CHAPTER 77………………..
Denero Duke’s expression said he didn’t believe me at all.
“People don’t change that easily. Their spending habits are the same.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
He ignored my words and continued.
“Besides, hasn’t the war just ended?”
His gaze flickered with something sharp.
“It ended sooner than expected, though.”
Yes, far too soon, in fact.
‘This isn’t how it went in the original story.’
I was still utterly bewildered. Perhaps he saw something in my expression, because the Duke spoke again.
“Didn’t you develop those airplanes and ships for more than just trade?”
The Duke bared his teeth in a grin.
“Now’s the time to strike while the iron’s hot.”
“……You’re right.”
Though, I worried it might mean rowing through a sea of blood Lennox had created.
“That’s why you’ll attend the upcoming victory banquet in my stead.”
The victory banquet meant an imperial banquet. Since I’d rejected the Emperor’s proposal for fighter development, I’d been cast out of his good graces. Society had been out of the question ever since.
‘Not that I had the time or energy to dream of it anyway, what with being buried in debt.’
Still, the old man was basically arranging the perfect stage to launch a new business.
“This is this old man’s last wish, so you’d better go.”
“…You know that’s unfair, right? You’re making it impossible for me to refuse.”
For some reason, my chest ached.
‘Even while sick, he still makes sure to look after me.’
When the Duke saw my face, he grimaced as though disgusted.
“Don’t look so pitiful—get out of my sight.”
“Ugh, really.”
He always knew how to ruin the mood.
Sighing, I stood to leave, but before going I told him,
“I don’t want you to send me just as your proxy. I want to attend as your partner, so please, get better soon.”
When I returned to the count’s estate, I wasn’t empty-handed.
‘I thought I’d been caught.’
My heart still raced.
Trying to swap the medicine right in front of him—it had felt like my heart might leap out of my chest.
“Julia.”
“Yes.”
“Send this to Headmaster Dellerno.”
I handed Julia an envelope containing the medicine.
Once she left my study, I thought back to the physician who’d joined five years ago.
‘His name was Jacques Lorenzo, wasn’t it?’
He was the second son of Baron Lorenzo, a southern noble long allied with the Denero family.
Coincidentally—or not—the Duke’s health had declined right after Luce Cornel retired and this new physician entered the Duke’s household.
‘And in the original, the Duke didn’t die until much later.’
I’d only remembered this a week ago.
Ever since realizing it, I couldn’t shake my suspicions about his medicine.
‘I hope the results come out soon.’
But medical research in this world wasn’t advanced. The analysis would take quite a while.
“Any letters today?”
“None, my lady.”
Julia shook her head. The fact that not a single debutante invitation had come for Melin made me sigh.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I’d have at least built connections with the military aristocrats…’
I only now realized the importance of connections.
I’d been too busy scrambling to pay off thirty million in debt to foresee this situation.
The few friends I had belonged to houses that didn’t host balls—families devoted only to martial or scholarly pursuits.
‘Ugh, this is driving me crazy.’
Melin smiled brightly, saying it was fine, but inside I was burning with worry.
I myself had never attended a debutante ball.
I used the Emperor’s disfavor as an excuse, but truthfully, I’d just been too busy.
The Duke’s circle had sent me invitations before, but I never went.
Better to use the money for a dress to pay debts—balls were a luxury.
‘For me, it didn’t matter much.’
But Melin was different.
There’s a big difference between refusing an experience and being denied it.
‘I want Melin to experience as much as possible.’
The debutante ball was a once-in-a-lifetime ritual, available only between ages 18 and 25.
Even if it became a bad memory, wasn’t it better to try than regret never doing it?
“What should I do? Should I… bribe someone?”
“What’s a bribe?”
“Paying money under the table.”
But bribing for a debut invitation would be disgraceful.
If word spread that I paid for an invitation, it would mean ridicule at best, scandal at worst.
Just then, Julia brought a letter.
One look at the seal, and I knew.
“It’s a ball invitation!”
The recipient was Melin Jacqueline. I jumped up, tore it open, and read without even asking her permission.
It was indeed an invitation—but the reason was unusual.
The host wanted to thank her.
“Baroness Camela?”
The sender’s name felt oddly familiar.
As I puzzled over it, Mion sighed impatiently beside me.
“Julia, Agathe, could you two step out?”
Once they left, it was just me and Mion.
He immediately transformed into human form. I couldn’t help marveling.
“Wow, still not used to seeing this.”
Now that both Melin and Mion were adults, Mion looked like a wild, striking young man.
His long, white hair cascaded to his waist.
“Are you really the little brat Mion I knew?”
“Tch.”
He snorted and frowned. Glancing at the letter, he said,
“Danica Camela. She was one of those Ruspina bullies.”
His memory was sharp, befitting a divine beast.
“So the gratitude is about that incident?”
“Seems so.”
Yawning, he slouched into my chair, propping his chin on one hand and staring at me.
“What? Want me to entertain you?”
“No. I just… can’t read it.”
“Can’t read what?”
Mion frowned, as if something unsettled him.
“It feels… off.”
“Yeah. I’m a strange person.”
I nodded and tucked the letter safely away.
Whatever Mion sensed, it didn’t matter to me right now. What mattered was that I had an invitation for Melin.
“I need to tell her right away.”
How happy she would be!
My heart pounded with anticipation.
A little later, Melin returned with Trisha’s desserts. When I shared the news, she literally jumped with joy.
“Sis, is this real?”
“Yep! Let’s hurry and pick out what you’ll wear!”
“Great! I’ll pick something for you too!”
“For me? Why?”
I blinked at her, puzzled. She tilted her head.
“Aren’t you coming too?”
“Me?”
“Of course! You haven’t had your debut either!”
Well… that was true.
‘I just never felt the need.’
I was nearly twenty-five—the very last year I could still debut. A latecomer, basically.
“I… want to go with you.”
Melin clasped her hands behind her back, watching me carefully.
“Is it impossible?”
“Actually… I might have to attend a different ball that day.”
Unfortunately, the Camela family’s ball overlapped with the imperial banquet.
‘But it’s the Duke’s arrangement.’
It was an opportunity he’d prepared for me. I couldn’t dismiss it.
When I explained, Melin squealed with delight.
“Eeee! That’s amazing, sis!”
She grabbed my hands, eyes sparkling.
“An imperial banquet is so hard to get into! That’s incredible! So, do you have a partner yet?”
Her violet eyes gleamed with excitement. The question froze me.
‘Who… would I even go with?’
At imperial debutante balls, having a partner was mandatory.
“What about Ren?”
“Re-Ren?”
At the name, I realized something even bigger I’d forgotten.
Launching the new business—none of it would work if Lennox regained his memories.
The thought of him returned, and a deep crease formed on my brow.
‘Should I even attend this banquet at all?’
In the original story, Lennox had turned that very banquet into a bloodbath, seizing Seriel in an instant.
Unconsciously, I swallowed hard.
