ILVD 09

Thud.

“Haah… What a long day.”

After returning from her outing, Leticia collapsed face-first onto the bed the moment she had bathed and changed clothes.

It had been her first official outing, and now, sleepiness swept over her like a wave.

“You seem to have enjoyed yourself very much, my lady.”

Watching her from nearby, Asha smiled as she spoke. Leticia gave a small nod in agreement, her lips curving faintly.

It was quite some time before Ragna returned, her arms full of folded fabrics. One by one, she held them up against Leticia’s frame, then began sketching quickly on paper. Once her designs were decided, she briskly ordered everyone out — she needed to work in peace.

By the time Leticia and Raul finally stepped outside again, the sun was already setting. They decided to dine out before returning home.

‘I heard you’ve started eating vegetables lately.’

‘Y-you heard that?’

‘Hagen and Asha wouldn’t stop talking about it. Even the chef’s been perfecting vegetable dishes these days.’

Their conversation didn’t flow endlessly, but between bites and silences, words drifted softly across the table.

‘If you don’t mind… we could share a meal like this from time to time.’

‘At home?’

‘At home, or somewhere like this.’

‘Let’s eat at home! I mean… if you’re not too busy, Father?’

‘All right.’

That day, they made a small promise — to share meals together more often.

“Today was so much fun. Next time, I want to go with Father again…”

Leticia’s voice grew slower, her eyelids heavier. Before long, soft, even breaths filled the room.

Noticing she had fallen asleep, Asha gently adjusted the child’s posture and pulled the blanket over her.

“Sweet dreams, my lady,” she whispered.

A few days later, a large parcel arrived at the Kafka Ducal House. Inside were several dresses — and a handwritten letter from Ragna.

To Lady Leticia Kafka,

While I was designing your dress, I ended up creating more than I intended.
The first one uses the same fabric the Duke himself often wears…

There were three dresses in total — one black, one white, and one red.
Each came with a note, describing the chosen fabrics and the design intent behind them.

Leticia set the letter down and turned toward the mannequins, each dressed in one of Ragna’s creations.

Each gown had its own atmosphere, its own distinct presence.

“Which one will you wear to the party, my lady?” Asha asked.

Leticia tilted her head thoughtfully. “Hmm… I think the second one suits best.”

It was the brightest among them — a dress radiant as sunlight.

“Oh, Asha, could you also find me a book on noble etiquette?”

Though she had learned manners and deportment from Asha since childhood, at eight years old, there were still finer points she didn’t fully grasp.

When Asha suggested finding a tutor instead, Leticia shook her head. “Just the book, please. I already know the rest.”

Flip.

Pages rustled as she read. “Not that I’ll have many chances to show off these manners,” she murmured.

Still, Leticia was more proficient in etiquette than most children her age. She had only requested the book to make her learning seem natural — too much perfection would draw suspicion.

“Perfect!” Asha declared after watching her practice.

Her words were accompanied by a bright thumbs-up — the gesture all the rage across the Empire lately.

Leticia chuckled. “You praise me too much.”

“I don’t, my lady. It’s the truth. No one would ever guess you learned all this from a book!”

Despite Asha’s kind assurance, Leticia sighed softly.

“Tomorrow, then,” she whispered — the day of the party.

Seeing the hint of worry on her young mistress’s face, Asha reached out and squeezed her hand.

“You’ll do wonderfully.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You’re Lady Kafka! And if anyone dares be rude to you—just remember their family name and tell the Duke.”

“Huh?”

“Then everything will be taken care of!” Asha said brightly. “I promise.”

Taken care of, indeed — the family might very well disappear.

“But… even the Crown Prince will be there tomorrow.”

“So what? We have the Duke on our side, don’t we?”

‘Do as you wish.’

‘What? You think I couldn’t run away with you if I wanted to?’

Those words from Raul lingered in Leticia’s ears.

She knew they weren’t empty reassurances. Both he and Asha had meant every word.

And the thought of that — of being so fiercely protected — made her laugh softly, heart lighter than before.

The next day arrived swiftly.

“How do I look?”

Leticia, who had risen early to prepare, turned in front of Asha.

“You look like a snow fairy!”

Her dress was pure white — the same color as her hair. Ragna had layered several delicate fabrics to avoid simplicity, crafting an empire-line silhouette that flowed down to her ankles.

When she moved, the overlapping skirts fluttered like flower petals, faint jewels catching the light like shards of sunlit snow.

It was true — Leticia looked every bit the snow fairy Asha had named her.

Satisfied servants nodded one after another. Leticia clenched her little fists, exhaling.

“Then, shall we go?”

But as Asha opened the door, Leticia stopped short.

“Father?”

Standing in the doorway was Raul Kafka himself.

In her previous life, it had been Hagen who escorted her to her first palace gathering — not Raul.

So his presence here puzzled her.

“I happened to have business at the palace,” he said simply, extending a hand toward her.

Behind him, Hagen shook his head furiously, arms crossed to form a bold X.

“I thought… maybe you were just taking me because it’s my first party…”

Her voice trailed off, the corners of her lips drooping in mild disappointment. Raul’s hand twitched ever so slightly.

“…It’s not something that can’t wait, I suppose. But since it’s your first party, I thought I’d go with you.”

At that, Leticia’s face lit up. She stepped forward and placed her tiny hand atop his.

The warmth of his steady grip made her smile bloom again.

“Shall we?”

“Yes!”

They boarded the waiting carriage, which soon began its journey toward the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Garden, Lerua Empire.

A garden party for young nobles.

Flowers of every color flaunted their beauty, the breeze swayed the trees, and sunlight glimmered through the leaves.

Tables were laid with pastries and fruit juices, arranged with all the grace of a ballroom feast — only set outdoors.

One by one, the children of noble houses arrived.

“This way, Lady Kafka.”

A royal guard bowed deeply before Leticia. She turned her gaze upward toward Raul.

Instead of offering words of comfort, he spoke something else.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Remember that well.