Chapter 12
“Miss… you look so….”
Anne looked deeply moved as she gazed at me, whom she had dressed up so carefully. Seeing tears shimmering in her brown eyes, it was clear she was overwhelmed.
“You’re just too, too adorable….”
I had been dozing off the entire time she was working on me, so I had no idea what I looked like right now.
Her reaction is that big?
Tilting my head, I stepped in front of the mirror. And the moment I saw my reflection, I couldn’t help but gasp.
“Th-this is….”
So cute!
The top half of my hair had been parted and rolled into two bun-like shapes, while the rest flowed straight down. Between the strands, thin silver-white threads strung with tiny jewels were woven in, giving off a mystical feeling.
Anne must have agonized over this.
The placement of the silver threads and the overall hairstyle clearly showed how much effort she had put in. I felt ashamed for ever thinking her touch was bothersome.
“Anne, I’m sowwy….”
“Yes? What did you just say?”
“It’s nothing.”
Anne tilted her head, then shifted her gaze to my dress.
“Miss! Look at this dress! It’s layered entirely with thin, soft fabric. And this tiny pink ribbon near the bodice—how adorable is that? This was definitely made just for you!”
“Mm-hmm, thank you….”
As I gave an awkward smile under the shower of praise, Anne bent her knees to meet my eyes.
“Miss, you really look like a fairy.”
“That’s enough….”
As I tried to turn my face away in embarrassment, Anne smiled gently.
“I’m serious. I’m not lying. You’ll be the most beautiful one at the banquet today. You’re so lovely—no one could possibly resist falling for you.”
She smoothed down the hem of my skirt that I had wrinkled while fidgeting with my fingers.
“So go and do everything you want, Miss. Don’t worry about anyone else!”
Ah….
Now I could finally see her true expression. Behind the joy and excitement and pride was worry, concern… and a hint of sadness.
“Anyone would have no choice but to love you.”
Anne gathered up those fleeting emotions and smiled brightly again.
“Have a safe trip, Miss.”
At her small wave, I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and nodded.
“Yeah. Anne, I’ll be back.”
Then I turned away from her, still crouching there, and left the room.
When I came down the stairs, Heinox, Chedman, and Renzard were already waiting in front of the carriage.
“…You’re late.”
“Sowwy.”
“Get in.”
Heinox lifted me into the carriage and climbed in after me, shutting the door.
“Huh? Aren’t the othew ones getting in?”
As I looked around for Chedman and Renzard, Heinox tilted his head.
“That’s right. Only you and I will ride in this carriage. Renzard and Chedman will follow in another.”
“Okaaay….”
As I nodded, my short legs dangled above the floor.
After that, Heinox and I sat in silence, staring out the window.
When glimpses of a large white wall began passing by outside, he spoke first.
“Are you nervous?”
“Nervous?”
If I said I wasn’t, that would be a lie. It was my first outing as Roxina.
What if I made a mistake and earned someone’s resentment?
But compared to the intense social life I’d experienced in my previous life, this felt manageable.
At least my mental strength is solid now.
I beamed.
“Not at all!”
Heinox stared at me for a long moment, then smirked.
“That’s a relief.”
“Roxina. Wake up.”
I opened my eyes at the light tap on my shoulder.
Still half-asleep, I blinked groggily as the carriage came to a stop.
Soon the door opened, and an elderly man in a neat formal suit bowed to Heinox.
“I greet the head of House Tanzerik.”
Despite the man being much older, Heinox frowned.
“Duke….”
I had meant it as a scolding—how could he behave so rudely toward someone so old?—but Heinox clearly took it differently.
His expression darkened further.
“Butler. It seems you cannot see my daughter. Has old age taken your eyesight as well? Perhaps it’s time for retirement.”
I was almost impressed by Heinox’s audacity in stabbing at the pride of someone who looked thirty years older than him.
Th-this madman….
Before I could stop him from saying something worse, the butler bowed deeply—at a perfect right angle.
“My apologies, Your Grace. It seems old age has dulled my awareness.”
He stepped closer to the carriage.
“Lady, will you forgive my mistake?”
“Ah—yes! Of course! Please get up!”
As I waved my hands frantically, he bowed even deeper.
“Thank you for your forgiveness.”
“I said it’s fine, please stand….”
I couldn’t bear watching someone old enough to be my grandfather bow like that.
I squeezed my eyes shut and waved faster. But Heinox misunderstood even that gesture.
“If it burdens her, step back.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ah….
I stared in disbelief.
“He told him to move away… from my grandpa-aged butler….”
Still in shock, I eventually gave up.
Right. Would anything change if I protested? Forget it. Thinking I can change that personality is foolish.
Just as I reached enlightenment, Heinox held out his hand.
“Hold on and step down. The carriage is high.”
I took his hand and carefully stepped down.
When my foot touched the last step and I lifted my head, I gasped at the surreal sight before me.
“Woooow….”
Golden trim curled like vines across white walls.
The entire palace shimmered in white and gold, and crimson daisies and yellow tulips lined the path to the gates.
As I stood there admiring it, Renzard approached.
“It’s your first time seeing the Imperial Palace, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
Since I was distracted, he said nothing more.
Soon Heinox, who had been speaking with Chedman, came over.
“Let’s go inside.”
The attendants at the banquet hall stiffened upon seeing Heinox.
After he handed over the invitation, one of them announced loudly:
“The Guardian of the Empire, the Duke of Tanzerik, has arrived!”
The grand doors opened, golden light spilling out.
When I blinked against the brightness and opened my eyes again, at least fifty pairs of eyes were fixed on me.
Ah….
Their gazes followed every step I took, as if searching for even the tiniest flaw.
I thought it would be nothing….
It was far harder than I’d imagined to remain calm under so much unfriendly attention.
I want to escape.
I wanted to hide somewhere they couldn’t see me.
Roxina had done nothing wrong. Yet their hostility was blatant.
My body gradually shrank inward. Faint laughter followed.
“So that’s the Tanzerik daughter? Nothing special.”
“I heard she’s ignored even in her own estate.”
“How shameless to show up here.”
“She’s young but already calculating.”
Speculation spread like wildfire.
They spoke as if they knew everything, though they knew nothing.
Their phrases all ended the same way—“That’s what I heard.”
They distanced themselves from responsibility that way.
So annoying.
I hated that type the most—those who avoided responsibility and pushed blame onto others.
Hypocrites.
They weren’t whispering because they thought I couldn’t hear.
They were deliberately adjusting their volume to watch my reaction.
Just like in my previous life.
Back then, I endured it because I had to survive.
But now it’s different.
Nothing I said would threaten the duke’s household.
Still, it was too early to act.
If I caused trouble without knowing Heinox’s true intentions toward me, I might be cast out.
So I endured.
Then trumpets blared, and the doors at the back of the hall opened.
Slicked-back pomaded hair, violet eyes, and that arrogant expression—it was exactly the Emperor described in the original story.
He surveyed the bowing nobles with satisfaction.
“You all know why I have summoned this banquet.”
I felt their glances toward Heinox and me.
“To celebrate Duke Tanzerik’s victory.”
His gaze turned slowly toward us.
“And the duke’s daughter has joined us. I heard her health is frail. I hope this is not too taxing.”
If you were worried, you shouldn’t have summoned me.
How sly.
Everyone knew I was the true focus of tonight.
If I hadn’t come, rumors would’ve spread anyway.
I swallowed my irritation.
Heinox stepped forward.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“Duke Tanzerik! Your achievements astonished me. To subdue the duchy that troubled our borders—remarkable!”
Heinox merely smiled faintly.
“I shall award you a medal.”
“I am unworthy.”
“Nonsense. You eliminated traitors who threatened the empire.”
The Emperor gestured to his chamberlain, who held a navy velvet case. Taking it, he rose.
“Hear me. As ruler of the Luent Empire, Alfredo Philitium declares—”
All nobles placed their right hands over their left chests and bowed.
I followed suit.
“To Heinox Tanzerik, head of House Tanzerik, I bestow the Medal of Trust, Reklephion!”
Reklephion?!
That was the medal Roxina had stolen in the original story and delivered to the Empress.
It functioned as a pardon—absolving one crime.
In the original plot, the Empress framed Tanzerik for treason and used Roxina to steal it.
Without it, the house fell.
So that’s it.
If they had this medal, they might survive future schemes.
The same tragedy must not happen.
If this house falls, I fall with it.
So that medal—
I will never let it be taken.
