Liria hesitated due to various feelings and worries.

“Go ahead, Miss.”

“Mmm. Alright.”

Thanks to Yuphi lifting her up, Liria finally managed to pull the end of the ribbon, and the wrapping came undone like melting cake.

The two taller people helped her open the box completely.

“…My goodness, it’s so beautiful!”

Surprisingly, what emerged from the first box was a sky-blue wardrobe.

It had doors on both sides; opening the left door revealed a mirror and drawers.

The drawers were packed full of cute ribbon hair accessories, shoes, and socks.

When she opened the other door, several colorful, adorable dresses were hanging in a row.

Every single one was made of premium silk, soft cotton, or linen.

“Oh my, all these dresses are from that high-end brand in town.”

“It’s Coco Angel, created by the world-renowned designer Countess Donatella. Whoever sent this has incredible taste.”

As fashion-conscious Yuphi added her explanation, Marit also exclaimed.

“These are exactly the clothes I wanted to buy for you last time, Miss!”

“Wow, really?”

Liria was genuinely interested in the gift that inspired such admiration.

They seemed even more luxurious and prettier than the clothes worn by Ibnis, Clara, and Natasha that she had seen before.

Liria caressed the hem of a dress with her maple leaf-like hand and murmured.

It somehow felt like a dream.

“It’s just like a princess dress.”

“Miss, shall we choose your outfit for the family gathering from here?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The three of them took out all the clothes and closed the wardrobe.

Among them was that incredibly expensive dress that Marit had wanted to buy for Liria before.

A cute cherry-patterned dress with a light apricot background and ribbons all over!

“I’ll wear this one. Put the rest back.”

The moment they reopened the wardrobe to put the clothes back, light shone from inside and new dresses appeared.

“Gasp! It seems to be a magic wardrobe, Miss!”

“Wow, I never imagined a magic wardrobe.”

“Even the Imperial Princess probably doesn’t have something like this.”

Liria tilted her head at Marit’s words.

“Really?”

“Yes, because it’s a one-of-a-kind handcrafted wardrobe.”

As she said this, Marit pointed to Liria’s initials engraved on the right side of the wardrobe and smiled brightly.

That wasn’t the only gift.

When they opened the other, slightly smaller box, it contained a large teddy bear the same size as Liria.

“Super big means super cute!”

Liria exclaimed as she pressed the bear’s nose with a pop.

Suddenly, the bear was dressed in clothes identical to what Liria was wearing.

The three of them squealed with delight at how cute it was.

Who could have given such thoughtful and precious gifts?

Liria tilted her head, thinking of her grandfather and father in turn, but shook her head.

‘Neither of them seems like the type… Ah! Could it be a gift from Jiana, grateful for saving Shine recently? That’s why she sent it anonymously! With her information network, she would know all about the upcoming family gathering.’

Like a fairy godmother transforming you before the ball!

Finding this the most plausible hypothesis, Liria nodded and whispered while hugging the teddy bear.

“Thank you, hehe.”

Watching Liria clinging to the teddy bear, Marit asked.

“By the way, Miss, I received orders from His Grace to fulfill any requests you might have for preparing for the family gathering. Is there anything you would like?”

“Hmm… there is one thing.”

“I’ll put in the request, Miss!”

“Ah, I’ll speak to grandfather about that directly.”

Until now, she had managed somehow, but…

To begin acting in earnest, she needed that.

Item number 4 in Liria’s Plan A:

Gather funds.

The annex budget was used for Liria’s upbringing expenses and the maids’ salaries, so she needed separate pocket money.

Currently, Liria didn’t have a single penny to her name.

‘I can’t even buy one candy with chocolate coins!’

Today happened to be her day for a private audience with her grandfather.

After showing off her magic achievements, she would gather her courage and ask.

“Grandfather, I want compensation equal to my achievements! I need a little pocket money!”

She practiced being affectionate with her grandfather by herself, but it seemed difficult to use this approach in reality.

With the family gathering tomorrow, today’s private meeting was her only chance.

Liria determinedly clenched her tiny fist, slung her snow-white polar bear bag over her shoulder, and walked briskly to the designated drawing room.

Unexpectedly, her grandfather wasn’t alone there.

Conrad and Ibnis were also present.

‘Oh no, this won’t work now…’

Fortunately, Liria stopped at the entrance to the drawing room and stepped back slightly.

At that moment, her grandfather noticed her and said.

“You there, Liria.”

“Ah, yes, grandfather.”

A startled Liria turned her head.

Narrowed blood-red eyes fixed on her.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten our appointment. Come and sit.”

Following her grandfather’s command, Liria rolled her eyes and approached gradually.

“…Ah, of course not, Grandfather. I thought your previous conversation wasn’t finished, so I was going to wait.”

Ibnis, sitting primly, was smiling, while Conrad gave Liria a cold look, indifferent to her presence.

‘Of all times to arrive when those rude ones are here…’

“Grandfather, shall Ib… I mean, shall we take our leave then?”

Ibnis asked in a coquettish manner, tickling the air.

Liria had thought she was on the same level as Clara, but Ibnis seemed to be a step above.

She appeared to know exactly how to act and speak to make herself stand out and look pretty.

Even if it was an act.

The Duke commanded the three children:

“I assume you all know each other’s faces. Since you’ve met, exchange greetings.”

“……”

Facing the two children who had frozen upon seeing Liria’s face, Liria smiled sweetly first and said.

“We’ve already met. Big Brother Conrad and Lady Cielte have treated me very kindly.”

To survive in this household, she needed to equip herself with social skills and tact.

“……”

That disagreeable Conrad merely nodded his head as a greeting.

Ibnis opened her eyes wide, approached Liria, and grasped her hands firmly.

“Ah, Liria, we meet again. How old are you? You’re so small and cute. Want to be sisters?”

“…Would that be okay, sister Ibnis? I’m so happy!”

Instead of pushing those hands away, Liria held them even tighter while her eyes sparkled brightly.

An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.

Pretense for pretense.

Though they were like enemies at the Magic Hall, in front of Grandfather, they pretended to be close friends.

Ibnis seemed somewhat taken aback by Liria’s cheerful smile.

For a very brief moment, she looked at Liria with disgust.

“I thought only grandfather was here, so I came to discuss something important, but I’ll have to do it another time.”

The Duke tilted his head at Liria’s words.

“Let’s hear it. Ah, you two may leave now.”

“Yes, grandfather.”

While Conrad rose abruptly from his seat, Ibnis remained seated, slowly clutching her teacup.

She seemed eager to hear what Liria had to say.

However.

This time, grandfather stood up and, pointing toward the garden, said to Liria.

“Let’s walk while we talk.”

At that moment, Conrad’s pupils trembled.

Only he, as the firstborn of the Roberg family, had ever taken private walks with Grandfather.

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Conrad bit his lip as he watched Liria follow the Duke, then left Ibnis behind.

“…Con, what? Where are you going, leaving me alone?”

Feeling abandoned in the drawing room, Ibnis pouted her lips at Conrad’s retreating back.

Just a moment ago, she had been the center of attention, and now Ibnis felt her irritation rising.

But there were no parents here to indulge her, nor a grandmother who adored only her.

This wasn’t why she had come to the Robergs.

As Ibnis sighed, suppressing her desire to return immediately to the Cielte family,

A deep rose scent and a hand gently wrapping around her shoulder made Ibnis look up.