“Maintain the dignity of a noble no matter what, and act more noble than a noble.”

Finally, there was a rule that only applied to Heinrich.

“Heinrich, no matter what happens this time, you cannot swear. Never!”

“…I know that.”

Heinrich frowned and looked out of the carriage.

‘Then this meant he cursed last time.’

I imagined how the nobles would have thrown a fit in the face of the nasty chihuahua’s temper, so I covered my mouth with one hand and smiled secretly.

Today, Julius was even more strict and neat.

He also said that since Trees undergoing socialization training were treated as ‘completed Trees’, the nobles would use formal speech with us as a sign of respect.

‘I don’t feel bad.’

I couldn’t believe I was going to an aristocratic party and would be treated nicely.

After explaining the rules, Julius moved to another carriage.

Only then was Sislin, Heinrich and I left in the carriage.

Then Sislin quietly opened his mouth.

“Annette, do you want to go for adoption?”

“Yes! Of course. I want to go quickly!”

If only I could go.

It’s a dream to have a good mom and dad.

Of course, I would also be happy if I could run a bakery alone and live bravely as a bakery owner.

“…I see.”

However, for some reason, Sislin sagged his head upon hearing my answer.

“Why, Sisl doesn’t want to go for adoption?”

Actually, it was Sislin, so it didn’t matter whether he was adopted or not.

This was because he was of the imperial bloodline, and according to the setting, the imperial family would unconditionally come to find him later.

It was a guaranteed gold umbilical cord.

Even now, the birth or existence of Sislin was not known to the imperial family at all.

“…If I am adopted, I have to separate from Annette.”

Ah, I was the only person who wanted to be adopted, I didn’t notice!

‘I never thought of it that way.’

Of course, it was because I was planning to quit the original work someday and cheer for the two from afar. So I was naturally accepting of the separation.

But anyway, that was a thing of the future.

I replied with a smile.

“But, we can see each other often even after adoption!”

In response to the fresh and decisive answer, Sislin barely nodded.

“…Yes.”

It was still sad, though.

Then the crazy chihuahua suddenly interrupted and spoke, his words slightly slurred.

“Hey, you, go for adoption as soon as possible and get away from my Sister.”

“……”

“I’ll be spending more time in the Forest with my sister.”

Heinrich added, raising his beautiful and arrogant face.

“I’m rumored to have a bad temper, so my adoption is going to be very late?”

Sislin, who had been listening quietly, murmured.

“…I don’t think it’s something to be proud of at all.”

“What?!”

Heinrich, who was hit by a fact bomb, puffed his cheeks.

Sislin added quietly.

“If I get an adoption application, I will ask for Annette to be adopted with me.”

“Pfft, isn’t this a complete idiot?”

Heinrich pointed to Sislin with his index finger and came next to me, who was sitting on the opposite side, then leaned back.

“Look at that idiot. The one who wanted to be adopted together. ‘Sister and younger brother’ can’t get married, right?”

He continued calling him an idiot.

Next to the teasing Heinrich, I thought quietly.

‘Children, why do you always have a marriage with me in the future?’

As I shook my head, Sislin added, with his red eyes shining.

“I am going to ask them to adopt Annette as the daughter-in-law of the family.”

“……!!!”

As if he hadn’t thought about it that far, Heinrich’s expression went blank like he had been hit in the back of the head.

Then his face turned red immediately.

“You, you bastard! Don’t do that. I’m going to ask mine to adopt her as a daughter-in-law!”

“You’re copying me.”

“Cancel it! Cancel what you said that you’re going to adopt her as a daughter-in-law!”

I looked out the window calmly with cloudy eyes as I listened to the boys quarreling.

‘…I don’t think it’s right to go quietly.’

***

The fight between the two boys calmed down only after they had to separate as their destinations were different.

The nobles who were having quiet salon gatherings asked to meet Sislin. And as for Heinrich and I, we were right here.

That’s right, I was invited to an imperial banquet.

“Wow…”

I looked around in confusion, my light green eyes shone as if in a dream.

The banquet hall was gleaming with white marble and gold, and elegant symphonic music was flowing softly to the light.

The procession of nobles dressed splendidly and gracefully in various ways. And a cool stream of water poured from a fountain surrounded by statues related to the founding legend of El Dorado.

‘…This is the imperial family.’

This was the world of nobility.

I blinked several times and looked around blankly, feeling like my heart was about to explode.

Just then, a lady holding a peacock feather fan raised her head and spoke to me.

“Oh my gosh, little lady. I guess you are a child from the ‘Forest’?”

“…Yes, Madam. Hello?’

I suddenly came to my senses and curved my bright green eyes. It was a lovely smile.

“I sent you a golden rose.”

The lady slapped the arm of her husband who she had folded arms with, and was at a loss for what to do.

“You look so cute and adorable in person! Oh my gosh, darling. Both of these kids are like dolls.”

Heinrich placed one hand on his chest and bowed in silence.

“Thank you, Madam.”

It was the perfect nobility etiquette. Only then did I come to my senses and greet her while raising her skirt slightly.

“Thank you!”

“Then I’ll see you inside.”

Laughing, the madam entered the banquet hall with her husband’s arms crossed.

“Whew…”

I sighed a little, feeling a little nervous.

‘Is that person my sponsor?’

Curious, I stared at the lady’s back for a moment, but I didn’t feel anything.

Although she said that she gave me a golden rose, it must have been a sign of affection; no further favor or interest was felt.

I thought I would meet my sponsor at this meeting today.

‘Will I be able to recognize him when I meet him?’

Confused with various thoughts, I placed a small hand on my chest.

Badump, badump. My heart was beating non-stop.

It was the first time I attended an aristocratic party, and my first debut was at an ‘imperial party’. This was a situation in which even a strong heart could not help but be nervous.

Soon, I let out another long breath.

“Whew.”

Then, Heinrich put his hand on my shoulder like a grown-up and said,

“Don’t be nervous, Sister.”

“But it’s inevitable that I’m nervous. It’s my first time in a place like this.”

Heinrich whispered sweetly with his purple eyes curled.

“As soon as you enter the banquet hall, people will have no choice but to fall for you. Because you have a special light.”

“……”

“That’s why I fell in love with you.”

My cheeks reddened slightly in the eyes of the serious yet thoughtful boy.

“So, don’t worry and just do as usual, my lady.”

Imitating a fairly mature man, Heinrich gracefully kissed the back of my hand. 

Kiss–

“Heinri.”

I called out the boy’s name and smiled when he raised his lovely lips.

At that time, Julius, who had finished talking to the nobles, approached. And he looked closely at the clothes of the two children.

Until he thought it was perfect.

“Annette, Heinrich. There must be no mistakes today. Remember the ‘rules’ and stick to them.’

He said, his strict eyes shining through his glasses.

“Because nobles have sharp eyes and picky tastes, they find faults faster than anyone else.”

“Yes, Teacher!”

“Call me by name. I did not come here as a teacher, but as a secretary to the Trees.”

“…Yes, Julius.”

When I answered, Julius just turned around with a cold face.

“You’d better get in before it’s too late.”

“Let’s go, Sister.”

Heinrich’s purple eyes lit up and he escorted me like a fairly skilled gentleman.

My little heart pounded as I stepped into the imperial court for the first time.

***

As I entered, a frantic crowd of nobles asked me questions.

It felt much more demanding than taking a level test in the Forest.

It seemed like everyone was anxious to find out more about the child they were seeing for the first time.

‘Heuk-heuk, I want to see Heinrich.’

Heinrich was surrounded by a group of other nobles who were interested in him.

It was hard over there too…

Our nasty chihuahua should hide his temper.

‘Whew.’

Just as I was inwardly sighing with concern, a young madam in an elegant ivory dress began to speak.

“Then Annette, is it okay if I ask you the next question?”

“…Okay, Countess Asefir. Any question is fine.”

I was seated in a soft, red velvet chair, with nobles standing around me and looking at me with burdensome smiles.

‘She seems to have liked the answers I’ve given her so far.’

But I knew.

Even if I slipped up in only one of my answers, it would be hell.

“Now, suppose Annette is walking in the garden, and a very pretty and beautiful bird has fallen over from exhaustion.”

“Yes!”

I was focused.

“The bird wandered a lot alone, so it was very dirty. What would Annette do in a situation like this?”

Usually, the correct answer would be to treat it well, then let it fly away.

But…

‘It’s a trap.’

She attached the words ‘very pretty and beautiful bird’ to attract children’s interest, but she said it was ‘dirty’.

The nobles of this country never bring dirty things into their houses.

They seemed to wonder if I would glance at the poor bird and take care of it with my own hands, ‘like a normal and good commoner’.

‘But just turning a blind eye to it is not the answer.’

‘If so, then I won’t look innocent.’

In the first place, no matter how I answered it, it was a question that would reduce my score a little.

They wanted to see my disposition.

I pondered for a moment, then answered with a smile.