I request to meet you tomorrow at 3 PM at Foren Coffee House on 7th Avenue.

Let’s have a more detailed conversation about what we discussed in my office.

– Red Hawk Knights, Demian Vandermir.]

It was a reply that took a full week to arrive.

Looking at the neat and tidy handwriting, Arasila snorted.

I guess you’ve realized that what I said was true?

She furrowed her brow as she recalled Demian’s arrogant words and actions when she visited the knights.

‘Even in this situation, the tone of the reply is…’

It was close to a unilateral notification, only polite in tone, setting the time and place of the appointment. Yet Arasila had asked him when would be a good time when she wrote to him.

She dragged her disapproving gaze down to the bottom of the letter and muttered.

“Ugh, what a show-off.”

“Pardon? What is?”

Audrey, who was carefully combing Arasila’s fine hair, tilted her head. Arasila reached back and showed the letter to her maid.

“Look at this, he identified himself by the knighthood, not his family.”

“Usually they would write their family name, how peculiar.”

“It’s not peculiar, it’s an inflated ego. Who cares that he’s from the Red Hawk Knights.”

Moreover, her business was with the second son of the Vandermir Duke family, not the captain of the Red Hawk Knights.

“This is why knights are…”

Arasila clicked her tongue lightly and picked up her pen to write a reply.

Let’s meet at 5 o’clock.

– Tower Mage, Arasila Hugo.]

I won’t be outdone either. One side of her red, plump lips curled up.

What time is it now?

Arasila, who had been engrossed in her potion research, suddenly raised her head and checked her pocket watch. 4:30 PM. Only 30 minutes left until her appointment with Demian.

Realizing she might be late if she wasn’t careful, Arasila hurriedly finished her research and packed her handbag.

“Senior, are you leaving?”

Sally, who was entering the lab, opened her eyes wide. It was a rare sight to see Arasila preparing to leave while the sun was still so bright.

She was famous for being a severe workaholic even within the magic tower, often working overtime and pulling all-nighters as if it were nothing.

“Yes, I have an appointment. Organize today’s research with Rudy and put it on my desk by tomorrow morning.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“Good, keep up the good work.”

Arasila patted her junior’s shoulder lightly and left the magic tower with quick steps.

Near the entrance, under a tree, Audrey was waiting for her with the Hugo Marquis family’s carriage.

“You’re here? I was just wondering if I should go up to fetch you, my lady.”

“Next time, come up. When I’m working, I lose track of time.”

Arasila boarded the carriage and immediately ordered to go to Foren Coffee House on 7th Avenue. The coachman guided the horse towards the bustling area.

“Are you going straight there? Shouldn’t you change into a dress?”

“Is that necessary? I think I’m more perfect in this state.”

Arasila winked as she flipped her hair back. Currently, she was wearing the white uniform worn by mages affiliated with the magic tower.

It was modified from a robe, with a long top like a cloak, and the tower’s emblem embroidered in gold. The sleeves and collar were accented in blue.

But what stood out most were the four star badges on her chest.

Although the magic tower didn’t have a systematic internal hierarchy, they awarded star badges to those who showed excellent performance.

The Tower Master possessed a total of seven star badges, and the fact that she had already earned four badges at a young age was Arasila’s pride and joy.

“But…”

“It’s fine, I told you. Besides, I don’t have time, and I’m pretty even without dressing up.”

That was objectively true, so Audrey couldn’t say anything more.

The carriage carrying the two soon stopped in front of Foren Coffee House on 7th Avenue.

“You wait here. I’ll go alone.”

“What? Will you be alright?”

“What are you worried about? A mere knight is no match for me.”

Arasila said proudly, raising her chin.

That’s exactly why, will Lord Vandermir be alright… Audrey swallowed the words she couldn’t say out loud with a sigh.

The bond between the two, who had been playmates and mistress and maid since childhood, was deep.

In a way, Audrey was Arasila’s first friend, so she knew her very well.

Our lady tears people apart with magic when she’s angry…

Especially with Demian, she was even more worried because she had barely prevented a fight from breaking out at their first meeting.

Leaving behind her worried maid, Arasila entered the coffee house alone. Among the sparsely seated customers, there was a man who particularly stood out.

Sitting with his legs crossed by the window, he looked as if he had stepped out of a masterpiece painting. The late afternoon sunlight shattered over his perfectly proportioned features.

But what Arasila focused on wasn’t that radiant face.

‘As expected, he’s the same.’

Confirming Demian’s knight uniform, she praised her own judgment for rushing here right away.

If she had been the only one to stop by home and change into a dress, it would have been embarrassing. Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to writhe in defeat, punching her pillow all night.

“Hello, Lord Vandermir.”

As she approached with a straight gait and greeted him, Demian’s head, which had been looking out the window obliquely, slowly turned.

“You’re late, my lady.”

At those words, Arasila checked her pocket watch. It was 5:03 PM.

“Don’t be petty about just 3 minutes, have some patience. It’s nothing compared to how late you were when I personally visited the knighthood to meet you.”

She retorted sharply as she sat down and ordered herbal tea from the staff. A teacup was already placed in front of Demian.

A moment of silence passed. In that silence, the gazes of Arasila with her arms crossed and Demian with his legs crossed collided quietly.

After having an unspoken staring contest until the herbal tea arrived, Arasila’s lips parted.

“You said you didn’t need me.”

“…”

“It seems you need me again, enough to belatedly reply to a letter you had forgotten?”

Her lips curved into a cool arc. At the smile mixed with mischief and triumph, Demian’s eyebrows twitched.

The woman before him was beautiful enough to draw the attention of the few customers as soon as she entered, but she was no ordinary person.

From the start, in a society where noble ladies typically became modest ladies, she had caused an uproar by declaring she would become the Tower Master.

‘Why did this eccentric mage who declared celibacy change her mind?’

Demian’s eyes narrowed as he had investigated Arasila to some extent.

While it was clear what he would gain through marriage, he wondered what she wanted to gain by proposing first.

Especially for someone who dreamed of becoming the first female Tower Master.

‘Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter as long as it doesn’t interfere with my revenge.’

He had also confirmed that there was no connection between Arasila and the Vandermir Duke family.

If this wasn’t a trap, Demian was willing to use it as a tool for revenge.

“Yes, I’ll admit it. I need Lady Hugo.”

Arasila’s eyes widened slightly at the more straightforward answer than expected.

“So let’s make a deal, you and I.”

Demian got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

“Please tell me what you want from this marriage.”

“I just don’t want my sister and your brother to have this political marriage.”

Arasila wasn’t interested in the succession battle happening within the Vandermir Duke family. She was equally unconcerned about the future where Oscar Vandermir would stage a rebellion.

What she wanted was the well-being of her family and her own intact life.

“Other than that, I want one thing. Divorce me as soon as possible.”

That way, Arasila’s plan to aim for the next Tower Master position wouldn’t be ruined.

“Alright. I have no desire to start a family either.”

Demian wasn’t offended by her mention of divorce before even getting married.

“How about we make a deal on the condition of no children during the marriage period, and divorce as soon as I inherit the Duke title?”

Specific conditions flowed out as if he had been waiting. It wasn’t bad. Even specifying that there would be no children.

“I like how clean it is. In addition to that, let’s get it notarized at the temple and write a prenuptial agreement.”

Considering the possibility that he might change his words later, Arasila wanted to clearly establish the contract marriage by even involving the temple.

This wasn’t bad from Demian’s perspective either. Rather, it was something to welcome. He also abhorred being tied down by marriage.

“Understood.”

“Then all we need to do now is plan how to proceed. By the way, I’ve already told my family that I’m marrying you.”

Arasila elegantly picked up her teacup. Although she was called eccentric, her upbringing in a noble family showed in moments like this.

“I said it was a love marriage in case of opposition, so you should know that too.”

Demian, who hesitated for a moment at the word ‘love’, soon nodded as if he understood.

“That would certainly make it easier to explain the sudden marriage. However, it would be better to keep it a secret from the Vandermir Duke family until just before the wedding.”

“Why?”

“If they know in advance, they’ll surely interfere. The family is pushing for my older brother as the next Duke.”

The Vandermir Duke family was pushing for the eldest son, not the second son, as the successor.

Arasila recalled the words of Iris in her prophetic dream, who said that the two brothers had fought for succession, and as a result, Oscar, who married her, inherited the Duke title.

She had wondered how the eldest son knew and used that fact, but was this the background hidden behind it?

Thinking about the future where he would stage a rebellion and ruin the family, Arasila asked with suspicion.

“Is your brother’s position that solid?”

“Well, he is the son of the current Duchess. My mother is the late former Duchess.”

Just seeing that the eldest son’s mother was the second wife and the second son’s mother was the first wife revealed the complex internal circumstances indirectly.

Arasila, who had been pondering something, smiled brightly and said.

“Let’s not do that and use our heads instead.”

“What do you mean?”

“Instead of struggling to hide it, let’s create a situation where they can’t reverse it even if they find out.”

Marriage was often called a union between families. No matter how secret it was kept, it inevitably meant that family members would find out before the wedding.

So it was better to set up the board so that no one could overturn this marriage.

“Soon, there will be a ball hosted by His Highness the Crown Prince. There will be many guests, let’s announce our marriage there.”

Demian was momentarily speechless at Arasila’s boldness in suggesting they declare their marriage at the Crown Prince’s ball.

“If we’re not careful, we might be criticized for ruining His Highness the Crown Prince’s ball.”

“That won’t happen. Frederick is my friend.”

Her voice, which called the Crown Prince’s name quite familiarly, was imbued with deep friendship. Demian raised an eyebrow as if surprised.

“You seem to be very close to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, we’ve been close since the academy. He’s one of my few friends.”

From academy days until now means they’ve maintained their connection for quite a long time.

For a moment, he was curious about the specifics of their relationship, but Demian brushed it off as there was no need to pry further.

‘Friendship with His Highness the Crown Prince is valuable, but how close they are is none of my business.’

Putting aside unnecessary curiosity, he nodded and replied.

“Then let’s do that.”

Even the Vandermir Duke family couldn’t interfere with the Crown Prince’s ball. As long as there was nothing to find fault with, it was the best option.

“Good. Let’s discuss the rest as we go along.”

The two stood up, wrapping up the conversation at this point.

Arasila generously offered a handshake to Demian.

“I look forward to working with you.”

Demian glanced down at the white, slender hand and then nodded.

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

“…”

Arasila’s smile cracked as she was openly refused a handshake right in front of her.

‘He’s really unpleasant, seriously.’

She turned around without saying goodbye and left the coffee house. Demian followed leisurely behind her.

In the fading afternoon, an alliance for each of their purposes began.