The guild commissioned by Duke Vandermir had a high success rate and mainly took on tasks that were not honorable to others.

At the same time, it was a guild composed of people who did not hesitate to attack noble young ladies if given enough money.

Given the high risk, the Duke handed over a large sum of money and made a simple request:

‘Just inflict an injury in any way. Make her unable to move for a while.’

Considering that the target was a mage, the guild dispatched five mercenaries. This was actually a generous allocation.

How great could a mage obsessed with research be? Probably weak and frail. And being a woman on top of that, she honestly seemed easy to deal with.

They deliberately made it seem like Demian had summoned her, put Arasila alone in a carriage, and took her to a secluded place.

This way, it would appear she got injured while going to meet her prospective husband, potentially sowing seeds of discord between the two later.

Five mercenaries, including those disguised as the coachman and servant, surrounded the carriage. This was to prevent Arasila from escaping.

But no matter how long they waited, the carriage remained eerily quiet. There was no sign of anyone coming out, no voices heard.

One mercenary who put his ear to the door said with a suspicious look:

“What’s going on, is she really inside? Why is there no response?”

“Yeah, did she fall asleep or something?”

One mercenary clenched his fist and pounded on the carriage door as if to break it. Still, there was no response from inside.

“Is she frozen in fear?”

“Haha! Well, judging by her portrait, she looked like a completely delicate noble lady.”

“Let’s open the door and drag her out. We’re wearing protective armor, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

They were wearing very expensive armor that was said to block any magical attack. It was excessive equipment to protect against a frail lady’s magic, but even if they were attacked, they would be fine.

The mercenary who had knocked on the door grabbed the handle and turned it. He planned to enter alone first and drag Arasila out.

‘Breaking one leg and getting a few hundred million gold is quite profitable.’

Hehe, the mercenary let out a vile laugh. For someone who had even taken on noble assassination requests, this job was really nothing.

‘Let’s finish this quickly and go drink some…’

Thwack.

“Argh!”

The mercenary who had just taken one step into the carriage was hit by something and went flying, rolling on the ground. His armor split in two and fell off with a clatter.

“Wh-what?!”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you all of a sudden!”

The remaining mercenaries panicked at the unexpected situation. The mercenary who had been thrown was unable to regain his senses and just lay groaning.

“What in the world…”

At that moment, the carriage door, which had half-closed from the recoil, swung open. Everyone’s gaze turned to the woman who emerged leisurely.

Arasila, wearing a mage tower uniform with four star badges on her chest, looked around at the mercenaries and smiled faintly.

“It seems you have a foolish master. To send you to attack me wearing such cheap armor. Or did they simply underestimate me?”

In fact, the armor worn by the mercenaries was truly remarkable protective gear, but Arasila’s magical power was so overwhelming that it was useless against it.

Scanning the pale, stunned faces, Arasila let out a cold laugh.

She had been through similar situations countless times before. Most people tended to underestimate her as a female mage.

Her achievements as a mage were overshadowed by her striking appearance and unique behavior, becoming downplayed to the outside world. Everyone was busy focusing only on external things and gossiping, without any real interest in Arasila Hugo the mage.

As a result, when they actually met her and experienced her abilities firsthand, only then did they realize.

Why Arasila Hugo was being mentioned as the next Tower Master candidate.

“I’ll give you one chance. Kneel before me right now and confess who ordered you to do this. Then I’ll specially forgive you.”

With her arms crossed, she raised her chin and commanded with dignity. The mercenaries hesitated at the aura emanating from her delicate body.

Their instincts were sending danger warnings more intensely than ever before. Beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

But the amount Duke Vandermir had put on the request was too large to just kneel down like this. And their pride was severely hurt as well.

“Everyone attack!”

One mercenary shouted, drawing a sword from his waist. Seeing the men charging at her with roars, Arasila clicked her tongue.

Why were there so many people in the world who couldn’t seize an opportunity even when given one?

“Oh Lord, I send these foolish lambs to your side once again today.”

She offered a prayer as if she were a devout believer, and drew forth magical power tinged with purple.

Normally, magical power is white, but depending on the individual’s capacity, the more powerful the magic, the more it took on a special light. Arasila’s purple magic was currently the most distinctive within the mage tower.

“Ack!”

“Urk!”

Like leaves swept up by the wind, the mercenaries were flung away or crashed into things one by one. They couldn’t even touch a hair on her head due to the magical power swirling around her protectively.

Arasila stood leisurely in place as she eliminated the enemies. When only one man remained, she stopped her attack and constricted him with her magic like chains.

“Mmph, mmph!”

Having failed in his attempt to commit suicide by biting his tongue, the man trembled violently, his neck tightly bound by the purple magic.

Arasila walked up to him and spoke sweetly.

“You absolutely can’t die. I must take you as living evidence no matter what.”

“…!”

The man drew in a sharp breath. Arasila’s coldly smiling face was reflected in his eyes.

“Now then, shall we start by telling me who ordered you to do this, for the sake of keeping your body intact?”

Demian was not surprised that the guest who visited at sunset was Arasila. They originally had an appointment today, and she had notified him that she would be late.

What surprised him was that Arasila dragged in some man and threw him at his feet.

“Who is this man?”

“A gift sent by your family before the wedding, sir.”

Arasila, who had sat comfortably on the sofa as if she had been here several times before, fluttered the collar of her uniform. Upon closer inspection, her attire was strangely disheveled.

Demian looked back and forth between the man who was bound and gagged, and Arasila who was brushing back her hair, roughly grasping the situation.

It seems the Vandermir ducal family had gone so far as to send something like an assassin to Arasila.

They probably couldn’t dare kill the daughter of Hugo, so they must have intended to threaten her or injure her body to prevent the wedding ceremony.

“I apologize. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Demian, wiping his eyes with his palm, apologized first.

She had agreed to marry him and ended up experiencing something like this. Her mind might have changed for real this time. He apologized first to try and prevent that, even if just a little.

“No, I’m not. But why are you apologizing? Did you send these people?”

“Have I gone mad? I would wish for you not to be hurt even more than you yourself would.”

Demian sighed deeply and looked at Arasila with sunken eyes. Despite having gone through a dangerous situation, she looked fine except for her slightly disheveled clothes.

She didn’t seem tired or afraid, nor did her resolve to marry seem to have wavered much.

Demian called for Isaac to take the man away, then sat across from Arasila.

“I’m asking just in case, but has your desire to marry me diminished at all because of this incident?”

“No, it’s burning even more. You know how the harder a flower is to pluck, the more determined you become.”

Arasila’s lips were smiling playfully, but her sapphire-like eyes held a firm light.

Demian, who had suddenly become the flower Arasila had to pluck, asked in a voice full of doubt.

“Why do you want to marry me so badly?”

“I told you. To prevent my sister from marrying the Vandermir heir.”

“You’re this enthusiastic for such a trivial reason?”

“Trivial? This is about family.”

Emotions that Demian would never understand swirled on that small, pale face. Love for family, devotion, sacrifice.

For someone who wanted to kill his family, these were feelings he could never comprehend.

“I don’t want my sister to be unhappy marrying the Vandermir heir.”

“I also think marrying my brother would lead to unhappiness, but you seem even more certain than I am.”

Oscar Vandermir was infamous for being a scoundrel who hadn’t left any woman untouched in the duchy. The rumors might have spread to the social circles in the capital as well.

But even so, it didn’t seem like enough reason for Arasila to be this obsessed with the marriage. There were many noble couples who maintained relationships in name only, and many who lived while having affairs on the side.

Was it because she grew up in such a harmonious family that she couldn’t endure even that level of unhappiness, or…

“It’s as if your sister would die if she married my brother.”

Could there be some hidden motive she was desperately concealing?

Arasila gazed at Demian with calm eyes. Eyes as deep and unfathomable as a vast ocean.

“That possibility is not entirely out of the question. The Vandermir heir gives the impression that he might plot treason at some point in his life.”

At those words, Demian let out a laugh bordering on mockery.

“A man as chicken-hearted and small-minded as my brother?”

“You don’t know much. It’s usually those kinds of people who scheme things behind the scenes. Isn’t that why I’m trying to marry you?”

“…Won’t you regret it?”

This would be the last time Demian asked for her opinion. Though it might be selfish, he planned to push through with the marriage unconditionally after this.

So that Arasila wouldn’t even have a chance to hesitate.

“No. How could I regret something I’m doing for my family? Don’t worry, I won’t back out halfway through.”

Arasila smiled brightly as she precisely pointed out the part Demian was concerned about. Her clear, resonant voice somehow inspired trust and sincerity.

Not that Demian fully trusted her, even so.

“I understand. I’ll take care of the aftermath of today’s incident. I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”

“Good. With the wedding so close, I hope there won’t be any more troublesome incidents.”

Saying that, Arasila checked the time. Having arrived late due to the detour, it was already evening.

It seemed difficult to discuss the prenuptial agreement clauses today.

“Let’s talk about the contract clauses again tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

As she stood up, Demian also moved to the doorway. He opened the door himself. Instead of offering a handshake, Arasila just nodded her head.

“I’ll be going then.”

As she was about to leave, Demian suddenly blocked her way. As she looked up in confusion, his smooth face, like white clay that had been fired, came close.

…What was this sudden face attack?

For a moment, Arasila stood still in surprise, while Demian carefully examined her with his eyes before stepping aside.

“I was just making sure you really weren’t injured anywhere.”

“…”

“Please take care on your way back.”

He bowed his head politely and courteously. Arasila let out a laugh that sounded like air deflating.

“Couldn’t I be injured in places covered by clothes?”

“That’s something I can’t check for you. Please examine yourself at home, and if you find any injuries, send me the medical bills.”

“Never mind.”

She wasn’t injured anywhere at all anyway. Even her slightly disheveled clothes were just due to the wind caused by her magical power swirling around.

Arasila gave an eye greeting and strode away.

After confirming that she had gone far, Demian called for Isaac again. The faster and cleaner the aftermath was dealt with, the better.