Leah looked around the party venue in search of a lounge.

This marked her first visit to the new mansion, leaving its layout unfamiliar. Duke Seigan had purchased and renovated this mansion after Yuria became frightened of the old one where her kidnapping had occurred.

‘I heard it once served as a royal recuperation villa.’

Perhaps because of that history, it featured large south-facing windows and numerous balconies. At parties like this, balconies often functioned as resting places in addition to lounges.

Rather than searching for an elusive lounge, Leah decided to rest on the balcony directly in front of her.

“Oh my goodness.”

After lowering the curtain to signal someone occupied the space, Leah sat down in a chair placed at one side of the balcony.

She had worn high heels to match today’s dress, and every step made her want to cry out in pain. She removed her shoes and tapped her calves.

“…Maybe I should have just asked Helix for a massage?”

The embarrassment would last briefly, but the pain would endure longer. As she regretted her decision and stretched out her legs—

Riiip.

Leah’s eyes widened.

The curtain at the balcony entrance tore as someone abruptly entered.

“Lady Leah Piert.”

Leah froze at the sudden intrusion.

“…Young Lord Philip Calosi?”

It was Philip Calosi, the first grandson of Grand Duke Calosi.

Philip Calosi, seventeen years old this year, possessed a pretty-boy face, but his arrogance could blow away any goodwill gained from his looks within five minutes.

Her surprise at the unwelcome visitor’s violent entrance lasted briefly. Leah frowned and said coldly:

“Young Lord Calosi, please leave.”

“I don’t want to.”

When did I ever meet this kid for him to speak so informally to me? Leah suppressed her rising temper and argued:

“Don’t you know that when a curtain is drawn, you shouldn’t enter?”

“Why should I care about that?”

Philip said with a smirk.

“I came because I wanted to see big sister.”

Wow.

She almost blurted it out loud.

‘Aren’t you… embarrassed to say such things out loud?’

Leah barely managed to control her distress and drew a line.

“Since when have we been close enough for you to call me ‘big sister’? Please leave.”

Instead of being deterred by her cold response, Philip moved closer to Leah. He leaned languidly against the railing, then leaned toward her and whispered:

“From now on.”

“…?”

“Let’s be like big sister and younger brother from now on.”

‘Aaaargh!’

Leah screamed internally.

‘My ears! My eardrums are shriveling!’

Why did this guy suddenly come on to her like a madman? Why did his eyes say, “She’ll fall for this, right? I’m an irresistible man.”

While she remained shocked, Philip gave Leah a smile that only curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Big sister. I know you’re in trouble because that bad crown prince from the empire has his eye on you.”

Thanks for the one-line summary. But could you add yourself to my troubles? And could you leave?

Leah shot Philip a glare filled with her true feelings. Philip completely misunderstood her look.

‘She’s desperately hanging on my every word. Hmph.’

The thought of becoming this beauty’s savior didn’t feel bad at all.

“I’ll save you.”

He said confidently.

“Prince Patrick is a coward. I’m the only one who can save you now.”

Well, well.

For a moment, Leah felt so dumbfounded that her inner voice escaped.

“What? Are you in your right mind?”

“I might not be in my right mind.”

Philip said.

“Because I’m crazy about you, big sister.”

“…So you really are insane?”

“I’m serious.”

Philip rubbed the tip of his nose, appearing embarrassed, and said:

“You’re old, but you’re pretty.”

Crack.

A vein popped on Leah’s forehead.

‘This young punk’s thick skull?’

Just then.

Helix entered, pushing aside the curtain. He must have come in a hurry, as his long silver hair stuck to his cheeks and lips.

“Take that back.”

He solemnly told Philip.

Philip flinched at the pressure, then tried to puff out his chest.

“W-what?”

“Leah is not old. And she’s always pretty. Moreover, she’s not your big sister.”

It came out as a low and articulate correction, but somehow the content sounded a bit strange. Nevertheless, Helix maintained a confident expression, seemingly stating an undeniable truth.

“She’s not a woman you can treat with such disrespect.”

As the tall, well-built man approached while speaking, the pressure intensified. Philip, who had unconsciously swallowed hard, flared up.

“Y-you, who are you? Some grand duke I’ve never heard of… like a dog bone!”

This time Leah didn’t hold back.

“Dog bone? Have you ever seen such a handsome dog bone?”

She pointed at Philip.

“If our Helix is a dog bone, you’re a squid shell!”

“S-squid shell…?”

***

Leah returned to the ducal residence with an enlightened look in her eyes.

Janet worried when she saw Leah coming in haggard and staggering after attending parties for several days.

“My lady, did something happen at the party?”

“The Calosi Grand Duke’s side seems intent on killing me… these crazy guys coming onto me…”

Public opinion in social circles matched Leah’s assessment.

“What, Walter Calosi and Philip Calosi? Those men with Peirlily? Is that even possible?”

“Hmph. Is Peirlily crazy? Rather than marry those guys, she’d probably choose the Oken crown prince.”

The atmosphere changed at someone’s casually uttered words.

“But that wouldn’t be right either.”

“That’s right. That shouldn’t happen.”

“Why not? He’s not just any imperial prince but the crown prince. Wouldn’t it benefit our Kingdom of Peiren to produce the future empress of the Oken Empire?”

“That might hold true for an ordinary noble lady, but not for Leah Piert. We’d lose a national treasure to the empire.”

Those who spoke more bluntly whispered:

That Swordmaster Ruyan Piert doted on his younger sister, so if Peirlily were to marry into the imperial family, it would amount to being taken hostage.

It would resemble handing the Swordmaster’s leash to the Oken Empire.

“…If Prince Patrick doesn’t step up, perhaps someone from Grand Duke Calosi’s side would prove acceptable?”

“Indeed. The grand duke’s sons and grandsons also belong to Peiren’s royal family, don’t they?”

Leah grew furious when she heard about the subtly shifting public opinion.

“It’s not their life, is it?”

Rikeil, who drank tea with her, hiccupped at her outburst. Helix’s face darkened.

“Instead of just talking, why don’t they marry Crown Prince Archaik Oken in my place! Or try rejecting him to his face! Everyone’s just all talk!”

Leah gulped down the tea in front of her.

Public opinion that viewed her as a chess piece, expecting her to move as they pleased.

Archaik Oken’s delegation, staying in the capital and applying political pressure. The forceful, insistent proposal.

Everything infuriated Leah.

“Am I an object?”

Peiren’s public opinion and Crown Prince Archaik—they all seemed to view her as a chess piece that could move here and there according to their needs and interests. A precious, beautiful, and expensive chess piece.

“…It’s truly absurd. If I hadn’t restored my honor in the last trial, they would all have treated me like a discarded card. Crown Prince Archaik wouldn’t have formally proposed like this and would have tried to kidnap me again. People would have only felt anxious about how my second brother would react.”

The men sitting across from her couldn’t offer hasty words of comfort. All of it rang true.

“…I need to build my strength.”

Leah gritted her teeth.

“If I were not just a mage but an archmage, even the crown prince of Oken wouldn’t have pushed such a forceful proposal. And the Calosi Grand Duke’s side wouldn’t have even dreamed of using me.”

“Leah.”

“Look at my second brother. Because he’s a Swordmaster, everyone wants to get their hands on him but can’t force him directly? While they think of using me as his leash.”

She muttered.

“I won’t be a leash, or a chess piece—I’ll become a weapon that everyone fears.”

Her bright blue eyes burned with determination. Helix felt newly impressed.

‘That’s not a common thought among noble ladies.’

Especially in the Kingdom of Peiren, which operated as a male-dominated society. Having lived for a long time, he could discern this just from the atmosphere in social circles. Since women had few opportunities for social advancement, noble ladies naturally tended to rely on their family’s power and the men in their household, rather than believing they needed to possess power themselves.

‘My contractor… how did she grow up to be so admirable?’

He liked Leah’s uniqueness. She sometimes sounded weak, but ultimately she would stand up and proceed according to her own will. It dazzled him. When he saw her smile that said, “I am this way, so you can be too,” his heart, which he thought had become numb, would beat faster.

He couldn’t let such a Leah live trapped in Crown Prince Archaik’s cage.

***

Helix went to see his Master. The Master informed him about the current situation in Peiren.

“The fools from the Calosi family don’t really pose a big problem.”

The Master said, “The grand duke wouldn’t even expect Lady Piert to connect to his family. Would that sly fox do something that would turn the Oken crown prince into an enemy?”

“Then why do his sons and grandsons cling to Leah?”

“He probably lets his sons and grandsons cause trouble to undermine Prince Patrick. The grand duke shows great interest in the throne.”

Helix’s eyes darkened.

“So he uses Leah without even expecting results.”

Many tried to use Leah in such ways. The Count Trow’s family had done so too.

As his gaze sank, the Master cautiously asked:

“What will you do? The opponent is the crown prince of Oken. The Piert Ducal Family can’t keep delaying their answer forever.”

Archaik Oken. The crown prince of the Oken Empire and a dragon covenant holder.

Even if the Piert Ducal Family’s wealth and military power, along with Swordmaster Ruyan and mage Leah, all joined forces, they couldn’t defeat him.

“…I can’t let Leah succumb to such a forceful proposal. She’s my contractor.”

Helix raised his head.

“Have you found out how I can regain my Guardian powers?”