Chapter 150
***
“S-Sister…?”
Diana called out to me, her voice dazed with disbelief.
I had been worried about how she might react, but thankfully, she looked exactly as I remembered from my past life.
Her hair was styled in a half-updo, the rest cascading down naturally, and she wore a lovely peach-colored dress adorned with frills, the latest design by the most popular designer in the capital.
Seeing her like this again felt surreal, making my heart flutter with warmth.
I guess it’s because it’s been so long since I last saw Diana.
As a surge of emotion welled up, I wrinkled my nose to hold back tears—until I suddenly noticed something was off.
“…Diana?”
“Is it really you? Are you really Sister Lia?”
Diana’s voice wavered with uncertainty, her face on the verge of tears.
A cold dread settled in my chest, and I quickly nodded.
“…How? I haven’t even awakened yet…”
Then, the tears began to fall.
“If you lose control again because of me… If you get hurt…”
“It’s okay, Diana!”
I rushed forward and grasped her shoulders.
She flinched at my touch, her body trembling. In that moment, I realized…Diana had suffered just as much as I had.
“I won’t lose control anymore, even if I’m by your side. That’s why I came to see you.”
“Really…?”
“Of course! Do you think I’d ever lie to you?”
Before I even finished speaking, Diana shook her head furiously.
Then, with a beaming face, she threw herself into my arms.
I was so happy to see her again that it felt like I was walking through a dream.
As she clung to me, I stroked her hair and lightly patted her cheek, just as I used to. She immediately leaned into my touch with a blissful expression.
“You don’t seem awkward at all, even though it’s been a while.”
Suppressing a chuckle, I teased her.
“I’m not awkward at all!”
Diana whined, squeezing me tighter. Then, sniffing, she whispered,
“I missed you so much.”
“…”
“I was scared I’d never see you again…”
She had grown so much since our last meeting, transforming into a beautiful young lady. But as she nestled into my embrace, she felt just like the little five-year-old girl I once knew.
“Hey now! I came to make your birthday special, and here you are crying.”
I gently patted her back, and she suddenly jerked her head up.
“Does crying make me ugly?”
“What? No way! My Diana is the prettiest and cutest, even when she cries.”
I chuckled and handed her a velvet box.
“Here, your real present.”
“There’s another gift? Just seeing you is more than enough.”
Despite her words, Diana’s face lit up with excitement as she eagerly opened the box.
“Wow!”
She gasped at the sight of a delicate rose quartz bracelet, its soft pink hue shimmering in the light.
“Diana, do you remember the bracelet I gave you before?”
I gently fastened the bracelet around her wrist—it matched her dress perfectly.
“I promised I’d get you a better one, didn’t I? This is the same type of magic-infused bracelet as before.”
I had personally imbued it with magic and inscribed a special protection spell.
I had hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to give such an item to Diana, who was a saintess. But a promise was a promise.
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
“I love it! It’s so pretty!”
Diana beamed, admiring the bracelet as she turned her wrist back and forth.
Then suddenly, she froze, her face crumpling with worry.
“Uh-oh… What do I do?”
“What’s wrong?”
“If I had known you were coming, I wouldn’t have let him go!”
“Huh?”
Confused, I tilted my head.
Diana flinched and quickly shook her head, looping her arm through mine as if to change the subject.
“It’s nothing! Let’s go outside. Everyone will be so happy to see you! Even though big brother isn’t here, we’ll have to manage without him.”
“The young duke isn’t here?”
Startled by her words, I turned to her.
Diana gave me a curious look.
“Yeah, he’s not. Why?”
“It’s just… It’s your birthday…”
For some reason, I hesitated, feeling a bit uneasy.
Diana simply shrugged.
“He left as part of the delegation to the Kingdom of Riven. About a week ago.”
“The Kingdom of Riven?”
“Yeah. But let’s talk about that later—come on, let’s go!”
Before I had time to think it through, Diana urged me forward.
I quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her.
“Wait, Diana! I only came to see your face for a moment.”
“What? Why?”
Diana’s eyes widened in shock, and she unconsciously gripped my hand tightly.
I smiled.
“Today is your day, after all.”
“But still! Everyone has been dying to see you!”
Determined, Diana looked like she was about to summon the maids to call everyone to her room.
I quickly stopped her.
“Diana, if everyone leaves the ballroom, what about the guests? Besides, we’ll all meet in just a few days, so be patient.”
Diana blinked in surprise at my words.
Chuckling, I explained that I had arrived at the duchy using a teleport scroll while my ship was still on its way to the Empire.
“Sister, you’re really coming to the Empire?”
“Yes. I already informed the Imperial family that I’ll be attending the upcoming Founding Festival.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!”
Diana pouted in frustration.
I gently poked her puffed-up cheek.
“I wanted to surprise you today. The Imperial family is even hosting a welcome banquet, so we can all meet then.”
At that, Diana’s mood instantly lifted.
“Kyaa!” She squealed in delight.
***
After the successful surprise, I barely managed to convince Diana to return to the ballroom, despite her reluctance to leave my side.
Left alone, I felt a twinge of regret that I hadn’t been able to greet the Duke and Duchess, as well as others I hadn’t seen in so long.
However, since I would be staying at the Marquisate of Diapel for a while after arriving in the Empire, I’d have plenty of time to catch up with everyone.
Though reaching this decision to travel to the Empire had not been without complications.
The day after my agreement with Raizel, my family had finally, after much deliberation, agreed to let me go.
Of course, they tended to be overprotective, but they always granted my requests as long as I was safe.
The unexpected issue arose afterward.
⟨Father, you must stay in the Principality! Mother and I will accompany her to the Empire.⟩
⟨What nonsense, Ascart? Your mother and I are one! You, on the other hand, need to stay behind and prepare to inherit the Principality!⟩
Unlike my mother, who had long decided to accompany me, my father and Ascart got into a heated debate over who would go.
And the loser was…
⟨Lia, the Empire gets chilly in autumn, unlike the Principality, so be careful not to catch a cold. And don’t skip meals, okay? Oh, and when you arrive…⟩
I recalled Ascart’s tearful face as he gave me a long list of reminders, as if I were a three-year-old.
He had ultimately been left behind in the Principality, albeit reluctantly.
But since he would eventually inherit the title of Grand Duke, it was best for him to familiarize himself with his duties.
“Well, I suppose I should head back soon.”
Although my mana reserves were nearly limitless, meaning I could teleport back instantly, I decided to use the teleport scroll I had developed, knowing it would ease my family’s worries.
“Hmm…”
I was about to set the coordinates for my docked ship when I hesitated.
⟨He left as part of the delegation to the Kingdom of Riven. About a week ago.⟩
Diana’s words echoed in my mind.
I had no idea what was going on.
Now that I thought about it, the King of Riven had died around this time in my past life. The new ruler had secretly been preparing for war but was soon exposed and dethroned.
And back then, I had infiltrated Diana’s 14th birthday party as a maid under an assignment.
It had been a simple request.
I had been the only female expert in Terencium capable of bypassing the ironclad security of the Ducal house and moving freely near Diana without raising suspicion.
Coincidentally, the duchy had been hiring temporary staff for the party, and I had used a false identity to complete my mission successfully.
‘Lucio was definitely there at the time…’
I had even encountered him. There was no mistake.
So why had things changed this time?
‘Something is definitely strange.’
I frowned, deep in thought.
And finally, I made up my mind. Since I was already here, I might as well investigate.
***
After sending a message to my parents to let them know I’d be a bit late, I quietly left Diana’s room and entered the bustling ballroom.
The first thing I saw was Diana, her face flushed with excitement, animatedly talking to the Duke and Duchess.
She’s probably telling them about me.
I smiled at their stunned expressions, tempted to walk over and greet them.
But now wasn’t the time.
“Hey, stop standing around and pick up a tray.”
A busy maid, too preoccupied to even look at me properly, hurried past while gathering trays.
“…Yes.”
Watching her disappear, I let out an amused chuckle before picking up a tray of champagne near the entrance.
Currently, I had cast an illusion spell on myself, appearing as a nondescript maid with brown hair, wearing a standard uniform.
It felt oddly nostalgic, yet amusing.
In the past, because I was under such powerful illusion magic, I could only alter my hairstyle to disguise myself.
Now, I was doing it willingly.
Suppressing a laugh, I quickly scanned the hall.
And then, I spotted him—
A man sitting alone in the corner, quietly drinking.
‘…Found you.’
Gone was his former arrogance and swagger.
Kenneth Pettier was hunched over, his gaze flickering nervously around the room.
Yes, he was the reason I had infiltrated the ballroom.
Before leaving the Principality, I had been verifying the Imperial treasury’s sacred relics when I noticed something shocking.
⟨The Pettier family is still standing?⟩
Although they no longer dominated trade as they once did, Count Pettier’s house had not collapsed entirely.
In my past life, they had fallen so low they had been erased from the noble registry.
I had no idea why history had changed.
‘I need to look into this further…’
“Hey, I’m thirsty! Over here!”
“…!”
Just as I took a step toward Kenneth, someone called out to me.
Startled, I froze.
A tall man waved impatiently, as if wondering why I hadn’t come over yet.
He had a lean but muscular build, long limbs, and golden eyes that still carried traces of boyish mischief.
His once-youthful face had matured, but I recognized him instantly. And the familiarity made the corners of my lips twitch in amusement.
