* * *

Reibella’s daily life became extremely busy due to the sudden event preparations.

As she spent several days tasting desserts, sending improvement suggestions, and encouraging participation in the fair, time passed quickly.

Since she had to complete in just over ten days what would normally require much more time, Reibella had no choice but to devote herself to work, staying up for several nights straight.

Naturally, Royan was full of complaints.

‘You haven’t been fully recovered for long!’

After arguing for quite some time out of concern for her health,

‘It’s better to finish early and let her rest. Everyone, stay sharp! Don’t let my sister collapse.’

Unable to break her stubbornness, he finally helped. He truly seemed like an older brother suffering because of his disobedient tomboy sister.

Certainly, once Royan joined in, the work began to gain more momentum. Even when serious situations occasionally arose, everyone put their heads together to worry and find solutions. After all their hard work, they were able to complete all preparations perfectly by the day before Royan’s birthday.

And finally, Royan’s birthday arrived.

“Miss, you look so beautiful!”

“You truly look like a baby angel descended from heaven.”

The maids’ compliments seeped into Reibella’s ears as she dozed off from exhaustion. With effort, she lifted her eyelids, and through her blurry corneas, she saw her beautifully adorned self.

She looked quite splendid in a green dress that matched her clear green eyes, decorated with adorable ribbons. Surely, until a few years ago, wearing such clothes had been more familiar.

Yet it felt strangely unfamiliar, as if from a very distant past. It didn’t seem like herself, making her feel a bit embarrassed.

As she blinked with an awkward expression and averted her gaze, she noticed the maids’ reflections in the mirror.

Millia was looking at her with moist eyes, Charlotte had her lips tightly pressed with a sympathetic expression. The other maids were the same. Every one of them was looking at her with pitiful faces.

They seemed to find it sad that someone who should naturally be accustomed to this appearance was making an unfamiliar expression.

While she was wondering how to break this awkward atmosphere, the Duke of Vicheravali and Royan appeared like saviors. As they revealed themselves, the maids beside her stepped back.

Of the two, Royan naturally approached first.

“My sister is so pretty!”

After looking at her from the front, back, and sides, Royan stood directly in front of her with a bright smile.

“Like a doll. My sister.”

Reibella was equally surprised.

“Royan, you’re truly dazzling! Usually you were a bit… but now you’re ten times, no, a hundred times more handsome than usual.”

She had only seen him looking haggard from reading books for hours, or pouring sweat like rain while holding a sword. Though he was handsome even then, his realistic appearance without any glamour sometimes made her forget he was the male protagonist.

But now, seeing him neatly dressed in a black suit with pink accents, his face seemed to shine.

Indeed, he was the protagonist.

“Am I worthy of standing next to my sister?”

“Of course you are, Brother. It’s only natural for you to be by my side.”

When Royan smiled broadly, it seemed as if light was bursting from the background.

He extended his hand excitedly. As Reibella reached out to take it casually, her feet suddenly left the ground and she was scooped into warm arms.

“You’re beautiful.”

“You look splendid too, Duke!”

If Royan looked like an extremely handsome boy, the Duke exuded a mature beauty. Well-groomed silver hair, a neat face, and beautiful eyes that shone like amethyst.

Dressed impeccably with pink accessories for accent like Royan, he was also dazzling.

She could understand why the palace maids, despite speaking ill of the Duke of Vicheravali, couldn’t take their eyes off him when they saw him.

The Duke smiled as if he found her natural flattery irresistible and said:

“After today, it cannot be undone.”

He meant that today, in front of everyone, they would become family.

“Yes, Reibella. Now you’re truly becoming Reibella Vicheravali.”

Reibella Vicheravali.

It was still an unfamiliar name that only lingered on the tip of her tongue, never spoken aloud.

The name “Reibella Felicity” given to her at birth was far too familiar.

But now the trace of Felicity would be erased from her name. A new family.

Despite wanting this, honestly, she felt somewhat confused. It was awkward and unfamiliar, so while she could call Royan “Brother,” she hadn’t been able to call the Duke of Vicheravali “Dad.”

For “Reibella Felicity,” the only people who could be called Dad or Mom were “Uriah Felicity” and “Diana Felicity.”

Perhaps sensing this feeling, the Duke of Vicheravali never forced her to call him Dad. Without showing any sign, he simply waited patiently. As if he understood her heart and confusion.

So she had been able to calmly reflect on her feelings and organize her thoughts sufficiently.

And now she could say it.

“……Dad.”

Felicity was Felicity, Vicheravali was Vicheravali.

Both families were precious to her, and both names would shine in her heart.

She was so happy to have two fathers.

“I look forward to being in your care from now on, Dad.”

The Duke of Vicheravali’s eyes widened at Reibella’s careful address. But soon, with a natural smile, he patted Reibella, who had lowered her head in embarrassment, and said:

“I’ll make you the happiest daughter.”

“Me too! Reibella, no, Rel! This brother will make you happy too.”

Reibella giggled with a pink-tinged face at their declarations.

When she first came to the Duke’s castle and faced these two people, she couldn’t have imagined this scene.

But now she truly wanted to be happy with these people.

Forever and ever.

* * *

“Cassius Vicheravali, Royan Vicheravali, Reibella Vicheravali are entering.”

As they were announced, the voices that had been chirping like birds fell silent as if facing a massive beast. The beautiful melody that had been resonating also faded away.

The three people appeared before such an audience.

The Duke of Vicheravali, standing on the highest step, was nothing short of a moving work of art. His elegant silver hair and flawlessly structured appearance could only be described as crafted by God himself.

People repeatedly expressed admiration, questioning whether the nickname “Evil Nonility” might have been someone’s malicious slander.

And as people gazed at the silver wolf as if enchanted, a sweet pink color seeped into their field of vision.

She was a pretty child blinking her emerald eyes with a clear expression. Her snow-white, unblemished face still had baby fat making it plump, and her chubby arms and legs doubled her lovable atmosphere.

Moreover, her features were so delicate. Below her large, round eyes, her nose bridge drew a pretty line, and with her uncommon pink hair flowing abundantly, she was truly as beautiful as a doll.

However, despite such a lovely appearance, the nobles’ reactions were not entirely favorable.

The gazes that had been captivated by the Duke of Vicheravali’s beautiful appearance turned sharp the moment they fell on the child. After briefly admiring the child’s appearance, they reacted like they’re seeing a bug, finding her dreadful.

‘Well, that’s to be expected.’

How delighted they must have been watching a noble who had been above them fall to the bottom. How superior they must have felt trampling her with their tongues. But now she had been adopted into the only remaining ducal family in the Empire.

Moreover, she had obtained wealth they would never possess in their lifetime.

To nobles who spent their time envying, jealous of, and cursing others, Reibella was simply a thorn in their side.

‘Quite a few people who came to the princess’s tea party are here too.’

Honestly, aren’t they shameless?

After criticizing her so harshly then, now that the owner of the mana stone mine has been revealed, they brazenly come here with business intentions?

……Though she had no intention of excluding them from business.

‘I’ll just extract a ton of money from them.’

Make them tremble even when buying a single mana stone.

With such thoughts, Reibella overlooked the uncomfortable gazes directed at her. However, the Duke of Vicheravali seemed worried about her. As if trying to hide the child from everyone’s gaze, he naturally pulled her to his side.

While doing so, he glared at everyone, emanating a terrifying killing intent.

‘How can the host of the party do that……’

Especially when it’s Royan’s birthday party!