TFCF 03

Chapter 03…

Aila took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm her nerves.

Today was the day she would meet Sada and Luca.

It was nothing more than a routine visit, but to Aila, it was the beginning of a new day—a new era.

“Alright.”

She looked at her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction.

Madam Poppy had directed the maids to alter Parakel’s old clothes stored in the attic to fit her body.

The garments were in subdued colors, navy or brown.

People might say it was the eccentricity of the third child of House Solalune, but what did it matter?

It wasn’t as if she had even stepped into society yet.

Besides, doesn’t everyone act as if I don’t even exist?

Her three siblings were famous.

No, more than that—the Solalune family itself was famous.

The Solalunes dated back to the era of the Holy Spirit Empire.

That empire, which had existed about a thousand years ago, had flourished with dazzling culture, art, and architecture, and even now was remembered as an idealized golden age by scholars.

It was also the only empire to have ever unified the entire continent—something even the present Robati Empire had never accomplished.

And the Solalune family were the sole surviving legitimate descendants of that imperial bloodline.

Proud of their thousand-year lineage and their descent from the Holy Spirit Empire, the Solalunes had never relinquished the governorship bestowed on them back then.

Thus, they were a house well known to both nobles and commoners alike.

Already a noble family of prestige, the three children of this generation had added their own spark to the name.

They had dazzling looks and intellect sharp enough to debate with academy professors.

The eldest, Helen, was perfection itself. The second, Parakel, had never lost his top standing at the academy and competed fiercely in horseback riding.

He was the ideal man of every young lady.

And the youngest, Leo, was widely adored for his cuteness—thanks to Lady Rose, who never stopped boasting about him.

And then—

“What? There’s another sibling? It’s not just three of them? Who?”

That “who” was Aila.

This time, she might end up rumored as the eccentric third child.

At least then, people would know the Solalunes had four siblings, not just three.

That was about all.

But what matters is today.

How could she become friends with Luca and Sada?

After much thought, Aila came up with a plan: I am a new person now. I will show them a completely different side of me.

If until now she had been a young lady lost in delusions, from today on she would be a spirited girl no different from a boy.

Surely they would believe her if she transformed her image that much.

Turning from the mirror, Aila thanked Madam Poppy.

“Thank you, Madam Poppy.”

“It’s nothing, my lady,” Poppy replied, gently stroking her cheek.

When she thought about it, Aila realized she had spent more time with Madam Poppy than with her own mother.

Aila gave her a bright smile, then strode downstairs with steady steps.

She’d been told that the two were already waiting in the parlor.

First impressions—well, not the very first, but the first after her transformation—were important.

Her heart began to pound.

This time, I won’t let them die.

With that thought, Aila entered the parlor wearing a radiant smile.

“Hello, it’s been a while.”

Luca, holding a bouquet, and Sada, carrying a gift box, both gaped at her.

They had heard she had been ill and confined to her room for a week, so they had come with presents to cheer her up.

But her unexpected appearance left them stunned.

Aila had always appeared with long, adorned hair, elaborate decorations, and heavy layered dresses.

Every time Sada saw the enormous ribbon tied atop her head, he had thought, Isn’t that heavy? How does she manage to wear that?

What is she up to this time?

A tight feeling seized Sada’s stomach, but he held out his gift anyway.

“I heard you had been unwell for a while. I hope this gift pleases you.”

Prompted by Sada, Luca startled and held out his bouquet.

“I also brought flowers. Though, before Lady Aila, even flowers would bow their heads…”

He spoke a practiced, elegant line, honed from experience.

Hearing it, Aila’s face flushed red.

She awkwardly accepted the bouquet, blinking back tears at seeing them again after so long.

Fighting the lump in her throat, she lifted her head.

“Thank you. But from now on, you don’t need to bring me presents anymore.”

Placing the bouquet down, she looked at them in turn.

Her voice trembled; she felt she might cry.

“Let’s go outside first.”

She quickly led the way out, with Sada and Luca exchanging glances before following.

She didn’t even open the presents.

Annoyance prickled at Sada, but he suppressed it. He had no intention of provoking the young lady of House Solalune.

Who knew what she might do next?

Aila, meanwhile, didn’t know what to say. If she stopped to speak, she felt she would burst into sobs.

Her heart thudded so hard she thought she might be sick.

But walking in silence felt too strange.

Twisting her clasped hands nervously, she suddenly spun around.

“Um, so… were you surprised?”

She smiled awkwardly, brushing down her plain clothes.

Sada grinned.

“They suit you very well, Lady Aila. Even in such attire, your beauty cannot be hidden.”

Her cheeks burned again, and she stammered.

“Y-you don’t need to say things like that anymore. And stop speaking so formally. No honorifics either. Just call me Aila.”

“…Is it really alright?”

The one who asked cautiously was Luca, third son of the Duke of Ioran.

With silver hair and golden eyes, Luca always spoke softly, his tone gentle.

The Ioran dukes were famed for their swordsmanship—his grandfather had been a Sword Saint.

Luca too will become famous with the sword, Aila recalled.

And then he would be lured by the Crown Princess, sent to guard the northern wall, and die there.

Ugh, the northern wall… just the thought brings back bad memories.

Back then, she had chased him all the way to the wall to persuade him.

Looking back, I must have been crazy. Wearing an off-shoulder gown out there…

Because she had imagined: against the backdrop of the snowy northern wall, herself shivering in that gown, wrapped protectively in Luca’s cloak!

The burning gaze of Luca as he looked at her delicate self!

…Such delusions.

And then something even more embarrassing had happened, but she quickly banished the thought and replied firmly.

“Yes, of course. Please do.”

Then she turned to Sada.

“You too, Sada.”

He listened carefully, his expression unreadable.

With his curly red hair and deep moss-green eyes—so dark they looked almost black except in sunlight—Sada Ult was impossible to read.

The Ults were a newly risen noble house. His father, the first earl, had made his fortune in maritime trade, which the emperor had rewarded with a title.

Now that I think of it, I don’t know much else about their families either.

She had been too busy painting her imaginary world to pay attention to reality.

In any case, Sada too would eventually be lured by the Crown Princess, sent to the desert, and die there.

All the effort I put into making desert costumes back then—not the point! What matters is that I save these two from the Crown Princess’s fishing pond.

Whatever magic that woman used, she had kept countless young men floundering in her net, using them as she pleased.

I still don’t know what the demonfolk are plotting in the palace, but…

Her goal was to steal these two fish away from that pond.

Sada smiled after hearing her words.

“Alright. I’ll do as you say, Aila.”

Seeing that smile, Aila shrank back.

Wow. He doesn’t believe me at all. Well, no wonder. I’ve had three years to build up my image, after all.

They had first met when she was seven. For three years she had been “Aing~ It’s Aila~.”

To erase that in one blow, she knew she needed something impactful.

Clothes alone aren’t enough.