Episode 9
Snow was falling outside the window.
Even though it was December, it was the first time this winter that so much snow had accumulated that the green roof—symbol of the Benestra family—was completely covered in white.
Slurp.
I was leisurely sipping cocoa while sitting in a rocking chair when I was startled by a knock at the door and scalded my tongue.
“Ah, hot…”
Sophie, letting out a small sigh at my flustered reaction, handed me a glass of cold lemon tea.
“Thanks.”
As the cold water cooled my tongue, I finally felt a bit alive again.
“Come in.”
Sophie had good reflexes.
She turned her head toward the door, slightly ahead of me, as soon as the knock sounded.
Creak.
With permission granted, the door opened, revealing the familiar silhouette of a man.
“A letter has arrived for you, my lady.”
The figure in the doorway was Noah.
Sophie’s eyes naturally shifted to the invitation in his hand.
Sealed with wax bearing the image of a parrot, the envelope had a cobalt-blue color with a small drawing of a blue parrot.
“A letter from House Catherine.”
Sophie murmured as she stared at the invitation.
“…What?”
My complexion turned pale at those words.
“An invitation from the Count of Catherine,” she repeated, emphasizing the sender once more as she took the envelope and walked toward me.
“This will make it easier to open.”
Sophie handed me a letter opener along with the envelope, and I, still a bit dazed, carefully slit the top of the envelope.
Rustle—
Inside was a brown sheet of stationery.
Each character on the paper was written in a neat, elegant hand—clearly Noel’s.
‘She’s a scam-level perfect character, even her handwriting is pretty!’
Trying to calm my racing heart, I lowered my gaze and skimmed the letter.
<To the Esteemed Lady Benestra,>
Flowing handwriting like a stream.
A gentle tone that didn’t offend the reader.
Pressed flowers used as decoration here and there on the page.
I thought she might’ve had a bad first impression of me because of what happened at the weapons shop.
‘Looks like that wasn’t the case. Thank goodness.’
While I was reading with a silly grin on my face, Sophie gave me a strange look.
<Well then, I look forward to the tea party with you in three days.
P.S. My older brother would also like to meet you. If it’s not an imposition, would it be alright if he joins us for tea?>
“…What?”
As I read the last page, I was so startled by the unexpected mention of another character that I couldn’t help but shout.
Sophie, who had been looking out the window across from me, also jumped at the sudden noise.
‘Now there’s another unexpected variable.’
Noel had a brother?
That wasn’t in the original game!
Holding my head in my hands in deep thought, I unconsciously clenched the letter tightly.
‘Well… It might actually be less awkward to have a third person join us.’
Maybe this was a good thing.
Face planted into the letter, I let out a soft sigh.
“…Whew.”
After a few sighs, I carefully folded the letter and placed it on the desk, then turned to Sophie, who was picking up a dried flower that had fallen to the floor.
“Sophie, could you bring me some paper and a pen?”
I needed to write a reply first.
Soon after, Sophie returned with a few sheets of kraft paper similar to the one Noel had used and a quill pen, scattering a handful of dried flowers across the desk.
“…What is all this?”
I stared blankly at the massive pile, dumbfounded.
It was like a mountain of flowers—an actual flower graveyard.
“Apparently, it’s trendy among young ladies to decorate their letters with flowers these days.”
Sophie said this with a rather proud expression.
“Ah.”
So that’s why Noel’s letter was covered in pressed flowers.
‘Wow… I’m really out of the loop.’
I had just assumed Noel was good with her hands and decorated the letter herself—I had no idea it was the current trend.
“They say the closer or more cherished the person, the more beautifully they decorate the letter.”
Oh-ho, is that so?
With determination burning in my eyes, I clenched both fists.
This was exactly my specialty.
A quiet room bathed in crimson sunset.
The soft breeze flowing through a slightly open window gently tousled my blonde hair.
Crumpled paper full of my struggle cluttered the desk, rolling here and there in the wind.
How many times had I rewritten the letter because I didn’t like the handwriting, the ink smudged, or I made the tiniest spelling mistake?
Sophie even secretly offered to ghostwrite it for me, moved by my pitiful persistence—but I firmly refused. That would’ve rendered all my efforts meaningless.
Anyway, I didn’t give up and kept trying, and somehow, I finally finished.
Setting down the quill after writing the final word, I lifted the letter with a satisfied expression.
“…Done!”
<I too am really looking forward to meeting you and your brother.>
Mmm. Whoever wrote this, they did a great job.
Stretching my arms with pride, I smiled in satisfaction.
“Finished writing? Then I’ll—”
“Ah, wait!”
Snatching the letter back from Sophie’s hands, I scribbled a small message in the corner of the envelope.
‘Better include this just in case.’
<I recommend reading this letter outdoors.>
Perfect.
“This should do. Could you send it now?”
“No flowers on the envelope?”
Sophie looked worriedly at the plain envelope.
“It’s fine.”
“If you say so, miss…”
Sophie still looked a bit unsure.
I gave her a bright smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.”
With my confident tone, Sophie finally nodded in relief.
“Then I’ll go send it right away.”
“Young lady, a letter from the Benestra household has arrived.”
A crystal-clear sky with not a cloud in sight.
Sitting in the center of a glass greenhouse, where the sky looked the bluest, a young woman stopped her embroidery.
“A letter?”
“It seems to be a reply to the letter you sent to Lady Benestra a few days ago.”
Thud.
As she rose, the rattan basket on the table toppled over, and all the colorful fabrics inside scattered in every direction.
“Are you alright?”
The maid, who rushed over to lift the basket and gather the scattered fabric pieces, also handed her a letter she had kept carefully tucked in her clothes.
“…Ah, I’m fine. Thank you.”
With trembling hands, Noel managed to grasp the letter.
A deep green envelope.
It was undoubtedly the reply she had been desperately waiting for.
<To the Esteemed Miss Noel Catherine,>
“Esteemed…”
Her voice trembled like a bird’s chirp.
She was the first friend Noel had made since arriving here.
And not just anyone—but the reigning queen of high society, whom all the young ladies were desperate to befriend.
And yet—
“She called me esteemed…”
The maid watching Noel could only stare in confusion.
‘Was the young lady always like this?’
Well. If it made her happy, it was fine.
Noel gazed at the letter as if it were a treasure, and finally, with a determined look, she carefully opened the envelope.
<I recommend reading this letter outdoors.>
What on earth was inside to warrant that suggestion?
Noel’s heart fluttered with anticipation.
Slide—
The green satin ribbon wrapped around the envelope slid off smoothly with her delicate touch.
And then, a transparent, spring-like pink hue burst out like sunlight.
“…Wow.”
Her lips, which had been pressed together, parted slightly as a joyful exclamation escaped.
Covering her mouth with both hands, Noel whispered softly.
It almost sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
“…It’s so beautiful.”
Countless pink petals rained down around her feet.
Like a shower of flowers.
The maid who had returned stood speechless beside her, also mesmerized by the breathtaking scene.
“…A magic scroll.”
A single magic scroll cost as much as three months of living expenses for a middle-class family. Not only was it hard to find, but unless you were a high-ranking noble like the young lady, you couldn’t even buy one.
In short—Yuria had splurged a fortune on Noel, someone she had only met once.
“…Betty.”
“Yes?”
Buried in the whirlwind of falling petals, Noel murmured blankly.
“I think Lady Yuria must really like me.”
{System: ‘Noel Catherine’s favorability has increased by +8.
Current favorability: 13.}
Noel’s light brown eyes sparkled like a child discovering a gem.
