"Ah, of course, it wasn’t like I did nothing until Jeanne decided to become my nanny."

Royal Medical Center.

Jeanne looked around at more than ten doctors with a flustered expression.

The cramped hospital room was filled with physicians.

“So, all of you are...”

“Yes, the attending physicians!”

It was the first time she had seen so many doctors at once.

Usually, an attending physician is accompanied by an assistant professor.

In Jeanne and her sister’s case, a trainee doctor was the attending physician.

Jeanne’s older sister was a patient with a rare disease. Normally, she would have required meticulous care, but with months of unpaid medical bills, they were just grateful not to have been kicked out.

Moreover, because it was a rare disease, the trainee doctor, who had little experience with such cases, could only prescribe medicine to alleviate her sister’s symptoms, without offering more in-depth treatment.

But today, professors had come in a group.

Jeanne’s sister, Roxanne, opened her mouth with a bewildered expression.

“How did this suddenly happen...?”

“This is a contact from the Astra Duke family. Since you are a precious person’s sister, they asked us to take special care.”

“From the Astra Duke family?”

The sisters widened their eyes and looked at each other.

The doctors explained the treatment process ahead and then left the room.

Thud.

After the doctors closed the hospital door and left, Roxanne looked at Jeanne and said,

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know...”

Roxanne grabbed Jeanne’s hand with a worried look.

Jeanne covered Roxanne with a blanket and said,

“Anyway, it’s a good thing.”

“That may be, but... I’m scared of this luck now.”

Roxanne let out a quiet sigh.

How happy she had been that Jeanne, a humble noble daughter and a woman, became a palace knight.

They had endured all kinds of hardships and considered it a hard-earned fortune.

But five years later, her younger sister became a criminal.

Roxanne thought it was because of too much undeserved luck.

So, she was deeply worried about the current fortune.

“Did the Astra Count family think well of you...? You went to their interview last time, right?”

“...”

“But that’s strange too. You went to the Astra Count family, so why did the Duke family contact the medical center?”

Jeanne hesitated at Roxanne’s words.

‘It must be because of that person.’

That child, wise beyond her ten years.

Jeanne was a knight with both skill and character. She still had many followers, and news often reached her.

Even news that Erilot was the cherished jewel of the Astra family.

It had long been famous that even the Astra Duke himself bowed to that child.

It must have been that child who requested this from the Astra Duke family.

I was very grateful and sorry to that child who cared so much.

But the surprising thing didn’t end there.

“We will move you to another room.”

Roxanne’s hospital room changed to an ultra-luxurious one, usually used by high nobility.

“This is Roxanne’s private nurse.”

The head nurse in charge of the entire ward greeted Roxanne.

“This is her caregiver.”

A dedicated caregiver, usually assigned to great nobles, was assigned to Roxanne.

“The medical fees have already been settled.”

Even nobles would have been stunned by the amount, but it was fully paid.

“This is a real estate agent. We have selected several houses near the medical center for you to choose from. Money? Haha, the Astra Count family will pay for everything.”

“...”

“...”

Roxanne looked at her sister with a terrified face.

“This doesn’t seem like just luck...!”

“...”

“What is going on? What the hell is happening?!”

I don’t know...

Jeanne recalled the child’s words.

“If this isn’t what you expected and you’re confused, I’ll give you some time. Think it over and contact me.”

They said they’d give time to think...

But this wasn’t time to think; it was the time making the reason why Jeanne had no choice but to become a nanny!

Astra Count Manor.

Looking at the newly hung nameplate, I barely suppressed the urge to hop around.

‘The interior renovation is done, and the nameplate is up.’

Now, the proper start of my life in the capital!

I was grinning when Michelan approached.

“Servants have arrived from the jurisdiction.”

“And Heidi and Betty?”

“They happily unpacked their belongings.”

“Good.”

The servants came from our jurisdiction.

I could have hired people from the capital, but I didn’t.

Because I wanted to prevent rumors about our mansion from spreading through the servants.

“You should prepare to attend the party.”

“Yes. Oh, what about ‘that’?”

I asked, and Michelan glanced around and whispered to me.

“We investigated down to the basement, but the late empress’s hidden assets were not found.”

“Nothing in each room either?”

“No.”

Could it be hidden somewhere here...?

But no matter how much I thought, there was nowhere else to hide it.

“Investigate a bit more for now.”

Saying that, I went inside.

Today was the day of the Lily Garden Party.

I didn’t have much time because I had to prepare.

The Lily Garden Party was a very important event.

For many reasons, but most importantly...

‘I have to restore Michelan’s true status.’

Michelan had fallen completely out of favor with the Empress Dowager.

So he lived in disguise in the capital, under an alias.

Of course, even like that, he was very capable.

But if he revealed his true identity, the quality of the information he brought would be different.

I clenched my fist before Michelan and said,

“I’ll make sure Michelan can live under his real name soon.”

“Ah...”

Michelan’s eyes twitched narrowly.

He stared at me in surprise, then carefully spoke.

“Is this sudden entry into high society because of me?”

“Huh?”

“Miss...”

“No, that’s not it—”

Michelan covered his eyes with one hand and sighed sadly.

“How could you do all this for a mere servant...?”

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

“How can I ever repay this favor?”

“No—”

“I will devote my life to serve you. Yes. With my life.”

“...”

It seemed Michelan wasn’t hearing me at all.

Of course, restoring Michelan’s status was important.

But it wasn’t for him. I was doing it for myself.

‘Because of the quality of information.’

Besides, going to the Lily Garden also meant I had other business to attend to.

Eh, whatever.

I gave up explaining to Michelan.

‘If he wants to serve loyally, fine.’

When I entered the room, the maids approached.

“Welcome to the Astra Count Manor.”

“Welcome to the Astra Count Manor.”

Betty and Heidi emphasized ‘Count Manor’ with a twitch of their eyebrows.

“Count Manor?”

“Count Manor!”

Count Manor!

I laughed with them, happy.

Heidi quickly helped me sit down.

“Now, we’ll make you look beautiful.”

Betty babbled nonstop beside me.

“Of course, Miss is the most beautiful child in the world, but this time we’ll dress you so that the people of the capital—no, the capital folks—won’t be able to take their eyes off you.”

Everyone excitedly started preparations.

Heidi was determined not to leave a single tangled hair while brushing.

Meanwhile, Betty spread out dresses, debating with the other maids which matched best.

“Red.”

“Black.”

“Our Miss is the Rose of Daymond’s jurisdiction. Think about that image...!”

“The Astra symbol is a raven. An image of the elegant leader of a raven flock—!”

The maids’ heated discussion continued.

They clearly had no intention of respecting each other’s tastes.

Whatever.

I sat and skimmed through documents.

These were personal data on nobles in the capital, prepared by Conrad.

I carefully memorized the profiles of attendees for the Lily Garden Party.

‘It’s my first time living in the capital.’

In my first life, the capital was a place visited only rarely, like rain in a drought.

Among other three-year-olds, only Dahlia came and went to the capital, I think.

So my information was very limited.

Only what people from Ice.Black.Hand knew.

Preparing for the party took a full three hours.

In the end, I decided to accept all the opinions from the maids debating so ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) earnestly.

I wore a dress that gradually blended from red at the chest to black at the hem.

The full puff sleeves were embroidered with gold thread, and scattered jewels on the dress shimmered like the light at dawn.

My hair was tied up high in a single bun.

The me in the mirror looked quite good even to my own eyes.

“Yes, good.”

“It’s more than good~!”

“The Astra’s rose, the ruby...!”

“Ah, I think my eyes might go blind.”

I looked at the gushing maids with narrowed eyes.

They seemed to be getting worse.

‘Did I give too big a bonus last time?’

Thinking that, I lightly descended the stairs.

“Wow—!”

It was Balzac’s voice.

Looking up at the voice, three older brothers were gathered.

“You look beautiful, Eril!”

When Balzac shouted, Joshua nodded with satisfaction.

“Really magnificent.”

Lismond smiled and stared at me for a long time.

But something was strange.

‘...?’

I knew I looked well-dressed, but why were you all dressed up?

There was no schedule today.

All three were dazzlingly dressed.

Clothes more splendid than what they wore when guests visited the manor.

Balzac wore his band carra uniform with a beast leather cloak draped over one shoulder. Even his usually messy hair was slicked to one side.

Joshua wore a white dress uniform with a black long coat. It suited his model-like figure perfectly.

Lismond wore an all-black dress uniform with a red cape embroidered with gold thread. It was so flashy it seemed to match my outfit.

“...Where are you going?”

I asked, and the three smiled slyly.

“We’re going to accompany you to your first capital party, so we have to look good.”

“Are we suitable partners for you at this level?”

Balzac and Joshua answered in turn. Lismond also smiled softly.

I furrowed my brows.

“I’m going alone today.”

“What?”

“Why?”

“Why?”

I was even more curious why they reacted like that.

If we were going together, they would have told me beforehand and asked to come along.

‘Tch.’

I sighed deeply.

“I have something to do alone today...”

─ While I said this, someone walked behind my brothers. It was Dad.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Balzac and Joshua looked at Dad with sour expressions. Lismond snickered.

I blinked nervously.

Dad said,

“Shall we go now?”

Dad...

Of course, I never asked him to come with me.

Flustered, I said to Dad,

“That outfit...”

“I dressed up a bit.”

“...Not a little.”

What are you doing wearing Astra’s uniform!

The cloak was embroidered with Astra’s raven emblem.

This kind of outfit is for a victory parade or a big national event.

It’s like Dad coming to a classmate’s birthday party wearing a surgeon’s gown and scrubs!

I put one hand on my waist and sighed deeply.

“I’m going alone today.”

“You need a partner!”

Dad said very urgently.

“I’m going alone.”

There was a reason I couldn’t say.

“If you don’t have anything else to do, change your clothes.”

Dad looked at me as if the sky was falling.

My three older brothers moved their lips like they were about to persuade me, but

“Hurry.”

I said firmly.

The four men became mute as if honeyed.

Then they lowered their shoulders with sulky faces. Their eyebrows drooping made them look like sad puppies.

“Don’t follow me. I’ll get angry.”

I firmly warned the four and went outside.

I arrived at the party venue by carriage.

Like most parties, the Lily Garden Party started at night.

Since it was a party for minors, it could not go past midnight.

The party hall was lavishly decorated.

From the entrance, lights shaped like lilies lined the path.

“Shall we go in, Miss?”

Heidi’s words made my eyes widen.

“Oh? Ah... I’m a little nervous. I’ll stay here, so could you get the entry permission first?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Since high nobles’ children gathered, the management was strict.

Heidi took my ID badge and went to get permission.

Meanwhile, I looked around and got down from the carriage.

‘I have to go to the forest near the party...!’

Because I had an appointment there.

I hurried toward the forest.

As I read in Ice.Black.Hand, there was a fountain at the forest entrance.

‘Good. No one here.’

“When are you coming...?”

I tapped my feet anxiously.

I had to enter before Heidi arrived.

While murmuring, I heard footsteps behind me.

“You’re already here.”

With a rustling sound, a man appeared.

I turned my head and looked at him.

“Ah...”

Alexis.

He was staring at me.