Father, I Won’t Do Anything

The birthday celebrant had been the popular class president whom many friends adored.

-The hanging balloons are so cute. Are these flowers real?

The house, specially decorated for the birthday, was stunningly lavish from the very entrance.

The children marveled as they looked around.

-Wow, won’t the table break with all this food?

-Your parents are truly amazing.

Not only had they rented a bus to accommodate all the children in the class, but they had also asked a famous chef to prepare the food.

Although various children asked questions and made comments, the story Min Pobae wanted to hear never came up.

Finally, mustering her courage, Min Pobae approached the class president and casually asked:

-It’s a weekday, but your parents are both here.

-Yeah, they both took time off from their busy schedules because of me.

More than the magnificent birthday party, she envied having parents who wanted their child to be loved by their friends enough to invite the entire class.

Was that why?

The ever-smiling and popular class president’s smile was always as bright as a flower.

It was a clear reflection of being loved by her parents, something Min Pobae couldn’t find in herself at all.

That’s what she had thought, but…

“Jaina, to be honest, I felt a bit uneasy after coming to the Magic Tower today.”

Marilyn approached Jaina, who was standing on the terrace, and broached the subject tentatively.

“You’ve never talked about your parents before. I was curious about how you ended up living at the Magic Tower, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.”

“…”

“But after seeing Hilvenzia, the one who prepared this birthday party for you, and your brother, it put my mind at ease, knowing you’re receiving so much love.”

As if hearing something unexpected, Jaina gazed blankly at her companion.

“Heheh. That’s how much I care about you.”

Jaina recalled the wish she had made when blowing out the candles earlier.

No matter how persistently her friends asked, she hadn’t revealed her wish.

Well, it wasn’t something worth mentioning, after all.

-Please ensure others don’t grieve too long when I die.

It seemed she was starting to understand what happiness was…

“Marilyn.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“…No, nothing.”

A newfound trepidation towards death had begun creeping into her heart.

* * *

“You’ll be making your debut soon, aren’t you nervous? I didn’t even diet, but I’ve lost weight. I’ve been so tense that I’ve lost my appetite.”

Marilyn, who had agreed to go dress shopping together, chattered nonstop inside the carriage.

“How can I find a dress that accentuates my charm without being too flashy?”

“That is a difficult question, indeed.”

“I need to make an impression at the debutante ball to have an easy time in high society going forward.”

The original work didn’t specify the exact timing, but Jaina dies at the age of seventeen.

As that fact became increasingly clear with each passing day, Jaina had already made up her mind.

However, separate from that, she intended to give her full effort for the debutante ball.

-How important are social activities for nobles?

Those around her hoped Jaina would successfully make her debut at the debutante ball, just like other noble ladies, in an ordinary way.

And Jaina herself wished to enjoy modest luxuries until the day before her death.

So that whenever she died, she would have no regrets.

* * *

The debutante ball was an occasion for unmarried ladies to introduce themselves before the Emperor.

Only after debuting could they receive and send marriage proposals, so the debutante ball was also a declaration of entering the full-fledged marriage battlefield.

Being at the center of high society increased the chances of meeting a suitable husband.

No matter how much women’s social advancement had increased lately, led by Elia, a woman’s life changed significantly depending on her marriage, unless she became a magician, a knight, or held an administrative position.

This was because hereditary titles were mainly passed down to the eldest son.

“We were sent by Princess Elia.”

Elia had dispatched her own maids to assist Jaina with her debutante preparations.

Normally, it would suffice to visit an atelier for a reasonably tailored outfit, but the debutante ball was special.

The cutting-edge trends in high society were something only active participants could fully grasp.

Certainly, the atelier’s designers would provide some guidance, but they couldn’t compare to Elia’s maids, who were all ladies from prestigious families and thus highly capable.

“For an unmarried lady, white is the basic foundation.”

“Too flashy is no good, but too simple won’t do either.”

“We should start by considering the dress fabric.”

The maids engaged in in-depth discussions with the designer, their heads together.

And they received Jaina’s final approval.

“What do you think, Lady Jaina?”

“Yes, I like it too.”

It was a white dress with fashionable lace patterns and exposed shoulders.

Pristine, intricate, and elegant – anyone would find it flawless.

The atelier’s designer staked her honor on this dress being absolutely unimpeachable for Jaina.

Thus, the dress Jaina would wear to the debutante ball was decided.

* * *

If the debutante ball was the most important event for noble ladies, then the martial arts tournament was the most important for noble gentlemen.

This was due to the emphasis placed on military might after the war with the Demon King and successive foreign wars.

“It’s nice to go outside with you like this.”

Originally, tickets to the martial arts tournament were difficult to obtain, but thanks to Elia, Jaina was able to secure good seats.

Under a cloudless blue sky, the scorching sun blazed fiercely.

Beneath it, youths shed precious sweat.

“Hiyaah!”

“Eeeyaah!”

Knights, mercenaries, and even raw rookies who had barely handled a sword.

Winning the martial arts tournament brought great honor, so it naturally drew a lot of participants.

“Thanks to Her Highness the Princess presiding over the awards ceremony, I’ve gotten such a good seat.”

The heroic Elia, who wasn’t a martial artist herself, would be honoring the champion in place of the Emperor.

“Even as the presenter, I’ll be watching the matches with you until the awards ceremony.”

The knights and mercenaries in the arena had broad chests, wide shoulders, and sturdy thighs.

Unlike the delicate noble gentlemen, their eyes shone with a fierce light as they wielded their swords.

“They’re truly amazing…”

Watching the knights and mercenaries warm up before the martial arts tournament began, the young ladies blushed.

However, even those brimming with rugged charm paled in comparison to Elia.

Thus, the ladies envied Jaina, who sat beside Princess Elia and received her care.

“Is anything uncomfortable?”

Befitting the martial arts tournament setting, Elia wore her knight commander’s uniform, her long golden hair tied up high.

Her chiseled jawline hinted at where Rosian’s beauty came from, her aura as sharp as a blade itself.

“You had some lash residue here.”

As Elia extended her long, slender fingers to caress Jaina’s cheek, wistful sighs drifted from all around.

“Oh my, how could…”

“Princess Elia is as dashing as ever today…”

Naturally, she was an object of admiration for the female knights walking the same path, but even the male knights who avoided her for being too masculine envied Elia.

“Who is that child to receive such affection from Princess Elia?”

“I wish it were my cheek her fingertips touched.”

As time passed, the martial arts tournament finally began.

Instead of giving Jaina, who knew little about swordsmanship, a detailed explanation, Elia proposed a wager.

“I think the knight on the right will win.”

“Then I’ll bet on the knight on the left.”

The two knights’ swords clashed. After a few exchanges that seemed evenly matched for a while, the knight on the right soon emerged victorious.

“I’ll make the next bet.”

However, Jaina’s choice was wrong once again.

“As expected, I can’t match Princess Elia. Given the size difference, I thought the mercenary I picked would win.”

Elia smiled slightly and began explaining.

“When they entered, I could tell his steps weren’t those of someone properly trained in the sword. There’s a limit to relying solely on brute force.”

Elia’s explanations were precise and smooth.

Without using difficult terminology, she explained in a way Jaina could understand, allowing Jaina to correctly predict the winner after a few failures.

“You won this round. Congratulations.”

As Jaina continued watching the martial arts tournament, she found her gaze repeatedly drawn to a particular knight for some reason.

Raeize Vencherth.

‘I’ve never heard that name before.’

Even the audience seemed unfamiliar with the name Vencherth, tilting their heads in wonder about which house he was from.

It was unthinkable for him to use an alias, as merely advancing to the main tournament would already elevate his house’s status. Why did it feel so familiar?

Clang!

Raeize Vencherth, victory!

“A good match.”

Despite his voice not being particularly thin, the knight’s soft tones were as clear as the wind.

As Jaina pondered the words he had spoken, Elia’s voice startled her.

“Are you interested in that knight? You’ve been watching him since earlier.”

“I don’t know much about swordsmanship, but it seems like he hasn’t fully demonstrated his abilities yet.”

There was another peculiar point about him. Raeize Vencherth the knight was a mystery not just in name, but in appearance as well.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone conceal their face with a mask at an event like this.”

“And he’s still allowed to participate?”

“Since the tournament is held so strictly, he must meet the qualifications. If his face isn’t revealed, it’s only a loss for him.”

Jaina lent an ear to the ensuing comments, but soon couldn’t hide her disappointment.

“In my opinion, the face behind that mask is definitely handsome.”

“How would you know?”

“Because he has such a nice voice!”

“…What kind of reasoning is that?”

“If he had an ugly face with a voice like that, maidens would be weeping tears of blood!”

For a moment, Jaina wondered if she had also been drawn to the knight Raeize because of his appealing voice.

“…Hmm.”

And as Elia gazed at Jaina with a proud expression, she didn’t seem to notice Jaina’s reaction.

“Oh, it’s Izren.”

There was a different knight Jaina was rooting for in this martial arts tournament.

Izren Danarod.

Even while guarding Jaina, he had never neglected his training, and being from the Magic Tower, he was skilled in wielding magic power.

Thanks to this, his abilities had long surpassed those of a regular knight, and talks had begun about him completing the highest rank of Grandknight and eventually retiring from his position as a guardian knight.

Having now advanced to the main tournament, this already counted as a splendid debut for him.

Clang!

“Izren Danarod, victory!”