply couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“Tell us.”

But the die had already been cast.

Should I have held back?

Though clearly an impulsive choice, somehow this one statement felt like it would save me.

No, it had to save me.

“I want to marry Sir Levi Merten.”

❀❀❀

“I’m sorry.”

After my bombshell announcement about wanting to marry him, Levi calmly diffused the situation and brought me outside.

Under the pretext of taking a walk in the garden with his long-unseen sister to continue their conversation.

The moment the massive mansion door closed behind us, I bowed my head deeply to Levi.

“I’m sorry, truly sorry.”

After apologizing perhaps a hundred times, Levi, who had been walking steadily, suddenly stopped.

“Enough, Lady. You don’t need to apologize so much.”

Then he stood facing me.

But when I met his kind gaze, another apology escaped my lips.

“I’m sorry, really.”

“My, we should keep walking. We need to walk.”

He smiled gently and started walking again.

Afterward, we walked around the garden in silence for quite some time.

Why I had acted so violently with scissors in my room, why I had mutilated the Emperor’s gift, why I suddenly announced I wanted to marry him—he didn’t ask me anything.

He simply walked with an astonishingly calm expression.

‘Why isn’t he asking? I said I want to marry him, why isn’t he surprised?’

Ironically, I was the one who felt frustrated.

“Um…”

He was extremely tall, standing at least two heads above me, so I had to look up at him.

“Why aren’t you asking me anything?”

Levi’s lips twitched as if he found my question amusing.

“Don’t you have more questions for me, Lady?”

Well, that was true.

But I couldn’t exactly say I was reincarnated into Leonora a year ago and couldn’t remember anything.

“Alright. We can’t keep walking like this without saying anything.”

When I said that, Levi smiled brightly.

“Then may I ask first?”

“Of course, Lady.”

“They say we were close when we were young, but honestly, I don’t remember much.”

I decided to be as honest as possible.

After all, I’d gone so far as to propose marriage!

Levi nodded gently with a soft smile.

“It’s natural you don’t remember. You were very ill.”

“……”

I almost reflexively apologized again.

I had gotten as far as “I’m s—” before closing my mouth, and he spoke again.

“Then let me share what I remember.”

I quietly nodded and matched his pace.

“Leonora Chadmon was very sick and often fell into deep sleeps, as if unconscious.”

This was almost the first time I’d heard such stories, as the Chadmon family was extremely reluctant to discuss my illness.

“Sometimes you wouldn’t eat anything for days, just sleeping. The servants took turns watching over you, Lady. To make sure you were still breathing, that you were really just sleeping.”

I couldn’t help but swallow hard at his words.

I could feel the family’s concern and anxiety.

“I see.”

“Everyone stood guard day and night, but no one complained. Everyone loved you.”

The reason everyone worried about my well-being went beyond simply saying I was very ill.

I almost choked up thinking of Sabine’s face, always checking my complexion.

What kind of mistress was I to order such a kind girl to bring me sharp scissors?

‘I should treat her better.’

And my mother, whom I couldn’t even remember.

They said Mother passed away three days after giving birth to Leonora.

I had only seen her in the portrait hanging in the mansion—a face that looked exactly like mine, as if I were looking in a mirror.

They said my mother, Liliburn Chadmon, had a very delicate and weak constitution.

With her fragile body, she gave birth to two sons in succession, and finally had the daughter she so desperately wanted, but couldn’t even hold her properly before passing away.

That’s why Leonora Chadmon was an especially precious daughter.

“So it’s only natural that I remember more.”

I glanced up at Levi.

“Thank you for telling me. I had no childhood memories at all, so it’s nice to hear about them, even like this.”

Perhaps sensing the heaviness in the atmosphere, Levi changed his tone.

“Hmm, what else happened?”

Levi pressed his lips together firmly before falling into thought.

It was quite a pleasing sight.

“And on the rare days when you were feeling well, you would insist on marrying me.”

“…Hahaha.”

“Just like today.”

“You’re not making things up because I can’t remember, are you?”