“I have to meet Lily Rüdiger. She’s already famous for bothering everyone by saying she’d find her own marriage partner, so I’m not sure if she truly desires this, so I need to confirm her feelings properly.”
“If Lord Rüdiger becomes a consort, wouldn’t that make the relationship between the two ducal families troublesome?”
“It might cause trouble for Jared, but Father and Duke Rüdiger are actually very close. However, neither of them is straightforward, so they’re always acting competitively and bickering over every little thing.”
Seeing her father and Duke Rüdiger, who were close friends but strangely competitive with each other, and then seeing Jared and Pfeil, who lived together in the same mansion and interacted casually despite having tried to kill each other, Olivier truly felt that men were unfathomable creatures.
Whether it was childishness or a clear-headed pragmatism, she couldn’t quite grasp their strange relationship.
“But to think that Lily Rüdiger’s name would even come up… perhaps I underestimated the position of a Court Mage.”
“Indeed, it is said that only fellow mages and those who have fought against them can truly understand the power of a Court Mage. Even if one stands on the same battlefield, without knowledge of magic, their prowess cannot be appreciated.”
Of course, she understood they were strong. But even among mages, it seemed difficult to comprehend the abilities of a Court Mage unless one was of superior strength. Even witnessing them overwhelm enemies with visible power, one could only think “amazing” or “strong,” and not much beyond that. It is said that the fastest way to understand the true skill of a Court Mage is to fight them as an opponent, but no one would willingly choose to battle a mage who was outside the norm.
“At first, it was merely harassment. When I first met Jared, I knew he had achieved results as a mage. However, I couldn’t forgive my father for proceeding with things without my consent, and I didn’t want to ruin the life of a younger man like Jared because of me. Then, I made a demand, that Father not arrange for a fiancé… I never imagined he would actually fulfill that promise.”
She knew he was an accomplished mage. But, considering his age, she had wrongly assumed it would be impossible for him to become a Court Mage, even after he reached adulthood two years later. More than anything, as Cornelia was targeting her, she didn’t want to involve Jared, who had no connection to the matter. However, Jared knew Olivier’s circumstances and, despite having the option to stay out of it, chose to remain her fiancé, knowing the risks. He fought with his life on the line, protecting her while getting injured. That alone was not enough to express her gratitude, and he even fulfilled the promise he made when they first met. It wasn’t just about becoming a Court Mage. He desired nothing. Even after securing his position, he showed no arrogance. Even knowing that many girls desired to become consorts, he was indifferent. He simply said, “I’ll leave it to you,” and left everything to Olivier. As the one receiving marriage proposals, it was rather astonishing that he wouldn’t even look at the faces of his potential partners. She knew he wasn’t uninterested in women, but for a young man, he was surprisingly devoid of desire. She had thought more than once, and perhaps twice, that he might be enduring hardship because of her. It’s a secret that she even worried if he might prefer men, her mind going down strange paths. She wanted to know his feelings, but she was also afraid to know, and she detested herself for indulging in his kindness, yet she didn’t want to let go of her current comfort.
“Becoming a Court Mage isn’t something you can just do by wishing for it. That’s precisely why there are still empty seats. However, Jared obtained that position. And at a speed no one expected.”
“Like you, Olivier, I am also surprised. It’s true that I knew Jared was an excellent mage. However, after being selected as a Court Mage Candidate, due to unavoidable circumstances, the time it took for him to become a full Court Mage was far too short. I heard it was the shortest in history.”
“Indeed. The matter with Barnabas Kaif was unavoidable, and I understand that Jared would have died if he hadn’t defeated him. I know he received a position befitting his achievements, but lately, I’ve begun to doubt if Jared is truly suited to be a Court Mage.”
This was partly because Almeida had told her that she had narrowed Jared’s future. Since then, she had started thinking about his future. Until now, she only had to think about protecting her mother, but from now on, she had to consider a future that included herself.
“The role of a Court Mage is national defense. Considering that position, cooperation with the Alway Ducal Family, which is responsible for guarding the capital city, is good. However, I feel uneasy about Jared fighting all the time.”
Trane had been receiving magic lessons from Jared as promised during his free time. She remembered how lively he was as he displayed a wide range of knowledge, from basic principles to advanced applications. By wielding magic according to what she learned from him, her efficiency had improved astonishingly. For now, she would have to continue with self-training before moving on to the next step, but even at this point, she could feel an increase in her ability to protect Olivier and the others. However, with the current mansion having so many strong individuals gathered, Trane wasn’t sure if her role would even be needed. Besides Jared, there was his Master Almeida, the Dragon Girl Rio, and Pfeil. Except for Jared, these were all people who could disappear at any moment, but Trane decided to focus on housework for the time being, while continuing her magic training.
“Perhaps Jared might be more suited to teaching magic to others than to fighting.”
“That might be true. He said he wasn’t very good at it, but he seemed happy when he went to Conrad’s place today.”
Olivier recalled Jared’s smile. Initially, Jared had been reluctant to be taught by Conrad, but perhaps because he had taken a liking to his younger brother’s talent and personality, he adjusted his schedule and happily headed to the main residence. Although they had become estranged once, Conrad was still her dear younger brother. As an older sister, Olivier was pleased that Jared was looking out for him. Whether Conrad would engage in magic activities was uncertain due to their father’s decisions, but as the Alway Ducal Family’s long-awaited child with magical aptitude, expectations would be high. Consequently, envy from his other siblings might be significant, but if he ever found himself in trouble, she wanted to help him. However, she hesitated to involve Jared in such matters.
“Olivier-sama, I apologize, but I will be going out for some shopping soon. Lately, with more people in the mansion, there’s more joy in preparing meals.”
“Yes… I never imagined it would be this lively.”
While Trane primarily handled housework, Olivier, Hannelore, and Yeny also actively assisted. Just as she had told Jared when they first met, she was doing as much as she could herself. For Trane, it would diminish her purpose as a maid if she did everything, so she let them handle only the minimum, preventing them from serving meals, for instance. Still, compared to typical noble daughters, they were surprisingly capable at housework. Especially lately, she and Yeny had been working hard, wanting Jared to eat their homemade meals.
“It’s wonderful that the mansion has become lively, but don’t you think Rio has been acting suspiciously lately? She’s been calling out to Brother and Jared?”
“Isn’t that being a bit too concerned? Although she’s quite a bit older, as a dragon, she seems to still be a child.”
“That’s true, but with so many marriage proposals coming in, it’s hard not to worry. To be frank, after what happened with Mother, I’m not enthusiastic, but as a noble, I understand the necessity of consorts. However, Jared himself shows a surprising lack of interest… Why do I have to go through such a difficult time selecting Jared’s consorts!”
She was tired of sifting through the pile of photos and documents from marriage proposal applications. She was still doing it while talking with Trane, and there was no end in sight.
“That is Olivier-sama’s role as the future main wife, and besides, it was Olivier-sama herself who told Lord Jared that he must choose consorts he himself approves of… Frankly, I think it’s your own fault.”
“Even though I know that, I can’t accept it! Is it wrong to want to keep the person you love all to yourself!?”
Olivier knew that monopolizing him was difficult enough given that she had already accepted Yeny. Moreover, from Trane’s perspective, Almeida, not Rio, seemed more suspicious. Trane felt that Almeida, who had watched Jared grow and nurtured him into a strong person, harbored emotions towards him not just as a master, but as a woman. Trane intended to serve Olivier and the others her entire life, and she was also scheming to become Jared’s lover. Of course, Hannelore already knew and Olivier had been told. However, Trane didn’t want to make her sad, so she didn’t know how things would turn out. It was not uncommon for maids to become lovers of nobles to prevent them from causing scandals outside. Furthermore, Trane herself didn’t mind if Jared, who had saved Olivier and the others, became her lover.
“Once I return from shopping, I will help out again, so let’s take a break.”
She prayed for the happiness of Olivier, who, though older, felt like a younger sister to her, confiding her hidden desires in front of her.
