Hearing those words, I felt a little happy. I shouldn’t be happy thinking about Lydia, but somehow I felt a bit relieved.

“As I’ve said many times before, magic is a field of study that…”

“Takes a lifetime and is never enough. Ugh, I’m tired of hearing it. My ears are going to fall off. But what does that have to do with getting married?”

“What do you mean, what does it have to do with it? When you get married, you’ll have a wife and children, right?”

“I suppose so?”

“Then my life’s priorities will change. And I don’t like that.”

His answer was a bit different from what she had expected. She thought he just didn’t want to get married because it would be a nuisance in his life.

“That’s unexpected.”

“What’s unexpected?”

“I thought that even if you got married, magic would still be your first priority and you wouldn’t care much about family.”

“Do you think I’m some heartless monster? They’d be my wife and children, of course I’d have to devote more time to them.”

It felt awkward to hear such a normal statement coming from Leonard’s mouth. Cordelia closed her mouth, feeling embarrassed. She felt guilty, wondering if she had been meddling unnecessarily.

“I didn’t know you had no intention of getting married at all. I was just…”

“…Well, it’s not that I have absolutely no intention.”

“I thought you were the type to live as a lifelong bachelor and dedicate your life to the magical world, Master. I’m sorry for overstepping.”

“Not necessarily lifelong… If by some chance a woman I love were to appear…”

“No! I’ve decided. I’m sorry for Lydia, but I’ll help make sure you never get married, Master. You’re destined for great things – it’s unthinkable for you to get married!”

Leonard seemed a bit taken aback by Cordelia’s resolute declaration. But she couldn’t see anything in his eyes.

“I’ll follow your example and stay single from now on too.”

“You’ll stay single?”

“Yes. After trying marriage once, I’ve learned it’s truly terrible. I have no intention of getting married again either.”

“…Is that so? Marriage can’t be all bad, though.”

Leonard felt conflicted between two thoughts – whether it was better for Cordelia to remain unmarried and by his side forever, or for her to become his wife…

“I’ve gone mad, finally gone mad.”

“Me? I’m not quite there yet.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

For a moment, he imagined Cordelia holding a baby that looked half like him and half like her, then shook his head vigorously. He must be going crazy from lack of sleep lately.

Fortunately, the carriage arrived in front of the Atilei townhouse just then. He got out first, and Cordelia took his hand as she stepped down from the carriage.

At that moment, Alex approached with an unusually urgent look on his face.

“Master. An urgent message has arrived from the palace.”

“The palace? What’s the matter?”

Instead of answering, Alex handed him a letter envelope embossed with a silver deer. Leonard opened it without much thought, but his face hardened as he read. Cordelia, standing beside him, tilted her head curiously and asked.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“It seems Maximilian has escaped from prison.”

* * *

“Lydia.”

Her only brother, Rosenblur, entered her room. The maids who had been helping with Lydia’s grooming naturally stepped back.

Lydia looked at Rosenblur through the mirror.

“Blai. What’s the matter?”

“You’ve seemed down these past few days, so I was worried.”

“Down? I’m the same as usual.”

“I heard you haven’t played the piano you love during the day, and have been staying in your room all day. Skipping meals too.”

“I just… have some things to think about.”

Lydia smiled vaguely and fiddled with her earring box for no reason. Rosenblur slowly approached and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“What are you thinking about? Is it because of the marriage?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry, Lydia. As our late parents said, I’ll send you to the man who will cherish and love you the most. You certainly deserve someone like that.”

“Blai.”

“So please, forget about Leo.”

“…”

“Even though Leo is a friend to both you and me, you know he wouldn’t make a very good husband. I want you to be happy. I want you to live without any worries, with a husband who loves you.”

Rosenblur spoke with sincerity.

Like many noble women in Ersche, their lives are often determined by what kind of man they marry.

That’s why Rosenblur couldn’t approve of Leonard and Lydia even more. Objectively and subjectively, Leonard was not someone who would make his little sister happy.

“How?”

“…”

“I’ve been in love with Leo for over ten years. Everyone in Ersche’s social circles naturally assumes I’ll marry Leo. Even His Majesty asked me when we’d be having the ceremony. And now you’re telling me to marry someone else?”

“Are you planning to marry a man who will make you unhappy just because you’re afraid of others’ opinions?”

She knows Rosenblur’s words are right. Yet it’s not easy to accept them.

Perhaps the feelings she has for Leonard are not love, but stubbornness. It could be a foolish persistence, unable to accept not having something she had assumed would naturally be hers.

But just because the head understands doesn’t mean the heart can sort itself out.

“I’m going to marry Leo. I don’t care if I’m just a wife in name only.”

“Lydia. You’re an Elfenbaum. What do you lack that you’d make such a choice?”

Rosenblur’s face showed he clearly didn’t understand. Lydia clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

“…Now Leo has Cordelia.”

“Cordelia? Why is that name coming up here? She’s already married, isn’t she?”

“Leo, who said he’d never take an apprentice, has taken one. How is marriage any different? Are you telling me to just stand by and watch if one day Leo changes his mind and marries another woman?”

“Haa.”

Rosenblur, standing behind her, let out a shallow sigh.

“Leo is… never mind. Let’s talk later. Where did you say you were going today?”

“…To Embly’s party.”

“Have a good time. Don’t stay out too late. You’ve heard, haven’t you? About Maximilian escaping from prison.”

“Yes. But they still haven’t caught him? I thought Maximilian couldn’t use magic.”

“That’s what makes it more puzzling. How did Maximilian, who lost his magical powers, break through such tight security and escape the palace, and how has he managed to avoid capture so far? Soldiers are already spread out on every road leading out of the capital.”

“Don’t worry too much. What are the chances I’d run into Maximilian?”

“Still, you never know.”

Rosenblur placed a brief kiss on her head before leaving the room. After he left, Lydia’s maids approached to finish her preparations.

“You look beautiful as always, miss.”

“Thank you, Lisa.”

Lydia arrived at Embly’s party alone, without a male escort.

Usually, when a woman enters a ball alone, people tend to whisper that she must not be very popular, but Lydia Elfenbaum was different.

People quickly flocked around Lydia.

Lydia, who had come of age this year, was the most sought-after bride in the marriage market. A beautiful face, noble Elfenbaum bloodline, and a dowry so ample it amounted to the fortune of most noble families. It couldn’t be more perfect.

Although rumors were rampant that she would marry Atilei, they weren’t even engaged yet, so there was still a chance.

“Miss Elfenbaum. Would you grant me the honor of sharing a dance with you?”

“I’m sorry. I have a bit of a headache.”

Lydia escaped to the garden to avoid the suitors crowding around her. Embly’s garden was a complex maze, so once inside, people rarely found their way.

Knowing this well, Lydia went deep into the garden. The voices of the boisterous crowd and the music gradually faded away.

After walking for quite some time, she happened to see a person in a hooded cloak pass by. She was about to dismiss it when she realized his gait was very familiar.

“…Maximilian?”

Lydia knew Maximilian as well as she knew Leonard, having known him for a long time. So she could identify him just by his walk.

The cloaked figure paused for a moment, then turned around.

“Oh my.”

As the moon emerged from behind the clouds, his face became clearly visible. Unlike the last time she saw him, he looked gaunt and unwell, but it was definitely Maximilian.

“How did you get here?”

“Lydia. It’s been a while.”

Maximilian approached her slowly with his characteristic smile. Lydia instinctively stepped back.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“What a shame. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

He casually drew a knife from his clothes. The blade glinted in the moonlight. Lydia turned to run away but was caught by Maximilian after just a few steps. She struggled hard, but it was difficult to overcome the strength of an adult man.

“I’ll scream. Even if you kill me, you’ll never escape from here.”

“Well, we’ll see about that.”

In an instant, Maximilian’s knife came closer.

Lydia screamed with all her might. But miraculously, no one appeared to save her. Lydia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the pain to come.

“…You have something nice there.”

With a clang, Maximilian’s knife was deflected. He tried again, but the result was the same.

Lydia exhaled sharply. The bracelet on her left wrist emitted a soft light. It was a protective bracelet made by Rosenblur.

Maximilian’s eyes twisted with irritation and anxiety. If he had his magic power, he could have easily shattered this mere protective barrier. He looked around.

If he couldn’t kill her to silence her, there was only one option left.