SDA 31

Chapter : 31

Honestly, judging from the circumstances, it seemed like it really had been sent by Lian.
But it was hard to believe.

“These were sent by Lian…?”

Why?

Of course, he was the wealthy male lead and a flashy, show-off type.
For him, dresses and accessories like these would be pocket change.

“So he probably kept saying, ‘I’ll buy it for you, I’ll buy it for you,’ as a habit.”

But even so… I never thought he would actually give them as gifts.

“Lian and I are just the center director and the youngest. Nothing more, nothing less.”

My mood instantly became unsettled.

“What is this….”

So I searched through the gift box.

But there was no card or note inside.

“Don’t people usually write something short when giving a gift…?”

If there had been even something like that, I might have been able to guess his feelings at least a little.

“He really is a strange person.”

At that moment, the name written in the center of the package caught my eye.

[Sender: Chase Willow
Recipient: Siena Willow]

Ah…

“Now that I think about it.”

If this had truly been sent by Lian, why did he put Brother Chase’s name on it?

“Why not just write Lian de Witzel?”

I stared at the pale gold dress neatly laid on the bed and thought for a long time.

Then I realized.

“…Was this actually sent by Brother Chase?”

Maybe Lian had hinted to Brother Chase about what kind of gift would be good.

That seemed the most plausible.

Out of nowhere (for reasons unknown), Brother Chase had entered a “I want to buy a gift for my little sister!” mode and asked Lian for advice.

And since Lian had recently played husband-and-wife at the dress shop with me, he must have told him the things I had liked.

“Right.”

Once I reached that conclusion, I felt a little relieved.

“Well, of course. Why would Lian send something like this to me?”

After finally deciding, I scratched my sideburns.

“I really… don’t seem to have good intuition.”

All the time I had spent worrying and guessing wildly felt ridiculous.

“Of course, as the director of the relationship counseling center, I’m sharp when it comes to other people’s love lives…”

But outside of that, I always make absurd assumptions.

Feeling embarrassed, I fiddled with the dress on the bed.

Although it wasn’t actually Lian’s gift but Brother Chase’s, my uneasy feelings didn’t easily fade.

Why?

“Because he remembered exactly what I liked…”

Lian, despite being a flashy, butter-smooth show-off, had excellent memory.

“He doesn’t even work, yet he remembers my handwriting, and even how many times I smiled at the center.”

It almost made one misunderstand that he always remembered everything related to me.

Anyway… that was how things turned out.

“Miss, tighten your abdomen! Tighten!”

Back to the present, I wore the dress with the maids’ help.

Then I put on the accessories that had arrived together.

I glanced down at the heavy necklace around my neck.

“Even if it’s Brother Chase’s gift…”

This gold gemstone necklace was still unbelievable.

I remembered the insane price tag that had once been attached to it.

“Both Lian, who recommended it, and Brother Chase, who bought it immediately after hearing the recommendation.”

As expected, friends resemble each other in spending money recklessly.

At that moment, the maids began their dramatic rom-com-style praise.

“Lady Siena! You look so beautiful!”

“Miss, you’re such a beautiful lady—why don’t you dress up more often?”

Listening to their exaggerated compliments, I turned to the mirror.

“Do I look better because I’m wearing expensive things?”

Drawing lines on a pumpkin doesn’t make it a watermelon…

“…No, it’s just Siena Willow wearing expensive clothes.”

To me, the maids were simply praising me because I was the lady they served.

My eyes turned straight.

“What can a plain NPC like me expect?”

I completely abandoned my dream of transforming through a makeover.

* * *

A carriage was waiting at the main gate.

I greeted Brother Soren, who had come to see me off.

“I’ll be on my way.”

As always, he replied in a stiff voice.

“Mm.”

“Are you really not coming, Brother?”

The reason for asking was simple.

The imperial ballroom was held once a year, bringing together all the nobility.

For the head of a count’s house to skip such an important event—

“If other nobles heard, they’d faint from shock.”

After all, the head of a family must manage the household and also interact with other families.

That was politics.

But Brother Soren always ignored those duties and stayed home.

As expected, he was firm.

“I have many tasks to finish today. I can’t waste time attending meaningless events.”

Ugh, that workaholic…

“He’s relentless. Truly relentless.”

I knew he wouldn’t change his mind even if I tried to persuade him.

So I simply nodded.

Brother Soren’s gaze, which had been on me, shifted slightly toward my shoulder.

“…Siena, when do you plan to release that black thing?”

Only then did I realize.

“Right….”

The hawk was sitting on my shoulder.

Ever since the day it had intruded, I had been raising it.

Of course, I knew Brother Soren disliked birds…
But the hawk had lost its owner and must have been heartbroken. I couldn’t just send it away without care.

“Never release this hawk.”

That was what Lian had said, which also lingered in my mind.

“Keek.”

Contrary to its fierce appearance, the hawk was very quiet and intelligent.

It seemed to like me, the one who had taken it in.

Perhaps that was why it always sat on my shoulder when with me.

“I’ve gotten so used to it that I completely forgot it was there.”

I rolled my eyes and answered.

“Well…”

“……”

“I’ll release it soon. I’ll make sure it doesn’t concern you, Brother.”

“…Go then.”

With a sharp look at the hawk, Brother Soren turned around.

His steps were faster than usual.

“He’s still scared of it.”

I stroked the hawk’s beak.

“When you look closely, you’re kind of cute…”

Even if I said that, Brother Soren wouldn’t understand my feelings.

The carriage departed quickly.

I sat with the hawk and stared blankly out the window.

As I gazed at the scenery filled only with trees, Lian suddenly came to mind.

“I want to take some leave. Is that possible?”

That man who disappeared for three days on leave.

“Has it been two days since I last saw him?”

Well, of course, without Lian’s pointless chatter every time he opened his mouth, life felt more peaceful.

But…

Had I gotten used to him?

“I don’t want to admit it, but… just a little, it feels slightly empty.”

Even while busy working, I occasionally looked toward the sofa.

“Since the sofa is completely empty, it does feel a bit odd…”

Then I suddenly slapped my cheek.

“What… what am I thinking right now? Am I crazy?”

It made no sense.

Missing Lian unconsciously?

He must have infected me with madness by sticking around me.

“Stay sane.”

How happy I was right now!

“Did I forget that productivity has increased without that noisy guy?”

Suddenly moving around restlessly, the hawk looked at me.

“Keek?”

Again, Lian came to mind.

“Curious?”

Like when Lian had asked whether I was curious about the Crown Prince.

“But… will Castilian even attend the ball?”

Even if Lian tried to persuade Castilian, it probably wouldn’t work.

“If he were someone who could be persuaded, he would have already appeared before the nobles.”

The novel’s troublesome prince wasn’t interested in diplomacy or politics.

He was famously “my way or nothing.”

Thinking of Castilian naturally led me to think of Violet as well.

“…By the way, Lady. Is His Highness the Crown Prince attending this ball?”

“I’m not sure… But from what I’ve heard, there’s a possibility for this one.”

While looking down at my feet absentmindedly, I narrowed my eyes.

“…Now that I think about it, that’s strange.”

Indeed, Castilian was someone about whom no rumors could be heard.

“A marquis who is kind to everyone versus a crown prince with no connections at all.”

Always shrouded in secrecy, never revealing himself to others.

“Then how did Violet obtain information about Castilian?”