After giving Luise the third ring, I took a brief moment to catch my breath.

Truthfully, I considered going to Irina right after, but giving my answer to both of them in such quick succession felt a bit off. It would feel like I was giving her a "buy one, get one free" treatment, and I didn't want her to feel like an afterthought.

Meeting both the Marquess and Luise on the same day was already a bit much, but Luise had been in a unique situation. If I had delayed with her, unnecessary misunderstandings would’ve built up.

Besides, there’s the matter of Irina’s family, the Count of Yorn.

Even if Irina genuinely liked me, I couldn’t be sure how the Count felt about it. Our relationship was complicated by the colorful history of the Third Division. Due to that, I had to be careful in responding to Irina; any misstep could cause trouble if Count Yorn opposed the relationship later. Alternatively, he might view it as a presumptuous request from me.

‘I’ll have to speak with him directly.’

Fortunately, her father, being a noble of titled rank, would be obligated to attend the New Year’s reception. I could approach him there for a frank discussion, to apologize sincerely, and ask for his approval.

The question was whether Irina would be willing to wait until then. With Margrita and Luise already wearing rings, she might feel left out without an answer of her own.

"Could you tell Irina not to worry? I’m preparing a ring for her already; I’m just waiting for the right timing."

"Of course! Leave it to me!" Luise agreed with a sparkle of determination.

Irina would be reassured by that. While I couldn’t delay indefinitely, waiting until the New Year’s reception should be manageable. Luise, fired up to help her friend, seemed up to the task.

“Brother, do you have a moment?”

And so, that plan was laid… or so I thought.

"Sure, come on in," I replied with a smile to Irina, who had cautiously poked her head in through the door.

Seeing the mixture of excitement and anxiety on her face, I had a feeling I knew what she wanted to talk about.

‘So it didn’t work out, huh.’

It seemed that Luise’s efforts hadn’t been enough to quell Irina’s impatience. Honestly, with a ring so close within reach, how could she be expected to hold back?

Though I had intended to wait for the New Year’s reception, if that only served to make her anxious, it would defeat the purpose. Perhaps it was better to resolve this now and then focus on persuading the Count of Yorn.

“Take a seat first. Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, please!”

I gently pressed her shoulders to guide her to a seat, then turned to the shelf where I had both a tea set and the fourth ring.

As I watched Irina sip her tea, I lifted my own cup.

‘Better to just get it over with.’

My mind was already made up. If she had mustered the courage to come to me directly, then her patience was at its limit. Delaying further would benefit no one.

After all, in this continent, it was customary for men to propose to the ladies they loved. Even if it was an arranged marriage, the proposal held symbolic importance. Irina had shown the courage to confess her feelings, despite tradition. To ask her to wait for my proposal after such courage would only insult her pride as a woman.

Once Irina seemed calm enough, I decided I would speak. Her breathing was a bit uneven, maybe from rushing over or perhaps from gathering the courage to bring up the subject.

“I told my family.”

Her words cut through my thoughts abruptly.

“…Pardon?”

The words hit me the moment I took a sip, and I couldn’t process her meaning right away.

“I told my family about my feelings for you, Brother. That I confessed to you.”

Her determined expression left no doubt. It was a serious declaration, no jest.

“So you have nothing to worry about.”

She had anticipated my hesitation and removed it from the equation.

‘Maybe families really do share similar traits.’

I nearly laughed at the decisiveness and directness of her approach. Irina was undoubtedly a true Yorn.

The Yorns, after all, were resilient. Though the Inspection Bureau had come down hard on them, they had withstood the blows, remaining one of the most influential noble families in the Golden Duke’s faction.

With a lineage like that, Irina was no ordinary lady.

"I almost gave up on you," Luise had said once, "but it was Irina who convinced me not to."

I remembered Luise’s words. During the summer break, when she saw Margrita and me growing close, she was ready to move on. But Irina had advised her to consider the option of being a second or third wife.

Because of that conversation, Luise now thought of Irina as a benefactor, which explained her willingness to reassure her on my behalf.

…But looking at it differently, Irina had been a strategist from the start, aiming to take a place even if it wasn’t first.

‘Is this the average in Yorn?’

Frankly, it was intimidating. Despite her young age and partial training, Irina had a keen sense of strategy.

---

My hands were sweating. This had been my best judgment, but if I’d miscalculated, this conversation would be deeply embarrassing for both of us.

But after a moment of surprise, Brother smiled and said, “Well, I suppose that settles things. If you’ve already told them, that certainly puts my mind at ease.”

I felt my lips curve into a smile before I even knew it.

I’d guessed right. He had been delaying because of concerns over my family, not out of disinterest or reluctance.

‘Thank goodness…’

I had been worried, wondering if he’d hesitated because he had doubts or if he’d been trying to avoid hurting me by turning me down.

Fortunately, it was none of those things. He’d merely been taking time out of kindness, out of consideration for my family. Nothing about it reflected the ruthlessness or heartlessness people often associated with the Inspection Bureau.

Of course I’d fallen for him—he held a position where he could have done whatever he wanted without consequence, yet he chose to be considerate, even apologetic, for his subordinates’ mistakes.

‘And my father recognized that too.’

The Inspection Bureau prided itself on being nearly infallible, viewing even its errors as justified actions. The former Bureau Heads had all behaved similarly.

So when Father received an apology letter from Brother, he’d been genuinely surprised. He had anticipated compensation since the Golden Duke himself had intervened, but he hadn’t expected an apology.

The thorough apology, restitution, and punishment of those who had wronged our family all satisfied him. We had received everything we could’ve wanted.

- “Who, exactly?”

Father hadn’t been as calm about me meeting with the Head of the Inspection Bureau, though.

After my confession, inspired by Luise, I spent that evening in a long conversation with Father.

“Kal Crasius. The Head of the Inspection Bureau, whom you already know, Father.”

Father frowned at my blunt response, and I understood his discomfort. I felt uneasy myself.

When he heard that Brother would be dispatched as the academy inspector, Father had been beside himself with worry. Even after receiving restitution from the Bureau, how could he not still hold onto some resentment?

But his daughter, rather than avoiding the Head of the Bureau, had confessed her love for him. Of course, he would be shaken.

- “You can’t. He’s dangerous.”

“I know he’s hurt our family. But—”

- “That’s not what I meant. He’s being targeted by the Iron-blooded Duke.”

The reply caught me off guard.

I had expected him to fixate on our past with the Inspection Bureau. But here he was, speaking as if he’d already moved past that.

Seeing my reaction, Father’s expression softened as he continued.

- “Irina, our family is merchants first, nobles second. Now that restitution has been achieved, there’s no need to dwell on it. So my feelings toward the Bureau Head are neutral.”

I had forgotten that about Father. He wasn’t a cold man, but he was thorough. Since none of us had suffered physically, there was no reason for him to hold a grudge.

“But… it was still a risk to our family. Doesn’t that bother you?”

Even as I spoke, I realized how strange my words were. I was supposed to be convincing Father, yet I had just pointed out Brother’s flaw.

- “We received more from it than we lost. The crisis didn’t destroy us, but the benefits will let us soar even higher.”

Father lightly shook his head, as if to dismiss the importance of the past.

- “Besides, the Valenti Marquess’s daughter is expected to become his wife. You know what that implies, right?”

“I do. And I’m ready.”

Father let out a small sigh at my response.

As a count’s daughter, I could not hope to take precedence over the Marquess’s daughter, who would undoubtedly be his first wife. At best, I would be a second or third wife, if not even further down the line. Father seemed pained by the thought of his daughter sharing her beloved with others.

Knowing his feelings, I smiled softly, comforted by his love.

- “…Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

I shook my head firmly, without hesitation. I would never regret becoming one of Brother’s wives.

It hadn’t always been this way. Unlike Father, I’d harbored resentment toward him, feeling angry and afraid.

But once I came to understand him

, to see him without prejudice, my feelings changed. That anger turned into affection, and the desire to distance myself became a wish to be closer.

It wasn’t just because he had saved me from that monster, nor simply because he had shown kindness. Though I’d been prepared to marry for strategy alone, he had inspired genuine desire in me.

This was someone I truly wanted to be with. Not a cold, unfeeling man selected for his power, but someone chosen by my heart.

And once I let him into my heart, I knew I’d never be able to look at anyone else.

- “Alright then. If you’re certain.”

Father had finally relented, granting his approval.

With that, all obstacles were cleared. With my family’s approval, all I needed now was his heart to be with me.

"Sorry for making you wait so long. I should have given you this sooner."

Just like now.

Like now, as Brother slipped the ring onto my finger. The ring I had longed for, the half-ring that would form a whole with his.

“You really are brave, Irina. You forgave me, and you weren’t afraid to ask for what you wanted.”

Brother’s warm smile was accompanied by a gentle pat on my head.

“I guess I have a lot to learn from you, Irina.”

“I’ll gladly teach you for a lifetime.”

We laughed together.

---

The world felt exhausting. I didn’t understand why things were the way they were.

‘Ugh…’

I had expected the Marquess to get a ring, of course.

But now Luise, the pink-haired lady, and the blonde had rings too. People who had met the master after Penelia now wore rings before she did.

‘Ughhhh…’

It made me dizzy. When Master returned, I had planned to tell him how much Penelia and the blonde liked him.

But that was impossible now. No news from Penelia, and the blonde lady had already received her ring.

“Eurice… Are you okay? You look down…”

“I feel like crying.”

“Oh, are you sick?”

I opened my arms to Sophia, who held me in a warm hug.

I really did feel like crying.

‘What should I do?’

If I could reach Penelia, I would tell her to confess. Master would surely go to her, and she would finally reveal her feelings.

But I couldn’t reach her. Still no response.

Penelia… where are you? How are you supposed to compete when you haven’t even stepped up to the starting line?

It’s nearly the end of the year… surely you’ll come back? Right?