Chapter 36
I couldn’t even think of turning around — because I knew exactly whose voice that was.
It was a voice I’d heard not too long ago — stern, commanding, unmistakable.
I swallowed hard and slowly turned.
“Ah… Dad…”
For a brief moment, it felt like only Hail and I existed in this noisy hall.
“Senika, what were you doing over here?”
“Well…”
I hesitated.
Since I knew Hail didn’t like Roel, it was hard to admit I’d come looking for him.
“There are too many eyes here. You should return to your seat.”
Before I could respond, Hail easily scooped me up and started walking us back to our table.
Once seated, I couldn’t help but tense up. Hail didn’t say a word, just kept looking at me in silence.
Should I say something first? Maybe explain myself before he started questioning me?
Just as I was about to open my mouth —
“Should I guess why you went there?”
If it were Hail, he probably could guess.
But maybe this was a trap — a way to make me confess.
I forced my face into an innocent expression, pretending I didn’t understand.
“Hmm?”
“Roel Hartfilia.”
“……”
So much for pretending.
Well, I had told him I met Roel before — it wouldn’t take much to connect the dots and realize who I was looking for.
I stared straight ahead, neither confirming nor denying.
Soon, I heard a soft sigh behind me.
“Haah… I wonder who you take after to be this impatient. Erilyn—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
At the same time, the surrounding knights and Rita all turned sharply toward him.
‘Erilyn’… whoever that was, judging by everyone’s reaction, it was a name I needed to remember.
It sounded like a woman’s name. Could it be… an ex-girlfriend? Oh—
‘Mom’s name?’
A chill ran down my spine. Judging from the tense reactions around us, I was probably right.
For Hail to mention the name so casually while everyone else reacted so sensitively — it could only mean one thing.
What kind of situation was this, that everyone acted like this whenever she was mentioned? Why hadn’t she appeared in front of me yet?
Just for a split second, his blue eyes trembled — filled with emotion — before quickly calming again.
For some reason, that brief flicker felt unbearably sad.
“When the time comes, you’ll meet everyone — we’re in the same world now, after all.”
But just as quickly as it appeared, the emotion faded.
When Hail looked down at me again, his deep blue eyes glimmered beautifully — and yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just seen him looking sorrowful for the first time.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest — a mix of helplessness and something I couldn’t name.
After that, we watched the performance in silence.
Though honestly, I couldn’t remember a thing about it — my mind kept circling back to that one name: Erilyn.
“Miss, it’s time to move.”
Rita’s voice, close by, pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Ah— right!”
I quickly stood up and ran over to Hail, who was walking ahead at an unhurried pace. I reached for his hand, and he opened his palm so I could easily lace my fingers through his.
The calluses on his large, warm hand felt like proof of years spent protecting others.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
It wasn’t that I disliked seeing them. I just—
“When we get home, I’ll give you a hand massage!”
“Out of nowhere?”
“I just… felt like it.”
I wanted to comfort those worn hands, somehow.
“Really? I’ll look forward to it.”
“Don’t! It won’t be that good!”
“You’re thoughtful, Senika.”
Hail smiled. There was a faint trace of melancholy in that smile, but I pretended not to notice and looked straight ahead as we walked.
Not long after, a massive door appeared before us — even larger than the one at the mansion.
I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t hold back a gasp; others around me also murmured “wow” in awe.
Then the doors slowly opened — and the interior was revealed.
“Whoa…”
The entire ballroom was plated in gold.
Not small sections, not accents — the whole thing.
How rich is the imperial family, to decorate an entire hall with actual gold?
This was beyond extravagant.
I stepped inside, still dazed, as the sound of grand instruments filled the air.
Turning toward the source, I saw a full orchestra spread across one wall.
‘Wow… the scale of this is insane…’
Honestly, I hadn’t had a great impression of the imperial family — but after seeing this, I was starting to think a little better of them.
If this much effort and money went into a party supposedly for us, maybe they were trying to be considerate.
“Lord Evienne.”
Someone approached Hail — it was Eugene, the man who’d greeted us yesterday.
“What is it?”
“His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you.”
Hail’s face twisted instantly — like a piece of paper crumpling in a fist. Clearly, he didn’t like the sound of that.
Sure, it was a sudden summons, but still… was it really that bad?
What, were they enemies or something? Because that would explain his reaction.
“Tell him I’m not coming.”
Yeah, I figured he’d say that. He probably meant that showing up at all should be good enough.
But Eugene didn’t back down. After glancing at me, he leaned in close and whispered something to Hail.
Unfortunately, it was too noisy for me to hear.
But whatever he said — it set Hail off.
In a flash, Hail grabbed Eugene by the collar.
“Lord!”
Joshua and Rita rushed in to stop him before things escalated, and the tension slowly settled.
Still, Hail didn’t seem ready to calm down. What could Eugene possibly have said to make him react like that?
“Dad, what’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Yeah, it definitely wasn’t nothing.
But I decided not to press. Whatever it was, it wasn’t something a child should meddle in.
“Rita. Joshua.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep a close eye on Senika.”
“Understood.”
“If something like last time happens again, I won’t let it slide.”
With that stern warning, Hail left with Eugene.
I was dying to know what Eugene had whispered, but I tried to push the thought away — he’d never tell me anyway.
With Hail gone, Rita and Joshua stayed by my side — which meant I suddenly had two very diligent babysitters while I still had things to do.
While they were talking quietly to each other, I began to inch backward, step by step.
“Miss, where are you going?”
Of course, Joshua’s hawk eyes caught me immediately.
I feigned innocence. “Hm? Oh, nowhere.”
Yeah, as if that would work on him.
Joshua sighed deeply, folded his arms, and crouched down to meet my eyes.
The concern in his gaze made guilt prickle in my chest.
Especially since I still owed him…
“It’s dangerous for you to wander off alone.”
“…I knooow…”
“And you understand this place is full of unpredictable people, right? It’s especially risky for you.”
“Yeees…”
Joshua was always right. Which meant I should listen.
But still — I had to find Roel somehow.
Hail said we’d meet when the time was right, but I didn’t want to wait.
Roel might be the key to why I was reborn in this world.
Wait— Joshua doesn’t even know Roel, does he?
So if he follows me around, he wouldn’t realize who I’m looking for anyway!
“Aha! I can go with Shushu then!”
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but I was about to suggest the same thing.”
I could feel his silent vow not to leave my side no matter what.
“Ah, but I’ll give you some space, of course — you should have time with your friends too.”
I appreciated how he tried to respect my independence while still doing his duty.
So, with Joshua trailing behind, I started wandering around the ballroom — my one goal: to find Roel.
But… why couldn’t I see him anywhere? Was he not even here?
After what felt like a lap and a half around the hall, still no sign of him. Was he invisible just to me?
“Miss, who are you looking for?”
“Eh? Oh, uh…”
“If you mean the young lady from the Blue Dragon family, she’s been watching you from over there.”
Following his gaze, I spotted Shireia — staring right at me while holding a glass of grape juice.
I quickly looked away.
If she caught me now, I could kiss my chances of finding Roel goodbye.
I ducked my head and started back the way I came—
Thud!
I bumped into someone.
“I’m so sorry!”
It was entirely my fault for not watching where I was going, so I apologized immediately.
But the person didn’t respond at all. Confused, I looked up—
And saw a tall boy standing before me.
“…Jaius?”
It had only been two weeks since I’d last seen him, but he’d grown so much that I almost didn’t recognize him — somewhere between a boy and a young man now.
I knew he was developing fast, but even compared to heirs of other noble houses, he was exceptional.
He looked about fifteen — towering over me, who still looked like a ten-year-old.
“You’ve… really grown.”
“Because of you.”
“Because of me?”
Not thanks to me — but because of me?
There’s a world of difference between those two.
The way he said it, it sounded less like I’d helped him and more like I’d caused it somehow.
But come on — you’ve grown taller and stronger! Isn’t that a good thing?
