Episode 47

“But Desar, haven’t you always been awkward around me?”

He always walked at least ten steps behind me and had just been sitting at the edge of the mat.

“I only did that because I could see you were uncomfortable around me.”

Desar’s eyes were earnest.

He clearly wanted to clear up this misunderstanding.

Had I really been mistaken all this time?

The original story was told entirely from Jenna’s perspective.

According to her, Desar disliked me and often badmouthed me in front of Jenna.

If it wasn’t something from our childhood, it might have been due to later events.

In the original story, Sierra fell for Ludwig and tormented Jenna, eventually committing murder and disgracing the Drenihan family.

Ultimately, she caused the downfall of the Drenihan family that Thergon Drenihan had built up over his lifetime.

Desar’s anger might have been directed at those events.

So, if I didn’t commit those acts, he wouldn’t hate me.

‘Oh, what a relief. I’ve been worried for nothing.’

I smiled brightly and said to Desar.

“Then I must have been mistaken. I won’t be uncomfortable around you anymore.”

Desar nodded, his face reddened, possibly from being in the sun for too long.

“Our picnic has lasted quite a while. Let’s head back.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Desar followed me, keeping a slightly closer distance than before.

Back in my room, Nella led me to choose the dress and accessories for the Emperor’s birthday banquet the next day. Exhausted, I finally lay down on my bed.

Just before falling asleep, I seemed to hear young Jenna’s voice from the fragments of my memory.

[Sierra, doesn’t this fruit look delicious?]

We had laughed and chatted together like that.

* * *

The day had dawned.

The streets were filled with endless lines of carriages as nobles gathered to attend the Emperor’s birthday celebration. Nobles from all over the empire and even foreign Imperialty and aristocrats had traveled long distances to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday.

The prosperity of the Terium Empire continued to grow, and many countries sought to become its vassals.

There were so many carriages that as the palace came into view, mine seemed to have no intention of moving forward.

“It’s your first time attending the Emperor’s birthday banquet, isn’t it, Sierra?” Arzen, sitting in front of me, asked.

“Yes, it’s my first time. I usually don’t attend Imperial events.”

Only recently had I been frequently visiting the Karsian estate, but up until now, the events I attended were mostly Drenihan family banquets.

“But you seem to be in a particularly good mood today.”

Arzen had been all smiles since he came to pick me up this morning.

“I don’t have to go to the Magic Department for the next week.”

His previously smooth skin had turned slightly rough, indicating how much he had been enduring at the Imperial Magic Department.

“You’re not overworking yourself, are you?”

“I can’t help it as a newcomer. But I have a goal, so I can endure it.”

Arzen’s goal. It was probably what he had mentioned to me last time.

‘It might be ambitious, but I joined the Magic Department to study and find a cure for that disease.’

His face, usually full of mischief, was unusually serious when he said that.

‘Should I tell him…?’

About the tingling in my hand that had started recently.

But it was so minor, and I wasn’t even sure if it was related to the disease. The medicine the doctor gave me had completely alleviated it.

For now, I didn’t want to burden Arzen, who was looking so cheerful.

“Did they say the Duke won’t be attending today?”

“Yes, he said he would only attend the main banquet tomorrow.”

The Emperor’s birthday was actually tomorrow.

Today was the day for the gladiatorial tournament and the eve celebration, and Ludwig would come to the palace tomorrow for the official birthday banquet.

“It’s a busy time for him, especially with the embezzlement scandal in the Council of Elders making waves.”

Arzen was right.

The investigation had begun, and the Karsian family was in constant turmoil.

The elders were shifting blame, some had fled in the night to save themselves, while others confessed to Ludwig and begged for mercy.

Meanwhile, Alfonso Karsian and his son Gassent steadfastly claimed their innocence.

Their confidence stemmed from their connections with the Imperial family.

But as the situation escalated, they seemed unaware that even those ties could eventually break.

“Sierra, are you going to bet on the gladiatorial tournament too?”

Noble spectators usually placed bets for amusement.

Normally, I wouldn’t be interested or even attend such an event, but…

“Yes, I will. I brought a lot of money.”

I showed a check with a smile.

Arzen, counting the many zeros on the check, was eventually shocked.

“You’re betting this much?”

“I’ll decide after seeing the participants. If I find someone I really like, I’ll bet it all.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in this. We should go to the racetrack together sometime.”

“No, I don’t like those places. Maybe a dessert shop.”

Arzen tilted his head as if he couldn’t see the difference.

The gladiatorial arena was a huge site built just past the palace.

The amphitheater, built for the Emperor’s entertainment, was vast and impressive.

Arzen and I were led by attendants to the seats reserved for the founding families of the empire.

Next to our section was where the Imperial family would sit, and above us was the Emperor’s seat.

As the time approached, participants began entering the arena one by one.

The Dekian warriors were as monstrous as rumored.

They were over two meters tall and swung swords as large as themselves with one hand.

Then, I noticed a man who stood out.

Among the burly, hulking Dekians, he appeared particularly small.

His arm was heavily bandaged, and he held a worn-out sword in his other hand.

He looked more like a defeated soldier than someone entering the arena for the first time.

As he entered, the name “Peter” flashed on the board.

‘That’s him.’

I recognized him immediately.

In the original story, he was the unexpected winner who would be my jackpot.

“Who’s that weakling?”

“He looks like he can barely walk. He’d be no match even for a low-level monster.”

“I’d bet my estate he’ll be out in under a minute.”

The men in the seats ahead were pointing and laughing at Peter.

Fine, if they underestimated him, it worked to my advantage.

Imperial attendants distributed papers to the audience.

The paper had sections for writing names, bet amounts, and predicting the winner.

I didn’t hesitate and wrote down all the cash I had, marking Peter as the winner.

Arzen, sitting next to me, asked.

“Peter? That frail-looking guy with the injured arm? Are you really betting on him?”

The men ahead, overhearing Arzen, snickered.

“The young lady might not know better.”

“She probably only bet her allowance.”

Their whispers were audible.

But it was a significant amount, consisting of the allowance I had received as a Drenihan lady and money from selling my jewels.

Arzen looked at me, concerned.

I nodded confidently.

“I trust my instincts.”

In truth, I trusted the original story.

“Well, if that’s your decision. It’s not a huge amount for Drenihan anyway.”

Arzen seemed to resign himself to thinking it was just for my amusement.

He hesitated briefly before writing the name of the most promising-looking participant and handed his paper to the attendant with mine.

At that moment, everyone stood up.

The Emperor and the Imperial family appeared.