At long st, we arrived at Eri’s manor.

  As the carriage came to a gentle stop, Aunt Elle was already waiting for us at the door, framed by polished stone columns and golden afternoon light—looking, as always, like she had just stepped out of a painting.

  Though slightly shorter than my mother, the resembnce between them was unmistakable—those same soft waves of strawberry blonde hair and a porcein-like poise that ran deep in their blood.Where my mother carried herself with understated grace, Aunt Elle radiated presence. Charismatic, articute, and never afraid to speak her mind—though always with just enough tact to remain effortlessly adored.

  And just as striking as her presence was her influence.

  Aunt Elle didn’t follow fashion trends—she created them.The current craze sweeping through the empire? Pixie cuts adorned with gemstone-studded headbands? All her ideas.

  Of course, it helped that Hertel County—her domain—was the empire’s rgest textile producer. Designers flocked to it, opening boutiques not only in the royal capital but now in Hertel as well, transforming the county into a blossoming second fashion hub.And right at the center of it all stood Aunt Elle, the woman who could turn a passing whim into a season’s must-have look.

  She was fashion incarnate. Noblewomen from across the empire wrote to her, visited her, practically begged her for a hint of what colors or cuts would reign next.Her word didn’t just set trends—it rewrote them. It was the w.

  Today, she wore what I could only assume was the prototype for summer’s next sensation.The fabric shimmered faintly in the sunlight, cinched just below the bust rather than at the waist, drawing subtle emphasis to the chest before cascading in soft, airy yers that fluttered with every movement. It was effortlessly elegant—and dangerously fttering.

  My mother tilted her head slightly. “What are you wearing, Elle?”

  Aunt Elle beamed, lifting her skirt ever so slightly in a showy swirl. “Oh, this?” she said brightly. “Summer’s on its way, so I asked Diana to make something a little more weather-conscious.”

  She paused for dramatic effect, eyes twinkling.

  “You know—the Diana. The empire’s finest designer, darling.”

  My mother watched her sister’s little fashion show with an affectionate smile, ughter dancing in her eyes. “Give us another spin, Elle,” she said, her voice light as petals in the breeze. “Let me see it properly.” And from the way she was already imagining fabric choices and trim, I knew a tailor would be summoned before the day was out.

  “Aunt Elle, would that dress suit me too?” I asked, half-wishing I could already step into it.

  “Oh, my sweet spring blossom,” she cooed, turning to me with a grin. “It would—just not yet. A dress like this needs a touch more... drama.” She traced her hands along her own elegant curves with a wink. “Let the seasons work their magic first.”

  I giggled. “Well then, maybe we should design something summer-worthy for budding dies too. We feel the heat just the same!”

  It was true. While I hadn’t quite bloomed yet, I could already imagine the woman I’d grow into—graceful like Mother, I hoped. I certainly had her features, and with luck, I’d avoid inheriting Father’s muscur frame. It looked great on him, yes—especially for sword training—but I wasn’t exactly dreaming of broad shoulders. Mother, on the other hand, looked untouched by time or childbirth, as if the goddess of beauty had blessed her thrice.

  “Nia!”

  The moment shattered like gss catching sunlight. I turned to see Eri bursting from the manor, her ughter trailing behind her like ribbons.

  “You’re finally here!” she squealed, rushing toward me with arms flung wide.

  “Eri!” Aunt Elle called after her, half amused, half exasperated. “What did Mommy say about shouting and running like a wildling?”

  “Oops! Sorry, Mommy!” Eri called back, half-turning with a mischievous grin. “I’m just so excited Nia’s here!”

  Before anyone could say another word, she seized my hand and began dragging me inside the manor with all the urgency of someone uncovering a hidden treasure.

  “Come, come, Nia! I have something very important to show you!”

  Our mothers shared an amused gnce before slipping off into the sitting room, no doubt already lost in conversation over tea and the test court rumors. Behind us, Jane and Cecil followed obediently—though their expressions were anything but eager.

  They already knew where this was going.

  Eri’s grip on my hand remained firm as she practically bounced down the hallway, leading me toward a destination I knew all too well. Her private insectarium.

  Despite Aunt Elle’s valiant efforts to steer her daughter toward more conventional noble hobbies, Eri’s love for bugs had proven persistent. And so, a modest structure had been built just beyond the greenhouse—her own little sanctuary for butterflies, beetles, and all things that made noble dies flinch.

  Jane and Cecil were trying very hard to keep their composure. Neither of them had the heart to voice their discomfort aloud, but the silent dread on their faces said it all. Unfortunately for them, they had no choice but to follow.

  We were just steps away from the manor’s rear exit when a small voice rang out like a silver bell.

  “Sister Nia!”

  I turned just in time to see a little figure racing down the hall, arms filing and cheeks flushed with excitement. At his heels trailed a panicked nanny, breathless and clearly losing the chase.

  It was Rein—Eri’s younger brother and my youngest cousin.

  At five years old, he was already a bundle of boundless energy and curious questions. With tousled light brown hair and wide, wondering green eyes inherited from Uncle Rich, he radiated the kind of pure-hearted charm that made even the sternest nobles soften.

  He was a quiet child by nature, but when he spoke, it was always with surprising thoughtfulness. Lately, he'd developed a fascination with books and stars, often asking questions far beyond his years. I had a feeling he’d grow to be just like his father—gentle, observant, and quietly brilliant.

  Mother and I doted on him endlessly. It was impossible not to.

  Rein reached me in seconds, flinging his tiny arms around my waist in a warm, giggling hug.

  “You’re really here, Sister Nia!” he chirped, his voice muffled slightly against my skirt.

  I bent down to his level and brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes. “I am. And my, haven’t you grown taller since the st time I saw you?”

  He beamed, rocking back on his heels. “I’m five now,” he decred proudly. “Almost six!”

  “Almost six?” I gasped in mock surprise. “How terribly fast time flies! At this rate, you’ll be taller than me by next summer!”

  Behind him, Martha, his nanny finally caught up, slightly breathless but relieved. She gave a polite curtsy, mouthing an apology, but I simply smiled in return.

  Rein tugged at my hand. “Do you want to see my new book about stars? It has drawings—and bels!”

  “I’d love to, but Eri already has me on a secret mission,” I said, gncing toward the girl in question.

  She was waiting by the doorway, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently. “He can show you after,” she decred. “Come on, Nia! My lovelies are waiting!”

  With a parting pat to Rein’s head and a promise to visit him in the library ter, I followed Eri as she led the way out the rear doors of the manor.

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