Meanwhile, backstage, the designers who had been quietly adjusting the hem of the little girl’s dress wore unmistakably tense expressions.
“…Phew. I never thought the Young Duke would come to see this in person.”
It was no wonder. Rumors about Arachrene had been circulating far and wide.
Some said he devoured people alive on the battlefield.
Others whispered the stranger story — that anyone who displeased him simply disappeared, buried somewhere in the earth without a word.
In truth, everyone who had received a summons from Arachrene’s ducal estate had arrived carrying some measure of fear. To ordinary people, the Arachrene estate was unknown territory — a world unto itself.
But then the designers overheard the conversation drifting in from outside.
They looked at one another, faces frozen in identical expressions that said: Did I actually just hear that?
Pernoa Arachrene was out there listening to a child’s worries. Comforting her.
And doing it with spectacular clumsiness.
Who in the world delivered a father’s promise of “if anyone says something mean, come to Daddy” in a tone that sounded like a declaration of war?
And yet — precisely because of that clumsiness — the depth of his feeling for his daughter came through so clearly that the designers found themselves smiling without even realizing it.
Well. Given all of this, we simply have to do everything in our power to make Lady Riersha’s party perfect.
The fact that such a young child was already carrying that kind of worry made their chests ache.
The designers exchanged a quiet look, and then threw themselves into their work with renewed purpose.
⁂
“Oh my goodness, Lady Riersha, you are absolutely precious!”
“The most adorable thing in the entire world!”
“Lady Riersha is going to be the most radiant one at the entire party — I would stake my reputation on it!”
Riersha stood there, completely bewildered.
The designers who had until moments ago been perfectly composed — measured in movement, restrained in speech — were now clapping their hands and showering her with compliments.
She had stepped out first in the pale green dress, slightly awkward, glancing down at herself. It was an extraordinarily elaborate design, unlike anything she usually wore.
When every eye in the room swung toward her at once, Riersha’s crimson gaze rolled around in mild alarm, and a rosy blush crept across her porcelain cheeks.
Pernoa, watching, gave a quiet, amused smile.
He tilted his head slightly and took in the sight of her.
“It suits you well.”
“Weally?”
“It does. Was there anything else that caught your eye?”
“Dere was anudder one…”
Still wearing the dress, Riersha hopped down from the fitting platform in one little jump. With every step she took, the skirt fluttered like the wings of a butterfly.
She trotted over to the display of gowns and pointed at one in particular.
“Dis one.”
“You like this one, my lady?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Then let’s have you try it on.”
The designer drew the curtain closed, and the dressing began again.
A short while later, Riersha reappeared on the platform.
This time she wore a pink dress — the exact same shade as her hair — and on her head sat a hairband studded thickly with diamonds.
It seemed Pernoa’s earlier words had made quite an impression.
The moment the designers saw that Riersha had chosen the pink gown herself, they began offering their thoughts one by one.
“The pink dress really does suit her best of all. If we add more layers of decoration at the hem, it will look fuller and so much more lovely.”
“Then we could fashion flowers with jewels set in the center — that would be stunning. Shall we carry the same theme through the accessories as well?”
“Earlier there was a suggestion to incorporate the Arachrene family crest somewhere — where should we place that?”
The designers fell into animated discussion amongst themselves, pencils flying across paper as they sketched rapidly.
Pernoa, who had been watching Riersha’s appearance in silence, moved one finger in a slow, deliberate gesture — as though some thought had settled in his mind.
“Flowers,” he said quietly. “That’s a fine idea.”
The words seemed to carry a meaning no one else could quite read.
⁂
The day of Riersha’s birthday party arrived.
As befitted one of the rare and extraordinary occasions in a year, the gates of the Arachrene estate were thrown open.
The invited nobles arrived early, making their way inside and marveling at the grandeur of the ducal grounds.
Aska, assigned to guard the eastern wing, let out a long, low whistle.
“Looks like the Duke put some serious thought into this one~ Money everywhere you look. Everywhere.”
“Conduct yourself properly, Aska. Your behavior reflects on Arachrene.” Haydin’s brow furrowed.
He had absolutely no idea why someone assigned to the east was standing here in the west.
But tonight was no ordinary evening — with so many guests filing into the estate for such a grand celebration, every corps commander had been deployed to secure the ducal grounds.
“Get back to where you’re supposed to be.”
“That’s so cold, Hadi. I’m genuinely heartbroken. Back when we were at the border, we were always together, just the two of—”
Aska was mid-whimper, dabbing at imaginary tears, when a massive serpent materialized out of nowhere and lunged at him with jaws stretched wide, venom dripping from its gleaming fangs.
Aska threw himself backward in a flash, landing lightly and clicking his tongue with a grin.
“Not even close.”
“I said, get back to where you belong.”
“Come on, even we deserve to enjoy a night like this. And besides—”
Aska shot a meaningful glance at the floor.
Shhhh.
As though sensing the commotion, a mass of dark earth bulged up from the ground, pulsed once as if taking stock of the situation, then silently receded.
“Johannes is already watching every inch of the estate.”
Indeed, Milia had long since taken up her silent vigil, monitoring in real time every corner of the grounds where outsiders had no business straying.
Haydin pushed his hair back with an irritated sigh.
People nearby had already been stealing glances at the two of them for some time now. Rather than drawing further attention, he decided it was simpler to just give Aska what he wanted.
“What is it you actually want to say?”
“I want to stay here.”
Aska said it point-blank.
Because the section Haydin had been assigned to was the south wing — where the party itself was being held.
“I thought you said you couldn’t stand anything that gives you a headache.”
Aska’s shoulders twitched at that.
It had happened just the previous evening.
Sona had appeared out of nowhere and asked, “Who here dislikes troublesome things?” — and Aska had shot his hand up without a moment’s hesitation.
“Me!”
…And was promptly assigned to the east.
Haydin, who had kept his hand down to the very end, was assigned to the south.
“…Who could have guessed she’d divide up the posts with a question like that.”
“You cross Sona and you’re dead. The only reason you’re getting off easy right now is because it’s me you’re dealing with.”
“I know.”
“…”
“…I just want to see Lady Riersha for a moment. That’s all.”
Aska’s plea was almost heartfelt — and to his mild surprise, Haydin nodded without argument almost immediately.
“Then go now. You’ll have your chance.”
As it happened, the entrance to the banquet hall had just erupted into a stir.
Every head in the room turned toward the doorway at once.
“Oh — are the family all gathered together? They seem more warmly close-knit than I expected.”
“…Did they coordinate those?”
Someone nearby murmured for others to look.
There, entering through the doors of the banquet hall with Riersha at the center, were the members of the Arachrene family — and pinned to each of them, without exception, was a brooch shaped like a red flower.
⁂
Just before departing for the banquet hall where the birthday party was to be held.
Riersha had finished all her preparations and made her way to the main ducal residence.
She wanted to find Arcmund.
“Gwandpa!”
“Riersha? What brings you all the way here? Shouldn’t you go straight to the hall?”
“I came ’cuz I wanna go wif Gwandpa.”
When Riersha appeared, Arcmund looked at her in genuine surprise. He had fully expected her to head directly to the banquet hall — finding her here at the residence was the last thing he’d anticipated.
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Gwandpa, fank you so much for giving me a birfday party!”
Riersha’s gratitude was entirely sincere, delivered with her whole heart, and Arcmund laughed warmly at that — the proud, fond laugh of a grandfather who couldn’t be more pleased.
He had been carrying a heavy mind all morning because of the matter with Oberon. But the moment this child came bouncing in with her little words of thanks, some of that weight simply lifted.
Arcmund beckoned her close.
“Come then, let us go together, little one.”
“Yes! …Oh?”
Riersha had taken his hand and was about to set off when something made her stop.
“Gwandpa, what’s dat?”
There, pinned to the lapel of his dignified formal suit, was a flower brooch — in a shape unmistakably familiar.
Riersha bent her head down and looked at her own dress.
“It’s da same as mine.”
“That it is. And I’m not the only one wearing one — the others all have them too.”
“Da udders…” Riersha’s eyes went wide. “You mean Papa an’ my bwothers?”
