The World Has Become Kinder to Her

*Wait. This isn’t the time to be reminiscing about such things!*  

Lotus’s heart began to race for an entirely different reason now. She slapped her cheeks hard with both hands, trying to snap herself out of it.  

*I don’t expect anyone to truly love me.*  

After all, she was a dirty illegitimate child, someone who didn’t fully belong anywhere. She had a pretty face and figure, but aside from that, she was just an empty shell.  

*That’s not what’s important right now. What matters is that some people, like my family, Frederick, Theodore, and even the Hycen heir, are behaving differently compared to the past. They might have also regressed…*  

Her thoughts tangled like a ball of yarn played with by a cat.  

*Family.* That cold and bitter word made her pause. She didn’t want to dig into that mess until someone threw undeniable proof in her face.  

*But I do need to investigate whether Frederick, Theodore, and Rikheus have also returned to the past.*  

She considered going straight to Frederick’s room and asking him directly if he had regressed, too.  

*But after what happened last night, it’s too awkward to face him…*  

Kenneth, with his straightforward personality, had answered her honestly, but could she expect the same from the ever-calculating Theodore or the slippery Frederick?  

And as for Rikheus, with whom she had no real connection in the past, that felt even more uncertain.  

*I need to gather as much information as I can.*  

Perhaps something unusual could be found in the gossip circulating among the nobility.  

Lotus pulled out not only the letters from Theodore and Rikheus, but also the other correspondence she had set aside.  

After filtering out the flowery greetings and useless pleasantries typical of noble letters, there wasn’t much useful information left.  

Most of the letters praised her debut, expressed concern for her health, or invited her to tea parties or other gatherings to strengthen their connections.  

There were a few noteworthy points, however.  

First, there were many invitations from noblewomen who hadn’t been particularly close to her in the past, including one from Lady Asilia of the Cabella Duchy.  

The reason for the cool relationship between Lotus and Lady Asilia was simple: Lotus had once been involved in a scandal with Kenneth, the knight Lady Asilia had admired.  

Naturally, Lady Asilia’s followers had also taken a dislike to Lotus, seeing her as someone who stood between their lady and her unrequited love.  

However, Lotus didn’t harbor much resentment toward Lady Asilia.  

She understood what it felt like to have unrequited feelings, and there had even been a time when Lady Asilia had come to her aid in a dire situation.  

It had been Asilia who rescued Lotus when she was being forcefully taken away by an ill-mannered noble from the Veras family.  

The same nobleman who had seemed so confident and superior in front of Lotus had been completely cowed by Lady Asilia’s presence, who outranked him significantly.  

— *“Lord Veras, where are you going in such a hurry with Lady Estelle?”*  

— *“Oh, we just had a few private matters to discuss…”*  

— *“Hmm. I’ve always heard that a true gentleman never spends time alone with a woman who isn’t his lover, fiancée, or wife, especially late at night. Did I misunderstand the rules of chivalry?”*  

— *“N-No, of course not. But Lady Estelle and I are about to start a… relationship…”*  

— *“No, we’re not.”*  

— *“It seems Lady Estelle doesn’t share that view. So, would you kindly release her hand? I have something urgent to discuss with her myself, and I’d appreciate your cooperation in stepping aside.”*  

— *“But, Lady Asilia…”*  

— *“Lord Veras, you seem to have a habit of dragging out conversations. Are you perhaps underestimating me because I’m a woman? Or do you think little of the Cabella Duchy? Shall I trouble one of my family’s knights to intervene?”*  

— *“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll withdraw at once.”*

Lotus lightly tapped the letter with her white fingers, lost in thought. The image of Lady Asilia, elegantly brushing aside Lord Veras as if it were nothing, still lingered in her mind. Her silvery hair flowing like clouds as she dismissed the nobleman was a sight to behold—graceful and proud.

— “Thank you for your help, Lady Asilia.”

— “Don’t misunderstand. I simply found him distasteful.”

At least from that encounter, Lotus had learned that Asilia wasn’t someone who could stand by when faced with injustice. If it hadn’t been for the scandal involving Kenneth, perhaps they could have been on better terms.

The letter from Asilia read:

“To Lady Estelle,  

The season grows colder as the winds of the goddess’s rest sweep in. I’ve thought long and hard about how to begin my first letter to you, but my concern for your well-being takes priority.  

I saw you faint at the banquet yesterday and was deeply worried. I hope it was just a momentary dizziness or exhaustion.  

If it’s not too forward, I would like to offer the services of my family’s physician, who is excellent at what he does. He has often helped me recover from dizziness and colds.  

I’m also sending you some lavender, which I thought might suit you. The fragrance is said to aid sleep, and I hope it brings you peace.  

Lastly, though this may seem sudden, I’d love for you to join me at a small tea party I’ll be hosting once you’ve recovered. A few other young ladies will be joining—nothing too grand.  

It would bring me great joy if you could attend. I look forward to having a pleasant conversation over tea and sweets in the warm sunshine.  

Yours sincerely,  

Asilia Cabella”

The lavender, however, was nowhere to be seen. Lotus had told her maids to throw out any flowers sent to her without even looking at them.  

The tea party was scheduled for a week from now.

“Is this letter meant to be friendly, or is there some hidden wariness?” Lotus murmured as she tapped the letter again. Then, she noticed something else: she had received many letters from men who had previously harassed her, men she had firmly rejected in the past.  

Some invited her to parties and gatherings, but most were filled with concern for her health or polite inquiries about her well-being.  

The absurdity of it all made her stomach churn once more.  

Just then, there was some commotion outside, followed by Jane’s voice.  

“Miss, are you feeling better? Should I call for a doctor if you’re still unwell?”  

Jane entered the room, remembering how Lotus had been sick the night before.

It was unexpected.  

*Why are they being so kind all of a sudden?*  

Lotus had always found it hard to tolerate this sort of unexpected kindness, her insides twisting in response.  

“I’m fine. It’s not that bad.”  

“But, Miss… You’ve been eating so little lately, and you vomited everything last night. Your body won’t be able to keep up if this continues.”  

“Are you pitying me?”  

“What? No, of course not!” Jane stammered, clearly flustered.  

“I hope not. I want you to simply do your job, Jane. If you stay professional, we can maintain a peaceful and quiet relationship.”  

Lotus’s quiet voice carried a sharp meaning: don’t try to close the emotional distance between us. In moments like this, her calm and gentle demeanor gave way to an unexpected coldness.

“I don’t need breakfast. Just bring me some lemonade to cleanse my palate. And fetch some high-quality stationery and a pen suitable for writing to noble families.”  

“…Understood.”  

Jane, noticing the scattered letters around the room, responded in a subdued voice. As she prepared to leave, Lotus asked her another question, her tone indifferent.

“Just asking, but… have you done something wrong that I don’t know about?” Lotus asked, eyeing Jane with suspicion. Jane’s recent change in behavior was too obvious to ignore, especially after the shift in the attitudes of the Marquis couple and Hession. Lotus didn’t directly mention the past or the future, mindful of the potential restrictions at play. 

“…Excuse me? What do you mean?”  

Lotus sensed hesitation in Jane’s response—just a few seconds of uncertainty. Something was definitely amiss, even if Jane tried to cover it up with a casual reply.  

“You’ve been acting overly submissive for the past few days. It’s odd, considering how the Marquis, Madam, and Young Master’s attitudes have shifted. You’re behaving too suspiciously.”  

“N-no! It’s nothing like that… I just…”  

“Just what?”  

“I just want to get along with you, Miss.”  

It was a response that felt strangely deflating, draining Lotus’s energy. But Jane’s earlier hesitation told Lotus there was more to it.  

*She’s hiding something. But whether it’s connected to the regression or not, I can’t say yet.*  

Lotus harbored suspicions about Jane but didn’t press further. She had far more pressing matters to attend to.

Sipping her cold lemonade, Lotus focused on writing replies to Lady Asilia and Rikheus.  

To Lady Asilia, she carefully penned a polite acceptance of the tea party invitation, expressing her gratitude for the kind gesture.  

Her reply to Rikheus was more formal, thanking him for his concern but declining the need for a personal visit.  

While writing those two letters was draining, it was nothing compared to the struggle of composing her letter to Theodore.

Lotus’s mind was spinning with ideas, fragments of verses, and famous quotes, none of which seemed sufficient to probe him.  

*Should I just go all out and call him “Del” again?*  

Once, she had dared to use that affectionate nickname, just to gauge his reaction. The result had been utterly underwhelming.  

— *”Lotus. It’s better to use precise names for both people and things, rather than shortened versions.”*  

He had said that with his usual calm expression, giving nothing away. If Theodore had regressed and didn’t wish to reveal it, he would likely ignore any attempts to confront him directly.

*So I need to craft a message that he can’t dismiss, even if he wants to.*  

*Maybe it’s better to wait until I’ve read some of the books he recommended and respond accordingly?*  

By the time Lotus had finished drafting two letters, the entire morning had passed. She handed the letters to Jane for delivery and prepared to head out.  

“Miss, are you sending me on errands to get rid of me before you go out?” Jane’s voice sounded on the verge of tears. Ah, it hadn’t been intentional, but it was easy to see why Jane might think so.  

“Oh dear, you figured it out? What a shame,” Lotus responded with a teasing smile. Jane blinked at her, momentarily stunned.  

“You can laugh like that too, Miss?”  

“Don’t be ridiculous.”  

“If you’re heading out, may I accompany you?”  

“No. I’m going alone.”  

“Why? Is it because you dislike me?”  

“I’ve managed just fine on my own until now. Having someone follow me around suddenly would be uncomfortable.”  

“T-then at least take a knight with you. Something dangerous might happen!”  

“A knight?”  

*Perhaps the knights are the bigger danger,* Lotus thought, swallowing a bitter smile.