If it weren’t for the few nobles lingering at the far end of the street, Cedric would have pulled Iris into a tight embrace right then and there.
Maybe I should just hold her and knock those two out so she won’t be embarrassed.
Well, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Just before acting on the thought, Iris lifted the gift she had received and smiled lightly.
“But now, it’s truly enough.”
She already felt Cedric’s affection deeply.
To Iris, that was a treasure far more valuable than any gift received today.
Seeing her clear smile, Cedric reluctantly abandoned his plan and gently took her hand.
“The date isn’t over yet.”
“Huh?”
Not over already?
Surprised, Iris’s hand was pulled by Cedric with a sly grin.
She wondered if they would shop again, but thankfully, Cedric headed to a dessert cafe.
As they entered, the pâtissier came out of the kitchen personally to greet them.
They seem quite familiar with each other.
After the pâtissier left, Iris whispered to Cedric,
“Did you discover him yourself?”
“He baked bread alone every day in the academy’s practice room. Seemed promising.”
Iris admired that deeply. Remembering and supporting someone like that was no small task.
Seeming to read her thoughts, Cedric casually added,
“He’s not someone I sponsor. I just convinced him to open this shop.”
“Really? Then who?”
Cedric didn’t answer, seeming to avoid the question deliberately.
She had never seen him dodge like this before.
“Long time no see, Cedric.”
At that moment, a dignified elderly woman’s voice called out.
Cedric and Iris turned simultaneously.
The woman, removing her hat, had the same black hair as Cedric.
Her gentle violet eyes were sharp yet kind.
Iris recognized her immediately.
Sylvia Tran.
Matriarch of the Tran Count family and one of the empire’s great magnates.
The empire’s culture and leisure all flowed through the Tran family.
Their commercial and entertainment districts embodied the empire’s entire culture.
Alongside the Hill Dukes, they were one of the two pillars of wealth amassed through tourism and logistics.
Using their network in the cultural industry, the Trans controlled information and politics to maintain their power.
But Iris knew her more personally.
The elder sister of the former crown princess.
Cedric’s mother, Violet Tran’s only blood relative.
She’s still alive.
Before her reincarnation, Iris had never met Sylvia.
Yet she remembered her because Sylvia died not long after Cedric’s marriage.
From an incurable disease.
Her funeral was modest, per her last will.
Iris, being an outsider, did not attend. Cedric, who went alone, returned to the castle very late.
I was arrogant.
Cedric was filled with grief and couldn’t even look at Iris when she woke.
I should have told the truth. I never held any resentment.
Moved by his deep regret, Iris summoned a fragile courage to reach out and hold his fingertips.
Until morning came.
But for someone said to have an incurable disease...
She looked so healthy now.
Her posture was upright, her skin clear—nothing like someone about to fall ill.
“I believe this must be Cedric’s wife. Nice to meet you, Sylvia Tran.”
“Please, call me Sylvia, Count Tran. I’m Iris.”
She smiled gently in gratitude.
“Nice to meet you, Iris. Beautiful, just as expected from a Valentine.”
Then she looked at Cedric.
“May I join you? It’s been a while, and I’d like to talk.”
Though such a request was natural among family, Cedric did not answer immediately.
Iris saw fragments of the past flash across his face.
I should have told the truth.
Finally, she took Cedric’s hand resting on the table.
“I want to be introduced, Cedric.”
Wishing to rewrite regretful pasts was not hers alone.
Cedric, remembering everything, would also regret letting moments slip away.
Cedric, confused, looked at Iris and finally nodded.
“Do you keep in touch with Marquis Tirkiel?”
“No.”
“I thought you two were in contact to tell him about me.”
“Is that so?”
Though she only sat nearby, the conversation unfolded like this:
When Sylvia found a chance, she asked questions, and Cedric replied briefly.
Even though the exquisite desserts arrived one after another over a long time, the awkward atmosphere kept Iris from touching any.
‘I wanted to break the tension…’
At that moment, Cedric only said he didn’t hold resentment.
But about what?
Since Iris couldn’t grasp that part, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Eventually, Cedric excused himself, saying he was going to meet a patissier friend.
With Cedric gone, Iris turned to Sylvia, who was savoring her tea.
“Would you like to try a macaron? I heard the Earl Grey macarons here are quite famous.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Sylvia’s gentle face turned to the colorful macarons before her.
She raised a hand and hesitated, but seeing nothing to her liking, she set it down again.
Instead, she spoke to Iris.
“How is Cedric?”
“He’s... a kind man.”
“I see.”
Sylvia smiled faintly, as if relieved.
It was clear she cared deeply for Cedric.
“I’m glad Cedric has found a good wife.”
A fleeting sadness passed over Sylvia’s face as she spoke.
Before Iris could ask about it, Sylvia rose from her seat.
Cedric was returning from afar.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. I’ll pay the bill. Sorry for intruding between you two.”
As Sylvia turned, something golden slipped and rolled from her grasp.
Tick!
Iris quickly rose and picked it up.
‘A whistle?’
It wasn’t an ordinary one; clearly custom-made.
She turned to give it back to Sylvia, but the lady had already gone.
“Wait, I’ll deliver this.”
Hurrying toward the cafe entrance, Iris noticed something odd.
Sylvia was nowhere in sight.
She couldn’t have disappeared that fast.
Iris asked an employee near the door,
“Have you seen an elderly lady leave here?”
“No, ma’am. No one has gone out.”
Not convinced, Iris headed to the powder room.
Then—
Thud.
‘What was that sound?’
The noise came from near the powder room.
Iris rushed there and found Sylvia collapsed in a corner.
“Countess!”
Sylvia waved her off weakly.
“I’m fine.”
She held her forehead, looking as if in pain, staring at the two doors before her.
One marked for men, the other for women.
For some reason, Sylvia didn’t enter the women’s powder room.
Iris’ earlier suspicions solidified into certainty.
“Could it be... you can’t distinguish colors?”
Unlike most places, this powder room separated genders only by color coding.
Iris could tell which was which easily.
But if Sylvia were colorblind...
‘Impossible.’
Sylvia met Iris’ gaze with a startled look.
“How did you know?”
There were many reasons, but Iris’ first thought came from Sylvia’s words.
With a forced smile, Iris replied,
“If you could see colors, you wouldn’t say I wasn’t Valentine-like.”
No one who had seen Iris’ pale violet hair had ever said that.
Speechless, Sylvia gave a helpless smile.
“Please don’t tell Cedric.”
“But...”
“He already has enough to worry about. An elder family member shouldn’t burden the younger generation.”
Iris bit her lip, feeling pity.
At first, she thought it was just a misunderstanding on Cedric’s part.
‘There’s more to this.’
A deeper rift of emotion clearly lay between them.
But now wasn’t the time to pry.
“Is your head alright?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. It’s just that when I concentrate too much since losing color, a headache comes on.”
With Iris’ help, Sylvia left the powder room.
“Oh, and this.”
Only then did Iris remember the whistle and handed it back. “I dropped this too, didn’t I?”
Sylvia chuckled heartily, as if exasperated, and glanced at Iris.
Was I staring too intently?
Like a child caught in wrongdoing, Iris shrank back, but Sylvia smiled wryly.
Her face bore a striking resemblance to Cedric’s, which surprised Iris slightly.
“Curious about what this is?”
“Ah... yes, it looks unusual.”
“Then I’ll show you.”
Sylvia blew a whistle.
Peeeee—
The sound was unlike a normal whistle—more like a sonic wave.
“Ah!”
At that moment, something small and swift whooshed past Iris’s side.
A young girl with fiery orange hair like a blazing sunset.
She charged forward like a tiny beast—
with speed and strength impossible for a mere human.
“Stay back!”
The girl shouted as she planted herself in front of Sylvia, narrowly missing Iris.
Her stance was fiercely defensive, like a wildcat with its tail bristling.
“Shh—Jana, calm down.”
“Master, step aside.”
“Jana, I didn’t call you because I was in danger. She is one of mine.”
At those words, the girl’s yellow eyes flashed.
Iris could feel the girl scrutinizing her—
judging whether she was a threat or not.
Who is this girl?
Though unarmed, an immense power radiated from her.
She herself felt like a living weapon of tremendous force.
“...Hmph. Let’s go, Master.”
“Jana, you should apologize.”
“...Sorry.”
Still, the apology was swift.
The girl bowed deeply, then lifted Sylvia with ease.
The speed and strength she displayed were beyond any normal child’s capability.
Sylvia, seemingly unfazed, said lightly to the astonished Iris,
“Well then, until next time.”
Iris’s gaze remained steady on Sylvia.
Even after witnessing Jana’s overwhelming strength, she felt no fear—only pure admiration.
Just as Sylvia had thought,
“When I said you are truly Valentine, I was not lying.”
At Sylvia’s calm words, Iris swallowed hard.
She hid her trembling fingertips inside her dress and bowed her head to speak honestly.
“I haven’t told you yet, but the color of my hair is actually—”
“Yes, your hair is a lovely shade of purple.”
Chapter 79