Because there were so many servants, moving all their belongings took much longer than expected.

It wasn’t until sunset the following day that the spirits and I were finally able to head to the laboratory building.

“You guys made sure there isn’t anyone inside, right? Then let’s begin.”

The four elemental spirits rose into the air in unison, each radiating a soft glow.

Spirits really are spirits. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the mystical sight.

They formed a circle about halfway up the building and extended their hands in front of them.

A breeze stirred from somewhere, and the air suddenly grew humid. I thought I felt a faint tremor beneath my feet before a wave of heat washed over my skin.

The next moment.

Whoosh! Energy burst outward from the spirits, enveloping the entire building. At the same time, a brilliant flash of light erupted.

“…!”

I slowly opened my eyes after reflexively squeezing them shut. IThe rapid drain on my mana left me feeling slightly dizzy.

“Phew… Is it over?”

• Yep! From now on, no human other than you can enter.
• However, the building turned out to be bigger than we expected, so it consumed quite a bit of mana. We’ll have to replenish it every fifteen days

“It can’t be helped. Let’s go back quickly. There isn’t much time.”

• Why? We just have to be at the Third Prince’s palace by 10PM, don’t we?
• It’s not even 7 o’clock yet, Rianne.

“What?! Already? Come on, guys! If I’m going to eat dinner and get ready, we’re cutting it close!”

• Seriously, what the fuck? It’s not like you shed your skin like we do. Why does getting ready take so… Hey! Are you leaving us behind? Gnome! Don’t just stand there! Follow me!

I ran toward the carriage waiting some distance away.

As soon as I arrived at the main castle, I finished dinner. The actual dressing-up began after that.

As expected, we were short on time. The maids bustled about even more frantically than usual.

[Wow, Rianne! You’re so sparkly!]

[Miss Rianne, you are truly beautiful.]

[Well… I guess it’s worth spending this much time on. Gnome, what do you think?]

[….]

[Gnome, why are you covering your eyes? What? You’re too shy to look because Rianne is too pretty? Oh my, how cute.]

I wanted to cover my eyes too. For a completely different reason than Gnome.

‘I-I think I’m going to go blind.’

The silver dress flowed elegantly over my figure, naturally accentuating its curves. Its design resembled a mermaid’s scales.

Transparent jewels densely embedded throughout the dress caught the light, scattering dazzling rays in every direction

‘Don’t tell me these are all diamonds?’

Every time I moved, delicate silver threads woven through my softly curled hair shimmered.

I was told they were made of platinum drawn into impossibly fine strands.

On my left hand, I wore one large diamond ring, and on my right, three guide rings.

Those were set with diamonds too.

‘I’m a walking LED.’

The light reflecting off me was so intense…

Even while looking straight ahead, everything below my line of sight was brightly illuminated.

My own eyes were getting tired.

‘If I showed up to the briefing dressed like this, they’d think I was completely insane.’

Perhaps because I had mentally prepared myself, it wasn’t too shocking.

It seemed I had become accustomed to Adrianne’s taste without realizing it.

“We’re finished, my lady. Are you pleased with the result, Master?”

“Butler, give Luna a reward.”

“Yes, Master.”

Luna bowed deeply, looking moved.

“T-thank you, Master! I am glad that you like it!”

I’m glad too. Glad to know such a dress exists.

I’d already decided.

When I returned to my original world, I’d take this dress with me—

Even if I had to threaten that hack author into letting me keep it.

Then I’d be filthy rich.

Leading the butler and the group of maids, I went down to the front of the main castle.

“Butler, what happened with the construction guilds?”

“I’ve narrowed it down to the five largest and sent each of them an official request.”

“Have they replied?”

“All five have. Once they learned you intended to build new servants’ quarters through a bidding process, they all expressed interest.”

“Did you tell them not to worry about the budget?”

“Yes. They asked about the budget, so I informed them that no limit had been set.”

“Good.”

“Master, how many attendants will accompany you?”

“One.”

“…Understood. Luna, attend to Master.”

“Yes, Butler! Master, shall I help you into the carriage?”

As I lifted my leg to climb aboard, the slit in the side of my dress spread open.

My entire leg was suddenly exposed all the way up to my thigh.

‘Gasp!’

Suppressing my startled reaction, I quickly climbed into the carriage.

The carriage departed smoothly.

I declined Luna’s offer of a pipe, reminding her that I’d quit smoking, then turned my gaze to the window.

A moon forming a perfect circle floated alone in a cloudless night sky.

A perfectly round moon hung alone in the cloudless night sky.

“Is it a full moon?”

“It is, Master.”

For some reason, tonight I couldn’t take my eyes off the moon, even though I’d never paid it much attention before.

“Master, does your chest hurt?”

“…No.”

I lowered the hand I’d been pressing against my chest.

I wasn’t pressing it because it hurt.

I was just pressing it because my heart had been beating violently for a while.

I felt strangely anxious. Just like I had that time Ruspel hanged himself.

‘Bad things always happen when I feel like this…’

I had a bad feeling. I felt like something bad would happen at the briefing.

‘Will I make a mistake during the presentation?’

Whatever it was…

I just hoped it would be something minor.

I steadied my breathing as the Imperial Palace drew closer.

“You may go back.”

“Pardon? You don’t want me to wait for you, Master?”

“His Highness will provide a carriage.”

“Yes, understood.”

In the audience chamber of the Third Prince’s palace, the nobles who had arrived early were chatting comfortably amongst themselves.

The moment I entered, the room fell silent.

The nobles’ gazes pierced me like arrows.

A few of them even rubbed their eyes as though they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

‘Yes, yes, I know. I’m dazzling.’

I looked as though I could walk straight into a wedding ceremony, while they were all dressed in refined, dignified suits befitting a briefing.

As the room suddenly fell quiet, Leonhart looked around. Then he spotted me and froze.

His black eyes slowly swept over me from head to toe.

Approaching slowly, he asked in disbelief,

“Are you on your way to a party?”

[Level 1: (Giving him a look of utter disdain) I fail to understand why you’d ask such a question after seeing me. Your Highness, naturally I’ve come to attend the briefing.]

As usual whenever I was with Leonhart, a confrontational command appeared.

Apparently, that hack author wouldn’t be satisfied unless the two of us ended up pulling  each other by the hair.

Normally, I would’ve softened it a little but today, I wasn’t in the mood.

If anything, that Level 1 instruction wasn’t nearly harsh enough.

I covered my mouth as though genuinely startled.

“Oh my, this wasn’t a party? It seems there was an error in the invitations. I suppose they were sent out rather hastily.”

“….”

“Anyway, thank you for inviting me, Your Highness. Although it is a very inconsiderate time.”

Until now, I had suppressed my temper as much as possible in front of Leonhart.

Because I empathized enough with Leonhart’s hatred for Adrianne.

However, Leonhart’s attitude did not change.

Rather, perhaps because I endured it, he seemed to be getting more out of hand.

‘You should have known when to stop, Leon. Selecting me as the presenter on your own and notifying me a day before? You’re basically telling me to eat shit!’

There is a limit to how much a person can endure.

My patience had run out the moment Leonhart sent that ridiculous invitation.

‘Seriously, did I stalk him? It’s not like I wanted to transmigrate into this body. If we’re being technical, I’m the biggest victim here.’

Leonhart’s narrow eyes thinned even further.

“Are you picking a fight right now?”

“Pardon? A fight? Me? With Your Highness?”

I widened my eyes innocently.

A frosty aura radiated off Leonhart.

“You may still leave if you wish.”

“Leave? After Your Highness chose me to give the presentation? Surely that means you have that much faith in me. How could I possibly disappoint you? Although, I should mention that my opinion wasn’t consulted in the slightest.”

“You should’ve simply declined to attend.”

“To tell the truth, I did consider it. As someone who keeps a very regular schedule, I don’t care for going out at this hour. But I couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing Your Highness, so staying at the manor simply wasn’t an option.”

“Let me be perfectly clear… I am more disappointed now.”

“Oh my, what a delightful thing to hear. It makes coming here worthwhile.”

Leonhart and I glared at each other for a long moment before simultaneously turning our heads away.

“Let’s take our seats.”

“Yes.”

We moved without even looking at each other.

A podium had been set up at the front of the audience chamber.

The shabby chair placed next to it must be my designated seat.

I stopped short as I looked it over.

Because standing before me were people I’d never expected to see.

“Why are they… here…”

Leonhart calmly introduced the two men.

“This is Professor Ruspell, and the person next to him is the priest Owen.”

As if I was asking for their names! I’m asking why they’re here!

“…I thought only people involved in the construction had been invited.”

“Professor Ruspell will represent the Academy and oversee magical support and Owen will be responsible for the safety of the construction as the representative of the Temple. They are fully qualified to attend the briefing.”

“Ah…”

“Please exchange greetings.”

Ruspell approached readily, as if he had been waiting.

“Your Grace. Fancy seeing you here.”

It was painfully obvious he was trying to hide how pleased he was.

It was so obvious that it felt a little excessive, but I didn’t mind.

Why would I hate someone who was genuinely happy to see me?

Holding Ruspel’s gaze, I asked,

“Did you cut your hair?”

Leonhart and Owen both looked back and forth between Ruspell and me.

Wearing an awkward expression, Ruspell scratched at his neatly trimmed hair.

“Yes, a little.”

“It looks much better.”

“I just had it trimmed because it was hot. That’s all…”

The atmosphere instantly turned strange.

As Ruspell fell silent, clearly watching Leonhart’s reaction, Owen stepped closer

“May the Lord’s grace be with you. This is the first time we’ve been properly introduced, Your Grace.”

This was the first time I’d spoken to Owen from this close since transmigrating into this body.

I studied him quietly.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of familiarity in the faint smile on his face.

If anything, it almost felt… cold.

But I still remembered clearly.

I remembered how Owen had looked when I chose to die alongside the Demon King.

He had been trembling so violently it was almost painful to watch.

His face had been twisted in anguish, as though he might burst into tears at any moment.

“…No, it’s not. Miss Adel, right? I thought wrong, didn’t I?”

Back then, Owen had been consumed by despair.

Just like when he was a child, forced to watch his dying mother.

That’s why I’d wanted to run to him and hold him.

To wrap my arms around him, gently rub his back, and whisper that I would stay by his side.

That I’d never leave him alone and die.

‘That’s why I had no choice but to turn away. I was afraid my resolve would waver… I’m sorry, Owen.’

Suppressing the urge to pull Owen into an embrace, I answered coolly.

“It seems it’s almost time for the presentation. We can exchange greetings later. If you’ll excuse me.”

I offered the three men a polite nod before turning away gracefully.

Then I walked off as calmly as I could.

As though I hadn’t been flustered in the slightest. So that no one would notice the cold sweat soaking down my back.

‘Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!’

So this was why my heart had been racing and why I had felt so anxious.

I’d ended up having to spend the entire construction project with the three people I should’ve avoided above all else.

Sure enough, my bad premonitions were never wrong.

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