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Chapter 23.
With trembling hands, Lexian picked up the strand of hair.
The glossy black hair told him that there was someone inside the barrier.
And since the only new person who had set foot in the ducal mansion today was Rosia, there was no doubt that the hair belonged to her.
“So it really was you.”
Surprisingly, he wasn’t shocked.
A knight of his caliber had keen instincts — the moment he found the black hair and thought of Rosia, he must have already been sure deep down.
That was why he kept denying the strange emotions that welled up whenever he saw her.
He told himself there was no way he felt affection for that woman — that he would never expect anything from her.
“Rosia.”
Yet, her name rolled off his tongue with a sweetness he couldn’t resist, and the texture of the hair between his fingers was soft and delicate.
He didn’t recall ever receiving a strand of her hair — so how had it ended up here?
And not just anywhere, but carefully preserved, as if it were something precious.
“Did I invite her just to be sure?”
He had thought that if the hair didn’t belong to Rosia, he could finally sort out the strange emotions she stirred within him.
But instead, Lexian found himself even more tangled in confusion.
“Rosia Levian…”
Even if he asked her, she wouldn’t answer.
Or perhaps… did she even know?
Did Rosia realize that a strand of her hair was hidden in the most secret place of the House of Lixianshus?
If she ever found out, she’d probably be horrified.
“…I’ll have to keep this a secret.”
He carefully placed the hair back into the box and sealed it within the safe.
“Come to think of it, didn’t she say a strange vagrant got on the carriage that day…”
On the day of the duchy’s party — the day Rosia had fainted — she had left in the duke’s carriage. Thanks to that, he’d heard from the coachman that she had brought along a vagrant who had forced his way in front of the carriage.
She was certainly a woman who did peculiar things.
Lexian decided to learn more about this woman who so thoroughly disturbed his composure.
Not long after, Lexian appeared before her.
“Did your errand go well?”
“Fortunately, thanks to your consideration.”
He must have come in a hurry — his fringe was slightly disheveled.
I reached out instinctively, then froze when my eyes met his blue ones and realized what I was about to do.
“Your hair was a bit messy,” I said with an awkward smile, drawing my hand back.
But then he inclined his head slightly toward me.
“Please, fix it properly.”
It was a strange request — for a man and woman who barely knew each other.
We might act like affectionate siblings, but both of us knew that was just an act.
Still, I couldn’t refuse him. I reached out again, and as my fingers brushed against his soft black hair, a strange calm loosened my shoulders.
Then, in the corner of my eye, I noticed the tea in his cup. The tea had steeped deeply, tinged red — it looked almost like pooled blood.
Startled, I pulled my hand back.
“Perhaps you should have a maid fix your hair instead.”
I smiled brightly, pretending nothing was wrong. Lexian gazed at me with an unreadable look before straightening up and brushing his own hair into place. Then his eyes fell on his teacup.
“I’ll have them boil some more water.”
“Yes, that would be best.”
A subtle tension lingered between us, though neither of us acknowledged it.
We passed the time discussing trivial matters — Calvin’s swordsmanship, the knights’ recent missions — until enough time had passed for a polite tea visit. Then I rose to leave.
“Allow me to escort you.”
Lexian accompanied me to the front of the mansion, where my carriage awaited, and then asked out of nowhere:
“Rosia.”
“Yes?”
“The party at the Lixianshus estate — that was the first time you’d ever been here, wasn’t it?”
The unexpected question caught me off guard.
I inhaled sharply — audibly — but quickly recovered and smiled.
“Of course.”
“I see.”
He nodded, but his expression didn’t seem entirely convinced.
Feigning ignorance, I bid him farewell and stepped into the carriage.
On the ride home, I exhaled in relief.
In the many previous timelines, I had visited the Lixianshus estate countless times. Many, many times.
But Lexian couldn’t possibly remember that — so yes, this was my first visit.
It had to be.
Soon, the grandest event of the social season would arrive — the royal hunting tournament.
Hosted by the Imperial Family, the tournament offered not only a valuable prize but, most notably, a flower crown.
The winner of the hunt could present the crown to whoever they deemed most beautiful.
It was essentially a public confession, and since many couples formed because of it, the event drew fierce competition.
My younger brother, Calvin, was no exception.
“Sis, you’re sure you know how to ride, right?”
“I think I’ve told you twenty times already that I do.”
We had decided to team up for the hunt. Forced into it, Calvin still looked doubtful of my riding ability.
To prove him wrong, I led him to the stables.
From among the family’s horses, I brought out Pipi — the one that was now mine.
“Watch closely, Calvin.”
I got permission from the knights and rode several laps around the training grounds.
Calvin was speechless.
“You ride better than I do!”
Even the knights looked astonished.
The deputy commander and the knights who had accompanied me on trips to our territory watched with pride.
“Anyway, I’m going to win the tournament,” I said. “So I’ll need your help, Calvin.”
“Got it, sis. You take the prize, and I’ll take the crown. Deal?”
The tournament’s prizes were the Mirror of Truth and the flower crown.
The Mirror of Truth was an ancient artifact — most people didn’t realize its worth.
I had used it several times before, to great effect. I had to win it.
My brother, of course, would claim the flower crown and give it to Merina — I’d seen that scene play out many times before, so I no longer felt angry about it.
Lexian, the duke, usually didn’t participate in the tournament, so the only serious rival was the Crown Prince — and he wasn’t particularly skilled physically.
Calvin and I had won together in a previous timeline. If we planned well, we could do it again.
We practiced relentlessly — riding, archery, studying the beasts likely to appear in the hunt.
“Sis, why are you trying so hard? You never even liked hunting.”
“Why else? I want my little brother to win the flower crown.”
“For me?”
Calvin looked surprised.
“You’re going to give it to Merina, right?”
His face flushed red.
“But, sis, you—”
“I’ve told you before — everyone thinks I hate Merina, but I don’t.”
I’d persuaded him like this more than once.
“It’s just that people keep saying she and I are at odds. That makes things awkward, so it’s hard to get close to her.”
“Now that you say it, that makes sense. You’ve given me advice before, and you never said you disliked her outright.”
My sweet, trusting brother accepted my words without suspicion.
“But Merina might still find me intimidating. Even if I want to get along, she might not see it that way.”
“You don’t have many chances to talk to her. How about inviting her over, sis?”
“I thought about it, but I’m worried it might cause gossip — people might say I called her over just to bully her.”
Calvin frowned thoughtfully, then nodded.
He’d already learned firsthand that the rumors about me bullying Merina were false — so he’d see my reasoning as sound.
“When you give Merina the crown, just mention that I helped you out. That way, she might warm up to me too.”
“That’s a great idea, sis. You really are smart.”
I reached out and patted his light brown hair.
“And most of all, I just want my beloved little brother’s romance to go well.”
Calvin blushed again.
Even though I already knew that romance wouldn’t have a happy ending.
I swallowed that truth and smiled.
Despite the busyness, I made time to wander the city.
Once the hunting tournament ended, Bluebird would make its move — but since things had already shifted so much from before, they might act sooner this time.
I’d slipped out without Cassie, so I needed to hurry. If I got back late, she’d scold me all day for sure.
I quickened my pace toward one of the Bluebird gang’s known hideouts.
The path led through the slums — dark, grimy alleys — and just before a sharp sound tore through the air, something dangerous stirred in that shadowed street…
