There stood a woman who looked as though she had stepped straight out of an etiquette handbook.
Victor let out a quiet laugh at Matthias's reaction, though in truth he felt much the same.
The summer sunlight sprawled lazily across the hem of her white dress like a cat basking in the warmth.
Fashion at the time favored dresses cut from the neck down to the shoulders, and the design accentuated her graceful neckline. The dress, decorated with softly gathered translucent ruffles, flared just enough to add a swan-like elegance without appearing excessive.
And then there was her posture.
Standing with gloved hands neatly folded before her, she carried herself with such dignity that she could have been escorted straight into a ballroom without looking the slightest bit out of place.
In short, the moment Yvel appeared, Matthias's concern that she would have difficulty pretending to be a high-ranking noblewoman vanished into thin air.
In particular, Yvel's naturally expressionless face gave off an aura that made it difficult for common people to approach her casually.
While everyone else was astonished, Yvel alone remained completely unfazed.
Victor noticed the faint trace of annoyance hidden in her amber eyes and found himself oddly amused.
"It suits you."
The compliment was sincere.
Yvel looked at him as though surprised and shrugged.
"A military uniform is much more comfortable."
"Have you ever learned social dancing?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Good."
Taking Yvel's exceptional learning ability into account, he had originally allotted two months. But at this rate, even one month would be more than enough.
Once she adapted to noble society, he planned to return to his territory and come back for her when everything was finished. That, too, seemed unlikely to pose any problems.
"Starting tomorrow, articles about us will begin appearing. First in the gossip magazines, then in the newspapers."
"Understood."
"Later today, we'll take a walk together through a nearby park. Are you comfortable with that?"
"I don't mind—"
She stopped herself.
"I mean... I don't mind."
The military manner of speaking had slipped out unconsciously, and Yvel awkwardly corrected herself with a softer tone.
The Grand Duke's lips curved upward ever so slightly.
It was a small change, but he seemed pleased.
Meanwhile, Granny Vanya excitedly spoke to the Grand Duke.
"Oh, Your Grace, you should have seen it! I was completely shocked while helping her prepare. The moment she touched the fabrics, she immediately knew where they came from. She could tell at a glance which embroidery looked refined and which looked outdated. And when choosing shoes, she picked exactly the right shine and heel height!"
"Is that so?"
"Of course! Those are things you simply can't know unless you've been educated in a prestigious noble household..."
A prestigious family.
Listening quietly, Yvel scoffed inwardly.
From the age of seven, she had been trained to become a valuable commodity to be sold off in the future.
At ten years old, she practiced dancing until her feet blistered.
If her etiquette was even slightly incorrect, she went without food for the day.
After enduring those cruel and horrific years, Yvel finally became perfect enough to satisfy her greedy parents.
Of course, once Abel began causing endless trouble after turning fifteen, her parents no longer spared even the slightest bit of attention for her.
"It would help greatly if you could tell me which things you know and which you do not."
Yvel placed her hand into the one politely extended toward her.
It was a simple gesture, yet it displayed a refined elegance that was neither excessive nor lacking.
Matthias and Granny Vanya let out admiring exclamations simultaneously.
"Do you remember Colonel Evershtein?"
"Of course."
"I am thinking of having you formally adopted as the adopted daughter of the Evershtein family."
Colonel Konrad von Evershtein.
The official owner of this secret residence and a man of considerable rank within the Bavarian military.
He had also been one of the twelve people who survived alongside her until the very end...
A father figure to all of them.
Yvel had followed him as if he truly were her father.
"Will I be able to see him?"
"Certainly. I've already sent a telegram asking him to come here in one month's time."
She would be able to meet Colonel Konrad alive.
The moment he said so, Yvel's face brightened.
"Do you remember how well the Colonel played the pan flute?"
"Yes."
"I remember him as a man who always lifted the spirits of the troops."
The exchange was brief, yet heavy with emotion.
Those days were gone now.
Only the two of them remained to share those memories.
Victor quietly exhaled and looked at her.
"Are you having trouble sleeping?"
"My body is much more comfortable than it was back then, so I'm fine—"
She corrected herself.
"So I'm fine."
Truthfully, there was no reason she shouldn't be.
The bed the Grand Duke had given her was extraordinarily expensive and incredibly comfortable.
Everything she used—what she ate, wore, and applied—was of the highest quality.
How could life be difficult?
Yet he seemed to see through her lie.
"If it's difficult to fall asleep, come find me. We're going to be husband and wife. Surely sharing a drink together isn't such a difficult thing."
"I will."
Knowing it was his way of showing consideration, Yvel accepted quietly.
"Then shall we go, my lady?"
He truly was skilled at both entering and leaving people's lives.
He knew how to put others at ease.
What lovely weather.
After being confined indoors for several days, she had begun to feel restless.
The weather was perfect today.
Certainly worth tolerating the inconvenience of a long dress.
Seated inside the carriage, Yvel watched the city through the window while warm summer air drifted inside.
The people were lively.
Every face seemed bright and cheerful.
How long had it been since she had seen such a sight?
Then again, even if war had broken out somewhere far away, it would remain someone else's problem in the capital.
"Are you truly comfortable becoming Colonel Evershtein's adopted daughter?"
"It would be an honor. To me... he was truly like a father."
He had remained honorable until the very end.
Yet Yvel felt that even calling his death honorable was an insult.
Because she had failed to save him.
Once again, she reminded herself that she wasn't a surgeon.
No matter how brilliant a doctor might be, no one could save someone whose lungs had been pierced.
Nor had she been able to remain beside Colonel Konrad as he died.
He had ordered her to go save those who still had a chance to live.
"I still can't believe I'll be able to see him again. This time... I want to treat him well. He won't remember me, of course."
"I feel the same. This time, I intend to do everything possible to ensure those people did not die in vain—to prevent the war itself."
"Ah."
"And even if war does come, I will do my utmost to survive."
Had she returned to the past alone, she never would have considered trying to stop the war.
How fortunate it was that the Grand Duke had returned with her.
Looking into his deep eyes, Yvel felt a quiet sense of relief.
If there was any special feeling between them, it was probably something called camaraderie.
Many married couples lived together out of loyalty alone.
If people could build marriages on that, why couldn't they build one on a bond even stronger than love?
Though sharing the same bed would feel incredibly strange.
Then again, they had slept side by side countless times on the battlefield.
Perhaps there was no reason it should feel strange at all...
Just as she was pondering that thought, the carriage slowed to a stop.
They had arrived at Grugapark.
A park famous for displaying sculptures by world-renowned masters, and a popular destination for both dates and family outings.
Even Yvel—who had avoided going anywhere outside school for fear of being caught by her family—had heard of it.
"I'll help you down."
"Th-thank you."
Ah.
How awkward.
Being treated like a proper lady felt strange indeed.
Suppressing a shiver of embarrassment, Yvel reminded herself that this was all part of the act and placed her hand in his.
The coachman stepped down and handed her a parasol, which proved very effective against the blazing afternoon sun.
To any observer, they appeared to be the perfect couple on a date.
The only difference was that their conversation was somewhat unusual for lovers.
"So Your Grace wasn't able to visit your territory very often either?"
"That's correct. I left it mostly in my aunt's care. As a result, the two children... became somewhat troublesome."
"Troublesome how?"
"The second child does not speak like a person. The eldest receives numerous lessons in preparation for an important future role within the family and is highly regarded. But the younger one behaves more like a beast than a human."
