Chapter 5: A Smile I Don’t Like
She still wasn’t used to calling her “sister.”
Cordelia, who had come into the room, sat casually near the table where Sevthina was seated.
“I brought one of the presents I’d set aside while waiting for you to return.”
Cordelia placed a large box on the table, wrapped in luxurious paper with a red ribbon.
Sevthina undid the ribbon and opened the box. The moment she saw what was inside, she was at a loss for words.
“….”
Inside was an exquisitely crafted emerald necklace. The thumb-sized emerald in the center shimmered beautifully, flanked by pearls, with gold trim that perfectly complemented the green hue.
But what left Sevthina speechless wasn’t its beauty.
It was because she recognized it.
The necklace was from the renowned Western Atelier, famous for its handcrafted jewelry like necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Among nobles, this workshop was coveted, known for accepting only five custom orders a month and auctioning off the rest to the highest bidder via luxury catalogues.
Even Yullia had longed for one of their pieces. She would circle her favorites in the catalog, and this necklace had been circled multiple times. Just seeing how many times Yullia marked it proved how badly she had wanted it.
Back then, even July had been entranced by the necklace—so much so that she’d paused everything just to stare.
She’d envied Yullia, who could simply claim something that beautiful.
But Yullia never wore the necklace.
Sevthina had always found it odd.
Now, she finally understood.
‘It’s not that she didn’t wear it—she couldn’t.’
Yullia had lost the auction. Cordelia had bought it.
“Do you like it?”
Sevthina gazed at the necklace for a long while before silently nodding, unable to speak.
“I’m glad.”
At the warmth in Cordelia’s voice, Sevthina found herself wondering what kind of expression she was making.
She lifted her head slightly and saw Cordelia smiling brightly—like sunshine.
‘…It’s strange.’
Sevthina had rarely seen anyone smile at her like this.
The people working at the Liv estate were always curt. The Liv couple and Yullia had never been kind to her either.
Even the other elemental successors weren’t much different. Wyatt always had a blank face. Dante was constantly frowning in concentration. Only Clazzen smiled often, but…
Cordelia’s smile was completely different.
Genuine, overflowing with affection. Just that one smile conveyed how much Cordelia truly cared for her.
“May I put it on you?”
Sevthina nodded again in silence. Her throat felt tight, and words wouldn’t come.
Cordelia didn’t seem to mind. She gently fastened the necklace around Sevthina’s neck. The emerald glistened against her fair skin.
“I still have many gifts set aside for the time we’ll spend together. I hope you’ll enjoy them one by one.”
Cordelia patted her on the shoulder with a soft smile.
“You’ll start meeting more people soon. It might be overwhelming with so many new things, but I think of all this as a new opportunity for you.”
Cordelia was clearly speaking to Sevthina—but it somehow sounded like she was speaking to July Liv.
The tightness in her throat returned. Sevthina swallowed hard.
Her face flushed red.
She didn’t understand why the urge to cry kept hitting her.
Not from despair—but this unfamiliar emotion.
“Don’t rush just because you got a late start. Everyone has their own timing.”
‘I really don’t understand this family.’
How could the count and countess have cared for and maintained a room for a child who never woke?
How could a sister who had never even met her come offering gifts and gentle advice?
They were nothing like the family she had known.
And so, she still didn’t know how to respond.
Sevthina lowered her head again.
Her pink hair fell like a curtain, hiding her face. The necklace glimmered as it swung forward with the motion.
“Your father wants to hold a party to celebrate your awakening. He wanted to throw it this week, but I barely held him off. It might get delayed a month… but we’ll probably need to start preparing soon.”
…A party to celebrate her awakening.
So that’s what Cordelia meant about not getting discouraged—that this was a fresh start and she should stay hopeful.
She was a bit worried, but oddly excited, too.
July Liv had always watched from the shadows, enviously, as Yullia danced and mingled with others at parties.
But she wasn’t July anymore.
“It’s getting late. Sweet dreams. Good night.”
Cordelia glanced at the clock and stood. It was nearly 11 p.m.
As Cordelia turned to leave, Sevthina hesitated dozens of times.
She still couldn’t say the word “sister.” Not yet.
But even if she couldn’t say that…
“…Thank you.”
The words barely left her lips.
Her own voice felt unfamiliar.
Cordelia paused at the door and smiled.
“For something so small?”
With that, she gracefully exited the room.
But Sevthina saw it.
The faint trace of tears at the corners of Cordelia’s eyes.
The human heart is such a fickle thing. She had sworn not to expect anything anymore.
And yet, a tiny seed of hope had been planted.
…The same hope she had when she first stepped into the Liv estate.
That maybe—just maybe—she could have a family too.
Time passed quickly.
Today was the day Dante would return to visit Sevthina. Not just Dante—the doctor and priest would also be coming for their regular check-in.
“Miss, wake up!”
The voice calling her belonged to a maid about her age. Until an official lady-in-waiting was chosen, this young maid had been assigned to her.
Most of the Zeroth household’s staff were older. Adelle was a rare exception, newly hired and close in age to Sevthina.
When asked if she wanted a proper lady-in-waiting right away, Sevthina had shaken her head. She was still shy around strangers and couldn’t imagine a noble servant treating her with deference. She had used that as an excuse to delay the decision.
But that wasn’t all.
Whenever Sevthina looked at Adelle, she felt a strange sense of kinship, like seeing her old self.
So she’d personally asked the count and countess to let Adelle serve her exclusively.
[“…Sevthina made a request to us?”]
[“Of course we’ll make it happen. If there’s anything else you need, tell us right away. Promise?”]
Eyes glistening with tears, the count and countess had immediately agreed.
“It’s time for breakfast.”
Adelle’s cheerful voice accompanied her as she guided Sevthina to the mirror. Taking careful steps to match her patient’s weaker body, she helped her sit and began brushing her long hair.
“I love brushing your hair most of all, Miss Sevthina. It’s like pink clouds… or an enchanted forest. How can hair be this beautiful?”
Adelle was expressive and loved to give compliments. But Sevthina, unused to praise, found it awkward.
It made her happy—but also self-conscious.
As she absentmindedly touched her freshly brushed hair, her lips curled just a bit at the corners.
Then Adelle continued, almost conspiratorially:
“One more guest is visiting today. He said he was sorry for the short notice and asked me to let you know.”
“Who is it?”
The count and countess had declined most visits, wanting Sevthina to rest.
Everyone had respected that, understanding she had only just woken up.
“It’s…”
Adelle looked suddenly solemn.
‘That must mean it’s someone important,’ Sevthina thought, feeling her nerves spike.
“Lord Clazzen Whitetion.”
‘…What?’
“Oh! Right. Miss—Clazzen Whitetion is head of House Whitetion and runs the empire’s largest trade consortium. He’s famous for his powerful network. He heard you’ve awakened and offered to recommend some suitable tutors. That’s why he made time for a visit.”
Another visitor she wasn’t thrilled to see.
“He’s also incredibly handsome… Miss, first Dante, now Clazzen—you’re really getting spoiled today!”
Adelle looked like hearts would burst from her eyes. She clasped her hands together with a dreamy sigh.
Sevthina could only guess how many romance novels Adelle had already drafted in her mind.
…But she, herself, felt far from thrilled.
She knew Clazzen Whitetion was handsome. But looks meant nothing.
“Handsome, huh?”
“You’ll feel differently once you meet him, Miss! His killer smile is legendary!”
‘A smile…’
Sevthina’s face hardened as she recalled his parting smile.
Clazzen Whitetion was a man who had mastered the art of smiling. He knew exactly how alluring his dimples and smirking eyes were—and used them to full effect.
At first, July had thought Clazzen was the most decent of the three. But the longer she’d spent time with him, the more she realized.
In the end, she saw the truth:
It wasn’t that Clazzen used her. He simply behaved in whatever way suited him best.
There was no telling which version of him was real.
Without realizing, Sevthina muttered aloud:
“I don’t like smiles.”
Especially not the fake ones.
