Maid: “Miss Rosamiris, haven’t you been pushing yourself too hard lately?”
“I wonder, I still feel like I’m wasting time.”
During the afternoon tea time, Rosamiris enjoys her favourite rose tea. Reading a book while savouring its rich aroma has become her daily routine, but her maid Nina seems to think she’s still pushing herself too hard.
Nina, always cheerful and expressive, frowns with concern for her mistress.
For about a month now, Rosamiris has limited her tea parties with other noble ladies to a bare minimum, focusing on her own training, practising dance routines for balls, and working on Bianca’s purification plan.
From Nina’s perspective, neither of these activities are necessary for Rosamiris. While Rosamiris’s ambition is admirable, Nina worries that overdoing it will harm her health.
Rosamiris understands this, too.
Nevertheless, she must act before the hourglass runs out. It would be too late if the curse of corruption were to manifest. She needs to find a way to suppress the curse while enjoying her life and experiencing happiness. That’s why she’s in a hurry. She doesn’t know if she really has three more years. All she knows is the tragic ending that awaits her due to the curse.
“I want you, Miss Rosamiris, to be smiling by the side of someone you truly love.”
Remembering her past memories with a bitter expression, Rosamiris listens to Nina’s mutterings.
Someone she loves, huh?
The first person that comes to mind is her fiancé, Seigforten, which makes her feel quite helpless. She knows that Seigforten prefers blondes over those with black hair. Though it may be an unfounded rumour, it’s likely true, given that the plunderer of her past life had blonde hair as well.
As she twirls her short, black hair with her fingers, Nina exclaims, “That’s it!”
Nina: “Why don’t you ask Lord Sanun to take you out for a little trip? You haven’t been on any long trips lately.”
Rosamiris: “The ball is in three days. I can’t afford to spend time on leisure now.”
Dancing perfectly at the ball is the duty of an engaged couple.
Seigforten’s parents, the Duke and Duchess, will be attending.
Failure is not an option.
Nina: “Running, lifting heavy objects, jumping, and swimming every day are all well and good, but I don’t think anyone would be mad if you spent a few hours relaxing and eating delicious food once in a while, right?”
Sanun: “That’s right, Rosa. Listen to Nina.”
Nina: “Lord Sanun!”
Standing next to Rosamiris without a sound, the handsome older brother, Sanun, suddenly appears.
Sanun scoops up a lock of Rosamiris’s hair and brings it close to his face. He stops just short of touching his well-shaped lips, then smiles.
Sanun: “It’s wonderful that you’re raising Miss Bianca to become a respectable countess, but perhaps there are others better suited for the task? Our household has many excellent maids and servants, including Nina. We could even bring in a skilled tutor if needed. There’s no need for you to be so busy, Rosa.”
Rosamiris: “Coming from the busy future head of the count’s household, those words hold deep significance.”
Sanun: “Hehe.”
Rosamiris: “That’s not a laughing matter. Are you getting enough sleep, brother?”
Sanun: “I sleep enough not to die, so don’t worry. I make sure to sleep when I can.”
Rosamiris tells Nina she’s fine, in part because there are others who have it worse. Her brother Sanun has become truly busy over the past month.
The reason is that fearsome beasts known as magical beasts, which are said to dwell in the mountains and valleys, have been frequently coming down to the town, and the knights have requested Sanun’s assistance. Magical beasts are surrounded by malevolent energy called miasma. They drain the life force from people, animals, and trees, leaving a path of death where no plants grow in their wake.
Sanun, who has mastered magical combat techniques, is far stronger than ordinary soldiers and knights.
He seems to prefer using physical techniques over casting spells, and his elegant swordsmanship has often captivated Rosamiris.
Rosamiris: “Lord Sanun.”
Sanun: “What is it?”
As Rosamiris straightens her posture, Sanun raises the corners of his mouth with a “Hmm.”
Sanun: “I can feel your growth. You’ve come to look at me that way, huh?”
Rosamiris: “Please don’t tease me. I’ll come to dislike you.”
Sanun: “I understand. ──So, what is it?”
His gentle older brother’s face shifts to the serious expression of the future head of the household.
Rosamiris raises her chin.
“Please teach me magical combat techniques.”
She was denied the first time, as if being admonished like a child.
But she won’t give up a second time.
She’s decided to live selfishly.
If she wishes to live happily, she must seize it with her own hands.
Sanun: “I can’t grant that request, even if it’s from my adorable sister. I’ve told you before, what you need is the mindset of a wife who will walk alongside your fiancé, Duke Seigforten. That’s enough, that’s where your happiness lies.”
Rosamiris: “Do you really think that I, your sister, haven’t noticed your dislike for Lord Seigforten?”
Sanun: “Well, well. I wanted you to think that it’s just the lingering regret of a pathetic brother who’s sending his cute sister off to another man.”
With a serious expression, Rosamiris says, “Please teach me magical combat techniques.”
Their conversation is intense, but it’s clear that they care for each other deeply. The path ahead may be uncertain, but with the support of those around her, Rosamiris will continue to strive for her own happiness.
Sanun seems to have no intention of explaining why he dislikes Sieg.
Sanun exaggeratedly shrugs his shoulders and slowly reaches out his hand towards Rosamiris.
Sanun: “Magical combat techniques, you see, involve doing things like this or having them done to you.”
In an instant, Sanun grabs Rosamiris’s arm and pulls her down forcefully.
As her back hits the floor, her body momentarily floats, probably because Sanun doesn’t want to hurt her. The cold blade barely touching her neck is the dragon sword he always wears at his waist.
She can’t feel any magical power, so it must be his raw strength.
Yet, it was terrifyingly fast.
Rosamiris: “You’re quite soft, brother. If you want me to give up, you should have instilled more fear in me. You should treat me like a princess, you know, like that.”
Sanun: “Uhm, I see. I wanted to be a completely gentle brother to Rosa, so I went easy on her.”
He’s genuinely soft.
That softness leaves an opening.
Exploiting that opening is Rosamiris’s goal.
Sanun: “Are you still not giving up after this?”
Rosamiris: “Yes. My desire to learn has increased tenfold. Thank you.”
Sanun: “Is it a counterproductive approach?”
Sanun sheathes his sword.
He helps Rosamiris up like a princess and smiles as if resigned.
Sanun: “Alright. Magical beasts have been appearing frequently lately, so it’s reassuring if you can at least protect yourself in an emergency. But I’ll only teach you after the ball is over. Also, as Nina said, go out tomorrow. If you don’t stretch your wings once in a while, you’ll end up like me.”
He says he’ll teach her after the ball so that her schedule doesn’t get too packed.
Telling her to stretch her wings is his brotherly concern, wanting her to enjoy herself like a typical thirteen-year-old.
Nina: “Are you alright!?”
She tells the rushing Nina that she’s fine.
Rosamiris looks at Sanun again.
“Thank you, brother Sanun.”
Sanun gently strokes Rosamiris’s cheek.
“You’re my one and only sister.”
“Yes, I understand.”
