***
As soon as training ended, I was led by Licia’s hand to bathe and prepare myself, then met the dress designer.
The designer welcomed me with several dresses hung on a rack.
“I was not sure what style would suit you, so I made several different styles. Please try them on.”
Each dress was luxurious and very beautiful.
“Since the dress code is sky blue, I designed them in shades of sky blue.”
The dresses the designer had ambitiously prepared were so dazzling that I might only get to wear something like them once in a lifetime.
The designer took out each dress one by one, dressed me in them, and added explanations.
Before I knew it, I had to participate in a kind of dress-up doll game.
Trying them on again and again left me extremely exhausted, both physically and mentally.
I wished it would end now.
It hadn’t even been long since lunch, but it felt like everything had already been digested.
“Oh my, it is already this time…”
Licia sent the designer away and pulled me up to my feet.
“My Lady, it is time for Countess Warren to arrive.”
“Already?”
“Yes, please get up quickly.”
Today, because of the dress fitting, the lesson schedule had been delayed by two hours.
I was led by Licia up to the fourth floor.
All lessons took place on the fourth floor, and the classroom where I received lessons was also there.
When I entered the place labeled ‘Etiquette Classroom, 4th Floor,’ Countess Warren was already there waiting.
“My Lady, have a good lesson.”
“Okay.”
The classroom door closed.
Countess Warren looked at me and asked.
“You look more tired than yesterday. Are you alright, my Lady?”
“I had a dress fitting.”
“I see. Then it is understandable that you are tired. But you still have to attend the lesson, right?”
“Yes.”
Since I had said I would work hard, I diligently followed the lesson.
These days, I had been relearning even how to walk.
As she said, her lessons weren’t easy.
It was like being made to repeat endlessly until I got it right.
If I made a mistake, I had to start over from the beginning.
Still, I devoted myself to the lessons.
Because I wanted to become a perfect noble lady.
The two-hour lesson completely drained me.
When I came out of the classroom after finishing, Licia was waiting.
“You have worked hard, my Lady. Shall we go have a snack?”
“What’s today’s snack?”
“I prepared pudding, your favorite.”
“Nice.”
With an excited face, I returned to my room with Licia and ate the pudding.
It was mango pudding.
The soft texture and sweet juice-filled flavor made it really delicious.
After eating the pudding, it felt like my tired body was recovering.
I ate three puddings and then had dinner properly as well.
After dinner, I brushed my teeth, changed into my pajamas, and lay down on the bed.
It felt like I had spent the day very productively.
Shiro fluttered over and lay down beside me.
And so, the night passed.
***
Invitations were delivered to the families of the Ducal House’s vassals.
They contained the news that a party would be held to celebrate the seventh birthday of the Young Lady, Ivelotte.
Those invited were children under the age of ten from each family, and their parents had to attend as guardians.
“Erika, this is an opportunity.”
Viscount Giller, who had received the invitation, held onto his only daughter Erika and earnestly urged her.
“No matter what, you must become friends with the Young Lady.”
“I do not want to.”
Erika was upset.
Though she wasn’t on the level of the Grand Duke’s direct line, among the vassals’ children, she possessed outstanding talent as a spirit summoner.
Usually, if there was a child with exceptional talent among the vassal families, the Ducal House would sometimes adopt them as a son or daughter and have them trained as a member of the House.
Erika believed that with her talent, the Ducal House would propose adopting her.
Because she had contracted a second spirit.
It was the highest-tier spirit among the vassals’ children.
The Grandis Empire was a country blessed by spirits, and anyone with talent could become a spirit summoner by forming a contract with a spirit through the Tower of Spirits.
The Tower of Spirits was a place where relics without owners were gathered.
Those who wished to become spirit summoners would pay an entrance fee to enter and form a contract with the spirit dwelling within a relic.
‘I contracted a high-tier spirit.’
Her father, Viscount Giller, had spent a great sum of money to buy her a ticket to the floor where one could contract a high-tier spirit.
In the Tower of Spirits, floors were divided by rank, and the higher the rank, the more expensive the entrance fee.
Living up to that, Erika had proudly contracted a high-tier spirit.
So she had always been confident.
That she would catch the Grand Duke’s eye and be adopted into his House.
That the day would come when she would call the eldest Young Master and the second Young Master ‘Brother,’ and call the Grand Duke ‘Father.’
But it all turned to nothing.
Because of the young lady who suddenly appeared.
She was around the same age as her, eight years old.
Her father had told her not to worry, saying that it was because of that girl that the Grand Duchess had died.
At first, Erika had felt sorry for Ivelotte.
She thought that if she became the Grand Duke’s adopted daughter, she would generously take care of that pitiful child.
But that thought didn’t last long.
“I’m sorry, Erika. It seems your adoption will be difficult.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Viscount Giller stirred up the vassals and repeatedly appealed to the Grand Duke, saying that his daughter Erika was talented.
That it wouldn’t be a bad idea to adopt her.
The Grand Duke received it positively and agreed to meet Erika.
In front of the Grand Duke, Erika fully displayed her talent as a spirit summoner.
“Not bad.”
The Grand Duke smiled at her.
That day, Erika was delighted, believing she had caught the Grand Duke’s eye.
So she couldn’t believe her father’s words.
“The Young Lady has contracted an ancient spirit.”
“An ancient spirit?”
“Yes. His Grace has sent her to the East Wing. I trust you understand what that means.”
The East Wing was a place built to educate the Grand Duke’s direct line.
For the Young Lady to enter that place meant that the Grand Duke had acknowledged her and permitted her to receive education as part of the direct line.
“Wasn’t that place supposed to be mine?”
Viscount Giller grabbed Erika by both shoulders.
“Don’t worry. Another opportunity will come.”
Her father said another opportunity would come, but Erika grew more anxious with each passing day.
And then, at that moment, the invitation arrived.
It seemed Viscount Giller saw it as an opportunity.
“You can’t just say you don’t want to. Erika, if you win over the Young Lady and bring her to our side, it will benefit you as well.”
“To our side?”
“Yes. If you become friends with the Young Lady, your position will become even more special. Then, naturally, you can grow closer not only to His Grace, but also to the Young Masters.”
Only then did Erika understand what Viscount Giller meant.
“I understand what you mean.”
“How admirable. Then, shall we go shopping?”
At those words, Erika beamed with a wide smile.
“I love it, I love you, Dad.”
“Of course, my daughter.”
***
Time passed, and the day of my birthday party arrived.
I had to wake up early in the morning and get ready because of Licia urging me on.
Licia brought the finished dress and showed it to me.
It was a soft sky-blue dress, with short sleeves suited for summer.
The voluminous hem was layered with lace, decorated with sapphires, and densely set with diamonds, making it resemble sparkling stars.
“Shall we try it on now?”
Above Licia’s head, the word [Excitement] was floating as she carried the dress.
She seemed truly excited to see me wearing it.
Licia helped me put on the dress and tied a ribbon around my waist.
Then she fixed my hair.
She tied my hair into two sections, rolled them up into round shapes, and secured them with white rose hairpins.
“You are so cute.”
Licia looked at me with sparkling eyes.
The reflection of me in the mirror looked undeniably cute to anyone.
[You’re really pretty.]
Shiro fluttered around me as he looked at me.
‘Why are you so free? Weren’t you supposed to look for a treasure?’
[You’re still too young for that. You’re weak right now, so it’s dangerous. Let’s find the treasure after you’ve grown a bit more.]
‘Is that really okay?’
[I’ve waited a thousand years, I can wait a bit longer than that.]
‘Alright then.’
While I was talking with Shiro, my hair was finished before I knew it.
“This is my gift.”
Licia opened the box she had brought and showed it to me.
Inside were a pair of beautiful red shoes reminiscent of roses.
