Not long after, the maids sent by Demian arrived. I began giving instructions for packing.

“Miss, what should we do with this blue sapphire?”

“I’m taking all of them.”

“Yes. Then I’ll store it here with the others.”

If nothing else, I had to take all the jewels.

With eyes gleaming with greed, I stared intensely at the beautiful, sparkling things, and not satisfied with just the maids, I rolled up my sleeves and started gathering them one by one.

The original Lora pursued a maximal life, so she had an enormous amount of dresses, jewels, and everything else.

Every time the maids who came to pack opened a drawer, things I had never seen before came out in abundance, and my heart swelled with happiness.

Thank you, previous Lora. For leaving behind so many jewels.

“Miss, shall we pack all the dresses too?”

“No, just pack about ten dresses for everyday wear and leave the rest.”

I can sell them for a higher price in the capital.

“Yes, Miss.”

I had already earned enough money to last a lifetime and then some, but I didn’t want to leave anything for the Count’s family. I intended to take as much as possible.

If I couldn’t take it all, I could just give it away to others.

As I thought this and chuckled wickedly, the maids flinched and started to avoid me.

Once things were somewhat organized, I took out the letters I had diligently written.

To spend the remaining week doing nothing, I had to get all the annoying tasks done today.

“Sion, I’m going out for a bit. Want to come along?”

“Yes, Lady Lora. Where are we going?”

“I need to send some letters. We’re going to the merchant association. Just you and me.”

“Understood.”

Sion followed behind me without a word.

***

“Lady Lora. What are those letters for?”

Sion asked in the carriage on the way to the merchant association.

Well, I guess even I would be curious if someone refused the Count’s carriage and knights for escort.

“Hmm, let’s say they contain my final event.”

“Pardon?”

“Sion, if these are delivered properly, something really interesting will happen.”

“Something interesting, you say?”

“You’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

He looked full of questions, but I just smiled. Sion didn’t ask further.

Then suddenly, I realized that Sion hadn’t bought anything he needed yet.

“Ah, Sion. Do you need anything? Let’s buy it while we’re out.”

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“…Then, I’d like to have a sword.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you say you bought me as a guard?”

“That’s true, but is it okay to handle a sword already? It hasn’t been long since your ankle healed.”

“Yes, it’s fine. I want to protect Lady Lora as soon as possible.”

His expression overflowed with determination.

Is it because he was a knight that he wanted to hold a sword quickly? Or was it as he said, because he wanted to protect me?

Or maybe both.

“Then let’s buy a temporary one here, and when we get to Eslina, we’ll have one custom-made for you.”

“Yes.”

Sion couldn’t hide his sparkling eyes at the words ‘custom-made’ and answered obediently.

I smiled slightly, finding his reaction cute.

A month ago, he would often ignore my words with a fierce, guarded expression, but now he was like a puppy following its owner.

He would stare at me all day, get anxious when I wasn’t around, feel guilty over trivial things, and now he was steeling his resolve to protect me.

It suddenly hit me how much closer we had become.

As I gazed at him wistfully, lost in my thoughts, he became flustered.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just because you’re cute.”

“What??”

When I spoke honestly, a blush spread from his neck to his face.

I chuckled and got out of the carriage first, leading the way to give him time to compose himself and follow.

“Let’s go, we need to send the letters and buy a sword.”

I heard Sion clumsily getting out of the carriage behind me.

***

The merchant association had a system similar to a bank, with staff sitting at each counter to assist customers. We headed to the innermost counter.

“Welcome. What business do you have today?”

“I’m here to send letters. If I send them today, when will they arrive?”

“Where are you sending them to?”

“To the Vice-Commander, Hore territory, Sieta territory, and these mansions in the capital, and finally to the New Sophair Newspaper and Herbias Poorhouse.”

“Ah, they’re all nearby territories and places in the capital, so they should arrive within this week.”

It was faster than I expected. Impressed, I placed the bag containing the letters on the counter.

“Then, is it possible to schedule them to arrive on the day before the last day of the year?”

“It’s possible, but there’s an additional fee of 20 berks per letter for scheduling.”

“Then please do that.”

“How many letters are you sending?”

“32. Here they are.”

I lifted the bag and poured out 32 letters.

“Oh my.”

“It’s quite a lot, isn’t it?”

The clerk fumbled, flustered by the enormous quantity, as she gathered the letters. I watched contentedly as stamps were attached to each letter and they were sent to their designated places.

Now, all preparations were truly complete.

***

And so, time passed until the last day of December.

The Count’s mansion was busier than usual.

People were moving luggage for the journey to the north, and staff members who came to see me off were bustling about.

“Miss, take care of your health.”

“Be careful on your journey.”

“Farewell. Thank you for your hard work.”

People who had opened their hearts to me a little during this time came to express their regrets.

I, too, smiled brightly and warmly at them.

“Yes. Thank you all, and I’m sorry.”

It was a great improvement that people who had experienced the previous Lora’s temperament approached me to this extent.

It must have taken a lot of courage for them. Although it wasn’t for the misdeeds I had committed, I was grateful to them.

At that moment, Demian approached.

“You could have stayed a bit longer.”

“Why, will you miss me, Demian?”

“Yes.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a gift. Use it when you need it.”

Even the tsundere Demian handed me a pouch and said farewell.

“Miss, take care… sob, let me come with you, sniff.”

“Dawson, calm down. And don’t follow me. Who will take care of the administration if you’re not at the Count’s mansion?”

I also said goodbye to the sobbing Dawson. I, too, gazed at them for a long time with regret.

“If I have one lingering attachment to the Count’s mansion, it would be you guys. Demian, Dawson. Thank you for taking care of inadequate me all this time.”

“…I see you know that much.”

“You know, even that way of speaking sounds endearing now?”

At my words, spoken with downcast eyes and a smile, both Demian and Dawson fell silent. No, Dawson even sniffled his runny nose.

“……”

“Sob……”

“Ah, this is a gift.”

After imprinting them in my eyes, I handed over parting gifts.

Without Demian and Dawson, the process of leaving this house would have been even more difficult.

Moreover, they were the ones who peeled off a layer of the cold shell of this house as we went through various things together. They were precious connections that I felt sorry for, having only received without giving anything in return.

“Thank you for everything. Come visit me in Eslina.”

“Please wait a moment.”

“Huh? Demian. What should I wai……”

Bang-

Thump thump-

My question couldn’t be completed.

Because of the sudden loud noise, everyone’s attention, including mine, was focused on the stairs.