‘Why not seriously try to kill him? Throw Pingsuni at him.’

A few days had passed since then.

Even so, I couldn’t forget Meteor’s letter.

Sitting in my room at the ducal mansion, I read it again, chuckling to myself.

It was just too funny.

How could this be our first conversation in six years, even if it was through letters?

It felt like a rare glimpse of Meteor after such a long absence.

Six years had passed since he left for special training—a long time by any measure. In that time, I had grown up and was now fourteen years old.

Meteor, on the other hand, was fifteen.

What kind of person had he become at fifteen?

When I last saw him at thirteen during the tutorial phase, I couldn’t have imagined how he’d look now.

I could only picture his snow-white hair and eyelashes gleaming in the sunlight, his even more delicate and strikingly beautiful eyes, and his elegant, well-defined features.

Everyone at the Pluto Ducal House missed him and longed to see him again. Yet, in all that time, he hadn’t returned home, not even once.

‘I thought he’d come back after three years, but then it turned into four… and now it’s been six.’

No one could have predicted he would dedicate himself to training for so long.

By now, you’d think he’d return, but there was no sign of that happening.

‘What a training addict. No wonder no one can match him.’

Stubborn as ever!

Feeling equal parts admiration and exasperation, I placed Meteor’s letter back in the drawer.

I figured it’d be at least another year before I saw him again.

Just then—

“Centi! Ceeenntiii!”

A voice called out from the hallway, and moments later, the door burst open.

Even without looking, I knew who it was.

“Madam!”

I stood up from my console and clasped my hands together, greeting her with a bright smile.

Rearwin entered, her radiant smile lighting up the room as if she’d seen a flower in full bloom. She wore a light, flowing indoor dress as she approached with her usual elegance.

I was now only slightly shorter than Rearwin.

In the six years that had passed, I had grown from a child into a young lady ready to debut as a débutante. Meanwhile, Rearwin hadn’t changed at all since the day we first met.

Her face lit up as she scanned me from head to toe, then she clapped her hands in delight.

“Oh my! Who would ever think someone as beautiful as you is a holy knight, Centi? I’m so excited for your débutante ball tonight! Everyone is going to fall in love with you!”

Her enthusiasm was echoed by the staff who had followed her into the room.

“I truly believe the young lady might be the most beautiful in our empire. And to think she wields such a heavy sword so effortlessly!”

“Her hair and skin are far smoother and more radiant than the young noblewomen who spend all their days in the mansion being pampered. You’d never guess she trains rigorously every day at the Holy Palace!”

“Haha, thank you all.”

I laughed a little shyly.

I’d heard countless compliments about being doll-like since I was a child.

Now that I’d grown, those compliments seemed to come even more frequently.

At the Holy Palace, I was endlessly pestered with date invitations and love letters from my fellow knights, so much so that it had become tiresome.

Whenever I went into town with Rearwin, we attracted all kinds of attention.

‘Am I really that eye-catching?’

If beauty was a skill, I wished I could transfer some of it to improve my swordsmanship.

After all, my looks were utterly useless to me right now!

Well, maybe I should at least leave enough for Dad to recognize me.

“Now, let’s get you ready. Centi, today you’re going to be the most beautiful person in the world. It’s going to be the brightest and happiest day of your life.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I answered lightly.

Though I’d thought of the débutante ball as a waste of time, seeing the Marchioness so happy made me feel a little excited, too.

***

Countless crystals in the chandelier sparkled brilliantly, reflecting the sunlight streaming in.

Though indoors, the ballroom felt open and airy, thanks to three large windows that had been left wide open.

Freshly cut flowers adorned every corner, their fragrant and invigorating scent filling the space without leaving a single gap.

Had the Pluto Ducal House ever gone to such lengths to decorate its ballroom before?

The hall seamlessly connected to the garden, inviting guests to wander into a paradise filled with chirping birds and natural beauty.

Rearwin, having completed her final inspection of the debutante venue, was overcome with emotion.

“Oh, Adamas, please let no Magi appear here today!”

She prayed fervently that even demons would have the decency to read the room.

The débutante ball for Crescent, now fourteen years old, was about to begin. Nothing could sour the atmosphere more than the sudden appearance of Magi during the event.

Rearwin had prepared everything as meticulously as if it were her own daughter’s debut.

Although Crescent wasn’t officially part of the Pluto family or even a noble, the debutante ball was crafted to match the grandeur of the family’s reputation.

‘Centi deserves this much!’

To Rearwin, Crescent was not just a ward but the family’s benefactor, light, and flower.

With her sons all away, Crescent was the only one who stayed by Rearwin’s side, living almost like a daughter.

At that moment, Miles appeared, scanning the surroundings before approaching Rearwin.

“Rearwin, don’t you think this is a bit much? How is this a debutante for a ward? Even our wedding wasn’t this extravagant—”

“Oh, what nonsense are you saying? Have you forgotten that Centi isn’t just any ward but our benefactor and savior?”

“Of course I haven’t, but this is excessive. People will start to think Crescent is truly our daughter.”

“I already consider her my daughter!”

“You’re impossible! Even Father will think this is a waste of the Pluto family’s honor!”

“Hmph. It’s been a while since this house has been so lively.”

“!”

Reuben’s voice interrupted them.

Miles turned pale at his father’s response.

“Are you saying you approve of this, Father?”

Reuben, with his hands clasped behind his back, looked around the ballroom with satisfaction.

“What’s not to like? It’s been ages since the house looked this bright and cheerful. I like it.”

“T-This isn’t a welcome party for Meteor! This is Crescent’s debutante ball! The very idea of her having such an event is already laughable, and hosting it here at the Pluto Ducal House is utterly outrageous! This is all wrong!”

“…Tsk.”

Reuben clicked his tongue in disapproval, fixing Miles with a disapproving stare.

“What’s the big deal about putting together an event like this for our family? Don’t make a fuss over nothing. Crescent’s reputation is now practically synonymous with ours.”

“Father!”

Miles shouted in disbelief.

But Reuben barely acknowledged him, strolling leisurely into the garden. Rearwin chuckled softly and followed after him.

Miles was left alone, stunned.

‘Everyone’s lost their minds! They’ve completely fallen under that girl’s spell!’

Was it because Crescent had saved their lives?

If you thought about it, it wasn’t as if Crescent had single-handedly ensured their survival in the Demon Realm.

It was Meteor who had saved Rearwin, and Reuben would’ve likely returned from the Demon Realm even without Crescent.

And yet, both Reuben and Rearwin acted as if Crescent had been their savior, ready to give her everything.

That was what Miles found so infuriating.

Yes, Crescent was extraordinarily beautiful, exceptionally talented as a holy knight, and the first female holy knight to appear in 150 years.

‘Meteor. Yes, at least there’s still Meteor. As long as he doesn’t fall for Crescent, we can maintain the Pluto family’s dignity. Meteor and I have to preserve the family’s pride.’

Miles shook his head furiously. He couldn’t let a mere ward monopolize the family’s affection.

Determined, he hurried after Reuben and Rearwin.

“Wait for me!”

After all, he didn’t want to miss out on a stroll through the garden.