Chapter 77
The main star of the party was the class president — the one everyone in class adored.
— “Those balloons are so cute! Are all these flowers real?”
The house, decorated lavishly for the occasion, was dazzling from the entrance onward.
The children gasped in awe as they looked around.
— “Wow, isn’t the table going to break with all this food?”
— “Your mom and dad are amazing!”
They had even rented a bus so the entire class could come, and the food was said to be prepared by a famous chef.
Amidst all the laughter and chatter, there was one thing Min Boba (Jayna’s past-life name) really wanted to ask but didn’t hear anyone mention.
Eventually, gathering her courage, she quietly approached the class president.
— “It’s a weekday, but your parents are both here.”
— “Yeah. They’re both really busy, but they took the day off for me.”
Having parents who would go that far to make sure their child felt loved…
That, more than the extravagant birthday party itself, was what made Min Boba envious.
Maybe that’s why the class president’s smile always seemed so radiant — the kind that bloomed like a flower.
The warmth of being loved by her parents showed in every gesture,
something that Min Boba could never find within herself.
At least, that’s what she thought back then—
“Jayna, you know, ever since I came to the Mage Tower, I’ve finally been able to relax.”
Marilyn approached Jayna, who was standing on the terrace, and spoke softly.
“You’ve never once talked about your parents. I always wondered how you ended up here, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.”
“……”
“But seeing Hilbenzia, the one who prepared your party today, and your brother… I felt relieved. You really do seem to be loved.”
Jayna blinked. She hadn’t expected to hear something like that.
“Hehe, this big sister worries about you, you know.”
Jayna recalled the wish she’d made earlier when she blew out the candles.
Even when her friends pestered her to tell them, she had refused to say it.
Because it wasn’t something one could easily put into words.
— Please, when I die, don’t let others grieve for too long.
Now that she was finally starting to understand what happiness felt like…
“Marilyn.”
“Mm? What is it?”
“……Nothing.”
Maybe she was just starting to fear death a little.
“Your debutante ball is coming up. Aren’t you nervous? I’ve lost weight even without dieting — I’m so tense I can’t eat!”
Marilyn, chattering nonstop inside the carriage on the way to get their dresses fitted, was visibly anxious.
“How do I find a dress that highlights my charm without standing out too much?”
“Hmm. That’s a tough one.”
“You have to make an impression at the debutante ball. Otherwise, the rest of your social life will be miserable.”
Although the timeline wasn’t exact, Jayna knew that in the original story, she would die at seventeen.
As that date loomed closer and clearer each day, she had already accepted her fate.
Still, she planned to do her best for the debutante ball.
— How important social standing is to nobles…
Everyone around her wished that she would make her debut successfully — just like any other noble lady.
And Jayna herself wanted to live normally, to enjoy a few small luxuries before she died.
So she would have no regrets, no matter when death came.
The debutante ball was the event where unmarried noble ladies presented themselves before the Emperor.
Only after this debut could they be considered eligible for courtship —
so in essence, the debutante ball was a declaration that one was entering the “marriage war.”
Being at the center of high society meant having a higher chance of meeting a good husband.
And although, thanks to Princess Ellia, more women were entering the workforce as mages, knights, and officials,
for most women, marriage still decided their entire future.
Titles were inherited primarily by firstborn sons, after all.
“Princess Ellia sent us here on her behalf.”
For Jayna’s debutante, Princess Ellia had sent her own attendants to help.
Normally, one would simply go to a dress shop and pick something suitable,
but the debutante ball was special.
The latest fashion trends of high society weren’t something common designers could easily keep up with.
Of course, the shop’s designer would help — but Ellia’s attendants were on another level.
All of them were noble ladies from prestigious families, skilled and experienced in such matters.
“White should be the base — she’s an unmarried lady, after all.”
“Nothing too extravagant, but it shouldn’t be plain either.”
“We should start with the choice of fabric.”
The attendants discussed ideas with the designer in deep concentration,
then turned to Jayna for the final confirmation.
“How about this one, Lady Jayna?”
“Yes… I like it too.”
It was a pure white dress with elegant lace in the latest pattern and off-shoulder design.
Delicate, flawless, and graceful — the very image of refinement.
The designer even staked her reputation on it: “No one could find fault with this gown.”
And thus, Jayna’s debutante dress was decided.
If the debutante ball was the most important event for young noble ladies,
then for noblemen, it was the Swordsmanship Tournament.
After the Demon King War and the series of foreign conflicts that followed, martial strength had become paramount.
“It’s nice to come out together like this.”
Normally, tickets to the tournament were hard to get,
but thanks to Ellia, Jayna had excellent seats.
The sky was clear and blue, the sun blazing overhead,
and beneath it, young men were sweating and training hard.
“Hyaa!”
“Haah!”
Knights, mercenaries, and even a few green youths who had barely touched a sword —
the tournament drew all sorts.
Winning meant great honor, so competition was fierce.
“I must thank Princess Ellia for these seats.”
Ellia, celebrated as a hero herself, wasn’t competing,
but she would present the awards in the Emperor’s stead.
“Until the ceremony begins, I’ll watch the matches with you.”
The knights and mercenaries in the arena had broad shoulders, sturdy thighs, and powerful builds.
Unlike the frail noble youths, their gazes gleamed with razor-edged intensity.
“They’re amazing…”
As the contestants stretched and warmed up, the young noble ladies blushed.
But even among these rugged men, none could compare to Ellia.
Every girl envied Jayna, who sat right beside her, basking in the princess’s attention.
“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
Ellia, dressed in her commander’s uniform, had her long golden hair tied up high.
Her sharp jawline made it clear where Rozian got his beauty from —
she herself looked like a finely honed blade.
“You have an eyelash on your cheek.”
When Ellia brushed Jayna’s face with her long, graceful fingers,
a collective sigh rippled through the stands.
“Oh my…”
“Princess Ellia is stunning as always…”
Women knights idolized her,
and even men who found most female warriors intimidating were drawn to her strength.
“Who is that girl receiving Princess Ellia’s affection?”
“Ah, if only that hand were touching my cheek…”
As time passed, the tournament finally began.
Since Jayna didn’t know much about swordsmanship,
Ellia proposed a bet instead of giving long explanations.
“I think the knight on the right will win.”
“Then I’ll bet on the one on the left.”
Their swords clashed — clang! clang! —
and after a few evenly matched exchanges, the right-side knight emerged victorious.
“Then it’s my turn to choose first.”
But Jayna’s pick was wrong again.
“I can’t beat you, Princess. I thought the mercenary would win because of his size…”
Ellia smiled faintly and explained,
“When he entered, I saw it in his steps — he hasn’t trained properly.
Brute strength alone won’t win a match.”
Her explanation was smooth and precise,
and thanks to her easy tone, Jayna soon began to predict winners correctly.
“You won this round. Congratulations.”
After a while, Jayna found herself drawn to one particular knight.
Lize Benchert.
‘That’s a name I’ve never heard before.’
The spectators murmured in confusion — they didn’t know which noble house “Benchert” belonged to.
No one would use a fake name in such a prestigious tournament, so why did it sound so unfamiliar?
Clang!
“Lize Benchert — victory!”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear and crisp like the wind.
Jayna found herself replaying his words in her mind — until Ellia’s voice startled her.
“Are you interested in that knight? You’ve been watching him for a while.”
“I don’t really know swordsmanship, but… I feel like he hasn’t shown his full strength yet.”
There was something mysterious about him — not just his name, but also his appearance.
“Covering his face with a mask — that’s unheard of.”
“And yet he’s still allowed to compete?”
“Well, it’s a strictly managed tournament, so I suppose it’s allowed.
If his face isn’t known, it’s only his loss.”
Jayna listened quietly, but soon the conversation took a strange turn.
“I bet he’s handsome under that mask.”
“How can you tell?”
“His voice! A voice like that has to belong to someone handsome!”
“…That’s nonsense.”
“If a man with a voice that good turned out ugly, every girl here would weep blood!”
Jayna suddenly wondered — maybe she’d been watching him because she liked his voice, too.
“…Hmm.”
Ellia looked at her with an oddly pleased smile —
but Jayna didn’t notice.
“Oh, there’s Izren.”
Jayna had her own favorite competitor — Izren Danarod.
Even while serving as her guard, he never neglected his training,
and thanks to his time in the Mage Tower, his sword aura control was excellent.
His skills had long surpassed that of an average knight,
and talk had begun that he might soon retire from her guard post.
Now that he’d made it to the tournament finals, it was a spectacular debut.
Clang!
“Izren Danarod — victory!”
