Perhaps the absence of a mother had contributed to Saena growing up in a way that wasn’t typical of a noble lady.
There were times when she missed her mother’s presence, but she rarely felt the void deeply.
She now realized it wasn’t because she didn’t miss her mother, but because the rest of her family had loved her so much that they more than made up for it.
‘…I need to stay strong.’
Yuri’s absence was still incomprehensible and heartbreaking, but she couldn’t stay gloomy forever.
For the sake of her family, who worried about her, Saena had to gather her strength.
“Father.”
“Y-yes?”
When Saena, having steeled herself, called her father, he responded in a startled, stammering voice. He really was watching her every move.
Feeling even more apologetic, Saena tried to put on a smile as she spoke.
“I’ll debut at the Founding Festival.”
“What?”
It was Sage who responded, sounding puzzled.
“Isn’t there not enough time?”
“Yes, but I have to debut this year anyway… so I think it’s better to just do it. Beth said she’d help me too.”
“Lady Valdez? Hmm, in that case, I’ll inform Uz and the merchant guild in advance. Buy whatever you need.”
Count Debov beamed as he began listing off various things.
The fact that he was so happy to tell her to go spend money showed just how worried he had been.
“Will the dress be from Charlize’s Boutique?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll notify Madame Charlize in advance as well.”
Her father smiled brightly as he continued asking her questions. Saena answered as cheerfully as she could.
Meanwhile, Sage, who had been listening to the conversation, called out to Saena.
“Saya, come to my office later. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Hmm? Okay.”
The dinner wasn’t as lively as it had been in her previous life, but it was much warmer than it had been earlier.
* * *
Knock, knock.
Saena stopped in front of Sage’s office and knocked.
This was after dinner, as he had asked her to stop by for a moment.
The door opened almost immediately after the sound of her knocking.
“Please come in, Miss.”
Saena’s eyes widened when she saw the man opening the door.
He was one of the knights of the Debov household.
His name was…
“…Sir Carrot?”
Saena, seeing the man with deep auburn hair and green eyes, unconsciously called him ‘Sir Carrot’ and then quickly covered her mouth in shock.
The man’s face froze in a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
This knight had been particularly close to Yuri in her previous life. They had joked and bantered like friends.
His real name was probably…
“…I’d prefer it if you called me Rupert.”
Ah, that was it.
He didn’t have a surname, as he was of commoner origin.
‘Rupert, if you’re knighted, I’d like to give you a surname. What do you think?’
‘No thanks. It’s bound to be something ridiculous.’
‘No, no, it’ll suit you perfectly!’
‘Ugh… Fine, what is it? Let’s hear it.’
‘It matches your appearance.’
‘…It’s definitely going to be ridiculous.’
‘Rupert Carrot. Sir Carrot, how about that?’
‘Are you joking right now?!’
The memory of Yuri laughing and teasing Rupert about how much he looked like a carrot, and Rupert getting irritated in response, was vivid in her mind.
In the end, his nickname had become ‘Sir Carrot,’ and even after he officially received a proper surname, people still called him that.
But this memory revolved around Yuri. Who else would remember this, besides Saena?
Would anyone?
Feeling a sudden wave of emotion, Saena’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Ah, Miss?”
Smack! Sage hit Rupert squarely on the back and scolded him.
“You little brat, did you upset my Saya just because she gave you a nickname?!”
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong with Sir Carrot? It suits you perfectly!”
“No, that’s not it! I didn’t do anything!”
“Don’t lie! I saw the look on your face!”
“When did I ever—?!”
The scene of Sage chasing after Rupert, who was trying to dodge him, went on for quite a while.
“Ouch! Why are you resorting to violence?!”
“Shut up! My palm hurts more than your back, you muscle-head!”
Saena, who had been on the verge of tears, couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
“Pfft—”
Watching the two large men chase each other around was just too funny.
That’s right. Rupert, despite being a commoner knight, had never been the type to cower in front of nobles.
He was always cheeky and full of mischief, but his swordsmanship was said to be outstanding.
Technically, he wasn’t a ‘Sir’ yet.
Even in her previous life, he had delayed his knighthood for as long as possible.
Not because he lacked skill, but because receiving a title would mean taking on responsibilities, which he found bothersome.
And then there was Sage. She couldn’t help but chuckle again when she looked at him. Why did her eldest brother, who had seemed so intimidating in her past life, now look like such a doting fool?
“Hahaha.”
After laughing out loud for a while, Saena noticed Sage and Rupert looking at her with blank expressions.
“Oh, I’m sorry for laughing.”
Realizing she had laughed a bit too openly in front of them, Saena apologized.
“No, it’s fine. It’s good to see you laugh, Saya. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you smile.”
Sage, laughing along with her, guided her to the sofa.
Smack!
And then, he hit Rupert on the back again, who still looked dazed.
“Argh! Why did you hit me again?!”
“You idiot! Don’t fall for her. I’ll kill you.”
“……”
Sage muttered under his breath with a scowl as he noticed Rupert’s cheekbones turning slightly red.
“This guy… He’s suspicious. Should I replace him?”
“No, that’s not it! I know my place, alright?”
“I don’t trust you.”
As the two bickered again, Saena watched them and asked,
“Replace him with what?”
“Well, that’s…”
While Sage hesitated, Rupert quickly stepped forward and loudly declared,
“Greetings, Miss! Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Rupert, assigned as your escort knight.”
Ah, so that’s why they had called her here—to assign her an escort knight.
In her previous life, she had stubbornly refused, saying it was too bothersome, and had gone about freely.
‘That shouldn’t have happened…’
Yes, now that she was planning to start going out more frequently, and with the Founding Festival requiring her to stay at the townhouse, this arrangement seemed perfect. It was something she needed.
“Alright.”
“Huh? Alright?”
When Saena readily agreed, Sage looked more surprised than anyone else.
“Brother?”
“…No, it’s nothing. Hmm. Suddenly, I’m wondering if someone else might be better than this guy…”
Sage muttered while stroking his chin seriously, and Rupert grumbled in response.
“I told you, it’s not like that! It’s just that she smiled so suddenly, and it was so unexpected that it felt like she was a different person! Honestly, didn’t you have the same expression as me, Young Master?”
“W-when did I ever?!”
“I saw it all—every bit of it!”
Saena had gained an air that didn’t match her age as she traveled through time.
Her pale skin, black hair like the night sea, and eyes resembling violets floating on icy water.
Her overall dark features, combined with the disappearance of the innocence typical of a young girl, made her coldness more pronounced. When she kept her mouth shut, she exuded the impression of an unapproachable ice-cold beauty.
But whenever she smiled, that cold impression would vanish completely.
Her smile wasn’t the kind of sweet, adorable one typical of her peers, but it was mesmerizing enough to capture attention in an instant. It had a peculiar elegance that was hard to describe in a single word.
A kind of unexpected charm, one might say—a beauty that defied easy definition.
“Well, Miss, you shouldn’t go smiling freely wherever you go.”
“…I agree.”
“I’ll make sure to keep a close watch.”
“…Damn it. I guess there’s no helping it.”
It was clear they were talking about her, but the conversation was becoming strange, so Saena asked,
“Are you saying I shouldn’t smile when I’m outside? Why?”
Sage and Rupert turned to look at her, then turned to each other, as if they had rehearsed the synchronized movement.
“What a waste.”
“Exactly. Such a waste.”
Still puzzled, Saena looked at them, and Sage shook his head.
“All kinds of pests are bound to swarm.”
“I agree. I’ll make sure to monitor—no, protect her well.”
The conversation was taking an increasingly odd turn.
“Monitor? So the purpose of assigning me a guard was to keep watch on me, Brother?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
Sage shot Rupert a sharp glare, and Rupert quickly laughed it off and made an excuse.
“I meant that strange guys—or rather, men—might try to approach the Miss, so it’s for monitoring… I mean, protection.”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“…Huh? Would that really happen?”
From what Saena remembered of her previous life, she wasn’t the type to be popular with men.
Men usually liked bright, cheerful, and soft women who were like cotton candy…
Like Elizabeth Valdez.
Yes, they liked women like her.
And yet…
‘There is someone who fits that description, someone I need to keep away.’
As she thought of her ex-husband, Saena’s expression naturally hardened.
“Saya, you really don’t understand yourself.”
“Exactly. At this debutante ball, our Miss will undoubtedly be the best of them all.”
“Of course, of course.”
While it was natural for family to be biased, their excessive praise gave Saena goosebumps. She couldn’t help but make a strange face.
“Saya, since you’re about to debut, it’s best not to give others any reason to find fault with you.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Regardless of your intentions, people in this society love to judge. The best course of action is to give them no room for criticism.”
That was true. In her previous life, Saena had been completely ignorant of such societal norms.
That ignorance had led her to an unwanted marriage and to bearing all the pain alone without any flexibility.
“When you go out, make sure to always take Rupert with you, and also bring a maid. I know you find this kind of thing bothersome, but…”
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
Sage, who had been trying to persuade her, was taken aback when she agreed so readily.
“I’ll be counting on you, Sir Rupert.”
“I’m not a ‘Sir’ yet. Just calling me by my name is enough.”
“Oh, is that so?”
