Although the efforts in her past life were in vain, they aren’t wasted in this life. The things she learned over two lifetimes have proven to be quite useful.

Right now, she can make what she’s trying to create because she had already made it for the emperor before. This time, she wanted to do even better than before.

‘It’s possible because the roses at the marquis’s estate are better managed and of higher quality than those in the imperial palace.’

The real issue was her own discernment and ability to select ingredients. Beate decided to use ancient roses instead of the improved varieties.

She woke up early in the morning to harvest the roses again. She had to hurry because tomorrow was the promised date for tea time.

Casey had been called away by the head maid and wasn’t around, so she went to the rose garden alone. By now, she was quite familiar with the layout of the marquis’s estate and didn’t bother to bring Casey since she planned to return quickly.

Ancient roses weren’t as beautiful in shape as improved ones, so they were grown more for their fragrance than ornamental purposes. Because of their scent, butterflies and bees were particularly attracted to them.

“Where could they be?”

Beate guessed where the roses were planted after seeing this.

The ancient roses were planted in the most secluded part of the garden. Among them, Beate looked for the Lux rose.

“Here it is.”

She’d seen it in the encyclopedia of medicinal ingredients, but since it was rare and difficult to cultivate, this was her first time seeing the flower in person.

The Lux rose, with its vivid, blood-red petals, had fewer petals than other varieties, but each petal emitted a strong fragrance, making it a precious breed.

Beate’s hands moved quickly. Bees hovered around her, treating her as a competitor, but she paid them no mind.

She picked the blossoms carefully, making sure not to damage a single petal.

When the basket was about half full, a chilling, buzzing sound suddenly rang in her ears.

Startled by the ominous noise, Beate stood up with her basket and looked around.

A giant mutant black wasp, as big as an adult’s thumb, was flying over her head with its stinger raised.

The appearance of the mutant black wasp had already driven away the bees and butterflies nearby.

The wasp flew straight at Beate, who was standing among the ancient roses. There was nowhere nearby to hide, nor any tool to deal with the wasp.

“Wh-what should I do? Someone, please help!”

Beate trembled in fear. As the wasp descended with a loud fluttering sound, she ran, staring only at the ground.

‘Am I going to die like this in this life?’

‘I haven’t even gotten involved with the emperor, but to be stung by a wasp?’

That’s ridiculous. Suddenly, her legs gave out from the panic, and she lost her balance after stepping on a small stone.

“Ah!”

Just as she was about to fall forward, someone caught her with one arm.

Shing!

With the sound of metal slicing through the air, the buzzing of the wasp’s wings disappeared. At Beate’s feet, the wasp was cut clean in two.

“That was close. Are you hurt?”

The voice was husky yet neutral.

“Huh? No, I’m fine.”

Beate looked up to see who it was.

Silver hair cut in a long bob, deep green eyes. Wearing the uniform of the Imperial Academy.

“You’re Beate, right?”

Tall and striking, with a handsome, boyish face that rivaled any of the boys her age. The marquis’s daughter who seemed almost like a son.

“My name is Ailis.”

The successor of the marquis family, who inherited her father’s exceptional swordsmanship and would become the commander of the Imperial Knights when Gis ascended the throne. She was Ailis Byten, the young marchioness.

“Thank you for helping me.”

“No need to thank me.”

“But how did you know who I was?”

“It was impossible not to.”

Ailis smiled softly. On the carriage ride back from the Imperial Academy to the marquis’s estate, she’d heard so much about Beate from the maid Mary that her ears were ringing.

These days, Beate was the talk of the staff.

Mary had started by praising Beate’s intelligence, skillfulness, and maturity—perhaps because she came from the Larre Orphanage in the Sacred Independent State of Belia, despite her young age.

She also talked endlessly about the time the lord and lady spent with Beate and how wonderful the rose soap Beate had made was.

Meeting Beate in person now, Ailis felt like she was meeting a celebrity.

And in person, Beate was even prettier and cuter.

“It’s a good thing I came here first. Now that the Lux roses are blooming, I figured mutant black wasps would start showing up.”

“Does this happen often?”

“That’s why Lux roses are so rare. The mutant black wasps only lay their eggs on Lux roses. The larvae eat all the leaves and flowers. I’ll have to tell the gardener to set up some traps.”

Ailis swiftly slid the sword she was holding into the sheath at her belt.

“Are you finished here? If another black wasp shows up, it could be dangerous. Should I wait with you?”

“Oh…!”

Only then did Beate check to see if the rose blossoms in her basket were damaged. If they were, she’d have to pick more. Thankfully, they were fine.

“I’m all done.”

“Then let’s head back together.”

Ailis and Beate walked along the garden path together.

“I heard you volunteered to prepare for the family tea time tomorrow?”

“I just wanted to try making a few things.”

“You don’t have to overdo it. There’s no need to try so hard to impress people. Everyone already seems to like you.”

Ailis was honest and straightforward. In her past life, she had been popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender.

She was the kind of woman who was even cooler than most men. Beate wondered what it would be like to have someone like her as a friend or family member.

“I just want to do it.”

As they talked, they found themselves at the entrance to the main house. Just then, they ran into the marquis, who was about to go out. Ailis waved and greeted him.

“Father, I’m back.”

“So you two have already met. Let me introduce you.”

As the marquis stepped forward, Ailis affectionately placed her hand on Beate’s shoulder and smiled.

“We’ve already introduced ourselves.”

“Haha, that was quick. But where’s Ezra? Didn’t you come together?”

A familiar name came up in the conversation between father and daughter.

‘Ezra!’

Only after hearing the name directly from the marquis did Beate realize it.

She was about to meet Ezra Byten, the count who had been the emperor’s aide in her previous life.

Ailis answered her father’s question about Ezra’s whereabouts with a touch of indifference.

“We were supposed to come together, but he was suddenly called to the dean’s office.”

“Ezra? Not you?”

The marquis’s eyes widened. His perfectionist son, who never made mistakes or caused trouble, had been summoned to the dean’s office?

“Father!”

Ailis protested.

“That’s only because Ezra’s never done anything like that before. Don’t you know why?”

“I’m curious too.”

“Why didn’t you wait and come together? There’s only one carriage at the townhouse today, so what’s Ezra supposed to ride?”

“Tell him to run. All he knows is studying, so he needs some serious physical training. He’s so punctual, he’ll probably run all night and arrive right on time tomorrow. It’ll be a sight to see him staggering in, drenched in sweat. Heh.”

Ailis grinned mischievously.

Pfft! Beate, listening beside her, barely managed to stifle her own laughter.

Thanks to Ailis, she could vividly picture the usually immaculate Ezra, hair and pores perfectly neat, looking disheveled.

“Tell the butler to send a messenger pigeon to the academy. I’ll arrange for a carriage from nearby to be sent as soon as possible, so tell him to wait at the townhouse.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Then he’ll probably arrive by dawn tomorrow.”

Lotus gave Ailis these instructions and left the mansion for his outing.

Beate watched Lotus’s retreating figure and thought of his son, who resembled him in appearance, if not in personality or talent.

What kind of person would Ezra be now, having regressed to sixteen, eight years younger than before? Would he still have the same prickly personality, not letting a drop of blood out even if pricked with a needle?

If so, he would surely oppose Beate’s adoption.

The Ezra she’d known as an adult, when she was a court lady, had been cold and unyielding enough to bring her to tears.

* * *

Ezra, too, was surprised by the summons from the dean.

He had never done anything to warrant being called to the dean’s office. And what was with the imperial knights standing guard outside the office today?

He knocked and entered the dean’s office, and immediately understood the reason. It was because of the guest whom the dean was personally entertaining.

It wasn’t the dean who had called for Ezra, but the guest.

“Ezra, come in. Have a seat.”

A boy whose status made even the dean, more than fifty years his senior, bow his head. A strong candidate for the imperial throne.

“Why are you—no, Your Highness the Prince—here…?”