Chapter 29
I woke up to find a familiar ceiling.
It was Swoon’s bedroom.
“…?”
…What happened?
Still dazed, I blinked—and then last night’s events came rushing back into my mind.
I shot upright.
“Ah! Swoon?!”
Is Swoon okay?! Did last night end safely?!
At that moment, two voices rang out from beside the bed.
“Lady Lin!”
“You’re awake.”
It was Elda and Genebia.
Elda’s eyes were red and teary, while Genebia looked at me with deep concern.
“Elda? Genebia?”
I muttered their names blankly, and Genebia stepped forward, flipping me over and examining me like I was a pancake.
“Hm… fortunately, there don’t seem to be any lingering effects or aftereffects. Are you in any pain anywhere? You’ve been unconscious ever since you collapsed yesterday.”
At her words, I frantically checked my face and limbs.
The places that had been in excruciating pain after being exposed to poison were now completely fine.
“Oh—oh! I’m not in pain at all!”
“Good. It seems all internal injuries have been properly healed.”
“Wow…!”
As expected of the heroine’s abilities!
This was power that would be very useful for Swoon in the future.
“Thank you, Genebia!”
I looked at her with genuine admiration and gratitude.
Genebia looked a little shy.
“I was lucky. I happened to pass by in time, otherwise it could’ve been really dangerous.”
“That’s right, Lady Lin! Sob… we were all so worried about you and the young master!”
Hearing Swoon’s name, I snapped fully awake.
“Wait—Swoon? Where is Swoon?! Is he okay?! Is he hurt?!”
I looked around frantically.
Elda answered.
“The young master is fine. He stayed by your side all night and then left.”
Genebia added, shaking her head.
“The ash-gray-haired knight is perfectly healthy, so don’t worry. He was furious after you collapsed.”
Elda corrected her immediately.
“He’s the young master.”
Genebia replied flatly, “Ah, yes.”
Elda continued softly:
“I’ve worked in the annex for a long time, but I’ve never seen the young master so angry before. He was really worried about you.”
“Ah… I see.”
I smiled awkwardly, breaking into a cold sweat.
I didn’t know whether to feel happy or anxious.
My favorite character worried about me that much… that’s nice—but I also feel like he’s going to be extremely mad when I see him again.
The last time I saw Swoon, he looked… very angry. Worried too, but definitely angry.
“By the way, where is Swoon now?”
“He left this morning.”
“Left? Where?”
“The Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
“…What?”
I stared blankly at Elda, then Genebia, then out the window.
The sun was high in the sky.
…Oh no!!
I shot out of bed.
“Today?! Swoon’s ceremony?!”
“Yes, it should be starting soon.”
“Nooooo—!!”
I couldn’t believe it. I had passed out on such an important day.
As I clutched my head in despair, Elda tried to reassure me.
“P-please don’t worry, Lady Lin! The preparations were done perfectly thanks to me and Sir Garen!”
“R-really, Elda? You followed exactly what I told you, right?!”
“Of course! As you instructed—pants hem cut cleanly at the ankle, collar neatly structured but slightly open at a 45-degree angle to show the collarbone, and sleeves naturally loosened for that free-spirited northern nobleman look!”
“And the hair?”
“Styled exactly as you ordered! Fringe slightly loose, but overall elegantly arranged around the ears!”
“Excellent work, Elda!”
I hugged her tightly.
Genebia, watching us, muttered:
“…What kind of place is this?”
I quickly got up, smoothing out my wrinkled sleep clothes.
“No time to waste! We’re going now!”
“Lady Lin, no! You must rest as the young master ordered!”
“My rest is seeing Swoon! Move out!”
I grabbed Genebia and practically dragged her out.
“Why are you doing this to me?!”
“Because we’re going to Swoon’s ceremony!”
“I don’t want to go!”
“But I do!”
I declared seriously:
“You don’t want to see it? Swoon standing on that stage, all dressed up, receiving blessings from everyone?!”
“Not really—”
“I do! I REALLY do! So hurry up!”
“…You’re not listening to me at all!”
Elda followed behind us as we rushed out.
Hidden in Genebia’s thick curly hair, I looked around in awe.
“Wow… wow wow wow!”
The hall where the Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony was being held was beautifully decorated with ice sculptures and winter flowers.
Nobles from northern vassal families gathered in groups, with knights and attendants standing nearby.
“Let’s go inside! Hurry!”
I tugged Genebia’s hair like reins.
“Ow! Okay, okay!”
Genebia and Elda carefully pushed through the crowd.
No one paid attention to Genebia’s plain appearance or Elda’s maid outfit.
Thanks to that, we could clearly hear all the conversations around us.
“So that’s the rumored young master from the annex…”
“I heard he’s a frail shut-in. Looks like his health improved.”
“Tch, an illegitimate son on such a sacred day…”
“Still, he is blood of the former Duke…”
“I heard he personally resolved the merchant incident recently…”
“He resembles the former Duke quite a bit.”
I glared at them all.
Just you wait.
Once Swoon rises, you’re all going to regret it.
Still, some nobles showed faint curiosity and interest in him.
“…Hmph. Nobles are the same everywhere.”
Genebia muttered.
Elda replied sadly:
“That’s why the young master was always lonely…”
I thought of Swoon’s past.
A child who lost his mother and was thrown into a cold, hostile castle at eight years old.
How lonely he must have been…
“It hurts more than I imagined…”
I murmured, clutching my chest.
Elda smiled gently.
“But now he has you, Lady Lin.”
“Me?”
“You’ve changed him. He smiles more now.”
“…Really?”
“Sometimes, he even smiles while watching you.”
“Heh… hehehe… of course he does!”
Then Genebia tilted her head.
“What exactly is your relationship with him?”
“Relationship?”
I froze.
…Oh no.
I had been so focused on Swoon and Genebia’s romance that I completely forgot—
Nothing had actually progressed between them yet.
Before I could answer—
A deep horn echoed through the hall.
BOOOOOOM—
And the ceremony began.
