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It wasn’t just Ms. Christy and Royce; it was Eren, Luke, and my other close friends. It was the people from the Western Frontier Village. It was Jesse and his adventuring friends that I met in the Imperial Capital. It was Emilia and the people of this town and the children in the orphanage. It was everyone in the Elven village… Indeed, I am who I am because the memories of my previous life came to me, but that was just a small spark. It is because of the help of all these people that I have this dream-like peace and tranquility every day.

“For the love of the God Emperor, right after what I just said. Jill, there’s no need for you to feel indebted. Nobody feels burdened by you, and by God, no one is trying to make a profit out of you. —Or what, is that how you think of us?”

She finished her speech there as if to say that she’d be utterly disappointed in me, and I outright denied it.

“Of course not. That would be betraying everyone’s goodwill.” That was when Ms. Christy interrupted, asking for my reason, to which I responded: “I realized that someone else bears the punishment in my place, slandered and treated unjustly because of my running away. It might no longer be my business, but if someone suffered in light of my action, then I wish to atone for it… Even if it sounds arrogant, being one of the parties involved, the least I can do is to see to this matter in earnest.”

“…as always, you’re a pushover to a fault. Don’t overthink it, you’ll just crush yourself.”

I answered her exasperated words with a light tone.

“It’s not that big a commitment. I’m doing this partly out of curiosity. Besides, I have other objectives as well, such as helping Luke in the Imperial City and finding Lana’s sister. My business with her is just one amongst many.”
“Just to make sure, you’re not stretching yourself too thin, are you?”
“I’m just doing what I can do.”

Ms. Christy heaved a long sigh at my answer, pressing her eyebrows in displeasure.

“In the end, everything went exactly as our mentor said it would. I don’t like how it feels like I’m just dancing on her palm.”
“Huh…?

After a few moments of more mumbling and swearing, Ms. Christy opened the drawer of the desk that was locked with magic and fished out a familiar scarlet metal plate from it.

“If that’s what you want, then I’m giving this back to you. I’m sure this will serve you well over there, in Livitium.”

What she casually handed back to me was my ID which had the name Julia Fortuna Gravis on it. I hadn’t seen this in a long time.

“Are you sure?”
“I don’t mind—well, the truth is Regina told me to return it to you in case you’re thinking of heading to Livitium.”

I see. That’s why she said she was ‘dancing on her palm.’

“Now that it’s back in your hand, you’re no longer my adopted relative.”

My breathing and heart stopped for a moment at the bombshell that followed. “Wh-, What do you mean?!”

“Why are you asking me? It’s explicitly written there, “Gravis” as your family name. You are now a relative of our mentor. What you have there is the citizenship ID of the Super Empire, meaning not even the Imperial Diet can disavow your identity. …at least in the Empire, your status is above that of a Duke’s.”

“……——HUUUHHH?!!”

A crazed exclamation escaped my lips the moment I heard the last bit of her explanation.

“Well, you don’t have an official rank, but you do have real endorsement and backing behind your identity. You can legitimately call yourself a member of the imperial family.”

Ignoring…or rather, not bothering to explain to me as I stiffened on the spot, Ms. Christy proceeded.

“Oh, and just to be safe, you might want to register with the Adventurers’ Guild before your departure. A member of the imperial family registering outside the border would only invite problems, so it’s better for you to go through the process here. Then again, doing it in the capital would be troublesome. We’ll have Eraldo process it through the backdoor here in Consul. …I guess we’ll owe him another favor.”

In the blink of an eye, my future plans were already decided without my say in it. Just when I thought I was walking towards my own independence, the circumstances around me spun and twisted in a direction far beyond what I could ever imagine. I can’t be the only one who thinks this is insanity.

“…umm, Lady Christy. When you said I’m a member of the imperial family, you’re just joking, right?”
“It’s the truth. To begin with, our mentor, Regina, is the face of the imperial family…her silver hair is not because her hair grayed out. Silver hair is the trait that appears in the imperial family from generation to generation, although no one but our mentor has it nowadays.”
“Huh.”

Frankly speaking, placing so much importance on hair color sounded absurd to me. It was like determining the lineage of your pet based on their fur.

“This is the reason why she’s stuck in a troublesome position. She doesn’t have the…freedom to…move around? I don’t…think?”

For some reason, the last part of her speech turned into a question. Royce also glanced towards a spot on the parlor outside the room, his face indicating recollection.

“?”
“Well, that’s pretty much it. It is best for you to make your preparations here before you start addressing your problem back in Livitium. Not even our mentor can travel that far, and your guardian spirit can’t possibly follow you all the way there, can he?”

Being addressed from the world of the living, Bartholomew, lurking in the shadows under my feet, grit his teeth in vexation. “Hnn…indeed, guarding the Teleporter is my duty. I cannot leave these lands unattended.”

“That means you’ll need to prepare thoroughly to stand on your own by next year.”
“Aye. While it is only human to cooperate, at times solitary action is called for. Therefore, until that moment comes, let the true essence of my swordsmanship be imparted to you, Miss Jill, as I am Bartholomew, the proud Palace Knight of the glorious Imperial Crimson!”

On the one hand, I was having enough of his stuffy and meddling nature, but on the other hand, I was glad that he was passionate and concerned about me.

“In addition, we received a request to open a branch of our coffee shop in Cilento Imperial City. They said they would provide the location and facilities, so all we need to do is send them personnel. However, I think it will be best if we expand it and make it our base in Cilento.”
“I see.”

Incidentally, it was said that nobles from other countries usually lived in dormitories provided by the school (by dormitories, they meant detached houses the size of a villa of a noble family).

“We want to start the preparation for the Grand Opening as soon as possible, so list every personnel and equipment need as a priority.”
“Understood.”
“Also, you can bring your maids to the imperial city. If you need anything else, just let me know.”
“Then I want to abolish Lana’s slavery status.”
“…you have my permission. Good grief, you never treat her like a slave until the end.”

Ms. Christy made a sour face for having her expectations betrayed, and I lightly bowed to her for that.

“Forgive me for acting unreasonable.”
“It’s in your nature. Also, now that you’re no longer my adopted family, you have a higher status between the two of us. Don’t make a habit of lowering your head. Society won’t take that kind of gesture kindly.”
“I’ll do my best. However, you are my senior disciple and my second mentor. It is only natural for me to pay my respects.”

This was the one thing I refused to compromise on, and upon hearing my words, Ms. Christy responded awkwardly as she scratched her cheeks.

“By the lord, who are you taking after for being this stubborn?
…Thanks for that.”
“The honor is all mine.”

I bowed once again, deeply, with all my heart.