IAMFMFL CH 09

A few days later.

Rain had been pouring since the morning, and even the carpet beneath my shoes felt damp.

I picked up the letter neatly placed on the table in my room. The envelope was smooth and unwrinkled, stamped with a seal bearing a rough-feathered eagle.

“What is this?”

At my question, Daisy, who had been bringing in tea, answered.

“Oh, that letter is for you, miss. It was sent by someone named Caron from the Entera family. Do you know them?”

“Caron Entera?”

It sounded vaguely familiar, yet not quite. I immediately broke the seal and opened the envelope.

This was only the second time I had received a letter for personal reasons.

Coincidentally, the first letter I had ever received was when I was thirteen, an invitation to enroll in the Imperial Academy, something every noble child received. Aside from that, not a single letter addressed to Katrina Ezelrot had ever arrived. My personal social life had always been bleak.

“To Lady Katrina Ezelrot…”

I calmly read through the contents. At the same time, I remembered that Caron Entera was the girl I had met when I followed Lockhard.

I had thought of her as nothing more than a pretty illegitimate child, but Caron’s handwriting was as elegant and smooth as Eden’s. More importantly, there were no difficult words, and it was very easy to read. It wasn’t the pretentious, overly embellished style nobles often used to appear impressive.

Hmm. It must be because she hadn’t received formal etiquette education.

“What does it say? It’s the first time a letter has come for you, miss, so I’m nervous myself.”

After carefully reading the final period, I folded the letter.

Somehow… it felt like a dream.

“She invited me.”

“Oh my! Really? A tea party at the Entera ducal house? You, miss?”

For some reason, Daisy looked even more dreamlike than I felt. No, it was more like she was swimming in that dream.

“But I didn’t know Duke Entera had a daughter… I thought he only had two sons.”

“You’re right. Caron isn’t the duchess’s biological child. And this letter isn’t a tea party invitation either. She invited only me.”

It was truly an opportunity granted by the heavens. It had already been three days since I regained memories of my past life. At last, a stage had appeared where I could put my carefully practiced social etiquette to use. Even if that stage was nothing more than a small reception room!

To achieve great things, one must climb step by step from the smallest stair. Starting with a one-on-one tea meeting with Caron, I would build a bright future for the new Katrina!

“Mm, good. I’m glad I told her my name that day.”

“Won’t the countess be upset?”

“Mother?”

“She’s always worried about your social life, miss. Even if it’s the ducal family, if the girl is illegitimate…”

Daisy’s clear face was filled with concern.

In response, I imagined myself telling Mother, “I received an invitation from an illegitimate child.” But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t picture it convincingly. After all, being invited by someone was something that had never happened to me before.

“Well… she’s not the kind of person to be upset over something like this.”

Probably.

A part of me believed she wouldn’t be, but just in case, it seemed safer to ask for permission on the morning of the visit.

And if she refused… well, I’d just sneak out.

The first day of Operation: Make a Female Friend had dawned.

It was the moment I had been eagerly anticipating, my heart pounding, after barely sleeping for two days. Ever since receiving the letter and deciding to visit Entera, the image of me sitting with Caron, laughing together, had replayed dozens of times in my mind.

“Hasn’t Lockhard returned today either?”

“The second young master returned late at dawn. I heard he plans to rest today.”

It was the answer I had been waiting for. Considering that Lockhard had returned after four days, there was a high chance that Pansion had also returned to Entera.

Good. Then today’s goal was to become ordinary friends with Caron while secretly catching a glimpse of Sir Pansion at Entera Castle.

I didn’t need anything else, just to see his face. No, maybe a bit more… at least his upper body. At this point, it was less necessity and more stubborn determination. Today, I would definitely see Sir Pansion!

The more I thought about it, the more fortunate it felt that I had followed Lockhard that day. Even if Lockhard himself hadn’t returned to the castle for days due to work.

I was too nervous to check how my hair had been styled or how well my dress suited me. I headed straight to Mother’s room just as Daisy had prepared me.

And boldly declared that I was going to meet Caron Entera of the ducal house!

“So, Kate, are you saying you’re going to Entera Castle dressed like that?”

Surprisingly, Mother’s response was beyond anything I had expected.

I blinked and looked down at my dress in confusion, then raised my arm to feel around my forehead and the top of my head.

“It looks fine, doesn’t it? Daisy said I looked as pretty as a fairy.”

“That girl Daisy—has she ever assisted a lady in high society? Your mistress has no friends and lives like a potted plant in her room. Why would she need to keep up with trends? What you’re wearing went out of fashion seven years ago. These days, girls try to pile as much as possible on their heads, but all you have is a butterfly-shaped sapphire and some gold ornaments.”

It was such a painfully accurate critique that it made my stomach ache. The worse part was that none of it was wrong.

Sorry, Daisy… for making you serve a friendless lady.

“Well… it’s not entirely bad. You said this Caron Entera girl is an outsider?”

By outsider, she must mean illegitimate. I hesitated before nodding.

“Yes.”

“Then there’s no need to adorn yourself excessively. If she’s not treated well, your current appearance may be better. That’s enough. Don’t try anything unnecessary and ruin it further. Just go as you are. When you return, we’ll have dresses and jewelry made.”

Mother’s permission was granted.

Rather than feeling overjoyed, I felt strangely dazed. She had spoken as if I would be looked down on, then suddenly told me to just go. It made me wonder if it was really alright.

But if I didn’t go, who knew when I’d get another chance? I stood politely and bowed.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“I’m not expecting perfect manners, so just behave as you are. And don’t come back after causing trouble.”

The moment I closed the door, I skipped lightly out of the castle. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t risk ruining my hair and dress.

Daisy clasped her hands as she watched me climb into the carriage, her eyes brimming with emotion.

“Oh my, our lady is going out to meet a friend… Am I dreaming?”

“Stop it and go inside already. You’re embarrassing me.”

But Daisy, who had endured nearly seven years by my side, was the type who only saw and heard what she wanted.

“I’ll bake warm scones for when you return! No, wait… you’ll eat plenty of delicious desserts there, so don’t even look at scones! I’ll leave them to go cold, so don’t even think about eating them when you come back!”

Anyone would think I was leaving to study abroad in a distant land.

I banged on the carriage wall irritably.

“Please just get this carriage moving!”

The Entera ducal house, along with the Ezelrot count’s family, governed the eastern region of the empire.

As expected of a family with deep roots, it carried a conservative atmosphere. Unlike most noble houses, where the eldest child inherited regardless of gender, only the eldest son could become the head of the Entera family.

That wasn’t the only distinctive trait of the Entera house.

As I passed through Entera Castle, I realized something new: the castle was as grand and classical as the imperial palace itself.

“My apologies, Lady Ezelrot. Lady Caron has not yet finished preparing.”

And now I realized something else. There was clearly a problem, either with the Entera household… or with Caron.

“She’s still not ready?”

I lifted my chin, unable to hide my irritation. I had carefully timed my arrival to be neither early nor late, even urging the coachman along. All that effort had been for nothing.

“Yes… I have no excuse. I sincerely apologize.”

The issue wasn’t just that she was late.

Just as Nezar would, I narrowed my eyes and examined the maid bowing before me.

It was hard to tell whether Caron herself was being slow, or if she was being mistreated by the staff. It felt more like the latter.

“Well… it can’t be helped. Where should I wait?”

“I will escort you to the reception room immediately.”

I shook my head. The weather was nice; there was no need to stay indoors.

“I’d like to look around the garden in front of the castle. Is that alright?”

The scent of chrysanthemums I had noticed on the way in still lingered in the air. Most castles designed their gardens for spring or summer, but like Ezelrot, this place seemed to be at its most fragrant in autumn.

Fortunately, the maid did not refuse. Leaving behind the preparations for tea, I stepped into the simple yet elegant chrysanthemum garden. Experiencing its deep fragrance firsthand made my head feel light.

Crunch.

At that moment, I heard footsteps not too far away.

At first, I thought it might be a maid, but the sound was steady and unhurried, carrying a certain weight. It didn’t seem like a servant.

Since I had heard them, they must have noticed me as well.

Thinking so, I lingered near the edge of the garden, and soon, someone appeared where I stood.

A man I had not expected at all.

“…Baby’s breath?”

At his words, I flinched and looked down beneath my chest. It was an instinctive reaction, searching for the baby’s breath that had been in the vase.

Of course, I had come out empty-handed, so there was nothing there. My hands and chest were completely empty.

“You’re the one I saw at the imperial palace. Who are you?”

His voice was even lower and darker than Nezar’s, like something crawling through the depths of late dawn.

I stared blankly at his deep violet eyes. He stood only four steps away, close enough that I could clearly see the small black mole beneath his eye.

“I am…”

Only then did I realize.

This man was Pansion Entera.

Sir Pansion was right in front of me!

My heart pounded wildly, like a child caught stealing. Even though I had seen his face just days ago, it felt entirely new.

A face shaped by soft, refined lines. Skin neither too pale nor too dark. Long, sharp eyes and a solid build.

Now that I looked closely, he resembled Caron in more ways than one. The violet eyes, like violets themselves. The gentle scent of autumn sunlight. Even if their features differed, the aura they gave off was strikingly similar.

No wonder he was adored by noblewomen. Pansion was the very embodiment of a true knight, someone who made Lockhard seem insignificant by comparison.

“I am… Lady Caron Entera’s…”