As I descended into Adam’s outstretched arms like an embrace, praise could be heard from all around.

“Oh my, Arinel!”

“That was truly a rational solution, indeed worthy of being the next Alchemy Tower Master.”

“She’s more suited for Justice Tower Master!”

Pleased with my solution, Anes and Baron started clapping and arguing with each other again.

Just like the three ministers, they’re only thinking about scouting me as their successor!

“……”

Even in this situation, Eden’s intense gaze was somewhat unsettling.

What could he be thinking as he stares at me with those glass-like eyes?

***

“……”

In a house on a hill where birdsong could be heard, a black-haired woman untied a letter bound to a blue bird’s leg.

The day was bright, and as the wind rustled the leaves, the shadows of the greenery swayed gently.

The somewhat pale and white hand bearing burn scars unfolded the paper, revealing a letter.

[The Chief Interferer’s daughter has taken the Four Elements Cottage. She possesses the same grace as the Chief Interferer.]

All information received from them was encrypted so that only the reader could understand.

Her hand, clutching the letter, trembled slightly.

And her somewhat dry lips twisted and moved.

“It’s you again.”

When the meticulously planned Crown Prince ambush failed miserably, she had thought it was just bad luck.

Even when she received reports about the Marquis Mylar’s little girl being there with the Crown Prince, not even knowing what her father had done, she thought that too was a coincidence.

The situation was getting worse day by day, and with palace information strictly controlled, she couldn’t determine the cause of the continued failures.

Moreover, the ongoing geological surveys and emergency system activation had made her increasingly anxious.

Things shouldn’t change like this. Albreon needed to suffer from the great famine, and Parmes needed to exist as a tyrant for her to have legitimacy in the future.

And one day, when she discovered that a certain child was at the center of all the derailed events, how astounded she was.

“If that child was Mylar’s preparation…”

If she hadn’t received the spy’s letter today, she would still have been skeptical.

Seeing that even the Elementalist Association had been taken over, she could clearly see Mylar’s strategy that had been prepared even through time reversal.

By awakening his soul and bending the world line, he had entrusted his power and mission to that girl.

And that girl, following Mylar’s will, had become completely loyal to Parmes and was helping rebuild the empire.

As if Mylar had been reborn.

She had wondered how they had intervened, and this was how.

“Even if you offered me the whole world, I would never betray His Highness Fourth Prince.”

That rather strong voice that didn’t match his pale and delicate face had seemed quite cute then. Now she couldn’t find it cute anymore.

As her scarred hand gradually tightened, the letter crumpled further.

She muttered to herself.

“Making her a daughter-in-law must be Parmes’s plan too. To protect her.”

Parmes, who once tried to protect Marquis Mylar, now seeks to bind that girl who inherited the Marquis’s will as his family.

As if determined never to lose someone again.

Suddenly, a gust of wind revealed her face slightly.

Though she possessed striking beauty, severe burn scars ran from her forehead along the right side of her face.

“What a terrible twist of fate. But since neither Parmes nor that girl knows who I am…”

With this scarred body, she couldn’t win Parmes’s favor like Amelia from the previous timeline, and above all, Parmes was too perceptive to approach easily.

There was only one way to destroy the empire and take revenge on Parmes.

“I must use your ignorance.”

The corner of her lips twisted into a sneer.

***

The carriage carrying Duke Siegfried was heading toward the end of the granary district.

Once the carriage reached its destination, the geological survey would begin again.

He held a small calendar in his hand, gazing at it. Unlike other unmarked dates, there was one day uniquely marked with many circles and stars.

A star drawn over and over again until it became too thick.

Below it was written in large letters:

‘Opening Day.’

Suddenly, his expression turned bitter.

‘Should I have given the birthday present after the opening instead? No, a birthday present’s utility is highest on the actual birthday. Economically speaking, giving birthday presents on the birthday is correct.’

Though he felt a moment of regret, he quickly gathered his thoughts.

Then, with a lonely gesture, he folded the calendar, set it aside, and looked out the window.

The crops growing in the empire’s granary district were abundant and prosperous, as if mocking the geological survey results.

If Arinel hadn’t made such claims since she was young, and if Siegfried hadn’t conducted the geological survey out of concern…

They would have faced a catastrophic great famine in two years with no preparation.

Siegfried recalled Arinel firmly clenching her small fist.

“Speaking of which, that kid…”

He had sent Eden to monitor- no, support Arinel’s shop opening in his place.

Eden, as always, had obediently followed Siegfried’s orders.

In what he considered the most rational and probabilistically advantageous way.

“…I wonder if he’s doing well?”

Siegfried felt an inexplicable anxiety about his son, whom he had never worried about before.

***

People who received numbered tickets left looking forward to tomorrow.

Yes, I must make their wait worthwhile!

‘Tomorrow will be bustling all day too, won’t it?’

“Arinel, should I come at the same time tomorrow?”

“If you want, I could bring all the alchemists from the Alchemy Tower.”

“Why those useless folks? Now, if it were Justice Tower staff with arms trained by law books…”

“Um… it was just a one-day part-time job.”

I quickly tried to mediate between the two who had started bickering.

Adam had already reinforced the security personnel, and since the packed opening ceremony was over, tomorrow should be safer than today.

“Lady Mylar, today was truly meaningful. We’re here to help anytime!”

Anes, Baron, and the Lafiole girls eagerly offered to help with the Mylar Shop.

“It’s alright. Your presence today was already a great help. Tomorrow, Adam and I will handle it. And this…”

I held out envelopes I had prepared after discussing with Adam.

Anes and Baron received the envelopes from my small hands with bewildered expressions.

The young ladies were the same.

“This is a small token of appreciation for your help today. Please accept it!”

Social life is always about give and take.

They worked all day for the Mylar Shop, I couldn’t let them leave empty-handed.

Though it would be pocket change for nobles, I distributed an amount that was somewhat excessive for a commoner’s daily wage.

Because whether it’s anniversaries or occasions with acquaintances, cash is considered the best gift from my experience as a K-office worker.

And according to Adam, here too it’s quite common to show appreciation with money when friends help with work.

But their reactions caught me off guard.

“You’re not trying to pay us off for today’s work with this, are you?”

“That’s right. This is too much!”

“This isn’t right!”

Is, is it too little?

While I was flustered, Baron spoke up.

“I didn’t work for payment. Just because Arinel is so cute, and to make Arinel the Alchemy Tower Master… anyway, I refuse this kind of compensation!”

“Right. If you become the Justice Tower Master’s successor, we might gladly accept this money, but this isn’t nearly enough.”

“We helped Lady Mylar as friends, nothing more. Instead of payment, please come to our tea party one more time!”

“Yes, Lafiole is always waiting for Lady Mylar!”

“Having Arinel call my name is worth more than money. Kyaa.”

Um… well.

It would have been cleaner if they just accepted the money, but they returned the envelopes to Adam.

Adam scratched his head with a troubled expression.

“There’s only one young lady, but too many people want her.”

Then he whispered to me.

“We’ll need to give different gifts.”

Well, since they all like me… I should take it positively.

“Since we’re on the topic, how about setting up some schedules?”

“Right. If Arinel visits the Alchemy Tower, that day will become a new anniversary for the tower.”

Though I nodded uncertainly, wondering if that would really be enough.

“Alright then. I’ll visit both the Alchemy Tower and Justice Tower soon.”

“Hooray!”

“Woohoo!”

Anes and Baron high-fived each other before suddenly turning their backs with a “hmph!”

In the end, I agreed to visit the Alchemy Tower next week and the Justice Tower the week after.

And the following week, I would attend a Lafiole gathering.

They left with bright smiles, seemingly delighted by this.

“Ah, it’s already evening.”

After waving goodbye to them with my short arms, I stretched and was about to return to the mansion.

That’s when I heard a boy’s voice from behind.