Chapter 61
How long had it been since the gathering started?
A servant suddenly announced the arrival of a guest.
Even from a distance, his presence stood out instantly — striking features that drew every eye.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I was in sword practice.”
It was Rojian, the one who had brought Jaina here.
Judging by his slightly rough breathing, that claim wasn’t a lie.
He wasn’t wearing a formal uniform either, but a simple shirt. Still, that didn’t seem to be any problem for him.
His sudden appearance drew everyone’s attention, and the young ladies present couldn’t quite hide their excitement.
“Please don’t mind me,” said Jaina.
“How could I not? I’m the one who brought you here, after all,” replied Rojian.
Lady Néwin had already seen Rojian escort Jaina, but the other girls hadn’t — and their eyes widened in surprise.
“You brought Lady Jaina here yourself?”
“Does that mean you escorted her?”
Another girl, seemingly acquainted with Rojian aside from Elia, spoke up.
“So she’s hiding her family name… There must be more to her.”
They exchanged subtle glances.
Whatever her identity, it was clear from Elia’s firm attitude that Jaina was not someone to be trifled with.
“Once the party ends, I’ll escort her back myself,” Rojian said.
One of the curious young ladies spoke up.
“Lady Jaina, where do you live?”
Jaina hesitated for a moment but figured it wouldn’t hurt to share that much.
“I live in the Mage Tower.”
“The Mage Tower…?”
Another girl suddenly exclaimed, as if recalling something.
“Oh! Weren’t you the lady who attended the concert with the Tower Master?”
“Yes, I did attend with him.”
Murmurs spread instantly.
In the midst of the chatter, Jaina caught Rojian’s playful wink.
So, His Highness planned this.
“To think you went to a concert with the Tower Master—how amazing!”
“You used magic earlier, so you really are a mage from the Tower!”
“Tell us about the Tower Master! Is he really as powerful as the rumors say?”
“Are there really monsters living in the Tower?”
Questions poured in all at once.
Jaina smiled awkwardly but didn’t answer right away.
I can’t let them find out about my relationship with the Tower Master… I’ll just say I’m a mage who knows him a little.
She carefully sorted through what she could and couldn’t say.
As she hesitated, impatience began to spread among the ladies. One of them finally opened her mouth to press again—
“First, let me answer the question about monsters living in the Tower…”
Everyone leaned in closer.
Despite their worries, Jaina’s debut in high society ended up being a success.
After tea time ended, Rojian offered to take Jaina home and joined her in the carriage.
“Aren’t you busy? You didn’t have to go this far.”
“It’s not just about seeing you home. I’m happy to see you again after so long.”
Inside the carriage, even though it was spacious, the two of them sat close enough to feel the warmth between them.
Jaina glanced up at him, a strange feeling welling inside her.
She was now thirteen, and he was fifteen — just a two-year difference.
But aren’t girls usually taller at this age?
And yet Rojian’s shoulders had already broadened like an adult’s, and his height seemed nearly double hers.
Jaina stared up at him, and Rojian scratched his head sheepishly.
“Do I… smell like sweat or something?”
His hair was damp, suggesting he’d come straight from training. A couple of his shirt buttons were undone, revealing the line of his throat.
Jaina quickly looked down, her face flushing red.
He’s barely a boy anymore…
“Your Highness has grown a lot,” she said softly.
“Coming from my little lady, that’s quite something.”
Rojian grinned playfully at her.
He looked nothing like the expressionless young man she had seen just moments earlier.
For a second, he really looked like an adult… He’s gotten taller, and his voice is deeper now.
She thought his voice had already finished changing, but he said he still had a way to go.
Then when he’s grown, will it be even deeper?
She couldn’t help but wonder what he’d look like when he became a man.
“I want to show you how much my swordsmanship has improved,” Rojian said, eyes sparkling.
“But I can’t exactly drag you to training or ask you to watch me duel…”
It’s the first time I’ve seen him so confident.
In the novel The Sword of Vengeance, the story began after Elia’s death, so there wasn’t much detail about what Rojian had been like before.
Didn’t the book describe his hands as smooth, like they’d never held a sword?
Jaina’s gaze dropped to the sword at his waist.
Come to think of it, he’s been carrying one for about three years now… since he started training.
Whatever the case, it was clear the story had already diverged from the original novel.
“Ah, Jaina. You said you liked cotton candy last time, didn’t you?”
Jaina remembered that conversation—how Rojian had teased her, saying she liked things as sweet as she was.
When she smiled and nodded, he smirked and called to the driver.
The carriage stopped. Rojian stepped down first and held out his hand.
“Come on.”
As always, he offered his hand to help her down—his habit whenever they rode together.
Then, the two headed for a cotton candy stand nearby.
“What flavor do you like best, Jaina?”
“Hmm… I don’t really dislike any, so that’s a tough question.”
Her rare look of indecision made Rojian chuckle.
“I guess that was my fault for asking,” he said, amused.
He glanced at the stand.
“The vendor said they’re all the same flavor, just different colors. Is that true?”
“They taste a little different to me.”
From where he stood, he couldn’t read the flavor board clearly.
Seeing his slight frown, Jaina stepped forward and helped.
“There’s blue, pink, and yellow cotton candy.”
“Pink must be strawberry, and yellow… banana?”
“That’s right. Then what do you think blue is?”
“Hmm, let’s see…”
As they debated over cotton candy flavors, a group of large, rough-looking mercenaries swaggered into the shop.
“Why’s it so crowded in here?”
“Where’s that brat?”
They were clearly looking for someone.
“Mercenaries… in a cotton candy shop?”
“Doesn’t seem like they’re here for sweets.”
A memory flashed through Jaina’s mind—when she and Hilvenzia had once gone to buy cotton candy and ended up in a scuffle.
“Nyaang.”
Even Izren, the small creature following her, let out a warning cry, sensing danger.
Jaina leaned down and whispered reassuringly,
“Don’t worry. Maybe they’re just here for cotton candy. Just because they look scary doesn’t mean they don’t have a sweet tooth.”
But her hope was quickly crushed.
The mercenaries stopped—right in front of her.
“You. Are you the girl who messed with the Néwin heir and his sister? The one named Jaina?”
So even though His Highness deliberately mentioned the Mage Tower to avoid trouble, the Néwin girl must have left early and still thinks I’m just some lucky commoner. And now they’re making their move when I’m alone.
Jaina sighed softly.
It seemed she’d earned quite a grudge for humiliating two nobles from the same family.
They must think they can handle me quietly, even knowing I’m under Princess Elia’s protection.
There were more of them than before, and they all looked skilled — clearly handpicked for the job.
She glanced down at Izren.
He was watching closely, ready to transform and strike at the right moment.
Izren managed to beat that mercenary Dayton before, but there are too many this time…
If things got worse, she’d have to use magic.
She lifted her hand slightly, feeling the wind gather instantly at her call—too quickly.
The wind responds too strongly now. If I release it condensed, it could cause a huge explosion.
She quickly surveyed the bystanders.
Can I stop these men without hurting anyone else?
She wasn’t sure.
Maybe it’d be better to use dark magic to blind them and escape.
“Hey, kid. If you don’t wanna end up crippled, come quietly.”
“Heh, don’t worry—we’ll leave that pretty face intact.”
Even under their vile threats, Jaina didn’t flinch.
The mercenaries took that calmness as mockery and sneered.
“You don’t seem to understand your situation. You could disappear tonight and no one would ever find you, you know?”
“Seriously, what were you thinking, picking a fight with the Néwin family? Know your place, commoner.”
Then, beside her, Rojian stepped forward with a gentle smile.
“You said she doesn’t know her place?”
