Three days later, Romari visited the Darkus mansion wearing a white shirt with a dark gray long skirt and a hooded robe.

At the entrance of the mansion, a maid with crimson hair braided into two plaits scurried toward her.

“Are you Miss Romari?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll guide you to the reception room.”

She followed the maid to the reception room without much thought. Eina spoke politely in front of the reception room door.

“Madam, I’ve brought your guest.”

“Yes, Eina. Tell her to come in.”

“Certainly.”

The maid opened the door and quickly withdrew. Romari was surprised that the voice answering to the title “Madam” sounded like her familiar friend, but she entered and closed the door.

The spacious reception room was decorated with expensive and elaborate ornaments. On the table were desserts, two wine glasses, and three or four wine bottles.

Rizel, with her black hair braided and styled up, wearing a deep blue dress, held one of the wine glasses and swirled it.

“It’s been a while, Romari. Sit across from me.”

“Wow, my friend looks quite impressive.”

Romari whistled and sat across from her friend. She noticed the wedding ring on Rizel’s ring finger and asked directly.

“Since the maid who guided me called you ‘Madam,’ I had a feeling… Did you get married?”

“Yes, to the Marquis of Darkus.”

Rizel calmly confirmed as she poured wine into her friend’s glass. Though tea would normally be the proper offering, she had arranged with her employer beforehand to bring out wine, knowing her friend’s preference.

Romari’s eyes widened as the wine glass was naturally placed in front of her.

“What? When did you get married?”

“Ten days ago.”

“That’s really sudden news. It’s not like you to make such a hasty decision when you’re usually so cautious. How did this happen? Besides, didn’t you promise to invite me to your wedding if you ever got married?”

Complex emotions flashed across Romari’s face as she rapidly fired questions. Rizel responded awkwardly to her surprised and somewhat hurt friend.

“I’m sorry, as I mentioned over the communication device, there were complicated circumstances. I deliberately didn’t invite any of my acquaintances.”

“Hmm.”

Romari sent her a questioning look and tilted her head. Rizel sighed and revealed the truth through spirit communication.

[Actually, this is a contract marriage with a set duration. It’s a job I was commissioned to do.
The Marquis of Darkus is my husband in name, but essentially he’s my employer.]

[Ah, I see. Then is the Marquis of Darkus that noble gentleman we saw at the tavern before?]

When Romari carefully asked after roughly understanding the situation, Rizel silently nodded. Romari just exclaimed “Wow” in admiration before naturally speaking up.

“I understand. First, congratulations on your marriage. His appearance passes with flying colors, so let’s move on to his personality. Is he good to you?”

“He’s fine by my standards. He’s always respectful and kind.”

“That’s good. If that person makes you cry, I’ll hang him upside down from a tree and burn him. Once he’s completely burned to ashes, there won’t be any trace left.”

“Calm down, Romari. I don’t want to lose a friend over something like that.”

Rizel politely restrained her friend, whose eyes were flashing with a rapidly igniting temper.

Spirit contractors like her friend who had contracted with fire spirits typically had fiery personalities matching their attribute and strong initiative, making it highly likely they would carry out their spoken threats.

Romari chuckled and twirled the ends of her red hair with her finger.

“Alright. But consider that as a measure of how much I’m on your side.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Rizel felt a warmth in her heart and smiled pleasantly. The two clinked their wine glasses together and sipped wine while eating desserts. Suddenly, Romari rolled her eyes and muttered.

“…I suppose I should call you the Marchioness of Darkus now?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, just call me as you always have.”

“Understood, Rizel.”

Romari wore a cheerful expression. After enjoying the familiar and comfortable atmosphere, Rizel belatedly changed the subject.

“By the way, Romari, wasn’t our original topic supposed to be about you?”

“Oh right, I almost forgot what I was going to say because I was so surprised by your marriage news.”

“Tell me now.”

Rizel put down her wine glass and leaned slightly toward her friend. Romari spoke with a troubled face.

“…I was refining my spirit arts in the east when I happened to encounter my biological father. He recognized me first, and after going through various verification processes, it turned out to be true.”

“Really? Who was it?”

Rizel’s eyes widened slightly. She had previously heard that her friend was from the north and had grown up with her mother, but after losing her mother in a spirit rampage incident, she had been wandering alone.

Romari hesitated, uncharacteristically, before answering.

“The Duke of Harrington.”

“That major noble from the eastern region? But that person…”

“Yes, he has a wife and children. Yet that man welcomed me with open arms and brought me into his family fold. Suddenly I have a biological father, a stepmother, and a half-brother.”

Romari shook her head with a hollow laugh.

Just hearing about it made the uncomfortable situation vividly imaginable. While Rizel remained silent, Romari downed her wine in one gulp and continued speaking slowly.

“Actually, I hardly heard anything about my biological father from my mother. Just that he was a good person, but separating was the better choice for both of them? So my mother contracted with a fire spirit and left for the north after announcing their breakup, concealing her pregnancy.”

“…Ah.”

Rizel’s lips moved slightly. Most likely, it was because the fire spirit was particularly unstable. While she was feeling complicated emotions, Romari tousled her hair and sighed.

“Honestly, I was curious about my father when I was young, but as I grew up, I just lost interest. I never expected to meet my biological father like this and be hastily registered into the family.”

“Your feelings must be complex. Are the people of the Harrington family treating you coldly?”

Rizel asked carefully with a serious expression. Romari wrinkled her nose bridge and replied.

“No, they seem afraid of me because I’m a spirit contractor, but their attitude is kind, which makes me more uncomfortable. I deliberately stayed in a separate building, but still felt suffocated. That’s why I went out on a long trip.”

“I understand. When your mind is cluttered, you need fresh air. Your concern now is what attitude to maintain going forward, right?”

“Yes.”

Romari awkwardly confirmed. After some thought, Rizel calmly advised.

“I don’t know much about the people of the Harrington family, but if the atmosphere isn’t bad and they’re taking care of you, even if it’s just formal, it might be better to accept it appropriately. If you feel uncomfortable, just maintain a certain distance.”

“Would that be okay?”

“Yes. If your biological father wants to take care of you, is there any reason to refuse? If your feelings are complicated, try thinking simply, like a mercenary would.”

Rizel pointed to her own head with her finger, deliberately giving a playful smile. Eventually, Romari burst into refreshing laughter.

“You’re right. I’ve been uncharacteristically timid. Thanks, my mind feels clearer now.”

“It’s nothing. I’m glad it helped.”

The atmosphere became much more relaxed. The two laughed and chatted happily. Then Romari suddenly brought up a new topic.

“Rizel, will you attend the New Year’s banquet next year?”

“I’ll probably go with my husband. Don’t tell me you’re going too?”

“Yes, my half-brother offered to escort me.”

Romari nodded with an awkward smile. Rizel smoothly responded.

“Then we’ll see each other again.”

“It won’t be lonely since I’ll know someone there.”

“I agree.”

Rizel’s lips curved into an arc. Romari, with a sly smile, quietly remarked.

“Oh, come to think of it, if many high-ranking nobles gather, Marquis Bellard will probably be there too.”

“Since he became a major noble in the west after that territorial war, I suppose so.”

Rizel’s response was indifferent.

Marquis Edwin Bellard was a noble who had been her employer during the territorial war in the west. She remembered him as a decent person who had treated her with respect during her employment and provided satisfactory compensation, but that was all.

‘Well, he’s just a former employer with whom I’ve completed my work.’

She didn’t give her former employer any thought at all. Why dwell on past requests? Rather than that, the possible appearance of the female protagonist, Parsene, would be more significant.

Romari giggled and blurted out:

“That person really liked you, didn’t he?”

“Probably because I did my job well. Even if there were other feelings, they’re meaningless now. Surely he wouldn’t commit the rudeness of pursuing a noblewoman who already has a husband? I don’t think he lacks that much discernment.”

“True.”

Romari agreed. The two quickly changed the topic and continued their pleasant conversation.

Their chat only ended after all the wine bottles on the table were emptied. They used their spirit energy to shake off the effects of alcohol and tidied their appearances.

Rizel accompanied her friend out of the mansion. As the two were waving goodbye in front of Romari’s carriage, Harzen returned to the mansion from his outing.

The unexpected three-way encounter created a strange tension. In the awkward silence, Harzen, who had been alternately examining the two women, spoke first.

“Rizel, you were seeing your friend off.”

“Yes.”

Following her confirmation, Romari greeted him stiffly.

“Hello, Marquis of Darkus.”

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”

Harzen’s response was formal and dry. Romari spoke directly.

“I heard you married Rizel.”