Thump-thump.
My steps were light and bouncy as I made my way to the garden.
Rita kept warning me since yesterday not to expect too much, but how could I not?
This mansion was enormous—there was no way the garden could be anything less than breathtaking, right?
They said it hadn’t been maintained in a while but maybe that was just a bluff. Maybe they secretly kept it up and just told everyone not to go in?
“Heehee!”
The garden was only one floor above my room—closer than I thought.
Its door was large and opaque. I couldn’t see through it, but there was a green hue behind it that suggested trees.
Pretty flowers must be on the ground where I couldn’t see them!
When I looked up at Rita, she slowly opened the door. Even then, her expression wasn’t exactly bright. And I soon understood why.
“…”
“…My lady.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The garden—of the prestigious Baekryong household, one of the Four Dragon Clans—was…
“Is… is this really the garden?”
“…”
“Please… tell me it’s not…”
“I did tell you not to get your hopes up, didn’t I…”
It was no exaggeration. The garden hadn’t been maintained in the slightest. It was gloomy, almost like it should be raining despite being indoors.
Maybe I really had expected too much.
No.
No pouting.
No sulking.
Even if all that surrounded me were withered grass and dying trees—no negative thoughts!
I could decorate it myself! Just the way I liked it!
“Rita! I wanna fix up the garden!”
“The garden?”
“Yeah! I wanna make it pretty and show it off to Daddy!”
Rita let out a soft sigh, like a small weight had been lifted from her chest at my renewed enthusiasm.
“I wanna see plant books!”
“Books? Hmm… There are more in Lord Hale’s study, but you would need permission to go in. Shall we try the library instead?”
“Yup!”
Rita led me to the library inside the mansion.
To my surprise, it was huge—far bigger than I’d imagined for a private collection. It reminded me of the Imperial Library in my past life.
It was quiet, too, and smelled of aged paper, likely from a lack of visitors.
“I wanna see plant encyclopedias!”
“Please wait here. I’ll bring some for you.”
Rita sat me on a velvet sofa and came back with several books.
I picked one with a rose-red cover and opened it—only to realize something horrible.
I couldn’t read the writing.
The letters were nothing like the ones from my previous life.
When I looked at Rita with a troubled expression, she made an oh no face. Neither of us had considered the obvious—that I, a toddler, couldn’t read.
Fortunately, the problem was solved soon.
“Just read the parts I point to.”
“That’s easy.”
Thankfully, the books included illustrations.
I carefully picked out the prettiest flowers to match my taste—this was to impress Hale, after all!
For a full hour, I went through plant after plant, finalizing my garden list.
Rita jotted them all down, so they should arrive soon, right?
“Oh, hey, Rita. I’ve got a question.”
“Anything, my lady.”
“Where’s my mommy?”
“…Pardon?”
“Why doesn’t she ever come see me?”
“…Ah…”
I had meant it casually.
I thought maybe she was sick, or staying with relatives since I hadn’t seen my mother even once.
I hadn’t expected such a visibly startled reaction.
And from that, I knew—this wasn’t just a case of illness or absence.
Something had happened.
A part of me wanted to ask more, to find out exactly what had happened but with my current appearance, I was still only five or six at best.
And people treated me like a baby.
Not that I minded, but it meant they would avoid telling me anything important.
So now wasn’t the time. I had to play dumb.
“Hehe, I was just curious.”
“…My lady…”
“I’m tired. Let’s go back to my room, Rita.”
“…”
Rita gazed at me quietly for a moment before silently nodding and closing the book.
Hmm, I thought, she’s probably going to tell Hale about this…
Even if I told her not to, I wasn’t her boss.
Well, whatever. Let her tell him if she wants.
The next day was finally here—my first pheromone projection class!
I’d been busy getting ready since morning, wearing as few accessories as possible to keep my body light.
And when class time came—
“Eve!”
The moment the door opened, I ran straight into Eve’s arms.
“It’s finally your first pheromone projection class.”
“I’ve been so excited for this!”
I could tell my eyes were sparkling. I must’ve looked adorable to anyone watching.
I had big, round, pale-blue eyes like Hale’s, and wavy hair the color of silver mixed with soft gold.
Even I had to admit—I was very cute, but Eve, ever the professional, was firm.
Cute or not, class was class.
“My lady, do you remember what I said was important when handling pheromones?”
She gently set me down with her tone serious.
Caught off guard, I panicked for a moment as my mind blanked out.
I did remember eventually, though!
“Um… calm, focus, and, uh… um…”
She had taught me three things during our last lesson. I folded one finger per word I remembered but I got stuck on the last one.
“The last one was…”
“Uhh…”
“Composure.”
“Oh yeah! That!”
I thought she wasn’t trying to scold me, but—
“Do you think you’re composed right now, my lady?”
…Nope.
She was totally scolding me.
Okay, maybe I had gotten a little too excited.
Ever since learning pheromones were like magic, I’d been dying for this class.
If I wanted to do well, I needed to calm down, just like Eve said.
I hopped onto the sofa and sat with my legs tucked, resting my hands on my lap.
Slow, deep breaths. Focus.
“Good. Let’s start with the basics.”
“Okay.”
Eve approached, gently holding my shoulders.
“Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold my hands. Then close your eyes.”
I climbed off the sofa and did as she said. Her hands felt firm in mine.
“First, you’ll try to feel the pheromone inside your body. You need to locate it before you can draw it out and control it.”
Foundational skills are always the hardest.
I was nervous.
I never expected to get it right on the first try.
Even in my past life, I’d been more of a hard worker than a natural talent.
“There’s no pressure. Failing on your first attempt is normal. Just focus on breathing.”
She must’ve sensed my nerves. Her voice was calm and steady.
“Hoo…”
I slowly exhaled and focused all my awareness toward the center of my body.
The heart is the center of all flow—surely pheromones would follow the same rule. Yet no matter how hard I focused, sweat beading on my brow…
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
When Eve finally let go of my hand, I opened my eyes.
“…Eve.”
“My lady.”
“I didn’t feel anything.”
“Very few succeed on their first try.”
“But still…”
Failure.
Complete failure, right out of the gate.
And I was the daughter of House Evienne’s head!
How could I not even do this?
The disappointment I felt in myself was heavier than anything else.
After all the anticipation, it was crushing.
“…Do you know how long you stood there with your eyes closed?”
“Um… ten minutes?”
Eve gave a soft smile and shook her head.
“Then how long?”
“An hour.”
“…Huh? An hour?!”
“Yes. You didn’t even notice, did you? That’s how deeply focused you are. It’s a good sign—focus improves your chances of success. I’m sure you’ll do it next time.”
She was probably trying to comfort me, but coming from Eve, it didn’t feel like an empty compliment.
It gave me strength.
If not this time, then next time!
I still had plenty of time!
I clenched my fists and straightened my shoulders. Feeling gloomy didn’t suit me.
“Eve! I’m hungry!”
“Shall I ask Rita to bring you a snack?”
“Yup! The sweetest one in the world!”
“What if she says your teeth will rot?”
“Tell her I’ll brush my teeth after!”
“Waaah!”
***
The flowers I ordered had finally arrived!
I rushed to the garden as fast as my little legs would carry me.
By the entrance, countless flower seedlings were laid out in a row.
Butterflies fluttered above them. As for where they came from, I had no idea. I’m so happy I couldn’t stand still as I ran between the flowers pretending to be a butterfly myself.
“There’s so many!”
There might even be enough to more than decorate the entire garden!
I danced between the rows, checking each type—when suddenly:
“Gasp!”
A thought struck me.
I stopped mid-step, eyes wide.
“My lady?”
“Rita… what do I do…?”
“Is something wrong? Are you missing a flower?”
“No, it’s…”
I gnawed on my thumbnail, staring at the endless rows of blooms with sorrowful eyes.
Rita followed my gaze… and then she smiled.
One of those knowing smiles.
“I’ve brought some helpers to assist you with the garden today, so don’t worry.”
“Really?!”
Clap clap—
Rita clapped twice, and soon, people in all-black attire began to emerge from the shadows.
