“Looks like helping you get a job at the Princess Palace was worth it. You really suit life in the Imperial Palace, Rena.”

Rissa had said she’d helped me become the painting instructor to the strongest princess in the kingdom.

Then that means…

I rummaged through my desk drawer, searching for the letter of recommendation Rissa had given me before my first day of work.

At the time, I had been so overwhelmed by the fact that I’d become one of the heroine’s attendants that I never had a chance to read it carefully.

…Maybe there was something in it about Theo.

If he had enough influence to place me at the princess’s side, then he must have some connection to the Imperial Palace.

And if that was true, there was a good chance he was an original character from the novel.

“Found it.”

Unfortunately, the name Theodor Selgrize wasn’t anywhere in the recommendation letter.

Instead, it bore the unfamiliar name Sophia Dorsha.

A quick read told me she had apparently been my predecessor.

Judging from this alone, there didn’t seem to be any connection.

I’d much rather remain strangers…

But I couldn’t forget the way he’d looked at me.

That painfully affectionate gaze—as if I were a lover he’d long since lost.

Clutching the recommendation letter, I sat frozen for quite some time before suddenly springing to my feet.

“Rissa, do we have any letters Theo ever sent?”

She looked at me strangely before asking,

“…Why?”

“N-No reason.”

Was that really worth pouting over?

She’d answered all my questions about the Selgrize Duchy just fine earlier.

Awkwardly changing the subject, I asked,

“Then… do we have any letters addressed to Lady Sophia?”

“Lady Dorsha? Of course. I kept all of hers.”

Only then did Rissa return to her usual self and promptly bring me a letter.

The envelope had already been opened.

At the bottom was the same name I’d seen on the recommendation.

Sophia Dorsha.

I swallowed hard and unfolded the letter with solemn determination.

I’ll just read the important part.

From this point onward, I hope you’ll take my place as Her Highness’s experienced painting instructor.

Lady Soylet’s talent is already well known, and Sir Selgrize personally recommended you, so I have no concerns.

Should you encounter any difficulties, please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time.

He recommended me to my predecessor?

So maybe he wasn’t directly connected to the Imperial Palace after all.

Sophia Dorsha.

Why had this woman willingly handed over such an influential position beside the empire’s most powerful princess just because Theo asked?

The deeper I dug, the more suspicious everything became.

＊ ＊ ＊

Harry, the man officially serving as the Second Young Master’s personal attendant in House Selgrize, was widely considered the most pitiful employee in the entire ducal estate.

“You know what I hate most every single day?”

He let out a deep sigh.

“It’s when the young master comes home.”

Harry was the only son of a fallen noble family.

His abilities had earned him a place in the ducal household…

But more importantly, the previous Duke of Selgrize had valued one particular quality.

Harry knew how to keep his mouth shut.

That was why the old duke had personally signed him under contract.

All because of money.

He’d practically mortgaged his entire life to the Selgrize family.

Damn it.

If I hadn’t been dreaming of buying my own house…

To be fair, he’d had chances to escape.

The original contract had been signed with the previous duke.

Once the old man died, it should have become invalid.

But…

The salary the ducal household paid was simply too irresistible.

When the eldest young master, Asad, offered him a new contract…

Harry hesitated for hours.

That night, after downing a glass of whiskey…

He signed it.

Throwing away his one and only chance at freedom with his own hands.

“That’s a cruel thing to say,” Theo replied casually.

“It’s not like my coming home gives you any extra work.”

Right.

Harry wasn’t exactly Theo’s “personal attendant.”

That title was little more than a fancy name.

“…Not that kind of work.”

Before Theo had been practically dragged off to the Magic Tower…

He’d once smashed a candlestick over the old butler’s head.

Ever since then, Harry’s standing duty had been delivering hush money to the injured butler.

His regular responsibilities also included negotiating settlements with unfortunate clients Theo caused trouble for at the Magic Tower…

And making sure the servants inside the ducal estate kept their mouths shut.

In other words…

Harry’s real job was protecting House Selgrize’s reputation from its utterly unhinged second son.

“Now that’s a plot twist.”

“How did you manage to hide such a rotten personality all this time?”

The countless victims Harry had compensated over the years were more than enough proof of how skilled he was.

“Do you know whose life I had to fix with money yesterday?”

“Who?”

“…Put your hand on your heart and think carefully, Young Master.”

Theo obediently placed a hand over his chest.

“Hmm…”

He tilted his head.

“Too many people come to mind.”

“…”

Should I just run away?

Harry stared at him with a pale face before stomping his foot in frustration.

“Damn it! I should’ve shredded that contract into pieces! I only stayed because I felt sorry for the duke, who’s doomed to spend the rest of his life calling you family!”

Thinking of Asad nearly brought tears to Harry’s eyes.

Just then he noticed Theo putting on his coat again.

“…You’re leaving already?”

Harry brightened instantly.

Though at the same time…

He was uneasy.

He hated Theo being home.

But whenever Theo went out…

Who knew what disaster he’d cause this time?

“I’m heading back to the Magic Tower.”

Theo smiled.

“It’d be such a waste to let Rena go just like that.”

“I should see her often.”

“Please don’t.”

Harry stopped him almost instinctively.

Theo grinned.

“What exactly do you think I’d do to Rena?”

“You shouldn’t get close to anyone, Young Master.”

“And besides… Lady Soylet has always…”

He’d only met her a few times, but Harry genuinely pitied the poor woman.

Just as he cautiously tried to continue—

“Harry.”

Theo interrupted smoothly as he strode toward him.

Harry looked up at him with obvious fear.

“I have no intention of laying a hand on Rena.”

His tone remained surprisingly light.

“But that’s beside the point.”

He smiled pleasantly.

“You’re paid in a single day what the other servants earn in an entire month.”

“That money is for quietly cleaning up situations like this.”

“…”

Harry bit his lower lip.

It was a gentle warning.

His position as Theo’s special attendant—earning a month’s wages in just one day—

That was the biggest reason he had renewed his contract.

Money truly was the enemy.

Feeling suddenly miserable, Harry glared at him.

“Honestly…”

“You don’t care about Lady Soylet at all.”

“What are you talking about?”

Theo answered without hesitation.

“She’s all I ever think about.”

“…”

The words You’re talking complete nonsense rose all the way to Harry’s throat.

But through sheer superhuman restraint…

He kept his mouth shut.

After all…

His life was precious.

＊ ＊ ＊

It was a lazy afternoon.

I’d spent the entire day turning one question over in my head.

Who exactly is Theodor Selgrize supposed to be in this childcare novel?

And what kind of past do we share?

The easiest solution would be asking Lady Grace. She seems to know something…

After thinking about it for so long, my body had grown stiff.

I took a walk around the marquis’s estate.

The library on the third floor received just enough sunlight to make it a pleasant place to rest.

I pulled out a book titled Forgotten Night, Part One, read about three pages there, then returned to my room with it.

For a while, I thought the afternoon would pass peacefully.

Or so I believed.

“Big Sis! Big Sis!”

That evening, chaos erupted.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Talk to me! Hurry!”

The one pounding frantically on my door was my younger sister, Rosé.

“Wh-What’s wrong?”

I opened the door and immediately realized something was terribly wrong.

She was still in her pajamas.

Her face was swollen from crying so much.

Did I do something?

Nothing came to mind.

I swallowed nervously.

Rosé rubbed at her tears with both hands.

“It’s all your fault…”

“Hic…”

“Because of you, my darling…”

“…”

She didn’t even have to finish.

Her “darling” was her longtime boyfriend.

If he’d come up…

Then this had to be because I still wasn’t married.

“I fought with him!”

“He asked if I planned on making him an old bachelor forever!”

…

Why couldn’t I have even a single peaceful day?

Without saying a word, I wrapped my arms around Rosé.

Honestly…

With a boyfriend who picked fights over something like that, I’d rather tell her to dump him.

But now wasn’t the time.

It’s not like I enjoy living as an aging noblewoman that old aristocrats see as an easy bride.

I’d like to experience some magical romance too, just like every other transmigrator…

Sighing inwardly, I gently comforted her.

“There, there.”

“I’m sorry.”

Sorry your older sister is an unmarried woman who’s only fit to become some old noble’s second wife.

“Didn’t Mother tell you?”

“I’m meeting everyone now without being picky about conditions.”

“So just wait a little longer, okay?”

“…”

“I’ll have good news soon.”

“I promise.”

Rosé, who had been on the verge of heartbreak, finally nodded.

“O-Okay…”

“I understand… Sis…”

Seeing her mood recover so quickly made me smile.

She really was like an adorable little kitten.

A bit prickly at times…

But after transmigrating into this world, she had been the first person I’d truly grown attached to.

“Since we’ve made up…”

“How about we go eat something delicious?”

After all…

Sweet desserts were the best cure for sadness.

Once I was sure she’d stopped crying, we headed downstairs together.

Not long after we sat down, the pastry chef brought us slices of cake.

Each one was decorated with chocolate rabbits.

One light brown.

One bright red.

Are those supposed to be me and Rosé?

Nice touch.

Rosé noticed immediately as well.

She slammed both hands onto the table.

“Soooo cuuuute!!”

Her bad mood had already completely disappeared.

The morning at the Imperial Palace had been eventful.

But I thought the afternoon had turned out to be a good one.

At least…

Until a gift arrived from the stalker I’d completely forgotten about.