Meliover looked at Karsten in confusion.

“Karsten, what do you mean? Why wouldn’t Laterna go?”

“Just as I said. Laterna won’t be attending the Imperial Ball.”

“And how did you come to that decision, Karsten?”

Meliover asked calmly, despite his firm tone.

Karsten rubbed the back of his neck, clearly frustrated, and answered.

“There are too many rumors swirling around Laterna right now. I think it’s best to be cautious in times like these. Besides, she hasn’t learned enough noble etiquette to appear at such an official event.”

“Karsten…”

Meliover looked at him, confused, and took his hand, looking him in the eye.

“That’s hard for me to accept.”

“Mother…”

“Laterna spent the past month learning etiquette from Countess Abbott, and you know she measures up to any young lady her age, don’t you?”

Meliover was right, and Karsten had nothing to say to that. Breti was already refined enough for society—even her manners and deportment were beyond reproach. She still struggled with how to address the staff sometimes, but that wasn’t a serious problem.

Karsten gripped Meliover’s hand more tightly.

“I understand how much you want Laterna to find her place in society quickly. But the timing just isn’t right.”

“But it’s an imperial invitation, Karsten. How can we simply ignore it?”

“…”

Karsten’s brow twitched. That was precisely what was troubling him the most. This wasn’t just any old party – it was an official summons from the imperial family.

“You know declining this invitation could reflect badly on Laterna, don’t you?”

They couldn’t skip this event with a simple excuse. If Laterna didn’t attend, it could be used against her or damage the White family’s reputation.

‘D*mn it…’

Grinding his teeth, Karsten finally spoke after a long pause.

“Understood. Very well, Mother.”

The moment he relented, Meliover’s face lit up and she swept from the dining room.

“Benon! Summon the dressmaker! We need to get Laterna a dress for the ball!”

Meliover’s voice rang out as she called for Benon, sounding lively. Seeing how well Meliover was recovering, Breti felt relieved. However, the thought of having to attend the Imperial Ball in just three days filled her with dread.

At that moment, she sensed Karsten approaching. His shadow fell across her face.

“Come with me.”

He strode past her and out of the sitting room with that curt command. Breti followed him and they soon arrived at his office. As soon as the door closed behind them, leaving them alone, Karsten spoke in a cold voice.

“You talked big about being able to handle things.”

“…”

“Let’s see if you can really handle this, too.”

His tone was mocking, but by now, Breti was used to it.

“If you’re just going to fall apart in fear, you might as well run away now.”

She no longer allowed his words to affect her. Breti tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, looked him in the eye, and said,

“I won’t run.”

Karsten studied her in silence.

“I’m more aware of my shortcomings than anyone.”

“Knowing isn’t enough.”

“…That’s why I’ll do better.”

Breti’s voice remained calm as she looked up to meet Karsten’s gaze. There was a new determination in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

Karsten’s feelings became more complicated. He had done everything he could to keep her out of the public eye and prevent her from being drawn into high society.

Perhaps it would have been easier if she had said she wanted to give up.

“Talk is cheap.”

Although Breti said she could handle it, Karsten couldn’t shake off his unease. His irritation was clear from the way he spoke.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Your Grace, it’s Tess.”

“Come in.”

Karsten called, moving toward his desk.

Tess entered the office in a hurry, his expression urgent.

“There’s trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“The atmosphere near the border with the southwestern Duvali Empire has become… tense.”

“What are you talking about?”

Karsten’s brows drew together at Tess’s report.

He suddenly noticed Breti still standing awkwardly in the room. With a short gesture, he dismissed her.

“Laterna, you may go.”

“Yes.”

Breti bowed politely to Karsten and stepped out.

A worried look crossed her face as she left.

‘The border region…?’

Was there really a chance war might break out? Tess’s words echoed through her mind, weighing heavily on her thoughts. From behind the door, she could just make out Karsten’s low voice.

“So it’s time to move, is it. Understood.”

‘Time to move…’

This could only mean one thing: he would have to leave too. Karsten would most likely be leaving with the troops.

A sinking feeling pressed against Breti’s chest, and her heart began to pound with anxiety.

Just then, Bagi approached her quietly.

“Miss, madam is looking for you.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you.”

Breti turned away from her room and went to meet Meliover. But even as she walked, her thoughts were elsewhere.

Even when she looked at dress catalogues for the Imperial Ball, her mind kept wandering. Meliover soon realised that Breti wasn’t really listening, so he gently put his hand on her shoulder.

“Did something happen?”

“Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

“Nothing? You look so pale. Are you feeling sick? Should I call the physician?”

Worry was written all over Meliover’s face.

Breti looked at her and reached out to take her hand.

“I’m really all right. I’m more worried about your health, Mother. You barely ate this morning.”

“The most useless thing in the world is worrying about old people.”

Meliover smiled softly, and Breti felt a pang in her heart.

“Please don’t say that, Mother. Stay by my side for a long, long time.”

Meliover patted Breti’s hand, her voice gentle.

“Then tell me, what’s weighing on your mind?”

Breti hesitated, biting her lower lip before finally speaking up.

“Brother called me to his office earlier. And…”

“And?”

“He said there’s trouble brewing at the border with the Duvali Empire.”

At those words, Meliover’s face clouded over as well.

“Oh dear, that means your brother might have to be away for some time.”

Hearing her say it out loud made Breti realize how serious things were, and she anxiously blurted out,

“What should we do?”

What if something happens to him while he’s there?

The memory of Karsten returning injured from Harridge flashed through Breti’s mind, draining all the colour from her face.

Seeing how distressed she was, Meliover gently stroked her cheek as if to comfort her.

“Are you worried about your brother?”

“What? …Ah, yes.”

Breti replied instinctively—as Breti, not as Laterna—realizing her slip only a moment too late.

‘What am I thinking?’

She hurriedly tried to collect herself, but Meliover only stroked her hair with a gentle smile.

“You used to trail after your brother all the time when you were little. Seems nothing’s changed.”

With a soft laugh, Meliover opened the drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a small, snow-white pouch.

“Do you know what this is?”

“What is it?”

“It belonged to your father.”

The father of Laterna and Karsten—Meliover’s late husband, Kariel White, the former Duke, who had passed away several years before.

Cradling the pouch in her hands, Meliover continued,

“Your father had to go off to war many times. Whenever he did, I would place this inside the pouch for him.”

After a moment, she reached into the pouch and took something out.