Chapter 34
After the debutante ball, the Duke’s mansion became noticeably more relaxed.
To be precise, everyone except me became more relaxed.
The Duke had gone on a business trip, and Noah was off to the Magic Tower for his lessons…
So I was the only one left for the employees to fuss over.
Damn it. Then I’m the only one who’s busy!
Why is it that everyone else has free time except me?
“This is so unfair.”
Feeling oddly defeated, I clutched my head and slammed it onto the desk.
How strange. Just a moment ago, I was dancing with Roan…
Why am I holding paperwork now?
I dazedly flipped through the innocent documents in my hand.
That’s when I noticed the pile of letters stacked in the distance.
Of course. The moment the debutante ended, everyone who wanted ties with House Agrinda came flooding in.
When am I supposed to read and reply to all of those—and stamp all these documents too?
“…Ugh.”
Just as I was sighing in despair like the earth was about to collapse—
Knock knock.
“My lady, it’s Annie.”
A calm voice pierced through my overwhelmed mind.
“Come in.”
I shot up quickly, worried Annie might scold me, and welcomed her.
In Annie’s hand was a letter.
Another one?
“What is it, Annie?”
I forced a smile, trying to suppress the nausea.
Annie opened the envelope and handed me the letter.
“A message from the master. You should read it right away.”
“From Father?”
What’s the Duke writing about during his trip?
I narrowed my eyes and began to read the letter.
It started lightly, expressing his love for me and giving updates on his well-being.
He described the local specialties of the village he was in, emphasizing how well he was doing.
But around the middle of the letter, the real topic came up.
“Noah’s birthday is coming up soon. Did you know?”
Thud.
It felt like someone had smacked the back of my head. It started to sting.
What? Noah’s birthday?
“…!”
I stopped reading and yanked open the desk drawer, pulling out Noah’s personal file.
Beneath the name of that cursed orphanage, one line caught my eye.
Sure enough—it really was Noah’s birthday in about a week!
“This is crazy… I can’t believe it.”
How could I forget such a major event?
Especially when his birthday isn’t any different from what it was in the original story!
With trembling hands, I resumed reading the Duke’s letter.
“As his father, thinking of Noah’s future, I plan to get him a new magic orb.”
No! He already took the best gift option!
I threw aside the stack of documents and stood up.
There’s no time for this.
I can’t pour all my time into these pointless papers.
I haven’t even started planning his party, let alone picked out a present!
“Annie. Let’s go. Now!”
We rushed to a bustling shopping district, but unsurprisingly, it was impossible to find anything satisfactory.
We checked Brioche first, then visited a jeweler, and even stopped by a weapons shop that sold magic gear.
But the more desperate you are, the more your vision narrows.
I pulled at my hair and sat down.
“There’s nothing.”
Ugh, I just can’t think of a gift that would beat the Duke’s!
But I refuse to give up. My pride won’t allow it.
This was Noah’s first birthday since moving into the Duke’s mansion.
There’s no way I’m giving him the most lackluster, half-hearted present of the day.
My inner fangirl just wouldn’t allow it!
How long did I sit there agonizing over it?
“My lady, we need to return before sunset. That’s when the young master usually comes home.”
“…”
“If he catches you shopping for a gift, it’ll ruin the surprise.”
Annie, unable to watch me suffer any longer, spoke gently.
“The biggest part of a gift is the curiosity and excitement it brings.”
She was right.
That’s how much I wanted to give Noah something truly special.
I steadied my scattered thoughts and tried again.
Okay, let’s consider his age first.
If I think it through step by step, something will come to mind.
“What about a bookmark? He’ll need one when he starts at the academy.”
“That’s a good idea. Maybe even a brooch to pin to his school tie?”
Annie chimed in eagerly.
“If you think about what kind of gifts you received at his age, it’ll help narrow it down.”
Great idea!
Let’s see… what did Rosent get when she was around ten?
I thought back to her past in detail.
Then I remembered—colorful ink and a new wax seal.
The coral-shaped seal looked like it was blooming underwater, with little air bubbles.
And the sparkling ink looked like it had gemstone dust mixed in.
Come to think of it, that kind of gift is similar in function to what Noah would use.
Was that also from the Duke?
“Maybe I should get him something futuristic too…”
Something practical, but with long-lasting form.
Or something that could become a goal or motivation for Noah.
I was muttering to myself, pacing around the street when—
“Agrinda Lady?”
A soft voice tickled my ear.
A gentle, pleasant tone.
“Countess Edren.”
It was Kali, Eastern’s sister.
She smiled, her light gray eyes gleaming elegantly.
Her pale cheeks were slightly flushed, and her blonde hair was neatly pinned up.
If a saintess from a fairytale existed, she’d look just like this.
For a moment, I stared in awe, thinking childishly.
Did House Rosoterban save a country in their past life? Everyone in their family is gorgeous.
“What brings you out today, my lady?”
Kali steered the conversation into small talk.
“I’m shopping for my younger brother’s birthday. How about you?”
I smiled brightly, willingly following her lead.
But then she said:
“I just came out to take my daughter to Brioche for a bit.”
Daughter? Did she say daughter?
Wait. She only has one daughter.
I stiffly turned my neck to look at Kali’s right hand.
“Hello, Lady Agrinda.”
A new voice reached me.
“I’m Honey.”
Honey Edren.
Of course I know you. How could I not?
Ugh.
The heroine of the novel. The girl who would lead Noah to misery.
The very person I most wanted to avoid.
“My mother told me how beautiful you are. And you really are! Hehe…”
Honey smiled sweetly, blushing.
She was obviously a child raised with love—so cute and lovable.
I was briefly charmed by her adorableness, then suddenly clutched the hem of my dress.
She was the heroine I used to love when reading the book…
“I’m happy to meet you too, Lady Edren.”
But somehow, I couldn’t lift the corners of my mouth.
It wasn’t joy—it was fear.
The fear that she might meet Noah and the novel would repeat itself.
Calm down.
She’s still just a kid.
The story doesn’t start until Noah and Honey enter the academy together.
So nothing’s begun yet. It’s fine.
I forced a cheerful smile and asked Honey,
“Brioche is famous for its peach pudding. Are you going for that, little lady?”
“No, unfortunately the pudding is only a summer item… But Honey really loves their cheesecake.”
Kali answered on her behalf.
“She’s been eating well lately without being picky, so I wanted to reward her.”
“Oh my, that’s such a sweet idea.”
I replied in a flat tone.
Good. If I just slowly back out of this…
But then—
“Let’s go together!”
A small hand gently tugged at my dress.
“Lady Agrinda, please come have cake with us! Please?”
It was Honey’s adorably pleading request, full of charm.
“I’m home!”
A cheerful voice filled the quiet Duke’s mansion.
It was none other than Noah.
He had returned earlier than usual from his magic lesson!
The staff stood up one by one to greet him.
“Welcome back, young master.”
“You’re… back earlier than expected.”
Of course, everyone’s expressions looked strangely stiff.
Among them, Helen was silently sweating bullets.
The young master will ask for the lady first…
How was she supposed to explain this?
And sure enough, before Helen’s worries even finished forming—
“Where’s Rosent?”
Noah looked around, tilting his head.
If they weren’t busy with duties, Noah and Rosent were always together.
They’d eat desserts, study his magic books, or when he felt stiff, she’d watch him practice swordsmanship.
Naturally, the moment he returned, he asked for her.
“…”
All the staff froze.
Noah tilted his head repeatedly.
Could Rosent not be home?
Come to think of it, this was usually her teatime. But she wasn’t around…
Noah turned to Helen.
“Helen, where’s my sister?”
A bomb had just landed in Helen’s lap.
She remembered Rosent’s desperate plea.
“He mustn’t know I left! He’s smart—he’ll figure it out immediately. I’ll be back soon. If Noah comes back early… just bluff your way through it.”
Ugh. I’m sorry, my lady.
How could she lie looking into those innocent eyes?
Helen glanced around in a panic.
Sure enough, the rest of the staff were pretending to admire the floor or the ceiling, avoiding eye contact.
But Helen, being a new maid with less than a year of experience, had no skill in deception.
Especially not against a regressor—someone whose mind was far from childish despite his age.
“Well… the lady went to the shopping district for a bit.”
In the end, Helen broke her promise.
“Oh, really?”
Unaware, Noah’s eyes sparkled.
The shopping district? Rosent only ever went there for two reasons:
First, if she wanted to buy something in person.
Second, to eat desserts at Brioche.
Given the time of day, it was probably the latter.
“Hehe.”
Contrary to everyone’s concerns, Noah looked genuinely happy.
Probably because—
“I’m going too!”
He was excited at the idea that he might get to spend time with Rosent again.
