Arasila naturally changed the subject. It was a good thing for Demian, whose mood was plummeting even further.

“What is it?”

“I asked Her Highness the Grand Duchess as well, but I couldn’t find anyone named Sian Mondor. It might be a foreigner or not even a person’s name.”

Demian, who had momentarily forgotten about the note from the jewel box due to various recent events, slowly nodded.

With so many things to worry about, his mother’s non-urgent matter kept getting pushed back.

“It seems it will take some time to find.”

“It’s alright, my lady. Please don’t search any further.”

Demian replied calmly. Arasila gave a puzzled look at the unexpected response.

“What? Why?”

“Isn’t it a waste of your time, my lady? You must be busy enough with Magic Tower affairs, so you need not concern yourself with my matters anymore. I’ll look into it myself later.”

Demian’s voice was polite and rather gentle as he said this. The intention behind his words was to be considerate of her.

Yet Arasila felt a corner of her heart freeze.

Though softened in expression, Demian’s words essentially meant to stop meddling in his affairs.

Unable to bring herself to say how could he say such a thing when they were married, Arasila quietly bit her lip.

Broadly speaking, Demian was right. For a couple soon to divorce, if she interfered needlessly and left midway without solving the problem, it would only make things more awkward for Demian.

It was time for each to mind their own business. In preparation for divorce, and in preparation for separation.

Reminded of this fact, Arasila slowly opened her mouth.

“I understand. Then I’ll step back from this.”

“Yes, thank you for your efforts thus far.”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t do anything particularly difficult.”

Awkwardly concluding the conversation, both silently focused on their meal. For a while, only the clinking of utensils echoed in the dining hall.

Somehow losing her appetite, Arasila chewed the food in her mouth slowly and glanced towards her husband.

Demian, sitting with his sculpted face and moving his hands gracefully, seemed less familiar than before.

It felt as if an invisible line had been drawn again between the two who had softened over the four seasons. Moreover, that line seemed even stronger than when they first met.

Though thinking it natural since she had initiated the divorce, she couldn’t help feeling unsettled.

‘It might be better to just divorce outright, rather than cutting ties one by one like this. It’s really unpleasant.’

Even in this situation, her feelings for Demian stubbornly persisted, which was maddening.

In the end, neither opened their mouths again until the meal was over, but both rose from their seats in equally gloomy moods.

Eric joined the confession drug research smoothly on the condition that he would be in charge of cultivation and management if the Dilai flower was revived.

With his gentle personality, he easily blended in with Sally and Rudy, becoming laughing and chatting friends in just a day.

Even after a few days, he was exchanging friendly greetings with other mages in the Magic Tower. Arasila marveled at his incredible sociability.

In fact, for Arasila, who wasn’t particularly sociable herself, Eric was the first person to become so comfortable in such a short time.

“Ah, Roberts Yeongsik. Did you tell your sister about working with me?”

“No, not yet. I was so focused on the research that I forgot.”

“I guess your sister didn’t think it was strange? She might have wondered what happened when you started coming to the Magic Tower instead of working in your home lab.”

Now that she thought about it, Arasila suddenly found it odd that Iris hadn’t contacted her if she knew about Eric’s work at the Magic Tower.

Don’t couples usually share at least briefly what they’re up to?

Eric, who had flinched momentarily, soon let out an embarrassed laugh and made an excuse.

“Ah… We haven’t seen each other often lately because we’ve been busy. So she doesn’t know I’m coming and going to the Magic Tower. Haha, I should tell her soon.”

“Well, I guess that can happen when you’re busy. I’ve also had less frequent conversations with my sister since getting married due to various matters.”

So much so that she was the last in the family to know about Eric’s relationship. Regardless of still loving each other, the sisterly relationship wasn’t quite the same as before.

Eric nodded as if understanding and gently opened his mouth.

“You know, Lady Vandermir? They say the closer the relationship, the more often you should converse.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Because the more people think they know the other person, the more likely they are to make the mistake of presuming the other’s feelings on their own.”

Eric smiled brightly. As it didn’t sound wrong, Arasila listened without objection.

“How can you know what’s going on in someone’s mind without asking? They might be harboring unspoken worries, or thinking differently from what you imagine.”

“When you put it that way, you sound more like a psychologist than a botanist.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Eric laughed heartily and said he’d be going now. Arasila also wrapped up her remaining work and prepared to leave.

With research progressing bit by bit since Eric’s arrival, her expression wasn’t too bad as she returned home.

As she entered the Vandermir mansion, now as familiar as the Duke Hugo’s residence, she saw Demian standing frozen with something in his hand.

“Demian, what are you doing there?”

“Ah, my lady.”

Snapping to his senses at the clear question, Demian turned to face her.

“This arrived for you, my lady.”

He handed Arasila the envelope he was holding in his other hand. The imperial crest was stamped on the outside.

Arasila silently received it and checked.

“To Lady Arasila Vandermir.

A New Year’s Festival is being held to express gratitude and encouragement to those who have worked for the glory of the Empire this past year, and to pray for unity and development in the coming new year.

We hope you will attend as the future Magic Tower Master and grace the occasion with your presence.”

“It’s an invitation to the New Year’s Festival.”

“Yes, that’s right. I received one too.”

What Demian had been examining with a serious face was indeed the New Year’s Festival invitation.

The Setron Empire held a New Year’s Festival every year, inviting high-ranking personnel from their own and other countries. As only carefully selected individuals could attend, both had only heard of it.

Usually, only the heads of each family or those with special merits or titles received invitations, while children without such qualifications couldn’t participate.

However, this time both Arasila and Demian were invited. One as the future Magic Tower Master, the other as the Sword Master.

“The Red Hawk Knights have also been requested to take charge of external security.”

“Has that happened before?”

“No, it’s the first time. Both the security request and the invitation.”

It had been nearly 10 years since Demian became Sword Master. It felt rather suspicious that they suddenly invited him for that reason after saying nothing all this time.

Moreover, he was the very person who had recently brought down the Empress’s family. It was doubtful whether the invitation was made with purely good intentions.

That’s why he had been examining the invitation with a serious face after receiving it.

“Hmm, it feels a bit off somehow. I don’t particularly want to attend, but we can’t refuse an imperial invitation, can we?”

“Yes, and they didn’t invite you and me separately. If we don’t attend, it might affect the Magic Tower and the Knights.”

That must have been the reason for sending invitations to each of them individually.

A silent sigh flowed out simultaneously. As Arasila was putting the invitation back in the envelope with a bothered expression, she inadvertently turned her head towards Demian.

Their eyes met at that moment.

Since the day she had coincidentally met Eric, the couple rarely faced each other. It was because Demian had been frantically immersed in work, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night.

As a result, his already sharp jawline stood out even more on his handsome face that had lost some weight.

‘Why is he rushing so urgently as if being chased by something…’

Arasila, who had been unconsciously examining him here and there, hesitated as their gazes met again.

As their time together decreased, the atmosphere between them had become strangely awkward recently. It was both uncomfortable and uneasy.

It was fine when they weren’t aware of it, but as soon as they became conscious of each other like this, they immediately became at a loss for what to do.

Suddenly, Arasila remembered Eric’s words. That closer relationships require more frequent conversations.

‘Does that apply to our relationship too…?’

While Arasila was hesitating, unsure whether to call their relationship close or distant, Demian spoke first.

“My lady, be careful of His Highness the Crown Prince at the New Year’s Festival. It would be better not to get involved if possible.”

“Don’t worry. His Highness and I are no longer friends, so that won’t happen.”

“Still, be cautious. Even if the connection is severed, feelings are still unknown.”

Demian advised seriously. Arasila nodded slowly and replied.

“You be careful too. They might try to retaliate for the Duke Grant incident.”

“Yes, I will be cautious.”

Demian replied respectfully and turned away. Arasila quietly watched him climb the stairs but didn’t stop him.

Because she still didn’t know what words to exchange.

The foreign dignitaries invited to the New Year’s Festival began to arrive one by one. The Emperor had his adult children take turns greeting them.

Thus, Crown Prince Frederick, Prince Lucas, and Princess Gloria went to the castle gates each day.

The Imperial Knights spread out tight security in all directions. As if that wasn’t enough, they even called the Red Hawk Knights for Frederick’s turn.

Demian, though not entirely willing, visited the imperial palace without showing it to provide security. Frederick, dressed splendidly to welcome the delegation, greeted him.

“It’s been a while, Lord Vandermir.”

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Frederick pulled up the corners of his mouth as he watched Demian bow his head towards him.

“I’m so glad to see you like this. I actually had something to say to you.”

In fact, Frederick had deliberately summoned the Red Hawk Knights and now spoke as if it were a coincidence.

He put his hand on Demian’s shoulder and drooped his eyebrows.

“I heard that my uncle did a terrible thing to you. I apologize on his behalf. I’m truly sorry, Lord Vandermir.”

Demian’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He never expected the Crown Prince to mention Duke Grant in front of him first. He stared at Frederick, who was wearing a very apologetic expression.

Unlike his words of sincerity, the Crown Prince’s red eyes were cold.

“I really had no idea the Duke would do such a thing. I suppose he made a mistake out of misplaced affection for his niece, after I complained a few times out of concern for Arasila.”

Demian barely suppressed the laugh that was about to burst out momentarily. The intention behind bringing up such words in a place with many onlookers was obvious.

It was to publicly emphasize that the Duke Grant’s crime was reduced to a mistake, and that he himself was not involved in the assassination attempt.