Chapter 7

Lynette bit her lip hard, but she did not pull away. His voice reached her from just inches away.

It was a voice so soft it felt like a tickle against the shell of her ear.

“Flame within the Heart, Blood Chosen by Heaven.”

‘Blood Chosen by Heaven’ meant that magic was passed down through the lineage of mages. Both parents had to be mages. This was a result revealed after extensive research.

Duke Atherne was one of those who believed the bloodline of the mage family still survived. According to old records, in an attempt to uncover the meaning of the phrase ‘Flame within the Heart,’ some had even tracked down mages, sliced open their chests, and set fire to their hearts.

It was horrific. Lynette could not understand the extent of human greed, or how someone could abandon their humanity for the sake of desire.

Those who possessed everything yet sought to grasp even more were inevitably destined to become villains. And Duke Atherne was a man capable of doing things far worse than what was written in the records if he ever found the bloodline of the mage family.

Closing the book, Carlisle stepped back without hesitation. Lynette let out a quiet breath. As he slid the book back into the spot where the top book had been, Carlisle spoke in a low voice.

“Come to my house tomorrow evening after the banquet ends.”

“Why?”

At her sharp response, Carlisle shook his head and smiled.

“Didn’t you say you needed the materials on magic I’ve been researching? I’m telling you to come collect them. Wouldn’t it be better for you to get them quickly, Lynette?”

Carlisle’s words made sense. She had to give him what he wanted as quickly as possible, receive the magic materials, and finish the research together so she could return to the Magic Tower. Straightening her slightly tilted posture, Lynette opened her lips in agreement.

“……Fine.”

Watching Carlisle turn away, Lynette frowned. Did he bring her here just to read the first page of the Ancient Grimoire?

“Is that all? I told you I wanted to look around the library.”

Turning back to look at Lynette, Carlisle gave a slight nod of his chin in affirmation.

“Be satisfied with just looking around for today. We’ll have plenty of time anyway, and since you’re here, isn’t this a place you can enter whenever you wish?”

As Carlisle left the library without waiting for her answer, she was left alone. In the heavy silence that descended, Lynette wrapped her arms around herself. His body heat still felt hot and uncomfortable, as if it lingered on the nape of her neck.

To think she was already being swayed by the man she had discarded with her own hands. A dry sigh escaped through Lynette’s red lips. It felt as though the remaining time would be far more difficult and grueling than the past two years.

While preparations for the banquet were in full swing at the royal palace, a valet and a lady-in-waiting from Elaine visited Lynette’s home.

For today’s banquet, Lynette was attending not as an aide, but as the daughter of Duke Atherne. Accordingly, the Crown Prince had sent a dress, hair ornaments, jewelry, and a lady-in-waiting to help her dress. It was a small courtesy for a daughter ignored by her own family. Since the same thing had happened last year, Lynette welcomed them with familiarity.

“Please come in.”

After letting the lady-in-waiting in, Lynette washed up and emerged. The lady-in-waiting had already opened the boxes and was ready to adorn her. This was the part Lynette disliked the most. She could never get used to the act of transforming a defective product into a high-grade one and smiling in front of people.

“Lady Lynette, please sit here.”

With the lady-in-waiting’s help, she finished her makeup and put on the dress. It was a silver dress, the same color as her hair. Delicate silver threads were embroidered upon satin that looked like moonlight, and small pearls lined the neckline, shimmering brightly. The waist was tightly cinched, revealing Lynette’s slender silhouette, and the voluminous skirt swayed like silver waves. Her silver hair was neatly tied up and adorned with crystals that looked as if they had been scattered across it, and small, deep blue sapphire earrings hung beneath her ears, making her gaze shine even colder. In appearance, she was a perfect lady, but the smile she wore was, as always, forced.

It was the spring banquet. Elaine would not permit her to miss this banquet, which was held every spring. That meant she would have to face the people of the Duke Atherne family. The family of Marquess Clifford, and this time, even Carlisle. Since they had enjoyed a rather passionate romance, the eyes of the nobles who had graduated from the academy would be fixed on the two of them.

The lady-in-waiting, who had given Lynette’s hair a final touch while Lynette pulled at the corners of her lips meaninglessly in the mirror, stepped back.

“Everything is finished.”

“Thank you.”

Lynette left the house. Carlisle was standing in front of the royal carriage.

Unlike other nobles, Carlisle wore not a single piece of sparkling jewelry or a line of gold embroidery. Instead, he wore a deep midnight-blue uniform coat. The coat was as neat as a military uniform, but the small decorations on the shoulders sparkled under the evening glow, and the streamlined uniform sharply revealed his physique.

And on the left side of his chest, above the lapel, a silver circular badge shimmered. Multiple layers of Rune Patterns were engraved within it, and whenever the fading sunlight brushed against it, the light wavered as if it were alive.

That badge was proof that he was a researcher of the Magic Tower. It was also a shield that no one could carelessly challenge. Though the nobles might feel uncomfortable inwardly, they would never be able to treat him lightly on the surface. This was the difference from her time at the academy, when everyone had ignored him.

Carlisle’s cold neatness was even more intimidating than the nobles adorned in luxury. Slowly straightening his leaning body, Carlisle reached out his hand.

“I’m your partner today.”

“I know.”

With Carlisle’s escort, Lynette boarded the carriage. During the ride to the banquet hall, Lynette remained silently quiet, and Carlisle did not add any words to her. It was a relief. In front of the massive doors of the banquet hall, Lynette caught the eye of the attendant and steadied her breath.

It’s okay. I can do this. It’s not that difficult. She repeated to herself countless times.

“Lady Lynette Atherne and Mr. Carlisle Preston have arrived!”

With a light smile clinging to the corners of her lips, Lynette entered with Carlisle. The grand banquet hall of the royal palace was a sea of gold in itself.

The giant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling consisted of thousands of crystal pieces layered upon one another, breaking the light and pouring down like the starlight of a night sky. That light hit the marble floor and spread like silver waves, and the massive decorations installed on the walls reflected that brilliance countless times, making the entire hall feel like a jewelry box.

The curtains hanging from each pillar were woven with embroidery of alternating red and gold, and the silver threads wavered like waves as they caught the light. At the end of that magnificent path, Elaine and Eris were waiting for them.

“Welcome! Mr. Preston! Lynette, the dress suits you very well today. The taste of the lady who will become my consort is indeed exceptional.”

It seemed Lynette’s dress today had been Eris’s choice. When their eyes met, Eris smiled brightly at Lynette, as always. Lynette gave a short nod.

“It is an honor to be invited, Your Highness.”

After exchanging greetings, Lynette stood close to the wall. She did not want to mingle in the crowd. She simply observed the attendees of the banquet as if watching from a distance. Abundant seasonal flowers, sourced directly from the royal gardens, were placed throughout the banquet hall. The scent of the flowers mingled with the smell of wine and spices, making even the air feel sweet.

On impulse, Lynette took a sip of champagne.

The music flowed in a beautiful melody. The clear notes of the violin met the sounds of the harp, and the low resonance of wind instruments layered on top. The clear clinking of cutlery, the lingering scent of sweet alcohol as wine glasses touched, and the overlapping laughter of nobles felt like one giant piece of music. And through that music, the shout of an attendant pierced through.

“His Grace Duke Atherne and the Duchess, and the young duke, Mr. Maurice Atherne, have arrived!”