“Oh dear, how could you forget this?”

What was it? By this point, she was curious about what was going on. No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t think of anything important, but hearing that response made her wonder if she had truly forgotten something significant.

Led by the smiling maid, she arrived at a small hall inside the mansion. It was a place she rarely visited because it wasn’t used often, and she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

“This is a hall.”

“Yes!”

With a clear response, the oiled door opened silently as if someone inside had pulled it. And what was revealed was……

“Why is your expression like that, Miss? Did you really forget?”

“……My birthday?”

“It seems you really forgot.”

Only after seeing the obviously carefully prepared party scene did she realize. Ah, today is Lysith’s birthday.

Eve, who had led her by the hand, smiled brightly and congratulated her on her birthday. Feeling as if she were floating, lacking a sense of reality, she blinked and finally smiled, saying thank you. Seeing this, the people gathered in the hall burst into laughter, thinking she was moved.

Usually, only maids worked indoors, but this time, there were also coachmen and gardeners from outside, and a few male servants were visible.

Lysith had never been very interested in the affairs of the mansion — in this regard, she might have been disqualified as a master — so she hadn’t imagined they were preparing something like this. Even if she had shown interest, she probably wouldn’t have noticed, but it seemed they had prepared quite thoroughly.

After thanking those who prepared it and receiving congratulations from everyone, she still felt uneasy.

“So, it’s my birthday……”

Lysith, who was staring blankly into space and mumbling, snapped back to reality when a man approached from behind, making his presence known.

“Miss.”

When she turned around, Penchev handed her a bracelet, saying it wasn’t much but it was a gift. Looking up at his face after accepting the gift, he seemed somewhat awkward. His expression clearly showed that this was his first time doing something like this.

When Lysith put on the bracelet and smiled, thanking him, he replied that he was grateful she accepted it.

No, this man really thanks me for everything.

Feeling amused, she let out a small laugh, and as Penchev gazed at her clear face, he hesitated before asking a question.

“……Is there something that doesn’t satisfy you?”

“Huh? No. Why do you think that? There’s no way.”

“Your face… It looks as if you’ve lost something.”

Although it wasn’t obvious, Penchev, who was always sensitive to her moods, quickly noticed. That something about this situation was wearing her down.

She didn’t bother denying it.

To be precise, it wasn’t that she felt like she had lost something, but because she felt the absence of something she had already lost. It was indeed Lysith’s birthday today. But it wasn’t her birthday. Or maybe it was today.

But who would know that?

The person who should know about herself knew nothing about herself.

The moment she realized that, this world felt far removed from her.

But she couldn’t tell him that straightforwardly. What could she say? That she had lost herself? That this situation didn’t feel like it was for her, and she wanted to run away?

She let out a small sigh, trying not to show it, and shook her head, saying it was nothing, but Penchev persisted. He earnestly asked if there was anything that didn’t please her, promising to fix it.

Defeated by his persistence, Lysith hesitantly gave an answer. She couldn’t reveal everything, so she disclosed just enough for him to understand.

“There’s nothing wrong with this banquet. Of course, I’m very happy. But just… the fact that I forgot my own birthday……”

“……”

She didn’t know how her answer affected him. But Penchev, who seemed to have realized something, stroked his chin and bent his upper body, extending his hand.

This was a gesture made by a man when inviting a woman to dance. It was the most formal and proper gesture, and Penchev was inviting her to dance.

As soon as Lysith’s eyes widened in surprise, Penchev spoke,

“If you don’t mind, would you like to dance with me?”

“Uh……. There’s no music, though?”

“We just haven’t played it yet.”

As soon as he finished speaking, music began to play from a device that had been somewhere. However, it was different from the music she heard at the Imperial Palace.

In fact, only the two of them could dance to such a waltz in this hall. Perhaps this was the plan all along, as the hands of those clearing the center moved swiftly.

Even so, when Lysith hesitated, Penchev drove the nail in.

“Don’t think of it as a banquet at the Imperial Palace. This mansion is entirely yours. Above all… as the protagonist of today, you can step on my feet as much as you want.”

“That’s a bit……”

Even as she replied, Lysith placed her hand on his. Wondering why he suddenly suggested dancing, she walked to the center with him.

Penchev’s reason for inviting her to dance became clear shortly after. The music that played seemed to focus more on excitement than elegance and grace, and due to its slightly fast tempo, as she moved her legs and body frantically, all her distracting thoughts vanished.

However, unlike her body spinning to the quick rhythm, her mind strangely felt increasingly at peace.

In fact, she had missed the beat several times already, and even the dances she was familiar with were of no use as she stepped on Penchev’s foot and apologized for the fourth time. Each time she received an answer that it was fine, but Lysith still felt sorry.

Yet, due to the relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, she found herself smiling without realizing it.

Suddenly, she remembered the saying that moving your body is the best remedy for clearing your mind. Until now, she hadn’t realized it because she led a mostly sedentary life, but moving her body, though slightly breathless, seemed to clear her complicated thoughts, leaving her feeling refreshed.

It was a different sensation from the dances at a typical banquet. There was no gauging the partner’s skill, no concern about whether the rhythm matched or not… It felt like the kind of freedom one might feel dancing at a street festival.

How much time had passed while she laughed heartily? Having eaten both lunch and dinner in the hall, Lysith felt a bit embarrassed.

But everyone was showing off their various talents, claiming they had this skill and that skill, and it was just so entertaining…

At first, receiving birthday congratulations on a day she wasn’t even sure was her birthday felt like a story from another world, but after moving around and shaking off her thoughts, she felt, ‘Well, what can I do about it now?’ Ultimately, it was she who was living as Lysith in this world right now.

Well, if it bothered her that much, she could simply choose not to think of this banquet as a birthday celebration.

Having shaken off her gloom more easily than expected, Lysith laughed while listening to the gardener’s tips on gardening. When asked about her favorite flower, she chose an appropriate answer and then yawned slightly.

Only then did she become aware of the time, and her face turned to one of surprise.

“Is today just a self-declared holiday?”

“Not really, we worked in shifts with the minimum number of people.”

While the owner, who wasn’t interested in the mansion, was distracted by playing, everyone seemed to have managed their work on their own. Embarrassed, Lysith’s ears turned slightly red.

Feeling awkward, she cleared her throat softly and stood up, announcing she would be going.

“I’m going up. Those who want to keep playing can continue.”

“Yes. We already prepared your room for sleep earlier.”

Eve, who seemed lively and slightly clumsy, was actually meticulous and efficient. She must have gone to prepare Lysith’s sleeping arrangements when she briefly left earlier.

Thanking Eve, Lysith bid farewell to those remaining and left the hall. For some reason, Penchev naturally followed her, and when she glanced at him, he wore an expression as if he knew nothing.

“……Aren’t you going to stay and play more?”

“Why would I stay here and play when Miss is not present?”

“……”

She had thought this before, but he seemed to have a habit of saying embarrassing things casually. The fact that he could say such things without changing his expression was surprising.

Hearing his answer, Lysith turned her head abruptly, and perhaps sensing her disappointment, Penchev approached her and offered his hand, saying he would escort her.

The distance to her room wasn’t far, nor was it dark, but his intention to use any excuse to stay close to her was transparently clear. However, because she didn’t dislike that intention, Lysith accepted his escort.

Penchev, who had been staring at the white hand placed on his palm for a moment, held her firmly and began to walk slowly.

Between the footsteps of the man and woman walking down the corridor, their murmuring voices echoed.

“Is your foot okay?”

“Yes. You didn’t step on it with your shoe heel… Even if you had, it wouldn’t matter.”

“I don’t intend to hurt you.”

“I meant that whatever Miss does to me is fine.”

Lysith pouted her lips at his response, and upon reaching her room, she opened her mouth to send him away but quickly closed it.

‘Wait, isn’t this the perfect situation for a quest?’

Wondering how to naturally lead him inside, Lysith swallowed her saliva and smiled as she spoke to him.

“Want to come in?”

“……Pardon?”

“Don’t you want to braid my hair?”

‘Damn it. I can’t believe I’m pulling such a trick…’

As soon as he heard her invitation, his pupils, which had been darting around with various thoughts, quickly stabilized when she mentioned braiding her hair. …Though he did seem slightly disappointed.