After delivering the women’s necessities—things difficult to ask others for—and the knitting yarn, I stepped out of the cabin.

Then I headed toward the west wing, where my parents were staying.

“Violetta!”

My mother, who had been having tea in the garden, spotted me and immediately jumped to her feet, running toward me. It was hard to believe she had been resting because of her back pain.

That must be how much she had missed me.

“Why is it so hard to see your face?”

At her playful complaint, I smiled brightly.

“I’m sorry. I’ll come more often.”

“Yes, your father says he misses you every day as well.”

Come to think of it, my father—who was always by her side—was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Father?”

“He went to the appreciation gathering with His Highness the prince.”

So that was why he had dressed so meticulously before leaving.

It would have been embarrassing if I had misunderstood and felt jealous.

“Then I’ll stay with you until dinner today, Mother.”

“Will you?”

She smiled like an angel.

That made my chest ache.

‘I’ll take it all back. I promise.’

The land and mines of Pardia were everything my parents had spent their lives building. I believed that reclaiming them was the only way I could repay the love they gave me—love they valued far more than any wealth.

***

Sola arrived at the imperial palace alone, unflinching even under the intimidating gaze of the imperial knight guarding the entrance.

She had a pass, and she wasn’t someone who was forbidden entry.

“I’ll record your entry.”

The knight wrote the name from her pass into the ledger.

As the gates opened, Sola quickly stepped inside and headed toward the garden where she had met Ohil before.

She got slightly confused along the way, but since she remembered the path to the banquet hall, she managed to find it without trouble.

Following the pretty stone path, she entered the garden.

The bench she had sat on that day was visible in the distance.

There was no one else around. It was probably because today’s event was an appreciation gathering, not a banquet or hunting competition.

‘Will he really be here?’

If it was Ohil, she felt he would understand her.

She thought it might be a good idea to build a closer connection with him, then reveal her ability to see the future—so that the prince might take an interest in her.

Arriving at her destination, Sola straightened the cloak carefully and sat down on the bench.

Then she began counting silently.

“We meet again.”

“Sir Ohil!”

Before she could even reach one hundred, Ohil appeared.

Sola beamed, unable to hide her delight.

“Are you feeling better? I heard you were unwell after the hunting competition.”

“You heard about me?”

Ohil nodded.

His answer, which made it seem as though he had been paying attention to her, lifted her spirits.

“I was a little unwell, but I’m fine now. It’s thanks to you for finding me that day.”

It had been Ohil who found her when she was left alone in the forest after her fight with Raian during the hunting competition.

He had kindly led her out of the forest, telling her the competition was over, allowing her to return safely to the townhouse.

Unaware that Ohil had been watching her under the prince’s orders, Sola mistook his actions for personal concern. She began to feel flustered and excited at the thought that the prince’s knight might have a special interest in her.

It was a feeling separate from her love for Raian.

“Sir, I’ll return the cloak you lent me last time.”

Her cheeks flushed faintly as she shyly held it out.

Ohil hesitated briefly, then carefully accepted it and draped it over his arm.

‘Does the prince know about this?’

Wouldn’t there normally be reports—like meeting her in the garden, or saving someone during the hunting competition?

“By the way… does His Highness know that you and I met?”

“Yes, he does.”

Sola’s expression brightened slightly.

“Did he say anything?”

Since she was, after all, the heroine of this world, she couldn’t help but expect that the male lead—if not the main one, then at least a secondary one—would show some curiosity about her.

“Well… there were no particular instructions.”

Her smile turned faintly bitter at the unexpected answer.

If she had known things would grow this distant with Raian, she would have tried to improve her relationship with the prince as well.

That regret lingered.

“Sir Ohil, may I ask you for a favor?”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Could you arrange a meeting for me with His Highness?”

Ohil replied with a slightly troubled expression.

“If the Duke of Stroud finds out, he won’t stay quiet. They may be brothers, but the two are worse than strangers.”

Sola let her shoulders droop and spoke with a pitiful expression.

“The duke doesn’t care who I meet. He didn’t propose out of love—he proposed to use my ability.”

Ohil’s eyes flashed for a brief moment.

Of course, Sola—acting to stir his protective instincts—didn’t notice.

“You’re saying the duke proposed in order to use your ability?”

Sola nodded.

“Yes. In truth, I…”

She deliberately took a breath, then slowly opened her mouth—as if revealing a secret after a thousand hesitations.

“I can see the future.”

Caught off guard by such an absurd claim, Ohil could only blink.

Thinking he hadn’t heard her, Sola repeated herself.

“Sir, I can see the future.”

“Ah.”

Ohil opened and closed his mouth like a broken chimney.

Even so, thinking he needed to gather information, he played along.

“That is… quite a remarkable ability.”

Though the praise sounded awkward, Sola continued without hesitation.

“The Duke of Stroud has been increasing his wealth and managing his territory using my ability. Sometimes, I’ve even predicted things that would happen to His Highness the prince.”

Inside, Ohil thought it was complete nonsense.

“I’ve already seen everything that will happen at this imperial banquet.”

“I see.”

“That’s why I want to meet His Highness. This ability will surely be of use to him.”

Though he couldn’t believe a word of it, Ohil decided not to make the decision on his own, as he couldn’t tell what kind of harm this might cause Hilbardo.

“For now… I understand. I will report it to His Highness.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Delighted, Sola grabbed his hand.

Ohil forced an awkward laugh in response.

Then he quickly pulled his hand back and wiped it thoroughly on his cloak.

***

At the appreciation gathering, Hilbardo watched Count Pardia as he spoke with an old friend.

He was observing who stood nearby—making sure no one approached with ill intent.

Especially since the Duke of Stroud had been keeping a close eye on the count, Hilbardo couldn’t take his eyes off him for even a moment.

“Your Highness, I have something to report.”

Ohil, who had been monitoring Sola, approached him in the exhibition hall. He motioned subtly with his finger and leaned in slightly.

“That woman has requested an audience with Your Highness.”

“With me?”

“Yes.”

Suspicion immediately rose in Hilbardo’s mind.

He wondered if Stroud’s Raian had done something behind the scenes.

“Why?”

“Well…”

When Ohil hesitated, Hilbardo led him to a secluded corner.

“It sounds absurd, but she claims she has the ability to see the future. She said she wants to use that ability for Your Highness.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Embarrassed, Ohil scratched his chin.

Hilbardo let out a disbelieving laugh as well—then suddenly grew curious.

“Does the Duke of Stroud know about this?”

“Yes. According to her, the duke has been using that ability to manage his territory.”

“How laughable.”

Hilbardo’s gaze shifted to Raian, who stood nearby with his neatly styled golden hair.

It made no sense—but it was worth confirming.

He instructed Ohil to wait, then walked toward where Raian and his companions were gathered.

The group, who had been chatting merrily, fell silent the moment they noticed him approaching like a predator.

Seeing his friends’ expressions stiffen, Raian turned his head.

His brows furrowed noticeably.

“I was curious what you were all talking about so happily.”

At Hilbardo’s question, a young noble with little presence answered in Raian’s stead.

“We were discussing the duke’s upcoming wedding.”

“Oh, right. You said the wedding would be held at the end of this month.”

With a smile, Hilbardo placed a hand on Raian’s shoulder.

Surrounded by people, Raian couldn’t openly show his displeasure. He simply clenched his teeth.

“To think you received permission to marry a foreign noblewoman—my younger brother is quite capable.”

“…Thank you.”

The reply was empty, devoid of sincerity.

Acting as if nothing were amiss, Hilbardo smoothly brought up his real purpose.

“It’s nothing particularly important, but there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“What is it?”

All the young nobles—except Raian—turned their attention to him.

“Do you believe… that there are people who can see the future?”