A woman with luscious, wavy blonde hair and deep green eyes entered the dining room. Beside her, a small boy held the young woman’s hand.

At the woman’s entrance, Vaniel, Riona, and Laura all rose from their seats.

The beautiful woman, who looked too young to be a mother of four children, was Helena, the mistress of the Drenarpin family.

Helena personally seated her youngest son Bordan in his chair, then sat down herself. She nodded to the three girls, indicating they could sit as well.

The three daughters, having received Helena’s permission, silently took their seats. Helena elegantly gestured for the meal to be served. At her command, maids who had been standing inconspicuously in the corners of the dining room began bringing out the food.

Riona, unable to hide her nervousness, fidgeted and addressed Helena.

“Mother, may I attend the Rocktar Viscount’s banquet three days from now?”

“Riona, I told you to refrain from going out as much as possible this month.”

As Helena’s brow furrowed, Riona lowered the corners of her mouth and made a pitiful expression.

“Mother…”

When her pleading proved futile, Riona begged sincerely.

“What does Vaniel’s marriage have to do with me? You found her such a good match, and I have nothing! There’s only a one-year difference between us! I’m the only one who doesn’t have a fiancé at 19! Mother, please. I need to attend as many social events as possible!”

Riona, the only one in the Drenarpin Count family with brown hair and black eyes, harbored tremendous feelings of inferiority. This was because she alone was ordinary with freckles among the beautiful or handsome family members of the Count’s household.

Moreover, Riona had fallen deeper into her inferiority complex after Vaniel became engaged to the Grand Duke of Istua. She seemed to believe that all her misfortunes were Vaniel’s fault.

“No. Don’t be stubborn about this anymore.”

At Helena’s firm head shake, Riona shouted.

“Mother!”

“Do you know why my sister wants to go to the Viscount’s banquet so badly?”

The pretty girl with blonde hair and green eyes sitting next to Riona, who resembled Helena, winked at her mother.

“Hey!”

Riona tried to cover Laura’s mouth but failed.

“Chris Pitt, the second son of Marquis Pitt, is coming to this banquet. And Riona has fallen for Chris.”

After finishing her words, Laura stuck out her tongue at Riona.

“Laura! No. Mother, that’s not it.”

“How can you say it’s not true when there are rumors among the young ladies that you’ve fallen for Chris?”

“You little—!”

Laura quickly stood up, avoiding Riona’s attempt to grab her. Riona also stood up, and the two faced off across the table.

“Hey! Aren’t you coming here?”

Riona stomped her foot and shouted.

Bordan, watching his sisters’ quarrel, hit the table with his fork and laughed.

“Mom, it looks like Sister Riona has found someone she likes.”

Hearing those words, Riona’s freckled cheeks turned bright red. Helena shook her head.

“Enough. Enough of this and sit down. What kind of behavior is this? How unruly. Anyone watching would think you’re not noble young ladies but wild colts.”

Helena erupted in anger, but contrary to her furrowed brow, the corners of her mouth were turned up. It was the smile of a loving mother watching her immature children.

“Stop it now and eat your meal. And Laura, you shouldn’t tease your sister.”

“Yes, Mother. Sorry, sister. If I see Chris, I’ll make sure to tell him how much you like him. Don’t worry!”

Laura made a pitiful expression toward Helena, then gave Riona a mischievous look. Such a Laura was very adorable, like a noble young lady who had grown up loved.

“You really—!”

“Hahaha. Alright, I won’t tease you.”

A beautiful mother who was strict but loved her children. Two lively and lovely daughters. Even an adorable younger brother. Except for Vaniel, they were a perfect and happy family.

They seemed to have forgotten that Vaniel was with them. Though she was in the same space, no one paid any attention to her.

But did these children know? That all four children had different fathers. Though they were introduced to the world as the children of the Drenarpin family, only Vaniel truly carried the Drenarpin bloodline.

When young Vaniel learned this fact, she felt more sorry for her father Humphrey than for the discrimination she faced.

Helena hated her husband, Humphrey Drenarpin. Of course, she had smoothly become a Countess through her husband’s love, but perhaps because it had been too smooth? She disliked Humphrey even more and was dissatisfied with her life.

Perhaps that’s why Helena had poisoned her husband herself. And in place of her sick husband, she became a Queen with absolute power in the Count’s household, whom no one could defy.

Vaniel knew this fact but couldn’t rebel. She couldn’t ask anyone for help. She had no choice but to obey Helena just to keep her father alive. And this life was draining her day by day.

The sharp knife in Vaniel’s soft, delicate hand cut through the undercooked meat that was oozing bl＊＊d. Vaniel disliked undercooked meat. The head chef of the Count’s household knew this but had never once served her properly cooked meat.

Because Helena preferred undercooked steak.

Vaniel calmly chewed a piece of meat that was bleeding. The fishy taste in her mouth induced nausea.

“Mom! I want this.”

Bordan pointed at the meatball right in front of him and looked at Helena.

“Oh my. Our prince wants a meatball? Here, ah~”

When Helena put the meatball in his mouth, Bordan chewed it noisily, showing the food in his mouth with each chew.

It was behavior that violated etiquette, but Helena wiped Bordan’s mouth with a handkerchief herself, looking as if she couldn’t help it.

Helena knew well that she shouldn’t raise Bordan this way. Bordan was now 12 years old, no longer a child. But in front of Bordan, Helena always became a loving mother.

Helena looked worriedly at Bordan and then turned her gaze to Vaniel.

Vaniel was eating elegantly as usual. Her perfect manners, noble demeanor, and appearance enhanced her unique and mysterious aura even more.

Helena’s eyes narrowed at the contrasting images of Vaniel and Bordan. She couldn’t stand the sight of her daughter.

Helena thought back to when she first began training Vaniel. Even when the child cried and said it hurt, Helena didn’t listen.

Even after becoming a Countess, Helena had struggled to learn noble etiquette, investing tremendous effort and money to survive among the aristocrats. So how dare this child, born a noble and given a good education, complain that it was difficult? Helena resented Vaniel.

And perhaps sensing her mother’s feelings, Vaniel soon stopped approaching Helena.

Helena was displeased with that as well.

No matter how strictly she treated Riona and Laura, when their education time ended, they would ask Helena for hugs as if nothing had happened, but this one hiding alone in her room displeased her even more.

Of course, from a rational perspective, Vaniel was the perfect daughter for Helena, who was obsessed with nobility. But how can a person think only rationally?

Moreover, Helena had one more reason why she couldn’t like Vaniel.

Helena, being a Nurua, couldn’t love Vaniel, who had Drenarpin bl＊＊d mixed in her, even if she was her own child.

Helena scrutinized Vaniel with sharp eyes.

“When you’re done eating, go to the study.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Vaniel slowly stood up.

Even as she rose, her posture remained impeccable. Her elegant walk was like a butterfly fluttering.

Helena felt her throat tighten as she watched Vaniel’s retreating figure.

***

The study was magnificent.

The entire spacious room was decorated with marble to suit Helena’s preference for pure white marble. Expensive works by famous artists and very costly decorations were placed on luxurious shelves throughout.

On the large table made from the highest quality wood that grows only in the southern city of Natan, there were neatly arranged documents and a small calendar. The history of the Empire flashed through Vaniel’s mind.

Imperial Year 804.

It had been 804 years since the Larter Empire was established.

The Drenarpin Count family was an ancient noble family established since the early founding of the Empire.

Initially, the Drenarpin family produced quite a few famous magicians, but as time passed, individuals with outstanding abilities stopped appearing. As the presence of the Drenarpin family naturally began to fade, a major event occurred.

After the three-year war with the Nuaru people, three countries emerged on the continent where only one had existed before, and the Drenarpin family seized the opportunity.

The Count’s territory utilized its geographical position at the junction of the three countries to engage in trilateral trade and quickly recovered from the war’s damage. Thanks to this, they became much wealthier than before the war.

And with the wealth they accumulated, they continued to secretly lobby the extravagant Emperor. As a result, the Drenarpin family became imperial nobles. Ten years after entering the Emperor’s service, the Drenarpin Count family had become central nobles and was enjoying its golden age.

Vaniel reflected on the Empire’s history as she sat on the sofa in the center of the study. Through the window, she could see the lavish garden created with poured money. It was said among nobles that any rare flower in the world could be found in the Drenarpin Count family’s garden. This was true.

Helena’s taste, which demanded that everything be perfect and splendid, was reflected in all the landscaping and interior design of the mansion. It felt as if Helena was present in every space of the Count’s residence.

It was suffocating.

‘Ugh…’

Vaniel swallowed her suppressed groan. Having been thoughtful since childhood, Vaniel suffered from headaches when she had many worries.

But Vaniel’s face showed no pain. Her posture remained perfect.

Even though no one was watching. As always. Even if Helena wasn’t coming today, Vaniel would wait for her with perfect posture and expression.