As soon as Sierra returned to the marquisate, she tore into the servants with a vengeance.

“Today was a disaster, and it’s all your fault for failing to dress me properly. Do you understand?”

The truth was, she’d been beaming with satisfaction that morning, saying she loved how she looked. But now, after the day’s events, this was all she had to say.

The servants could only sigh inwardly at the unfairness of it. Yet not a single one dared to voice their complaints aloud—for fear she might order a slave’s brand to be burned into their skin.

“Now, now, what’s gotten my dear little sister so worked up?”

“Brother!”

At that moment, Geldir, the eldest brother of Sierra and the servants’ saviour, returned home. As captain of the Imperial Guard and heir apparent to the marquisate, he fulfilled his duties flawlessly.

The moment Sierra spotted him, she rushed over and threw herself into his arms. Geldir looked worried and gently patted her on the back.

“What could have made my little sister this upset, hmm?”

“Brother, I’m afraid I’m going to have to go to the ball alone again.”

“What?”

“His Grace the Duke turned me down—again!”

Sierra pulled away from him and raised her voice in frustration.

“There will be a debutante at this Imperial Ball—my sister. I have to escort her.”

Sierra clenched her fists, recalling the words she’d overheard at the White residence earlier that day. The harder she tried to forget, the clearer the memory seemed to become.

“I see…”

At last understanding, Geldir stroked her hair and met her eyes.

“Then shall your brother go with you? That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it?”

He spoke with a gentle laugh, and Sierra’s expression softened as she fidgeted with her fingers.

“Still, I really wanted to go with His Grace this time…”

Geldir pinched both her cheeks lightly.

“Will my dear sister allow me the honor of being her escort?”

Dropping to one knee, Geldir extended a hand to her.

Sierra pouted, but took his hand anyway. As Geldir stood up, he pulled her into a comforting embrace.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be the prettiest one there.”

Her voice, murmured against his chest, rang clear in Geldir’s ears.

The moment he heard those words, Geldir swept his cold gaze over the room and issued an order.

“All of you—make sure my sister is the most beautiful lady at the ball tomorrow. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

The servants scattered at once, already concerned that they might not have enough time to prepare for their mistress’s arrival.

‘Well, she is my sister, so I suppose I can’t help it.’

Just as her brother doted on her, Sierra tried to convince herself that Karsten felt the same way about his sister.

But one thing kept bothering her.

‘That look in his eyes…’

She couldn’t forget the moment the girl said to be Karsten’s long-lost sister had entered his office. For once, Karsten’s usually blank expression had changed. The way his eyes followed Breti’s every step—

‘It wasn’t just a brother looking at his sister. It was like he was seeing a woman…’

Sierra forced herself to push the thought away, snuggling deeper into Geldir’s arms.

“You’re especially clingy today, little sister.”

Geldir teased affectionately, stroking her hair.

‘It must be because she’s such a hard-won sister—of course he’d be anxious, even about how she walks.’

Sierra tried to reassure herself, burrowing closer for comfort.

Meanwhile, a light rain began to fall outside, pattering softly against the windows of the Marquisate.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

The rain that had started in the Marquisate quickly spread across the entire capital. The gentle tapping of raindrops echoed against the window of Breti’s room.

It was late, but Breti was unable to sleep.

“…Hoo.”

The reason Breti couldn’t sleep was simple: she’d been practicing noble etiquette over and over, determined not to make a single mistake at the Imperial Ball.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Bagi stepped inside.

“Oh, my lady, you’re still awake?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Seeing that Baggie’s arms were full of firewood, Breti realised that she had come to tend the fireplace. Baggie spoke up, her face filled with concern.

“You have a long day ahead tomorrow. You should try to sleep soon, miss.”

“I know. I will.”

At Bagi’s gentle urging, Breti climbed into bed right away. But even as Bagi finished stacking the firewood and left the room, Breti couldn’t fall asleep for a long while.

“…Haah.”

A sigh escaped her lips.

And the reason for her sigh was clear.

‘Will I really be able to do well tomorrow?’

All she could think about was the day ahead.

‘…That’s why, I’ll do better.’

She had boasted so confidently in front of Karsten, but now that the ball was almost here, a fresh wave of nerves washed over her.

“It’s okay, i’ll do well.”

Breti tried to reassure herself. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But her racing thoughts made it impossible to rest properly.

She was teetering on the brink of sleep, neither awake nor dreaming, when suddenly—

—the faint sound of the door opening reached her ears. However, exhausted from the long day, she was already fast asleep.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

The door to Breti’s room swung open with a quiet creak, and a familiar face peeked through: Karsten, or rather, Adrian.

“Breti.”

He strode over to the bed where Breti slept. Standing at her bedside, he carefully raised his hand and touched her forehead with his fingertips. His touch slowly traced down the bridge of her nose, then further down.

When his hand finally reached her lips, Breti’s brow twitched in her sleep.

“Shhh. Fall deeper asleep.”

Adrian whispered, gently caressing her lips with his fingertips.

Starting from one corner of her mouth, his hand glided smoothly to the other, lingering with intent. Her slightly damp lips glistened even more under his touch.

“Mmm…”

With a low sigh, Breti drifted even deeper into slumber.

“Yes, that’s it…”

Adrian smiled faintly, his touch on her lips becoming more possessive. Then, as if he were about to kiss her at any moment, he leaned in so close that he could feel her breath against his face.

But just then, he stopped.

“No, this isn’t right. A kiss stolen in secret like this… it can’t be.”

Shaking his head, Karsten slowly straightened, pulling back.

He lay down beside Breti, quietly gazing at her sleeping face.

“……”

As Adrian lay beside Breti, memories of the distant night he first emerged began to surface.

‘Get a hold of yourself!’

On a night just like this, with steady drizzle falling outside, Karsten, worn down and ready to give in, finally closed his eyes. At that same moment, Adrian opened his eyes, drawn by the faintest whisper.

“Can you see me? Hmm?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Breti. I saw you collapsed, so I brought you here. How are your eyes? Can you see anything?”

The first person he saw when he opened his eyes was none other than Breti.

With worried eyes, Breti had waved her small hand in front of his face.

Adrian suddenly remembered—at the time, he’d had the strangest fear that if he told her he could see, she would simply disappear.

“No. I can’t see anything right now.”

So he lied.

He could still feel the pang of guilt when Breti’s face had clouded with disappointment, but he’d stubbornly kept to his answer.

“Well… Then let’s just wait and see, okay?”

With those words, Breti had hurried outside into the rain. Not long after, she returned, soaked to the bone and clutching a handful of wild herbs.

“Try eating just a little of this. I heard it helps with poison.”

Tears clung to her drenched eyelashes as she offered him the foraged greens.

Adrian, seeing her like that, had obediently chewed the leaves she fed him.

“If you just give up here, think how much your parents would grieve!”

Hearing Breti’s trembling voice, Adrian couldn’t help but smile softly.

From that moment on, Breti never left his side. She stayed up all night, tending to Adrian with tireless care.

“Breti.”

“Hmm? What is it? Can you see now?”

“No, not yet. I’m just tired, but I can’t fall asleep.”

“Then, um, I’ll sing you a lullaby.”

Adrian quietly began to hum the tune Breti had once sung for him.

“When the bright light that shone upon the earth fades away,
A faint glow begins to rise.
A wanderer follows that gentle light along his path.”

It was the very same song Karsten had tried so hard to remember before—now, the melody slipped easily from Adrian’s lips.

And then…

“Wanderer, do not be lonely, For I am always by your side.”

The lyrics that Karsten could never quite recall, Adrian remembered word for word.