The Hugo family somehow managed to make special guest preparations in just half a day.

The dining hall, decorated with lavender grown in the garden, was bright yet elegant. White narcissus vases were placed here and there on the long table lined with golden candlesticks.

With the Duke seated at the head of the table, Arasila and Demian sat on his left, while the Duke’s family sat on his right.

Adrian, seated next to Iris, had barely calmed down, but his chubby cheeks were still slightly puffed up.

“There may be some shortcomings due to the rushed preparations, so I hope you’ll understand.”

“Not at all. It’s very splendid and excellent.”

Indeed, the food brought out by the servants was perfect, showing no signs of time constraints.

The expertise of a long-established family shone through even in this rushed situation.

“My lord, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

Shortly after the meal began, the Duke took a sip of wine, put down his glass, and opened the conversation.

“Please, go ahead.”

“…Why did you decide to marry our Arasila?”

He had two daughters. Objectively speaking, the bride most nobles would prefer was not the second daughter, but the first.

With her modest and plain appearance, proper manners that perfectly absorbed noble etiquette, and a calm and reserved personality that assured she would become a virtuous noblewoman in the future.

Iris had been the ideal bride candidate since childhood, receiving marriage proposals from all sorts of families.

So regardless of age, they thought Iris would naturally be the first of their children to marry, but they never expected Arasila to suddenly come forward.

“I heard it’s not because of a political marriage.”

Honestly, he still couldn’t believe the two had been in love, but since they claimed so, the Duke accepted it for now.

“You may know this, but my second daughter is a bit… extraordinary.”

Unable to describe his daughter as unique, peculiar, or odd, the Duke expressed it indirectly.

Demian swallowed all the food in his mouth, drank some water, and then spoke.

“Indeed, Lady Hugo is quite exceptional.”

Although they hadn’t known each other long and hadn’t conversed much.

Even at a glance, Arasila Hugo was an unusual woman. Surprisingly, Demian didn’t view this negatively.

Rather, if Arasila had been naive and simple-minded, he might have reconsidered this contract marriage.

“But that’s why I liked her. I thought there wouldn’t be any dull moments if we married. I dislike feeling stifled.”

“That’s because you haven’t lived with my daughter yet.”

The Duchess, who had experienced many frustrating moments living with her second daughter, let out a small sigh.

“Did you decide to marry for such a trivial reason? What if you end up feeling stifled after marriage?”

The one who resembled the eldest daughter in overall appearance but had blue eyes identical to Arasila’s looked straight at Demian.

“Marriage is the most important decision in life. So both of you should think carefully and choose wisely.”

Honestly, if they could speak freely about someone else’s child, Demian seemed just as unlikely as Arasila to marry someone and live happily.

The Duke and Duchess were deeply concerned about whether these two should marry.

“Don’t worry, Duchess. I’ve had plenty of conversations with Lady Hugo before making this decision.”

“That’s right, Mother. And shouldn’t you be more worried about me feeling stifled after marriage?”

Arasila looked at her mother with a prim expression. She was surprisingly beautiful despite being born from her own womb, but…

“Just thinking about becoming someone’s wife already makes me feel suffocated.”

The Duchess held her forehead due to her daughter’s unrestrained remarks, even though that someone was sitting right next to her.

“It’s fine. I feel equally suffocated thinking about becoming a husband.”

“Oh my, we should both be careful not to die before even getting married.”

Despite their banter-like conversation, Demian and Arasila’s faces remained expressionless.

The Hugo family truly wondered why these two were getting married.

Why on earth…

“Lord Vandermir, Arasila is not the kind of girl who can live supporting her husband like others.”

After a long while, the Duchess spoke up in a solemn and heavy voice.

“So rather than hoping for impossible things from my daughter, it would be wiser to stop here.”

The Duchess had been the strongest opponent of Arasila’s single-mindedness and dream of becoming a tower master.

However, after deciding to support her, she was now the most supportive.

“I am not someone inadequate enough to need my wife’s help.”

Demian calmly and politely pushed away the Duchess’s advice.

“Whatever Lady Hugo does after marriage, I won’t interfere. We will continue our lives separately, me in my way and her in hers.”

“Does that mean you won’t stop Arasila from working at the magic tower even after marriage?”

Iris, who understood that Demian had no intention of restricting Arasila in any way as a husband, asked with a surprised face.

It was common perception that noble women, regardless of what they did before marriage, should give up everything after marriage and focus only on household affairs and supporting their husbands.

“I have no right to stop her. Whether to continue working at the magic tower or not is entirely up to Lady Hugo’s will.”

Even Arasila looked at Demian with slightly surprised eyes at those words.

The two had not yet reached an agreement on this matter. Of course, Arasila intended to continue working no matter what after marriage, but she didn’t know his thoughts on it.

‘For a knight, he’s less narrow-minded than I expected?’

While the magic tower is quite conservative, the knight order is even more so. There hasn’t been a single female knight admitted to the Royal Knight Order since the country’s founding.

So it was surprising that Demian Vandermir, currently hailed as the model for all knights, would make such a statement without prior discussion.

“…It seems you two really have talked a lot.”

In reality, the two had properly conversed less than five times, but moved by Demian’s answer, the Duke misunderstood.

“I thought I was the only man in the world who could match our lovely second daughter.”

“It’s okay, Father. I’m not that compatible with the lord.”

Arasila thought they probably wouldn’t be very compatible in the future either. Just now was like a broken clock being right once in a while.

“But please stop worrying about our marriage and help us make it work.”

“That’s right. Duke and Duchess, please don’t worry too much.”

Demian shifted his gaze slightly to address Iris and Adrian as well.

“The same goes for Lady Hugo and young master.”

Just as the Hugo family realized they could no longer oppose the two’s marriage and were about to resume eating…

“…I have a question too.”

Adrian, who had been eating small bites with a gloomy face, raised his hand. Everyone’s attention turned to the boy.

“What is it, Adrian?”

“Lord Vandermir, are you very affectionate?”

At this surprise attack of a question, Arasila almost spat out the water she was drinking. Even Demian, uncharacteristically, blinked slowly.

“…Affectionate?”

“Yes, my second sister likes men who are very affectionate.”

Now Adrian knew he couldn’t stop his sister’s marriage.

So, although sad, he had painfully decided to accept the relationship between his beloved second sister and this outsider.

“Please be very affectionate to our sister. I entrust my second sister to you.”

“…”

Demian’s face was blank as he looked at Adrian bowing his head resolutely. Arasila desperately tried to hold back her laughter beside him.

“Pfft.”

“…My lady, please don’t laugh.”

Demian silently sighed. The other party was just an eleven-year-old boy. It was awkward to say anything.

“I’m not laugh… hic.”

Arasila covered her face with both hands. The others seemed more composed, but they were also trying to hold back their laughter.

However, they all eventually failed to suppress their laughter and burst out.

“Lord Vandermir.”

As Demian was heading to the entrance to leave after the meal, the Duke stopped him.

From his slightly curly lavender hair to his large yet delicate features, he resembled his second daughter very much.

To be precise, Arasila took after her father.

“What is it, Your Grace?”

“I have something to tell you.”

After a brief cough, the Duke soon smiled gently and extended his hand.

“I entrust my daughter to you, my lord.”

When he smiled, father and daughter looked even more alike. Demian hesitated for a moment before barely grasping that hand and immediately letting go.

“I had hoped she would live safely under my shadow forever, pursuing her dreams and doing what she wanted. But I suppose no child turns out exactly as their parents wish.”

A fleeting, melancholy smile appeared and disappeared on the Duke’s lips. His face soon changed to that of the dignified Duke as he spoke.

“Please keep the promises you made during dinner. About letting Arasila be free.”

“Don’t worry. That’s exactly what I intend to do.”

The Hugo family didn’t know, but the marriage with Arasila was a contract anyway.

So Demian had no desire to interfere with whatever she did after marriage.

Rather, it would be better if she went about her own business, as she would have no reason to exert influence over him.

“Yes, thank you.”

The Duke patted Demian’s shoulder a couple of times before going inside. Left alone, Demian glanced at his own shoulder with a somewhat strange expression.

He had felt it from the beginning, but the Hugo family had a good family atmosphere even compared to other houses. Affection and bonds could be felt even in seemingly trivial words.

‘The complete opposite of the Vandermirs.’

Seeing Arasila suddenly appear, crossing the corridor, Demian became curious.

What would a woman raised in such a family think if she saw his family?

“It seems you were raised with quite a lot of love, my lady.”

He said impulsively, gazing quietly at Arasila who had come to see him off.

“No? Not quite, but really loved a lot.”

There was not a hint of doubt or hesitation in that answer. Demian laughed deflated.

“So that’s why you’re always so confident.”

“That’s just my personality. But having a family I can trust does make me more confident.”

Without a family firmly supporting her from behind, even Arasila would inevitably falter. This was a fact she knew better than anyone.

“I see. So your eccentric personality is because you’re a mage.”

What’s that supposed to mean, how absurd.

Seeing Demian’s carriage arrive to pick him up, Arasila offered a handshake.

“Thank you for your hard work today. Take care on your way back.”

“Have a good night, my lady.”

However, once again, Demian did not reciprocate her handshake, instead giving a short bow in response.

Arasila’s mouth twitched.

“My lord, let me ask you one thing. Is refusing only my handshake some kind of special treatment?”

“I have never refused only your handshake.”

“That’s how I felt though.”

Arasila, who had witnessed from afar her father and Demian shaking hands, widened her eyes. But Demian reacted as if it was no big deal.

“Then it must be your persecution complex.”

Ha, look at how he talks? Her slightly crooked lips trembled.

“Is that unpleasant personality of yours because you’re a knight?”

“I’d say I was born with it.”

Demian shot back without backing down. So he became even more unpleasant. Arasila waved her hand with an irritated face.

“Fine, is there anything I need to prepare or be careful about tomorrow?”

“Just be prepared to take away the thorn in their side, the second son.”

Probably that preparation would need to be even firmer than what Demian had done today.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He politely bid farewell and left in the carriage.