Jade asked casually.

“That, what was it. Elvin? Is it Elvin? Where did he go?”

“Did you see everything?”

“Probably. When you were hugging and making a scene in the middle, how could I not see it? There are some empty spots between the branches here, so it was clearly visible.”

“……”

As a blush crept onto her pale cheeks, Jade changed the subject.

“The poet?”

“It’s none of your business.”

Asela, who had inadvertently responded sharply, glanced at Jade’s expression. However, Jade didn’t pay much attention and found the man.

“My, my. And here I was, diligently trying to cover for you. That young soldier may be kind, but he’s known to have a loose tongue. Since everything was visible from there, why don’t you come out?”

The man, who had been standing silently for a while, calmly emerged from behind the wooden pillar.

The man’s eyes were a bright hazel, the color of chestnut trees, and his gaze was unwavering and resolute, not appearing like someone who had seen something he shouldn’t have. His attire was outdated and the sleeves were worn out, but it was noticeable that he kept himself neat and tidy.

“Go inside, Elvin.”

“No, it’s alright Asela. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Elvin.”

“Nice to meet you too. I’m Jade Broen.”

Asela, not knowing what to do, kept trying to push Elvin back, but he stood firm, receiving Jade’s gaze.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time. I’ve heard your name quite often.”

“Really? From whom?”

“From Asela.”

“That’s not it…!”

Asela waved her hand with her face flushed red, but both Elvin and Jade paid no attention.

“Oh, I hope they were good things. By the way, I’ve seen your poetry collection once.”

“What did you think?”

“Sorry. I’ve only seen the cover, actually. But seeing as how the Countess of Snowden recommended it, it must be filled with beautiful verses. She has quite discerning tastes, after all.”

Elvin smiled faintly.

“Just as you’ve heard.”

“It’s clear that they were bad things. Anyway, I have something important to discuss.”

Jade folded her arms and asked.

“Are you going to run away?”

“It was just nonsense. I’m not running away! Elvin is just….”

“I want to leave. This place is not good for Asela.”

“Is that so? Do you have the means?”

At the indifferent question, the man’s lips tightened.

“Asela is the direct niece of the previous family head. If something were to happen to me, she has sufficient potential to be considered as a successor. And not a good place, you say? Then I understand. Asela’s father won’t sit still.”

“I said I’m not running away! Please go over there….”

“Hey, be quiet for a bit. Anyway, going into hiding requires a lot of money. Because you can’t work until you’re forgotten. You shouldn’t stand out. So, contrary to imagination, it’s not that romantic.”

The man’s delicate hands, which seemed to have held nothing heavier than a pen, trembled slightly.

“So, are you confident?”

“…We’ll make the preparations.”

“Preparations to not work for ten years? I’m not being sarcastic, but it seems difficult to do right away.”

Surprisingly, Asela, who had always spoken softly and gently, shouted.

“Don’t underestimate him! He wrote the most popular play right now, and the majority of people have acknowledged-”

“I know that too, but what I’m saying is that it will be difficult for the two of you to run away on your own right now.”

Tilting her head to the side, Jade said.

“Shall I help you?”

The man’s eyes became desperate, and the woman’s eyes turned cold.

“Go, Elvin.”

“Asela….”

“Go quickly. I’ll contact you again.”

Elvin stumbled back a few steps and slowly walked away through the trees. Jade clicked her tongue inwardly, looking at the man’s slumped shoulders.

With the person she needed to protect gone, Asela mumbled in a drained voice, unlike earlier.

“I know I’m a thorn in your side. But don’t do that to Elvin.”

“I’m disappointed. I meant it sincerely.”

“It’s good that you can use it as a weakness against me. Grandmother will never leave me alone. If she finds out about me and Elvin, she’ll try to take away everything she said she’d give me.”

“Before we talk about Grandmother, we should talk about our affectionate uncle first.”

“…It doesn’t matter. I’ll stay here.”

Unlike in the past when she always hesitated after it was revealed that she had reported Jade’s affairs to her father without fail, Asela retorted with a sharpened attitude like a honed blade.

Looking at those eyes, Jade became genuinely curious.

“Why?”

“What?”

“What’s your reason for wanting to stay here? I’m not being sarcastic, I’m really curious. You love that person, and that person loves you. Isn’t that enough reason to leave?”

This place was clearly an unhealthy environment. Jade was well aware of that fact, separate from her desire to seize the position of lord.

If there was any motivation that sustained Jade, it was her underlying desire for revenge and her love for her parents.

Then what about Asela? Why on earth was she here?

“If we leave? You’re right. Going into hiding requires a lot of preparation. But I’m a helpless incompetent. And Elvin won’t be able to write under his own name.”

“Why can’t you do anything? You’re a mage.”

Asela blankly stared at Jade’s furrowing eyebrows.

After it became known that she had a very small amount of mana, no one called her a mage anymore.

All the relatives in the castle had the attitude that if one couldn’t meet expectations, it was better to not have that power at all. Asela also understood their feelings and quietly shoved her magic books into a corner.

But Jade Broen, who stood in front of her, was calling her a mage….

“Even simple spells have quite valuable convenience when you go to civilian areas. You can earn a decent amount, even if it’s not a lot of money. It will allow you to sustain your life.”

“I told you… our faces can’t become well-known.”

“That’s why I said I’ll help. And earlier, I wanted to know if that man was truly prepared. It’s a harsh world out there! Do you know how many people act like they have butter on their tongue? You have to check properly before getting married. Twice, thrice, four times!”

Jade nagged like a close older sibling would. Asela blinked awkwardly. And without realizing it, she defended Elvin.

“He, he’s a good person. He has no reason to deceive me with lies. He’s a very promising playwright….”

“If you’re that confident, I can really help you. You may not trust me, but I currently have that level of power and people. I’ll block Felix’s pursuit.”

“Why would you?”

With a guarded yet shrinking gaze, Jade smirked.

Asela blinked, feeling somehow drained.

She had never seen Jade smile like that. The purple-eyed heir always appeared lively within the family.

“How should I put it, sometimes just seeing hope gives you courage, you know?”

“I don’t know what you mean….”

“Then let’s do this. I’ve turned a blind eye to your situation so far. I thought it was okay to do that since you did something to me. But whenever I encountered you, it seemed like you were worried about me. Seeing as how you talked a lot about me to Elvin.”

Asela’s face reddened.

“In this family, you’re probably the only one who has worried about me even a little. How about considering it a reward for that?”

“I only worried, and I didn’t actually help you. You don’t need to….”

“Ah, really! Alright. If you run away, Grandmother’s options become very, very limited. She threatens me every day, saying she’ll give you the three biggest farms.”

“Why is she threatening you? She always tells me… to act like you….”

Jade and Asela sighed simultaneously. What a sight this family is.

“Anyway! Aren’t the reasons I presented good enough? We may not be close, but we know each other. I won’t threaten your life.”

As always, without letting go of her clasped hands and blinking nervously several times, Asela shook her head.

“Still… I… can’t abandon the family and leave.”

A subtly stiff face and trembling voice.

Despite presenting so many reasons, why? You could escape this environment and live with the person you love, doing what you enjoy.

It felt frustrating, but in that moment, Jade felt like she saw herself in that appearance. It was as if someone had hit her head with a hammer, making her skull ring.

You’re trying to go only on the path someone has paved for you. Because it’s more comfortable than breaking the cage that confines you. Using the reason that you’re already exhausted in other aspects.

‘I’ve been thinking this for a while, but you’re more conservative than I thought. Did you know? Not thinking about other paths at all.’

That’s right, Rigel. There are other paths for me too.

You and Asela knew, but I was the only one who didn’t.

Realizing that fact, a ridiculous laugh burst out. She knew Asela was looking at her with a puzzled expression, but it was hard to stop. It was so funny that tears even welled up.

“Ja, Jade?”

“Ahaha!”

Laughing while holding her stomach and trembling, then laughing out loud. When she finally came to her senses, Asela already had a terrified face.

“Asela.”

Jade asked, her voice still full of laughter.

“Are you perhaps scared? Are you so used to this abnormal environment that you can’t even think of running away?”

Perhaps feeling that Jade’s words were mocking her, Asela had angry eyes.

“That’s not it! I’m just thinking realistically. If we’re not careful, both Elvin and I might become unhappy.”

“If you’re being realistic, you should leave. Can it get more unhappy than here? From what I’ve heard, your father is someone who beats you, oppresses you, and only thinks of selling you off.”

“Th, that’s not always….”

“It’s natural to run away and escape from this kind of environment. But you say you won’t go even when I offer to help.”

“I just, maybe… Father will someday….”

The end of her sentence faded away. Jade smirked.

“You’re the same as me.”

Holding onto a possibly useless hope and enduring. Dreaming of a happy future that may come someday while wasting the present.

There was no fool like this fool.

Will life change significantly just by becoming the family head? There’s no way. Felix and Mabel will still try to constrain Jade.

Looking again, Asela wasn’t frustrating. It was just that the people living in this castle had tamed her that way.

When Asela didn’t show outstanding talent, Felix ignored her, scolded her, and openly spoke of his intention to sell her off, while Mabel didn’t stop such abuse and thought Asela was weak.

It’s ridiculous. No matter how talented someone is, if they stay in this kind of environment for a long time, their light will surely fade.

Nevertheless, Asela didn’t turn away from her emotions and faced them. She sent letters to Elvin and met him, spending happy times together. She said she loved him.

Of course, she was afraid to cross the final stage and was agonizing over it, but who could mock her for being frustrating? She had formed a bud to bloom a flower in the shadeless shade.

Asela Broen was, befitting a mage born into the Broen family, very brave.