‘What’s up with this woman?’

Demian looked up at Arasila standing on the podium with a somewhat bewildered feeling.

He didn’t expect the marriage announcement to be made so abruptly and dramatically. Especially not by Arasila instead of himself.

Of course, he thought they would ask him to do it…

Wearing a rose-like dress, she was smiling brightly while showing off her gorgeous appearance.

Although she looked dazzlingly beautiful, that wasn’t the only reason people were stunned.

‘Eccentric magician.’

Demian chuckled as he rolled her nickname around in his mouth again.

Whether she didn’t notice the shocked people or not, Arasila continued her speech.

“I’m announcing this way because I’m too busy and capable a magician to go around telling everyone individually. So I hope you’ll all congratulate the Vandermir ducal family, the Hugo marquis family, and us on our joyous occasion. Now I’ll be stepping down.”

Arasila came down from the podium with confident strides. Her footsteps headed towards Demian.

“How was that? There’s no way to back out now, right?”

Demian let out a hollow laugh as he looked at her asking with a satisfied expression.

Indeed, this was an announcement that even the Vandermir ducal family couldn’t take back. Because it was made by Arasila, not Demian.

Moreover, the Hugo marquis family would now insist on the marriage of the two from this point on, if only for their daughter’s honor.

“It seems you’re not concerned about your reputation, my lady.”

“There’s no reason for me to be swayed by what others say about me.”

“You’re truly a magician who acts impulsively without considering others.”

Arasila shrugged at the words referring to the general image of magicians that was spread like a prejudice in society.

“If you’re upset that I prevented you from stepping up manfully earlier, then I’m sorry.”

However, contrary to her words, she didn’t look sorry at all.

“It doesn’t matter. And if I were to step up, I’d want to do it knightly.”

“Oh my, how sad that you were overshadowed by a magician.”

“Let’s just say I yielded.”

Demian bowed politely with his hand on his chest and left.

Paula filled the empty space he left behind. She grabbed her friend’s shoulder with a slightly flushed face.

“Arasila, when on earth did you prepare such a cute announcement?”

“Since I made up my mind to get married?”

“Wow, you’re really Arasila Hugo. Amazing, just amazing. Though I’m not the only one surprised, it seems.”

Paula, who was used to Arasila’s sudden actions without warning, shrugged her shoulders.

As she said, everyone in the hall was in shock and murmuring.

It seemed even more so because the protagonists of the sudden marriage announcement happened to be the eccentric magician and the stubborn knight.

“At the wedding, do you want to catch my bouquet?”

Arasila, who had achieved what she wanted and didn’t care about people’s reactions, asked.

“Of course! That’s usually caught by a close friend anyway, and I’m going to get married someday too.”

Though not present at this gathering, Paula had a fiancé chosen by her family.

The two had been engaged for over 10 years and were in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if they married anytime.

“…Arasila.”

Just then, a low, dark voice called Arasila. It was Frederick, with a pale blue face.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Oh, sure.”

“Just the two of us.”

Frederick glanced at Paula. Paula gestured with her hand, telling them to go ahead.

The two went out to the garden outside the banquet hall. Under the pergola bathed in moonlight, they faced each other in the quietness of the night.

“Thank you, Frederick. Thanks to you, I was able to announce the marriage news in front of everyone.”

Arasila, who hadn’t yet noticed how serious Frederick’s expression was due to the dim light, offered a natural word of thanks.

Frederick’s lips trembled. Just then, under the moonlight that fell, his shocked face was revealed more clearly.

“…Are you really marrying Lord Vandermir?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Why…? He’s a knight. When did you two become like that?”

When he asked in a voice of utter disbelief, Arasila answered nonchalantly, putting her hands behind her back.

“It hasn’t been long. They say love comes like fate, you know.”

“Love? Fate…?”

Frederick started laughing like a deranged person. Arasila tilted her head, wondering why he was suddenly acting like this.

“…You were always a believer in staying single.”

“Yes, but he changed my mind.”

To be precise, it was the prophetic dream that changed it, but Arasila had never told anyone else about this ability yet.

‘It’s likely to get me treated as a crazy person if I’m not careful.’

So she always made do with appropriate excuses and magical talent.

“…Remember, Arasila?”

Frederick, who had barely managed to calm his excitement, spoke in a suppressed voice. His red eyes shone plaintively through the golden hair that had fallen over his eyes.

“We promised to marry each other if we were both still single at forty. I still…”

“When did I ever? I never did that.”

“…”

Frederick’s face was filled with despair at Arasila’s rebuttal as she tilted her head.

He who had been speechless for a moment finally managed to squeeze out his voice.

“…I said that, and you said you understood…”

“Really? I must have been crazy. What kind of joke was that?”

Arasila had been a believer in staying single since her early years at the academy. Perhaps she was a bit more immature when she made that joke.

“But personally, I think being a knight’s wife is better than being the crown prince’s wife. It’s more free, you know.”

“…”

“Ah, that doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. We’ve never seen each other as potential partners anyway.”

Frederick was as comfortable and good a friend as Paula, who was a female friend.

Arasila smiled kindly, remembering that he had helped her in the prophetic dream as well.

However, what Frederick had hoped for wasn’t that. Not the affection that passes between friends, but…

“That promise only had meaning for me…”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Frederick, who had muttered gloomily, soon clenched his fists and left as if fleeing.

“Huh? Frederick!”

Arasila stared bewilderedly at the back of her friend who left without saying goodbye.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Was he that surprised by my marriage announcement? More than that, he seemed angry about something…

It was a reaction she couldn’t understand at all, but Arasila thought lightly of it.

He’ll probably get over it if I send him a gift later or something.

The surprise marriage announcement of Arasila Hugo and Demian Vandermir adorned the morning newspapers the next day.

“Union of the Century? Marriage of the Youngest Sword Master and Genius Magician”

Arasila, who had arrived early at the magic tower, read the newspaper spread out on her desk with a serious face.

“Senior, is it true that you’re getting married?!”

“Are you really marrying a knight…?”

Just then, Sally and Rudy, who had burst through the door, asked eagerly. They had rushed over, dumbfounded by the news that their respected senior was marrying the knight commander.

“Did you all read the article?”

“Yes!”

“Then you must know what the problem is now?”

Arasila’s expression was very serious as she wore her gold-rimmed glasses without lenses. Sally and Rudy, who had become tense along with her, gulped.

“What’s going on? Is it a fake scandal?”

“Did that damn knights order try to tarnish senior’s reputation…!”

“No, the marriage is real. The problem is that I come second in all the articles.”

Arasila pointed to several morning newspapers spread out on the desk.

In most of the article titles, Demian’s name came first, and Arasila’s name came second.

“This is kind of hurting my pride, you know? Between individuals, not families, aren’t I more famous and outstanding?”

“Of course! But maybe it’s because the other party is the knight commander?”

After all, Arasila was still just a magician belonging to a magic tower, while Demian was the leader of an entire knight order.

Arasila, who roughly understood Rudy’s explanation, muttered.

“Still, I should tell them to put my name first on the wedding invitations.”

“That’s a good idea! …Wait, senior, are you really marrying a knight?!”

“Yes, I can’t see a face like this twice in my life.”

Arasila repeated the excuse she had made several times as naturally as breathing, ignoring her juniors who were stomping their feet.

To the two of them, it sounded like a firm determination for marriage.

The two juniors, knowing that she was the type to see things through once she set her mind to something, became gloomy.

No, this is wrong. We can’t stop this…

“Senior, does this mean you’re quitting the magic tower now…?”

Sally asked with an anxious face, fidgeting with her fingers. This was a question Arasila had heard from her family last night as well.

“What are you talking about, Sally? Why would I quit the magic tower?”

“But… all married female magicians quit the magic tower, don’t they?”

“I’m not quitting. Why should I quit over something like marriage?”

She gave the same answer to her juniors that she had given to her family.

“Really…?”

“Of course. As I’ve said many times, I’m going to become the head of the magic tower. I’ll never be satisfied with just four stars.”

The faces of the two brightened a little at their senior’s ambition, which was no different from before.

And throughout the morning, Arasila had to endure questions from her magic tower colleagues asking if she was really marrying a knight.

Some were maliciously sarcastic, but she responded without minding.

“Everyone below four stars, shut up.”

Now the only people who could speak were the elderly executives of the magic tower.

Arasila spoke politely to them.

“Please pay 10 gold coins for each word of outdated remarks based on stereotypical thinking and prejudice.”

By the afternoon, no one was bringing up the topic of marriage in front of her.

In the much more pleasant working environment, Arasila left work earlier than usual.

Since they had officially announced their marriage, she was going to Demian’s mansion to discuss the next steps before moving forward.

“Welcome, Miss Arasila. Would you mind waiting in the reception room for a moment?”

The white-haired butler bowed politely and greeted her. Arasila agreed without much thought.

“Sure.”

“This way please…”

Just then.

“Lord Vandermir is really stupid!”

A woman came running down the stairs, sobbing. Arasila, who was about to follow the butler, stopped and turned her head.

Her gaze met with a woman who had reddish-blonde hair and a petite build.

‘She looks familiar somehow.’

While tilting her head, feeling that the woman wasn’t unfamiliar, the woman’s expression suddenly turned fierce and she approached with stomping footsteps.

She almost charged at Arasila, hitting her shoulder with a thud, and spoke in a shrill voice.

“Did you bump into me on purpose just now?”

What is she talking about, she’s the one who bumped into me. Arasila, bewildered, calmly replied.

“I’m sorry, but I could barely see you from my line of sight.”

The woman was that small, and conversely, Arasila was taller than average.

The woman’s face turned bright red as if provoked, and she stamped her foot.

“Eek…! Are you done talking? Always going after the men I like!”

What nonsense is this now. Arasila worriedly put her hand on the woman’s shoulder.

“Do you often hear that you have severe delusions? That’s a disease, you know.”

At those words, the woman’s face changed as if even more provoked.