That was a clear rejection … a statement that he had no desire to become intimately involved with her in any way.

 

Embarrassed, Renata hurriedly responded, her voice trembling thinly.

 

“Y-yes… That’s right…”

 

It’s fine. I already knew.

 

Whether she kept it to herself until the end, or confessed and ruined everything… 

 

There was never any chance of success.

 

Because the moment of expected heartbreak had arrived so unexpectedly, Renata couldn’t pull herself together or control her expression at all.

 

“…Huh? Why… why are you crying?”

 

Noticing a strange wetness in her voice while driving the carriage, he glanced sideways at her and immediately stopped the vehicle in great confusion.

 

“I… I just yawned…”

 

Even as she made the excuse, large tears kept welling up in her big eyes and falling drop by drop.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ll get it together soon. You don’t have to worry about me.”

 

On the surface, it sounded like she was saying she would fix her messed-up face, but Renata packed another meaning into those words.

 

If only I could organize my heart just as quickly.

 

After a brief silence, he asked gently:

 

“Should I call you by a nickname?”

 

Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, she gave him a devastated look.

 

He must have noticed something.

 

“No… It’s okay.”

 

Grief rose up to her throat, making it hard for her voice to come out properly.

 

“The reason I said ‘good to know’ wasn’t because I dislike you.”

 

“Stop… please don’t say anything. I already understood everything, so…”

 

“I said it because I thought you might not know yet, since you’re still young. And if you happen to have special feelings for me… well… I’m sorry.”

 

Even though she tried to stop him, he continued speaking to the end. 

 

The cruel behavior and the clear line he drew. He really was a terrible person.

 

“I have no intention of getting married. It wouldn’t be right to meet someone lightly without promising a future, would it? So stop crying, okay?”

 

The girl’s tears gradually turned into full-fledged sobbing.

 

“Alright, alright. Let’s talk about this seriously again once you become an adult.”

 

He really is a bad and ugly person…

 

“…Really?”

 

What was even uglier was herself, who felt a spark of hope at those words.

 

“Huh?”

 

“You’re even considering marriage…?”

 

While gently stroking her cheek and wiping away her tears, he suddenly pulled his hand back and pressed his hood even deeper over his face.

 

As if that wasn’t enough, he slightly leaned his body forward. His shoulders were visibly trembling.

 

Is he… laughing?

 

While someone was sobbing loudly right in front of him?

 

“Ahaha… Oh man, I’m going crazy. What am I going to do with you?”

 

“It’s annoying… hic… I won’t wait for you.”

 

“Becoming a couple would probably take about ten years. Is that okay with you?”

 

She should have snapped back that she didn’t need any of it, that the whole thing was already over and done with.

 

“…Can’t it be any sooner?”

 

Sadly, for a lovesick teenage girl, pride simply did not exist.

 

💫

 

Renata jolted awake from the dream, her eyes flying open in shock.

 

‘You said it was a nightmare!’

 

Isn’t a nightmare usually a dream filled with ominous and terrifying scenes?

 

Why was this black history from the past suddenly appearing now!

 

“Chief Aide! Are you alright? You were sleeping like the dead for a whole day…”

 

It seemed to be the aftereffect of absorbing part of the Magic Tower Lord’s mana core.

 

“Could you wait a moment? I’ll go call the doctor again!”

 

“Ah, yes… yes. Please do that.”

 

As soon as the maids rushed out, Renata crawled back under the blankets. She felt relieved that her body was in better condition than expected, but…

 

“Aaaargh, seriously!”

 

There was nothing she could do about the mental torment, so she could only kick the innocent blanket in frustration.

 

💫

 

After undergoing all kinds of examinations, the twenty-three-year-old Renata finally got out of bed, looking utterly exhausted as she chose her clothes.

 

She picked up several outfits, then changed from the overly cumbersome riding habit into a simple white blouse and a skirt with a subtle blue tint.

 

She quietly examined the half-tied hairstyle that the maids had neatly arranged for her, then smiled weakly and picked up a hair ribbon.

 

“It’s a shame, but I have to start working soon.”

 

After twisting her hair into a neat bun and returning to her usual appearance, Renata adjusted her clothes and noticed that the cuff of her blouse was slightly frayed.

 

“…It’s already time to buy new clothes.”

 

If this had been her when she was less mature, she might have felt depressed and sorry for herself for having to wear old, worn-out clothes. 

 

But the current Renata was different.

 

She no longer felt intimidated or envious when she saw people wearing expensive things or living in vast mansions. 

 

She had long since given up the dream of returning to her once-glorious past.

 

Because that was now a story from a completely different world.

 

‘Still… seeing Sir in my dream, even if it was just a dream… wasn’t so bad.’

 

She had thought of it as black history and felt ashamed, but regardless, it had been the most innocent period of her life.

 

Unfortunately, not long after that incident, her parents had an accident, and Renata had gone into hiding.

 

She had briefly considered asking Sir for help, but the fact that he had taken her in because he highly valued the works her father had created held her back.

 

With her father gone, she couldn’t shamelessly cling to him when she had nothing to offer as a child.

 

People might ask why she cared about such trivial things when she had become a complete orphan.

 

To be honest… yes, that was just an excuse.

 

In truth, she was afraid that the misfortune that clung to her like glue … the family curse that had eventually taken even her parents … would drag him into the same pit.

 

Ironically, because she wanted to protect him, Renata ran away from him.

 

Seven years had passed like that…

 

“Enough with the depressing thoughts.”

 

When she felt down, the best thing was to move her body.

 

‘I’ll keep carrying Lord Marex’s core with me, purify it little by little when I have time, and return it to him later…’

 

Most of the nobles were said to be busy preparing for the evening banquet … some had returned home since dawn, while others had already headed to the castle to enjoy an early teatime.

 

‘Where on earth is His Highness wandering around that he still hasn’t returned?’

 

It seemed she should first figure out Theodore’s whereabouts and go catch him.

 

Outside the tent, the campsite was quite chaotic with noble ladies chatting lightly before leaving and servants busily moving around to organize luggage.

 

As she walked, naturally blending into the crowd, a clear, elegant voice called out to her.

 

“Oh my, aren’t you Theo’s aide?”

 

Renata didn’t even need to turn her head to guess who was calling her.

 

There were only two women who could call the prince by his name … and even use a nickname.

 

The queen, or Ailet Brenman.

 

“I’m sorry, the person in that position changes so often that I couldn’t remember the name.”

 

The queen always called Renata by name affectionately, thanking her for taking good care of her son. So it must be the latter.

 

When Renata turned around, a glamorous beauty with platinum blonde hair nodded at her.

 

“Which family are you from?”

 

“My name is Renata. I have no surname.”

 

“Aah, I thought you were a young lady from some great family since you command so many maids. So you were just spending time with your friends.”

 

It wasn’t exactly wrong, but the way she spoke carried a subtle malice.

 

She hadn’t been particularly friendly before, but today her attitude was aggressively hostile to an alarming degree.

 

However, Renata didn’t let her expression change at all. She simply clasped her hands together and smiled silently.

 

People like this tended to nitpick and harass others over trivial things, so it was best to respond with proper courtesy.

 

“Will you spend some time with me, too? About three or four hours should be enough.”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have things to prepare for His Highness’s return, so it’s difficult right now.”

 

“Oh? I heard Theo isn’t coming back today. Didn’t you know? For someone who’s supposed to be his aide, you don’t seem that close after all.”

 

Contrary to her original intention, Renata’s hands were now being used to firmly suppress the growing irritation.

 

She clenched her hands tightly, her knuckles turning white as her fingers pressed against the back of her hands.

 

“He doesn’t often share personal matters with me, so I sometimes miss things. Thank you for letting me know.”

 

“Hmm, I see~”

 

Ailet dragged out her words and gave her a displeased look.