Chapter 11

“So that child is finally…”

Rashid had not returned to the ducal estate even once in the past four years. Not a single letter had arrived. If it hadn’t been for Heinz, Tericia wouldn’t have heard anything about him at all.

She had only heard that he had been studying and training like mad, desperate to complete his coursework early.

“If you see him now, you won’t be able to call him a child anymore.”

“Really?”

“Not just his height or voice—everything about him is different from the last time you saw him. You might not even recognize him if you passed him on the street.”

At Adler’s words, Tericia let out a soft laugh.

“To think you’ve become his aide… It really makes me feel like time has passed.”

When Rashid completed all his coursework at the academy, Adler had volunteered to stay by his side.

“It was only natural. There was nothing left for me to teach him. And frankly, I thought working with him might be quite enjoyable.”

“I’m glad. Having someone as dependable as you as Rashid’s aide gives me peace of mind.”

Tericia replied calmly, taking a sip of her tea.

Adler quietly observed the young lady before him. Wasn’t she sixteen when they first met? He had thought she was mature even then—but compared to now, she had certainly been just a girl.

But Adler knew what was hidden beneath that perfect composure. She was someone who endured everything alone and gave nothing of herself beyond the limits she allowed.

Rashid is much the same.

They truly were alike.

“Your debutante ball is quite delayed.”

Adler changed the subject, lightening the mood.

“Is that so?”

Normally, girls would debut at sixteen or seventeen. Tericia was now over twenty and only just preparing for hers.

He had heard that Lady Boren had been working to establish Tericia as the heir to the ducal house, so it was surprising that she had gone this long without a proper debutante ball.

Adler glanced around. Various decorations and items clearly intended for a banquet were scattered about. They hadn’t been able to see her right away when they arrived—because she had been in the middle of a dress fitting.

Whether Lady Boren’s efforts were sincere or purely for show, he couldn’t say.

“I’ve been busy. I’ve started learning estate affairs from the Duke.”

“Ah, yes. I heard you’ve begun overseeing internal matters.”

She gave a quiet nod. Even without saying much, it was easy to imagine how demanding that process must have been.

Unlike Adler, who had spent four years with Rashid, Roben Heinz had remained in the duchy. From him, Adler had heard many things—including how strained the relationship between Tericia and Lady Boren had become. Apparently, her mother had lost her temper more than once over her daughter’s cold and unyielding attitude.

“That must be difficult.”

At Adler’s careful remark, Tericia offered a faint smile—one that carried the weight of many unspoken words.

If he knew, he’d be livid.

She glanced at Heinz with a complex expression. He, too, seemed to share her sentiment, judging by the awkward look he gave Adler.

“We can talk more once Rashid returns. I have quite a lot to tell him. And also…”

She glanced over her shoulder.

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you both, separately.”

One of the maids standing behind her stepped forward. Her face was familiar.

“She was one of the maids who served the young master, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. After Rashid left, I brought Sarah to my side. She’s been assisting me with Mandy.”

Tericia took a bundle of papers that Sarah handed her and held it out to Adler.

“Please give this to Rashid. He’ll understand once he sees it.”

“Of course.”

“The favor I have for you, Sir Heinz, is a bit more personal…”

“Please, go ahead.”

Tericia gave a slightly awkward smile and lowered her gaze. Through her long lashes, her soft violet eyes briefly disappeared and reappeared.

“Would you be my cavalier for the debutante ball?”

“…What?!”

Roben Heinz let out a startled cry before he could stop himself.

“I currently have no one to accompany me to the ball.”

That wasn’t entirely true. It wasn’t that she didn’t have options—only that the Duke wasn’t interested, and the man Lady Boren was pushing for didn’t sit right with her.

“If you refuse, I’ll be in quite the bind. So please… escort me at the debutante.”

Her smile was warm as she spoke to Heinz.

“Oh, this is crazy…”

Heinz ran a hand through his neatly styled hair, letting out deep sighs.

“Escort? Cavalier? Me?!”

“……”

“I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”

“We both heard the same thing.”

“Ugh…”

At Adler’s calm remark, Heinz clutched his head. Maybe because they were close friends, Heinz often let his usual formality slip when it was just the two of them.

“What did I ever do to deserve this…?”

Adler gave a quiet chuckle.

She clearly had no idea what it meant that Rashid had changed. Thinking of the little boy who had once lived in the ducal house would be a serious mistake now.

More than just his appearance had changed. Especially when it came to Tericia, his feelings had grown into something beyond affection—something nearing obsession.

“I’m going to die.”

“Very possibly.”

“You think the young master will let this slide?”

Despair tinged Heinz’s voice.

“No, Lady Tericia seems completely unaware.”

“Of course she doesn’t know. Do you know how hard he worked to graduate early just so he could be back in time for her debut?”

“……”

“If I’m the one holding her hand and walking her into the ballroom…”

Adler responded not with words but by drawing a finger across his throat in a cutting gesture.

“This is insane…”

Heinz let out a long, heavy sigh.

“…I suppose we’ll need to tell Rashid first. We have something to deliver to him anyway.”

Adler glanced down at the bundle of papers Tericia had handed over. Whatever was written inside, only she knew—and only she could anticipate what impact it might have.

“He’ll make the decision.”

＊＊＊

The announcement that the debutante ball would be held at the Spring Banquet Hall—the same venue used for imperial gatherings—caused quite the stir among noble families. Many began scrambling to prepare their appearance at the event.

Rumors had spread that the young lady of House Hespelt would finally be making her debut, though that news quickly lost its spark.

All attention had shifted to one thing:

The return of the heir of House Hespelt.

Some said the unusually large number of attendees was simply due to the chance to see the famed heir in person.

Perhaps to address such public attention, Lady Boren insisted that the entire family arrive at the ballroom together—and the Duke agreed.

“…Proceed as planned. We already have an appointment with the customs office anyway—”

“But Your Grace, if we do that—”

Even inside the carriage heading to the imperial palace, the Duke remained absorbed in discussion with his aide.

Forced to sit beside her stepfather, Lady Boren wore a scowl the entire ride, while Tericia—surprisingly—felt relieved.

I’m glad he’s busy.

She had expected an awkward silence the whole way, but the Duke didn’t seem to have any attention left to spare for her.

Tericia stole a sideways glance at the Duke sitting across from her. Their relationship remained cold and distant.

“Sir Roben Heinz is going to be your cavalier?”

The sudden question came just as Tericia had been staring out the window, lost in thought.

“Yes. As the Commander of the Hespelt Knight Order, I thought he’d be a perfectly suitable cavalier.”

The Duke gave a small nod of agreement without hesitation.

“If it’s Sir Heinz, I have no objections.”

At his short, final response, Tericia quietly let out a breath of relief.

She had deliberately asked Harris to deliver the request instead of speaking directly to the Duke, in hopes of avoiding an uncomfortable conversation.

It seemed her judgment hadn’t been wrong. Her stepfather appeared—at least from her perspective—satisfied enough.

“…A knight commander, though.”

Lady Boren, however, didn’t seem pleased.

Her voice was low enough for only Tericia to hear, but her discontent was palpable.

Well, at least he’s better than that other man.

Tericia stifled a bitter smile.

The identity of one’s cavalier at a debutante ball determines the social weight and dignity of the lady being introduced. Lady Boren had known from the start that the Duke would never take such a role himself.

So instead, she had suggested Sheffer Boren—a man of questionable background—as Tericia’s partner.

She knows perfectly well he lacks the status to be a noble lady’s cavalier. Then why…?

Was it to keep tabs on her? Or was she wary of Rashid, who was expected to return today?

I’ll find out soon enough.

Tericia knew that after today, the quiet tension and subtle maneuvering that had been building up in silence would finally begin to unravel.

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage came to a stop before the Spring Banquet Hall. The debutante ball would begin soon.

“I’ll take a walk in the garden until Sir Heinz arrives.”

Tericia politely excused herself from the Duke and Lady Boren and made her way toward the outer garden where she had arranged to meet Heinz. As she moved away from the ballroom, the chatter of guests gradually faded.

She began walking slowly through the garden of the Spring Banquet Hall. Overlooking it from the ballroom balcony, this garden was said to be among the most beautiful in the imperial palace.

Each season brought a new array of blooming flowers, filling the air with a distinct scent—hence the name “Spring Banquet Hall.”

Will Rashid come?

He had promised to arrive today, but no one had said exactly when. If he could come before the crowd thickened, maybe they could speak in peace.

Now that he was of age… how much had he changed?

He’d grown taller, trained in swordsmanship—his shoulders were broader now.

Though it had been a while, his voice remained vivid in her memory.

“Sister.”

Would he still call her in that same quiet, restrained tone? Or would it be different now…?

“Tericia.”

A rough voice yanked her out of her thoughts. Turning her head, she saw a man approaching with a foolish grin on his face.

Sheffer Boren. Claimed to be a relative from her mother’s side, he had become Lady Boren’s shadow over the past four years.

Her mother used him to handle matters she couldn’t be seen attending to herself. When territory went up for auction under the imperial estate, Sheffer was the one who moved behind the scenes.

Tericia had long known that the money behind Sheffer came from Lady Boren.

“I told you not to call me by name.”

Her tone was icy, but the man just grinned, unaffected. Despite the ball not having officially started yet, she could already smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Oh, come now, Tericia. Don’t be so cold. We’re family, aren’t we?”

“My mother was an only child. And in a household where children were rare, I’ve never once heard of any close relatives.”

“No, I—”

Tericia dropped the last of her formalities. A man like this didn’t deserve them.

“Are you my mother’s lover?”

“……!”

The words burst out—ones she had kept buried for years. Sheffer’s face went rigid.

“You really think I’m that naive? Be honest.”

His voice changed. The fake smile he’d always worn vanished. The overly friendly mask dropped, revealing the sleazy, crude face she had suspected all along.