Chapter 1.5

“Isn’t this a bit much? It’s not even a party, just a dinner….”  

After bathing and coming down to the dining room, Brienne looked around the table with a reluctant face. Grilled lobster, steak simmered for hours in hot water, turkey stuffed with all kinds of vegetables and spices….  

“Your father asked them to pay special attention. He had everything prepared with only your favorites, Brienne.”  

“…Really….”  

“Ahem, you must be hungry? Let’s eat.”  

Damon, embarrassed by Olivia’s words, gestured to Brienne’s plate. Feeling oddly ticklish inside, Brienne quietly picked up her fork.  

“Thank you for being so thoughtful, Father… I’ll enjoy the meal.”  

The meal, prepared to Brienne’s tastes, was truly wonderful. Even the dessert was a sweet treat, and before she knew it, Brienne, who had been gloomy thinking about Kaiden, found herself smiling and listening to Shylo’s stories.  

This story was about how Shylo had chased after only one girl from entrance to graduation.  

“But do you know what that mage said on the day of the completion ceremony? She said her goal was to enter the Belif Dukedom, and if that didn’t work out, she’d settle for the Ford Marquisate later. And the reason… it was just so ridiculous….”  

“What was it?”  

Damon took his lips off his wine glass, looking curious. Shylo, still sounding bitter, gave the table a light tap.  

“Herace Belif! You all know him, right? That slippery guy….”  

“Of course. I heard he graduated at the top of the academy this year?”  

“Yeah, though I have no idea how someone who barely attended managed to be top… Anyway, that girl ended up falling for his looks! I was fooled. I thought she worked herself to death to become the runner-up as a commoner for some noble purpose!”  

Shylo’s nose was red, showing he was getting tipsy. Brienne, staring at him, tilted her head in puzzlement.  

“So what do you mean, she fell for his looks?”  

“…What? You don’t know Herace Belif?”  

Of course she knew. She just wasn’t interested. Brienne shrugged as she raised her glass.  

“I know. He’s Kaiden’s friend.”  

At that, Shylo stared at Brienne with a dumbfounded look. As expected, his little sister knew nothing but Kaiden.  

Who was Herace Belif?  

He wasn’t just Kaiden’s friend.  

Magazines with his name on them sold out the moment they hit the stands. His handkerchiefs exchanged in the dormitory for more than ten times their price. Even the attendance sheets, student records, and even portraits on the bulletin boards were cut out….  

Shylo, at a loss for words, closed his mouth. Meanwhile, Brienne, unable to contain her curiosity, asked,  

“And isn’t being runner-up already really impressive? Why is it strange for someone like that to want to work for a ducal family?”  

A look of confusion appeared on Brienne’s face.  

Shylo had graduated from Roeta Academy, but like most people in Rontiano, Brienne knew nothing about magic. The roots of magic were in the Holy Kingdom of Roeta, and the academy exchange program had only been around for a few years.  

“Brienne, think about it. The Bannon and Belif families, all the noble faction families, consistently reject the Holy Kingdom of Roeta. But the Belif Dukedom? And on top of that, with a top graduate as a successor, why would they need another mage from Roeta?”  

“That’s….”  

“Anyway, what I’m saying is, a high-ranking mage keeps a lower mage at their side only when they’re lovers. Sure, there might be political reasons, but… between mages, their mana is bound to clash.”  

Having finished, Shylo downed his wine in one gulp. Brienne awkwardly followed, raising her glass for a sip.  

“…Mana clashes?”  

“Yeah. Especially mages as powerful as Herace Belif, they make other mages’ mana unstable. When mana clashes, the stronger one always wins. They say the only way to prevent that is with a ‘soul binding spell’, which means exchanging mana to have the same mana nature.”  

“……”  

Brienne couldn’t understand a word of what Shylo was saying. The same went for Damon, a typical Rontiano noble, and Olivia. Looking around, Shylo hurriedly added,  

“Oh, so… what I mean is, mages are independent beings and can’t be with other mages. Once their souls are bound, they can never be apart for life. Lovers joined that way can’t be separated, not even by death. That’s why, unless they’re at an academy where they can suppress their mana, mages always act alone.”  

Lovers who can’t be separated even by death—what kind of world was that? Brienne’s eyes widened as she looked at Shylo. Brienne, who usually dismissed his silly talk, found him suddenly impressive as he spoke knowledgeably about magic. Watching Brienne closely the whole time, Olivia gently asked,  

“Brie, are you interested in magic too? Do you want to go to the academy?”  

“Oh, no. I’m too old for the academy now… I was just curious, that’s all.”  

Brienne flailed her hands in surprise. She too had wanted to attend the academy when she was young. To learn about a new world across the sea, to visit the castle-sized library said to take a lifetime to read through.  

She’d wanted to test her aptitude as a mage like Shylo… but not enough to leave Kaiden behind.  

Before she knew it, she’d grown up, and now Kaiden was….  

“Well, I don’t really get what you’re saying, but I do know that mage must be something else. I can see why you’d like her.”  

Damon raised his glass with a pleased smile. At that, Shylo’s face turned red.  

“What? Like her? Me?”  

“Of course. Don’t you?”  

“Hah…! Don’t be ridiculous!”

When Shylo flared up, Damon’s eyes widened in surprise. Olivia and Brienne, recalling how Shylo had spent the entire dinner with a shy face, talking about how beautiful that mage’s dark blue hair was and how charming her voice was when she chanted spells, exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

But just then—

Knock, knock.

“Master, you’re needed urgently!”

A tense voice sounded from outside the door. When Damon gave permission to enter, the steward appeared with a nervous face.

“There’s a visitor. I believe you should see for yourself.”

…A visitor?

Brienne’s eyes shook fiercely.

If someone had come all the way here in this weather, and if the steward was so flustered as to call them a ‘visitor’…

‘…Kaiden?’

At that thought, her body sprang up reflexively. Without giving anyone a chance to stop her, Brienne hurriedly dashed out of the dining room.

“Brienne…!”

Startled, Olivia stood up and called out to her, but Brienne didn’t hear a thing.

There were so many things she wanted to say to Kaiden.

Had he really dated Melosi Bailey for three years? If so, that day—what was the meaning of what he said to her at the bookstore, when he told her she was the only one he wanted?

Brienne ran all the way to the door and yanked the handle open wide. A large shadow loomed over her head.

“…You are…”

But it wasn’t Kaiden.

Dripping silver hair, soaked by the rain. Dark gray eyes gazing quietly down at her. For several seconds, her eyes met his.

Staring blankly up at that angelic face, catching her breath, Brienne realized who he was.

‘…Herace Belif.’

She had never faced him this close before. But after just hearing Shylo’s story, there was no way she wouldn’t know.

“Why are you here…?”

At that moment, a radiant smile spread across Herace’s face. Brienne, for a brief moment, lost her words at the man’s face, so striking against the gloomy weather.

“Are you disappointed that it’s me?”

“…Pardon?”

“Were you expecting someone else, perhaps?”

“What do you… mean…”

Brienne’s light green eyes lost their focus. Flustered, unable to continue, her cheeks flushed red.

Of course, it wasn’t out of any emotion like love.

Embarrassment, regret.

A sudden, late realization of reality.

Herace Belif—wasn’t he Kaiden’s closest friend?

With that thought, Brienne immediately took a step back. Whether it was just her imagination or not, that beautiful face felt dangerous.

‘…What is this?’

A wary look appeared in Brienne’s eyes as she looked up at Herace. But before she could fully grasp the situation, Marquis Ford came running up behind her, out of breath.

“Well, if it isn’t Young Master Belif! What brings you here in this weather…?”

Seeing his chance, Brienne quietly stepped aside. Herace Belif bowed politely.

“Greetings, Marquis Ford. I was passing through the Ford estate on merchant business, but my carriage wheel broke, so I had no choice but to come seek your help.”

“Merchant business? You’re running a carriage in this weather?”

Damon looked behind him in confusion. It didn’t seem to be a lie; several servants, looking like porters, were carrying armfuls of luggage.

“Yes, I didn’t expect the rain to pour this much. There’s hardly any rain in the Holy Kingdom of Roeta, so it was my mistake. Marquis, I know it’s an imposition, but may I ask to shelter here for a while?”

Finishing his words, Herace swept back his rain-soaked hair. Damon, momentarily entranced by his appearance, finally opened his mouth.

“My daughter is convalescing, so we’re not receiving guests at the moment. Instead, let me quickly arrange for a new carriage…”

Flash.

Rumble—crash!

But thunder did not allow Damon to refuse. With the rain pouring even harder, Damon glanced at Herace with troubled eyes. Even a drowned rat wouldn’t look as soaked as Herace Belif did right now.

“…Is it truly too much to ask?”

At that moment, Herace lowered his head with a bitter smile. Marquis Ford was impressed, inwardly. Even in such a state, he couldn’t hide his good looks—no wonder that mage with the dark blue hair, as Shylo had described, had fallen for him.

At the same time, a thought flashed through Damon’s mind.

Hadn’t it always been said that one forgets a person by meeting someone new?

In his heart, Kaiden, who had hurt his daughter, was already disqualified as a son-in-law. At a time like this, the appearance of a man like Herace Belif would surely be a good stimulus for Brienne.

‘Well, with such a troubled person before me…’

Having finished his calculations, Damon quickly put on a friendly face and stepped aside.

“Oh, no, not at all. Of course it’s not too much. Please rest here as long as you need until the rain stops. Here, show Young Master Belif to a guest room!”

Of all those present, only Brienne frowned at this sudden decision.