Chapter 1.10

The rain, which had gradually stopped overnight, began pouring down again. Even the faint sunlight that had shone on the mansion disappeared, and Damon, who had become gloomy after failing to go into the garden with Brienne, instead called Herace to his room for a game of chess.

“So, did you enjoy looking around the library?”

“Yes, it was truly as charming a space as I’d heard. I can see why Miss Ford likes it so much.”

Damon’s hand, which had been moving a chess piece, paused for a moment. Herace had asked in the morning if he could go to the library, and now it seemed the reason was Brienne.

“Did Brienne say that?”

Even if the Ford and Belif families had different political leanings, to Marquis Ford, who adored his daughter, there was no better prospective son-in-law than Herace. Unable to hide his hopeful expression, Marquis Ford smiled as Herace answered.

“Yes, she told me yesterday.”

A blatant look of joy appeared on Damon’s face at getting the answer he wanted. He now intended to properly get to know his future son-in-law.

“Ahem, by the way, it seems you returned to Rontiano right after graduation, Young Master. What are your plans now?”

“For now, I’ll be learning management at the merchant group I’ll inherit with my family, but I don’t plan to do it for long. I’ve been forced into heir training since I was young, so I’m thoroughly sick of studying.”

Of course. Unlike the Duke of Bannon, who believed it was a noble’s virtue to live off tenant rents, the Duke of Belif was a businessman who would stop at nothing for profit. That kind of personality was probably what made the current Belif Dukedom so wealthy.

Damon smiled as if he knew nothing.

“My, it seems Duke Belif is quite ambitious. To entrust the management of a merchant group to a mage famous even in the Holy Kingdom of Roeta.”

“My father isn’t very confident in my younger brother. Now he’s even pressuring me to get married, so there’s a fire under my feet.”

Their hands moved the chess pieces busily as they exchanged light conversation. Damon, who had rarely lost at chess, naturally expected to win.

“As a father myself, I can understand how he feels. And with you being so perfect, Young Master, I understand why the Duke wants to see an heir from you soon.”

“That only makes me feel guiltier toward my parents. At my age, I still haven’t found a lover, let alone thought of having children…”

Herace, who had been wearing a faint smile, suddenly stopped and lowered his gaze. His expression looked so pure and pitiful that Damon almost forgot his purpose and tried to comfort him.

“Well… I don’t know if this will comfort you, but as you know, our Brienne is the same. She’s only ever looked at Kaiden her whole life, and now things have turned out like this… This foolish father always feels sorry for Brienne. It must all be my fault, for falling out of favor with the Duke of Bannon.”

“…You must be deeply saddened.”

“There are no words for it. So, Young Master, I hope you’ll get along well with Brienne.”

A gentle hope flickered in Damon’s eyes as he finished. Meeting that gaze, a cherubic smile spread across Herace’s face.

“This is what I was hoping for. If Miss Ford allows it, I would gladly do so.”

By now, chess had long since vanished from Damon’s mind. He looked at Herace with a pleased expression, then came to his senses and continued, feigning gravity.

“Oh, right. Before that, I have one question. Young Master…”

“Yes.”

“What do you think is the most precious thing one can give up for the woman he loves?”

“…Is this multiple choice?”

“Unfortunately, it’s a short answer.”

As Damon answered, Herace moved the queen. The chessboard, which had paused for a moment, began to move again. After a few turns passed in brief silence,

the result was Herace’s flawless checkmate.

“Marquis Ford, my thoughts are…”

* * *

“Hey, are you okay…?”

Shylo, who had brought the invitation that had arrived for Brienne, hovered anxiously around his younger sister. He had lost count of how many times he’d asked if she was okay these days. The room felt gloomy, as if a dark cloud was hanging over Brienne alone.

Brienne’s white hand, clutching the letter tightly, trembled faintly.

“…No, not at all.”

“What is it this time? Let me see.”

With a sigh, Shylo snatched the letter from her hand. Because Brienne handed it over without resistance, he could quickly find out what had upset her so much.

[……Therefore, the engagement ceremony will be held this coming Saturday. I offer my deepest condolences to you, Miss Ford. For me, it is a day that should be nothing but blessed, but I can only imagine how distressed you must feel, Miss Ford.

I will fully understand if you choose not to attend the engagement.

However, considering the old friendship, if you do decide to come, I would like to ask you to be my bridesmaid. I have already asked all the unmarried ladies from the honorable families representing Rontiano, so I trust you will not refuse, Miss Ford.

In celebration of the union with the Bannon Ducal House, I have decided to wear a black dress. I have asked all the young ladies serving as my bridesmaids to wear white dresses.

So I would be grateful if you could also wear a white dress, Miss Ford.

I am already looking forward to seeing your beauty. As always when Sir Kaiden is present, I would appreciate it if you could grace the occasion this time as well.]

“What the…! What is this nonsense!”

Clicking his tongue, Shylo scowled and crumpled the letter. What kind of nonsense was this, being read so seriously? The sister he knew wasn’t someone foolish enough to be swayed by such a sly trick.

“Brienne, you… You’re not really thinking of going, are you?”

But Brienne, glancing up at him, pressed her lips tightly together. Shylo ran a hand through his hair, raising his voice in frustration.

“It’s obviously a provocation! A black dress? Give me a break. Who wears a black dress to an engagement, as if it’s a funeral? If you show up in a white dress just because she said so…”

“No, it might really be true.”

Just as Melosi said, black was the symbol of the Bannon Ducal House. It was also Melosi Bailey who started the trend of short hair among the capital’s noblewomen.

“And she’s asking me to be a bridesmaid. How can I refuse that? All the other young ladies will be there. And Shylo, I have an invitation. Since I have a letter written by her own hand, Melosi wouldn’t dare do anything bad.”

At that moment, Shylo’s shoulders tensed.

What’s this?

Why is my hand so hot……

“…Shylo!”

The invitation in his hand began to burn black. Brienne stood up in disbelief. Shylo hurriedly hid his hand behind his back, but Brienne had already seen the fate of the invitation, now reduced to ashes.

“Are you crazy? Why did you burn that? No, more importantly… How did you even burn it?”

“S-sorry… I just, I got so angry…”

Shylo tightly gripped the burnt ashes. He apologized instinctively, but the more he thought about it, the more certain he was—he hadn’t used any magic.

No, to be exact, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t use it. He never learned to control mana, never even entered the Department of Magic, so how……

Realizing something was off, Shylo held out his ashen hand. If he didn’t want to be hated by his only sibling, it was time to confess the secret he’d been hiding.

“……Brienne, I don’t know how this will sound, but I really didn’t do anything.”

“Are you kidding? Are you saying the invitation just burned up by itself in your hand? Who else in this room can use magic but you?”

“It’s true. I know I’m the only suspect, but actually…”

A flash of embarrassment crossed his eyes.

‘…Could it be?’

Am I really the only one to suspect?

Shylo gulped hard. As Brienne said, all the circumstances pointed to him, but he couldn’t easily dismiss his suspicions.

“Actually, what?”

Brienne pressed him, looking frustrated. Shylo finally squeezed his eyes shut and made the first confession of his life.

“I—I actually don’t even know how to use magic…!”

But the response was cold. Brienne glared at him with icy eyes.

“Now you’re lying too?”

“Lying……! Brienne, think about it. If I went to Roeta saying I wanted to be a mage, why did I enter the Department of Swordsmanship?”

“You always said it was because you found swordsmanship more fun.”

“And you just believed that? Obviously, it was because I had no talent for magic! I never liked swordsmanship…”

Stung by Brienne’s words, Shylo let out a deep sigh.

“Anyway, it wasn’t me. Honestly, I think it was you…… or something.”

“What?”

Brienne immediately frowned. But her voice was much calmer than before.

“Shylo, say something that makes sense. It’s more believable that the invitation was enchanted.”

“That’s not it. There was no magic at all on the invitation.”

“How can you be so sure if you don’t know magic?”

Brienne asked sharply, and the air instantly grew cold. Already feeling humiliated for admitting he couldn’t use magic, Shylo finally lowered his voice, sounding angry.

“Want to bet? On who did it?”

“Fine.”

Brienne nodded. Thanks to this cursed magic, she had completely forgotten about Melosi.

“How are you going to figure it out?”

“We’ll just ask. After all, we have a great mage in our house.”

At the same time, their pale green eyes turned toward the tightly closed door.