Paul, being a noble, was adept at masking his emotions. Sometimes, his smiling face resembled a mask, and it gave me an eerie feeling.

Now that I think about it, my father once told me when I was young, Nobles stab you in the heart with a smile on their faces.

"..."

I suddenly found myself smiling. At that time, my mother, in a low voice, had muttered, Then just kill them as you pull the knife out.

Father hadn't meant it literally, but...

Since my father and I often spoke in the Arenon language, which wasn't my mother’s native tongue, she picked up some phrases over time. But when it came to metaphors, she struggled to grasp their meaning. I think she took my father's words literally.

Back then, I didn't remember my previous life either, and I would shout the same things as my mother.

Okay, Mom. I'll kill them before they can pull the knife out.

Hmm, I was simple and foolish, even as a child. It felt like since I was born as Rafa and blended with the environment, my intelligence had regressed somewhat. I had become simpler, a bit different from who I used to be in my previous life.

Perhaps a soul isn’t made up of just one solid entity. Since my rebirth, I've occasionally thought this. Maybe a human soul is a mosaic of small fragments, gathered together across many reincarnations.

Being born as Rafa, I am not entirely the same as my past self—similar but slightly different.

As these vague thoughts ran through my mind, Paul's voice came into my ears.

“… In addition, we have received funds from several places related to the dragon hunt. On top of that, we must also discuss the reward for defeating the flesh-eating ants. Therefore, I was hoping that you would come to the estate this evening.”

Ah, I shouldn't be standing here daydreaming.

“Of course, Miss Tatiana is also welcome. Since the two of you were a team, and both of you are heroes who saved our city.”

Paul smiled brightly.

“I appreciate the invitation, but we must leave early tomorrow for our next request. Please deposit the dragon reward at the guild. As for the reward for defeating the ants, we’re okay without it. We didn't do it expecting a reward.”

I cut off his suggestion as neatly as I could, and Paul looked at me with a saint-like smile.

He seemed flustered inside—his eyes were trembling slightly.

“Well… I suppose that might be difficult. We must provide a proper reward. Our domain handles these matters strictly, unlike other places that try to sweep things under the rug.”

Hmm, so showing that compensation and due processes are properly handled is important to him. At the very least, he needs to make it seem like they’ve paid the reward.

In that case, I see no reason to refuse.

Besides, it’s a source of income for Tatiana as well.

The more money, the better.

“Alright, then, please pay the reward in cash and deposit it into the guild.”

Paul looked at me, seemingly at a loss for words.

But he kept that saint-like smile on his face.

Nobles are truly incredible. How does he manage to keep that smile plastered on his face? If it were me, my facial muscles would have cramped up long ago.

Paul spoke with a subtle hint of desperation.

“But… perhaps we could discuss this further. Maybe there’s something Rafa desires, or something we could provide. Or perhaps there's something Miss Tatiana would like as well. It would be best to talk it out properly, don't you think?”

He really wanted to extend the invitation, after all. It seemed clear that this wasn’t just about discussing the reward.

Something about it smelled troublesome.

“I’m sorry, but the dragon hunt has made us well-known, and our schedule has already filled up. Maybe in a few months, but for now, it’ll be hard to find the time.”

“I-I see.”

Paul was still smiling, but his disappointment was evident.

“… Then please, when things settle down, do come to visit our estate. You are welcome anytime.”

“Yes, if the opportunity arises.”

As Paul turned away, his shoulders looked somewhat slumped.

Once he was out of sight, Tatiana’s eyes widened as she whispered,

“Are we really that busy?”

“No. They said there’s nothing suitable for a mage, so we haven't received any requests yet. You've been with me the whole time, so you know that.”

“… Right.”

Tatiana let out a small sigh.

Terms like Dragon Slayer, Mage's Party, and Hero all sounded great, but they turned out to be obstacles when it came to receiving actual requests.

We had priced ourselves out of most jobs.

Paul had probably sensed that I was lying.

"By the way."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I turned to look at Tatiana, who was looking up at me, her head tilted.

“Do you happen to know what to feed a young phoenix?”

“Hmm… Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

Tatiana tilted her head even further in confusion.

“Well, last time, this little one seemed to release some smoke after eating the queen ant. I didn’t get a good look at it, but it seemed that way. I’ve been feeding it mostly meat, but I’m wondering if I should feed it live monsters instead.”

“I’m not really sure. I know phoenixes eat magical beasts, but as for the young ones…”

I scratched my head and let out a small sigh.

Rella was still running around, chasing bugs.

Still tiny.

“When do phoenixes grow to their full size, anyway?”

If the mother phoenix had died when I was young, then Rella had remained this small for years now.

If Rella doesn't grow to its adult size before I die, it won't be able to survive properly. When I voiced my concern, Tatiana tilted her head in thought.

“I heard they grow a little slower than chickens, so it should take about a year or two for them to reach their full size, right?”

“…What?”

I stopped in my tracks without even realizing it.

Wait, wait, hold on.

Rella’s mother died when I was less than ten years old.

Mother had retrieved the phoenix feather after my fight with the bear.

But… A year or two for a phoenix to grow to full size?

“Could it be…?”

I looked over at Rella.

Could it be that Rella wasn’t left alone because its mother had died?

That wasn’t the phoenix?

Did my mother just bring back a feather, as Father had said?

I see. If I’d left it alone, its mother might have found it... and instead, I essentially kidnapped it.

Oh no, what should I do?

***

After hearing her father's command—more of a decree, really—Rira immediately ran to her brother.

She pleaded tearfully for him to change their father’s mind, insisting that she couldn't marry a barbarian. But it was no use.

No matter how much she cried and threw a fit, the result remained the same.

This time, she realized, it was different.

Even her mother, who would usually frown at her, had interceded on her behalf, telling her father that it was too much.

Encouraged by this, Rira went to her father again, but things had changed.

Her father, who had always given in when she cried, locked her in the punishment room.

He wouldn’t release her until she stopped crying.

During her confinement, her meals were limited to bread and stew.

Even that was taken away if she dared to complain.

The maids who had always catered to her whims were gone.

Her usual attendant had been replaced by someone else.

The steward was given the authority to discipline her. If she threw objects or hit a maid or attendant, she would be locked in her room.

Oh, this time it was really different. Today, she had no choice but to accept the maid’s assistance in putting on makeup and changing into her dress.

She heard that the barbarian would be coming to dinner today.

Usually, an invitation would be sent well in advance, and both parties would prepare accordingly. But it seemed, since he was a barbarian, they hadn't even bothered to send an invitation until the morning of the event.

But even for same-day arrangements, the hosts didn’t just prepare on the day itself.

The chef had been preparing ingredients for days, and flowers and decorations had been arranged for this day.

At the dinner, she was to be seated next to the barbarian, along with her brother and the female magician.

Her mother had frowned at the mention of marriage with a barbarian, but her father had insisted that it was necessary, and her mother had reluctantly remained silent.

Rira had no allies.

She would be handed over to a barbarian.

Swallowing her rage and humiliation, Rira bit her lip, her body trembling with anger.

This was unacceptable.

But she had nowhere to direct her fury.

Her chest felt so tight she thought she might die, as the maid tightened her corset.

She tightened it far more than usual, until she could barely breathe.

She could feel her flesh being squeezed between her bones.

“Hey, isn't that too tight?”

“Apologies, my lady.”

The maid spoke quietly, but her grip remained firm.

Maybe she was venting her own frustrations.

That thought crossed Rira’s mind, and she spun around, glaring at the maid.

A message had come.

Had the barbarian arrived?

Her eyebrows shot up reflexively.

But the words spoken by the maid who entered next were unexpected.

“My lady, tonight’s dinner has been canceled.”

“What?”

Instead of feeling joy at not having to meet the barbarian, her first emotion was displeasure.

Here she was, going through all this preparation, and now this?

Whatever the reason—whatever the circumstances—was it acceptable for someone to not show up for a dinner with a noble lady?

And to make matters worse, she'd have to go through all this preparation again to meet him.

How irritating.

Why did she, a noblewoman, have to prepare twice for a barbarian?

The situation she had already hated had become even more unbearable.

After changing into her regular clothes, Rira went to find Paul.

She wanted to confront her father and argue that such rudeness was unforgivable and that they should abandon the engagement. But she already knew her father would not listen to her.

Her only hope was her brother, the future Count.

If anyone could sway their father, it was him.

She hadn't sent word in advance.

She should have had an attendant make an appointment, but that would have given her brother the chance to refuse to see her.

She had learned well over the last few days how cold her brother could be.

When she arrived at her brother's door, the attendant wouldn’t let her in.

“Open this door! How dare you refuse me!”

Her voice echoed sharply through the corridor.

She knew that she would be locked in the punishment room again.

But seeing the attendant standing there silently, she couldn’t help herself.

“Open it right now!”

Just as she raised her fan to strike the attendant, a voice came from within.

“Let her in.”

It was her brother.

The attendant, who hadn't budged in response to her threats, quietly opened the door.

This made her hate him even more, and she irritably threw her fan at the attendant.

After glaring at the attendant, she stepped inside, where her brother greeted her with a weary expression.

“Rira, what is it?”

“Brother, that barbarian is so rude. I don't know what his circumstances are, but he dares not show up for dinner with me. How can we proceed with such a marriage... Brother, doesn't this anger you? Would you really send me to such a man?”

“Rira.”

“It’s too much. If you send me to that man, I…”

The image of the barbarian desiring her flashed in her mind, and her body shivered in disgust. Her brother's face grew even more tired as he spoke.

“Rira, I have a rough idea of what you’re thinking. But there's no need to worry. That man has no interest in our family or in you—none whatsoever. As for this marriage... I don't know what Father told you, but he is likely to refuse it outright.”

“W-What? Brother, I…”

“You still seem to think you’re exceptional, but that man has no interest in you. Your talent for magic, your family name—none of it holds any appeal for him. Not even your appearance. There's a woman more beautiful than you by his side. If he were interested in anyone, it would be her.”

“…”

She must have gone pale.

Her brother looked at her with a hint of pity.

“Father may not have told you, perhaps to protect your pride, but Rira, if you fail to win his favor, Father plans to adopt a more beautiful girl from a branch family and offer her to him.”

“Th-That…”

“In that case, they’ll pick someone younger or of better standing than the magician beside him right now, to make sure they succeed. He is valuable enough to us that we would go that far.”

“…”

She wasn’t even sure how she got back to her room.

Her brother’s words echoed in her head.

I am not even worthy in the eyes of that barbarian?

Her father had told her she had to win the barbarian's favor before they could proceed with the engagement, but she had never imagined it would be difficult.

Of course, she had thought, once they met, the barbarian would want her and would be eager to have her.

But now her father and her brother were telling her she wasn't even worth as much as that barbarian?

Rira?

Her own father and brother thought that?

Rira sat still throughout the night.

She cried so much that her eyes were swollen and sore.

It felt like she had shed all the tears of her lifetime in one night.

Her tears finally stopped around dawn as the sky began to brighten.

Seeing the dim light seep through the window, Rira clenched her teeth.

I’ll show them.

She would make that barbarian beg for her love, make him prostrate himself before her—she would make sure her father and brother witnessed that.

I’ll never let them say I’m worthless again.