It was to avoid catching Sein Marcus’s attention, even a little.
Aisha continued speaking with a smile.
“I don’t usually attend events like this, but I made a special appearance to celebrate my achievement. I hope everyone has a wonderful time. Now, let the party begin.”
Aisha clinked her wineglass once more. The musicians began to play in response.
Food arranged as beautifully as works of art and wine were laid out.
Just as Rachel swallowed a sigh at the sight of the nobles splitting into two groups around her and Aisha again, she felt someone’s gaze on her. Rachel paused, then cautiously checked who it was.
“……!”
She had thought it was Sein Marcus.
But Nathan Valencia was standing beside a pillar, partially hidden by a curtain. He seemed to have lost a little weight since she had last seen him.
The moment their eyes met, his expression softened slightly.
The man naturally looked away and soon began walking toward Aisha Labelyn. The hall stirred with excitement.
“Duke Valencia?”
“My goodness, it really is Duke Valencia. I never expected His Grace to attend, too.”
Aisha welcomed him with a smile.
“Welcome, Duke. The party has just begun.”
“……”
Nathan looked at Aisha for a moment before nodding.
“My schedule is tight, so I’ll have to leave after a brief greeting. Congratulations on reaching the highest tier, Lady Aisha. Please give my regards to your master as well.”
“Yes, Duke.”
After exchanging brief greetings, Nathan left the hall just as he had come. His visit had been very short, but it was still remarkable that Duke Valencia, one of the most prominent nobles, had attended the party.
Taking advantage of the nobles’ excitement, Rachel moved to a table laden with food. She responded to the nobles who approached her out of habit, but her thoughts kept returning to Nathan Valencia, whom she had seen just moments ago.
‘Something feels……’
The warmth in his eyes was different when he looked at her compared to when he looked at others.
‘He isn’t still worrying about some debt, is he?’
She felt strange whenever he acted like this. She had a secret to hide, so she wanted him to stop doing this even more.
‘It’s a burden to have something left between us like this, too.’
Even while her thoughts were tangled, Rachel continued to deal with the nobles gathered around her. That was when one of Aisha’s maids approached and quietly spoke to her.
“Acting Marchioness. Lady Aisha would like to speak with you for a moment.”
“Please excuse me for a moment, everyone.”
Leaving the disappointed nobles behind, Rachel followed the maid. For now, the most important thing was to settle her relationship with Aisha Labelyn.
The maid stopped in front of a room in the corner of the hall, knocked twice, and opened the door.
“Welcome, Acting Marchioness.”
Aisha was smiling brightly.
“Hello, Acting Marchioness. We will meet again.”
She was with Sein Marcus.
‘Have I been tricked?’
She had no choice but to enter, so Rachel slowly stepped inside and looked around.
The room connected directly to a garden and a terrace, making it seem as though she could secure an escape route if necessary.
“I didn’t expect the Archmage to be here, too.”
Aware of the magic tools in her arms, Rachel walked over to the sofa opposite Aisha and Sein Marcus and sat down. Aisha smiled.
“My master said he didn’t apologize properly last time. So I naturally thought we should arrange a separate meeting. Were you surprised?”
“A little. It would have been nice if you had asked me beforehand. I’m a bit disappointed.”
“……Oh, I suppose I didn’t think it through. I was so focused on the apology that I failed to consider your feelings.”
“It’s all right. After all, I know that neither you nor the Archmage meant any harm.”
Rachel calmly ignored Aisha’s briefly twisted expression and looked at the Archmage. He had seemed slightly amused, but he immediately put on a kind smile.
“I’m relieved you think that way about the trouble I caused. When you said your side would send a notice explaining the cancellation of the commission, I wondered if you were quite upset with me.”
“I was the one who requested the commission, so I worried that the Magic Tower might be misunderstood if I suddenly canceled it. I certainly wasn’t trying to cast doubt on you, Lord Marcus. I wanted to word it carefully to prevent any problems that might arise between either side.”
“Ah, I see. You have such a thoughtful and considerate nature, Acting Marchioness. I believe I may have misunderstood you all this time.”
“I’m glad that misunderstanding has finally been cleared up.”
Rachel smiled. It still felt like she was walking on thin ice, but things were better than before.
She knew Nathan Valencia was taking action, and it was possible that Sein Marcus would be arrested before he caused any more trouble.
Just then, Aisha interrupted with a smile.
“I’m glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up. I felt sorry for the Acting Marchioness, but I’m also happy that this has turned into such a meaningful occasion.”
“……”
Her eyes were once again shining with innocent warmth.
But Rachel found Aisha’s words rather subtle. Thinking back, this wasn’t the first time she had felt this way.
It had definitely happened when the special imperial ball was held to celebrate Nathan Valencia’s succession to the title of Duke.
—It’s been a long time since you attended social events, my lady, but it’s almost my first time, too. I thought we could get along since we’re both people who need to adjust.
It had been a subtle jab at Rachel for withdrawing from society after her broken engagement.
‘Come to think of it, the Archmage, too……’
—Aisha’s supernatural power is like an endless spring. It never runs dry. I’d heard rumors that the Acting Marchioness of Ingrave had incredibly powerful supernatural abilities, so I treated you like Aisha. I guess I was wrong.
“……”
“My lady?”
Aisha looked puzzled. Rachel narrowed her eyes with a smile. Now that she thought about it, the master and his student really were alike.
Besides, their relationship seemed to be just as good as it had been in the <Record>, with hardly any changes.
“No, I think you’re right. But will the Archmage be joining us for the conversation you and I are about to have?”
She looked back and forth between Sein and Aisha. Aisha shook her head.
“Of course not. Master, you can go now. I still have something to discuss.”
“All right. I’ll be waiting for you, Aisha. See you later.”
Sein patted Aisha’s shoulder affectionately before leaving the room. Once they were alone, Aisha’s expression brightened even more.
“Then, may I speak first?”
“Go ahead.”
“Acting Marchioness. You told me before to make an effort to get His Majesty to notice me, and I did just that, didn’t I? So I think you should show a little more effort, too. Lately, His Majesty seems to be contacting you quite often, and you don’t seem to be turning him down……”
Leaning back comfortably with her fingers pressed together,
Aisha raised the corners of her mouth. Her orange eyes, which almost looked red, gleamed strangely.
“Is there something you’d like to tell me? If things continue like this, I might get the wrong idea.”
“……”
She had dressed it up nicely, but the words sounded more like a threat now. Still, just as before, Rachel had no reason to sit there and listen to this.
Rachel spoke calmly.
“First, let me make one thing clear, Lady Aisha. This will be the last time we meet like this.”
“……What did you say?”
“I no longer need your help.”
For an instant, Aisha’s face hardened like stone. At the same time, Rachel felt as though the air itself had warped, but……
“Things have changed a lot while you were focusing on your training. His Majesty set one condition. He said that if I fulfilled it, he would accept my refusal.”
“……!”
As Rachel added that last part, the strange feeling vanished, as though she had imagined it. Aisha asked urgently,
“What, what was the condition?”
“I don’t think I have any obligation to tell you that. In any case, I intend to fulfill the condition and refuse His Majesty’s advances—”
“Why don’t you have to tell me?! You were the one who told me to make an effort!”
Bang—!
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