Valerian allowed a brief flicker of self-mockery over his own ridiculous state, and a moment of pity for the child named Teresia Oblen—then pushed it all away.
He pitied a child who would have to live in this den of monsters, but as someone who had to protect Everdin, he had no other choice.
Suppressing his guilt, he removed his glasses and pressed at the corners of his eyes.
Once the headache eased a little, he put the glasses back on and spoke.
"Sebastian."
"You called, my lord."
The butler who had been waiting outside stepped in at once, bowing with impeccable manners.
To Valerian's eyes, he appeared as a dignified elder with a kind yet firm impression. But in the mirror standing beside them, only a neat suit and a monocle floated quietly in midair.
Valerian gave his order without any change in expression.
"I'd like you to fetch Lady Oblen yourself. Will that be all right?"
"There is no question, my lord. I shall prepare immediately and set out."
"Good. Tell me if you need anything."
At that, Sebastian offered a gentle smile and bowed again.
Valerian's kindness was touching, but Sebastian was also one of the people who knew better than anyone just how poor the Everdin household's finances were.
Knowing that, Valerian didn't press him for a response.
Hiding a mixture of awkwardness and guilt, he turned his head away and added quietly,
"…Please make sure the child doesn't get frightened."
As always, Sebastian bowed deeply with sincere respect.
"All done, my lady."
I pouted as I watched the maid lift her hands away from my hair in the mirror.
The child reflected back looked like a model of calm dignity—"well-behaved, composed, and perfectly suited for heir education."
A far cry from my usual scruffy self—cute, sure, but I felt awful.
So dressing me up is supposed to fix everything?
Last night.As soon as I returned to my room, strangers grabbed me, and I had to endure a process that felt like getting scrubbed and polished like merchandise.
'Including travel expenses, that'll be a total of 450,000 gold, my lord.'
'Ahem, hm. Hrmm.'
The baron insisted he couldn't send me to the ducal house looking like a beggar, but he clearly hated spending that much money on me. He kept clearing his throat.
But with everyone bustling about under a tight deadline, he couldn't afford to lose face. In the end, his lips trembled as he begrudgingly handed over the pouch of gold.
I liked that part. Looked deliciously miserable.
Remembering the baron's twisted expression made me snicker—until I had to stop myself.
"My lady, the duke's carriage has arrived. Please head down right away."
The maid tugged at my arm, pulling me off the chair and shoving me out of the room.
"…I said I'm going, stop pushing."
I glanced over her shoulder at the bed I'd slept in every night for years, the worn blankets… letting out one last reluctant look before stepping outside.
From downstairs, beyond the open front door, came loud commotion—making the corridor feel all the more eerily silent.
Keeping my mixed feelings to myself, I walked forward—then came to an abrupt stop halfway down the hall. I sighed and turned around.
"Where have you been? You're late, Tommy."
There he was.Tommy, who had run off last night with a pale, shocked face upon hearing I'd be leaving for the Everdin duchy, stood there with tears streaming down his clear blue eyes.
I clicked my tongue at the sight, and he stammered,
"Yeah."
"I told you I am. Why'd you run away like that? I'm leaving now."
I wanted to spend our last moments roasting the baron together before I left the estate.
A waste of good time, really—but I couldn't blame him for reacting like that.
Tommy and I had been together since the moment I was born—like siblings.
Losing your only family… it hurt just as much for me.
"Stop crying, idiot. I'm really leaving. You're gonna cry all the way to the end?"
Clicking my tongue dramatically, I reached up and wiped the tears running down his cheeks.
Sensing this was truly the last moment, Tommy forced himself to stop crying. With a determined look, he promised,
"How'd you know I was gonna ask that? Good boy. I'm counting on you."
"I'll be back soon, so don't disappear, don't wander off, and don't cry saying you miss me. Got it?"
<…Huh? Come back? How?>
"…You'll see. Anyway, let's go."
I brushed off his question and gestured for him to follow.
He looked confused but obediently floated after me all the way to the front entrance.
"Ah! There she is. The girl's quite shy, so it seems she overslept. Hahaha!"
Stepping through the wide-open doors, I found the baron spouting nonsense with a pathetic, groveling grin.
Ignoring him, I turned to look at the person opposite him—then involuntarily opened my mouth.
Wow.
I'd seen ghosts since the day I was born, but I had never seen anything like this.
Standing before the baron was an elderly man. His body glowed faintly blue like a ghost, translucent—yet his clothing was unmistakably "of the living world."
He really looks half-ghost.
Then the old man—with a kind yet intimidating face—lifted a pen and paper and began writing.
The baron and his servants flinched, staring at him in fear.
He approached with short, quick steps, then lifted the paper so everyone could see.
「Then I shall escort the young lady. I will check on the carriage; the two of you may exchange farewells.」
After confirming both the baron and I had read the message, the old man gave me a warm smile before turning toward the carriage.
While he spoke with the coachman, the baron placed both hands on my shoulders.
"Terry."
His tone looked gentle on the surface, but he pressed down so hard that a sharp pain shot through my shoulders.
He lowered his head, smiling as he whispered,
"For your mother's sake, behave yourself and stay quiet. If you're lucky, you might even live comfortably in a place far above your station."
Everyone in the empire knew Everdin was financially ruined.
So his words were nothing but a sneer at me.
Figures. He stays disgusting to the very end.
But I prepared something for you, too!
Ignoring the pain in my shoulders, I gave him my brightest smile.
He flinched in confusion—at which point I raised my voice loud enough for the old man to hear.
"Daddy!"
"W-what?"
"I had a dream yesterday! Grandpa appeared in it!"
"O-oh… really?"
I flapped my arms excitedly. The baron grew flustered and released his grip.
"Yes! And do you know what he said? Lean your ear closer!"
Seeing the old man turn back toward us, I beamed and waited.
The baron couldn't shove me away with the old man watching, so he bent down with a stiff, forced smile.
I "accidentally" grabbed his ear—hard.
And then—
"You rascal!"
Using strength from my core, I wiped the smile off my face and bellowed.
"Aaargh!"
Tommy and I had trained for this.The baron jerked back, clutching his ear with a pained expression.
Hands on my hips, I screamed at him like a deranged person.