Father, I Won’t Do Anything

Though a knight, his untanned fair complexion and neatly defined muscles made him look delicate compared to the rugged mercenaries.

His violet eyes and sky-blue hair were a clear giveaway of his non-human heritage.

His appearance was ripe for dismissal, and he did face discrimination, but Izren was knocking down one opponent after another, relying solely on his skill – those larger in stature or trained in better environments.

“Izren!”

Even if Jaina raised her voice, it would be insignificantly small compared to the roaring cheers around, yet Izren uncannily found her in the crowded arena and met her gaze.

A faint glow seemed to cross his usually expressionless cheeks.

Seeing Izren’s gently curved eyes, Elia commented:

“You seem quite close with your guardian knight.”

“Well, we’ve known each other for a long time, and he has helped me greatly.”

“Still, about Rosian…”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

For a brief moment, a guarded look flashed across Elia’s cool expression.

* * *

As the martial arts tournament’s main rounds were nearing their end, a lady approached Jaina and Elia.

“May everlasting glory and blessings shine upon Delaide. Princess Elia, I am Countess Milpres.”

Jaina had heard from her etiquette tutor.

Countess Milpres was a woman who frequently hosted social gatherings in high society these days.

Despite her husband’s recent passing, she was gaining popularity through her inherited title, wealth, and trademark charm.

‘They say she’s become a completely different person since before her marriage…’

“What business do you have with me?”

In response to Elia’s question, the woman gave a captivating smile and greeted her with courtesy.

“Upon seeing the embodiment of the goddess of war, Princess Elia, at the martial arts tournament grounds, I couldn’t help but pay my respects.”

Of course, there was nothing wrong with being polite.

However, this was the martial arts tournament grounds, after all.

‘In the midst of all these people swarming like ants, did she really need to come over just to greet her?’

Other nobles had also seen Elia but simply greeted her from their seats, not approaching her directly.

It seemed the woman before them was intent on gaining Elia’s favor.

Elia seemed to share the same thought, her beautiful brows faintly furrowed.

She disliked those who fawned and flattered.

“Your lengthy greeting is done. Go ahead and state your business at the martial arts tournament grounds.”

“Before that, perhaps you would consider attending a soiree I’m hosting next time… Oh my!”

No matter how good Elia’s seats were, the arena was still cramped by nature.

Countess Milpres, conversing with Elia with Jaina between them, seemed to have gotten her legs tangled and lost her balance, falling towards Jaina.

“Kyaahh!”

Reflexively, Jaina grabbed the arm of the person toppling over in front of her.

“Oh my… I’m so sorry.”

Seeing Countess Milpres practically sitting on the floor, Elia no longer tried to hide her visible displeasure.

“It would be best for you to take your leave now.”

“I’m so… sorry…”

And at the moment Countess Milpres staggered to her feet, Jaina noticed her dress had been torn.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. What should we do?”

It seemed her dress had been ripped when the Countess had stepped on it while falling.

“It’s alright. You didn’t mean to.”

“But it’s such a pretty dress… Are you really sure it’s okay?”

Jaina met the gaze of Countess Milpres, who seemed to deliberately prolong the conversation.

“Aren’t you at all upset to have a dress you put so much effort into tailoring ruined, my lady?”

Her words struck an odd chord within Jaina.

‘Huh?’

For a moment, one side of Jaina’s chest tightened.

It felt as if Countess Milpres was observing her reaction.

‘Was it just my imagination?’

However, when Countess Milpres soon made an apologetic expression and quietly withdrew, Jaina thought she had been too sensitive and refocused on the matches.

And that night.

“Miss Jaina! It’s an emergency!”

Yurika woke the sleeping Jaina, saying there was an urgent message from the atelier.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, you’ll have to see for yourself.”

It was extremely rare for the composed Yurika to be so flustered.

Instead of throwing a tantrum, Jaina immediately got up, tidied herself, and changed her clothes.

With Mikael’s help, she then used spatial teleportation magic to the atelier.

“Oh, you’ve arrived.”

The atelier employee who had urgently contacted Jaina deeply bowed in apology.

“I’m so sorry! I definitely checked the atelier’s security multiple times, but…”

“What happened?”

“Well, you might be better off not seeing it, even though I’ve already notified you…”

Jaina grasped the door handle the employee had been using her body to block.

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

When Jaina opened the atelier door and entered, she witnessed a scene so cruel that she understood why the employee had said those words.

The mannequin that had displayed Jaina’s debutante dress was grotesquely disfigured, and the most important debutante dress itself had been viciously torn into shreds scattered all around.

As if someone wished for Jaina’s debutante – no, for Jaina herself – to end up in such a state.

It was clear someone harbored a grudge against Jaina.

“…”

“Dammit, who the hell did this!”

The sound of Mikael, who had come along, letting out his pent-up rage could be heard from behind.

However, Jaina, the victim herself, only gazed around the room with cold eyes.

Along with the dress shreds were scattered bright red rose petals, reminiscent of blood, and on the wall-mounted mirror, a message was written in lipstick:

[Sincere congratulations on your seventeenth, the last for one born of impurity.]

* * *

Upon belatedly learning of this, Princess Elia was also furious.

She had Mikael track down the culprit.

“I’m going to slaughter the bastard who did this right away.”

Incensed that someone would try to ruin his beloved Jaina’s debut, Mikael immediately used tracking magic.

However, the truly important issue remained unresolved.

“What about the debutante dress?”

They would have to find another atelier, but with it being debutante season, all ateliers had closed their order books.

The maids Elia had assigned to assist with Jaina’s dress fretted anxiously.

“We could ask them to make a new one, but…”

For such an incident to occur so publicly during debutante season, requesting a new dress from the already overloaded ateliers would essentially be stealing someone else’s opportunity.

Elia’s brow deeply furrowed.

She wanted to help Jaina somehow, but she couldn’t harm the other ladies who had been eagerly awaiting their once-in-a-lifetime debutante.

“Your Highness, at this rate, Lady Jaina’s one and only debutante may be ruined.”

Before Elia could intervene, Jaina spoke in a calm voice.

“I’m alright.”

“How can you be alright? The debutante is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“That’s precisely why I said that. For other ladies, it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The debutante was crucial for noble ladies because it allowed them to find potential husbands in high society.

And marriage was a monumental event that would determine the course of their lives.

‘But I won’t be getting married, after all.’

Jaina lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows.

No matter how long she lived, she wasn’t meant to last beyond this year.

So to her, the debutante was simply a grander soiree than usual, nothing more.

“I certainly remember the heart with which Princess Elia wished to give me the most beautiful dress. That alone is enough for me.”

Jaina also courteously greeted Elia’s maids, whose eyes became moist.

‘To have her debutante, which others prepare for years in advance, ruined, yet she speaks like that.’

‘No wonder Princess Elia dotes on her. She’s a kind-hearted young lady.’

The maids who admired Elia were deeply moved, remarking that Jaina’s character resembled the Princess’s.

“Very well, I shall exercise my authority.”

Elia spoke as if having made a decision. Although she normally disliked abusing her power, a noble lady’s debutante was far too important.

At Elia’s words, her maids brightened, expressing approval.

However, the subject herself, Jaina, shook her head.

“There’s no need. I don’t really care much about others’ opinions.”

With a faint smile, Elia gently stroked Jaina’s hair.

Her well-maintained tresses slid smoothly through Elia’s fingers without catching.

“I won’t let your debutante end up ruined like this.”

“Princess Elia.”

“And I absolutely won’t overstep my bounds, either.”

Elia’s words left question marks in people’s minds.

* * *

After confirming that the famous ateliers were fully booked, Jaina had the carriage driven to an area away from the city center.

“If it’s not those places, it will be difficult to tailor a dress according to current fashion trends.”

“Not only would obtaining the fabric be challenging, but more importantly, their lace and embroidery skills would be sorely lacking.”

Elia’s maids wore worried expressions as the carriage headed towards a secluded area.

Only Elia silently watched Jaina’s actions with unwavering trust.

Jaina stopped the carriage in front of a decrepit building in a back alley that could hardly be called an atelier.

“Surely you don’t intend to have your dress tailored here?”

“Is this place really even an atelier?”

Jaina fully understood their concerns.

‘If I hadn’t read , I wouldn’t have known there was an atelier here either.’

Of course, she didn’t know the exact location.

After alighting from the carriage, Jaina scanned the surroundings, searching for someone.

“Excuse me. Is Lady Livian Krechet here, by any chance?”

Jaina called out her name several times, but the owner didn’t appear.

It was then that the maids’ faces turned an even deeper shade of unease.

“Oh, my brother said to tell you he’ll pay the money back soon, so please wait a little longer…”

A plump, innocent-looking young lady emerged, opening the creaky second-floor window.

“Just give him one more week, I’m sure…”

“Oh no, I didn’t come here to collect money.”

Seeing the disbelief in Livian’s eyes, Jaina spread her hands in a placating gesture.

“Rather, I’ve come to pay you. I’d like to commission my debutante dress from you, Miss Livian.”