“Ah, I apologize. As we’re about to become family, I came to greet you.”

Oscar approached Arasila with a slimy smile.

The closer he got, her beauty didn’t diminish but rather came alive. He ran his sticky gaze over her delicate features.

“You’re beautiful… too good for my brother…”

Oscar tried to touch Arasila’s hair while complimenting her in a nauseating voice.

However, Arasila lightly turned her body to avoid his touch and replied coldly.

“I know.”

“Haha, it’s such a shame someone like you is marrying Demian. I would be a much better match.”

What nonsense lacking self-awareness was this? Arasila looked at Oscar with an incredulous expression.

But Oscar seemed to have spoken in complete sincerity, laughing very proudly.

…Does he really think he and I are a good match? This is too insulting.

“Young master, I have good eyesight and look in the mirror often.”

“Is that so? But why…?”

“It means I know who truly suits me better.”

While Oscar’s appearance was above average, he was no match for Demian.

Not immediately understanding Arasila’s words, Oscar let out an exclamation half a beat late.

“Ah, I see you prefer the sparrow-like type. But a real man should have manly charms like me.”

He puffed out his chest and thumped his thin torso. Arasila looked at Oscar with disbelieving eyes.

While Demian did have delicate features, standing side by side revealed he was bigger than expected.

Though she couldn’t be certain of his exact physique without seeing him undressed, she could confidently say he was much better built than Oscar.

This man clearly had a thin, weak body that had never exercised.

“I’m worried my brother knows so little about women. If you ever feel lonely at night, feel free to come find me.”

Oscar winked while uttering words far too inappropriate for his brother’s soon-to-be wife.

He seemed accustomed to behaving this way, not even realizing how rude he was being.

“Young master, I think there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”

“What…?”

Arasila decided to offer some friendly advice, like family, accepting his earlier words about becoming relatives.

“Actually, you look like a starfish stuck to a rock.”

“W-what?”

“So I wanted to tell you that no matter how lonely I get, I won’t seek out a starfish instead of a person.”

She added with a sweet smile.

“The same would be true for any woman, not just me.”

“…!”

Oscar’s face turned bright red.

Until now, as the eldest son and presumptive heir of the Vandermir ducal family, no woman had ever stood up to him in his rakish lifestyle.

Given his family background, they either avoided him out of disgust or played along hoping for some benefit.

It was always one or the other.

But Arasila had no reason to do either, so she was confident in front of Oscar.

“Return to your family before I throw you back into the sea, young master. The ceremony will start soon.”

“Y-you…!”

Feeling insulted, Oscar trembled as if about to attack at any moment.

But meeting the spirit in those clear blue eyes, he couldn’t follow through.

As Arasila sat in a chair checking her reflection in the mirror, thoroughly ignoring his presence, Oscar finally stormed out of the waiting room with a frustrated expression.

Listening to the stomping footsteps, Arasila thought.

‘The starfish has good energy.’

By the way, how many legs does a starfish have?

[This is the timeline separator]

Huffing and puffing as he turned the corner, Oscar soon tripped over someone’s foot and fell with a crash.

“Aaagh!”

“You should watch where you’re going, brother.”

With his hands in his pockets, Demian threateningly stomped his foot down between Oscar’s legs.

Feeling a sudden threat to his future children, Oscar broke into a cold sweat and scuttled backward like a cockroach.

“You bastard, you tripped me on purpose!”

“How could I? With only two legs, unlike a starfish’s many.”

Startled by the word “starfish” from Demian’s mouth, Oscar soon scowled.

Demian looked down at his brother while maintaining perfect posture to avoid wrinkling his formal attire.

“I enjoyed watching you try to flirt with my bride and get rejected.”

“You little…”

“Let me warn you, stay away from my bride.”

The chilling voice settled by Oscar’s ear. Unlike his smiling lips, Demian’s eyes were icy cold.

“It’ll be useless no matter how much you try anyway.”

Arasila was clever, intelligent, and objective. She surely knew she was too good for Oscar Vandermir.

Moreover, since she agreed to marry Demian because she didn’t want him marrying her sister, there was even less chance of her getting involved with Oscar.

“Who are you to tell me what to do! How do you know if it’ll be useless or not?!”

Oscar angrily asked a foolish question. Demian lifted his chin and looked down at him even more.

“Can’t you tell from how even your precious mother couldn’t do anything this time? You’re useless at everything except being the duchess’s son.”

“Shut up, Demian!”

Enraged by Demian’s mockery, Oscar jumped up and lunged at him. Demian dodged with light, nimble movements.

Crash! Oscar fell again, looking ridiculous all by himself. Demian leisurely approached him from behind as he groaned face-down.

“Keep your mouth shut and quietly disappear, Oscar. You don’t want to return to the sea, do you?”

“…You think you’ll get away with hurting me like this?”

Oscar gritted his teeth, his nose bright red from hitting the wall. Demian shrugged.

“It’s truly regrettable that you fell and hurt yourself, brother. But it seems I’m not at fault.”

He bowed with exaggerated politeness before turning away. Oscar angrily punched the wall, then groaned in pain again.

Hearing the pathetic sound without looking back, Demian clicked his tongue and glanced toward the bride’s waiting room.

He had chanced upon Oscar walking down the hall with a scheming look and followed him, witnessing the incident in the waiting room.

As if scoring a point against Demian, who was ready to intervene if needed, Arasila had easily sent Oscar away without anyone’s help.

Starfish.

Demian chuckled as he mulled over the nickname Arasila had given Oscar.

If Oscar was a starfish, he wondered what he himself might be.

[This is the timeline separator]

The ceremony began when the emperor arrived.

Demian entered first and stood before the altar waiting for Arasila. Soon she appeared, holding her father’s hand, crossing the red carpet.

The eccentric magician who had declared lifelong celibacy.

Belying her past reputation, Arasila now walked the carpet approaching the groom as a beautiful new bride.

Demian moved his long legs to receive the bride’s hand.

As Arasila’s hand passed from the duke to him, their gazes intertwined. Demian was reflected in those blue eyes.

My bride.

The words he had casually spoken in front of Oscar suddenly felt real.

‘I’ve gained a new family, albeit temporarily.’

A family other than the Vandermir ducal household.

Of course, family didn’t hold much meaning for him anyway.

As the two stood before the altar, the high priest recited blessings and asked questions in turn.

“Demian Vandermir, do you swear before God to take Arasila Hugo as your wife, to love and respect her for life?”

“I do.”

“Arasila Hugo, do you swear before God to take Demian Vandermir as your husband, to love and respect him for life?”

“I do.”

In truth, adding “for life” was excessive for this marriage that had an end determined before it even began.

But neither of them showed it. After all, they were currently holding a love marriage.

“Exchange rings.”

Arasila and Demian faced each other. Colorful sunlight filtered through stained glass cast a faint halo on their fair skin.

Demian slipped the ring onto her slender left ring finger. Arasila likewise placed the ring on his thick finger.

“I hereby declare before God that Demian Vandermir and Arasila Hugo are joined in matrimony.”

The high priest solemnly proclaimed.

And so, on a fine spring afternoon, the two became husband and wife.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the wedding ceremony, the reception followed.

Demian changed into a dark gray tailcoat, while Arasila changed into a light pink satin dress.

As the two made their rounds greeting guests while pretending to be a loving couple, the Vandermir dowager duchess approached with her entourage.

“It’s been a while, Grandmother.”

Demian bowed his head to his stern-looking grandmother. Arasila, who hadn’t met her before the wedding, followed suit and greeted her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dowager Duchess. I’m Arasila. I look forward to your guidance.”

“Your greeting comes quite late.”

The dowager duchess replied in a displeased tone. Her sharp gaze turned to Arasila.

Originally, she had insisted that Arasila come pay her respects at the Vandermir duchy before the wedding. But Demian had blocked it.

‘Grandmother is more my brother’s grandmother than mine. So unless you enjoy being scolded, don’t go.’

Already busy, Arasila naturally had no time to go seeking a scolding. So she made all sorts of excuses not to go.

As a result, she was meeting her husband’s paternal grandmother for the first time on her wedding day.

“You said you were too busy to come to the duchy, yet you managed to come to your own wedding.”

“Indeed. Fortunately, I’m not busy today, Demian.”

Arasila smoothly deflected the dowager duchess’s pointed remark. Demian’s thick, handsome eyebrows twitched.

It was a reaction to her sudden use of his name.

“I was speaking to you, Arasila Hugo.”

The dowager duchess deliberately used her full maiden name, revealing that she didn’t accept Arasila as a member of the Vandermir family.

If Arasila had truly married Demian for love, she might have been a little hurt by such behavior.

But that wasn’t the case, was it?

“Oh my, is that so? I’m sorry, I’m not very good at understanding things. The duchess can testify to that.”

Arasila’s eyes fluttered as she even went so far as to point out the duchess. She showed no sign of being hurt, not even the slightest scratch.

“But Dowager Duchess, I’m now Arasila Vandermir.”

She corrected the dowager as if she had simply misspoken and added:

“You must still find it unfamiliar. It’s alright, I’ll keep reminding you, so don’t worry.”

It was a statement implying that such attacks were useless against her.

“Ha, you’ve found a bride just like you.”

The dowager duchess let out a derisive laugh as she looked at Demian. Demian, who had been staring at Arasila the whole time, shrugged.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“You’re both so insolent. Well, let’s see how well you do.”

After delivering her not-so-well-wishing words, the dowager duchess left with her entourage.

As Demian chuckled watching her angry retreating figure, he was startled by a warm breath suddenly touching his ear.