The royal capital of the Wethered Kingdom. The Alway Ducal Family Villa.
Olivier Alway, her blonde hair tied back, wiped the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief as she helped move furniture.
Born the eldest daughter of the Ducal Family, Olivier was blessed with beautiful looks. However, her beauty was somewhat doll-like. Or rather, it used to be.
Since childhood, her mother, Hannelore Alway, the main wife, had been harassed by consorts, and the threats eventually escalated to endanger her life. Olivier, as her daughter, was no exception and became a target, forcing them to move from the main residence to the villa.
Olivier and her mother, seemingly ostracized by society, lived a humble yet supportive life with Trane Glasler, the only person they trusted, cherishing small moments of happiness.
However, the danger threatening her mother never ceased.
Olivier desperately tried to protect her. When her father brought up marriage proposals, she rejected them one after another, adopting an attitude that could hardly be called pleasant, all to avoid involving her mother and to keep her away from their troubles.
As a result, she was unfazed by the spread of terrible rumors.
She had lived her life with the resolve that it was all for her mother. But, those days were about to end.
The engagement to Jared Murphy.
Her father, Harald Alway, chose the grandson of Baron Niklas Daum, someone he trusted, as Olivier’s fiancé.
Naturally, Olivier had no intention of accepting this engagement, and she attempted to break it off by imposing impossible demands. However, to her surprise, he was willing to fulfill even the most unreasonable request – “become a Court Mage,” a feat practically impossible for most.
At the young age of sixteen, he was decided to become a Court Mage Candidate, which greatly astonished Olivier.
Fearing that she might involve this talented boy with a bright future and put him in danger because of her, Olivier even considered introducing him to a suitable woman to sever their ties.
However, the situation was about to change drastically.
The Assassination Organization Waalthe began targeting her mother. She understood the consorts’ true intentions all too well, and it was enough to fill her with immense anxiety. Then, her fiancé, without Olivier’s knowledge, was attacked and received a warning.
Anyone else would have fled in fear, but he did not.
What’s more, he declared that he would live with them in the villa as originally planned and even offered to protect them.
Then, he engaged in a deadly battle with an assassin from Waalthe, emerged victorious, and protected them.
Since then, he had saved Olivier and the others countless times, disregarding his own safety. He exposed and apprehended Cornelia, the mastermind behind it all. Finally, peace had arrived for Olivier and her mother.
The young man was also to become a Court Mage due to his successful resolution of the incident. He had fulfilled Olivier’s absurdly difficult demand in less than six months.
Thanks to him, Olivier’s world transformed. Her world, which had only consisted of her mother and Trane, became vibrant.
Yeny Daum, who admired him like an older brother and wished to become his consort. Almeida, the fiancé’s master. Rio, the sister of the dragon he defeated. And Pfeil and Rosa, members of Waalthe who had once targeted her mother, now lived together as family.
Now, she could smile wholeheartedly.
And today. A new family member was to join the villa.
Emilia Alway. Olivier’s half-sister, and the daughter of Cornelia, the source of all their troubles. More than that, Emilia herself had spread malicious gossip about Olivier and had even attempted to participate in her mother’s wicked schemes. However, she ultimately stopped herself. She informed her father of her mother’s wrongdoings and did not cross the line.
Yet, she too would face punishment. Her life would be under surveillance.
It was Hannelore, of all people, who decided to accept and raise her as her daughter.
Initially, Emilia was grateful yet bewildered by being welcomed as a daughter. Having reformed, she hesitated to indulge in such kindness. It was only recently that Olivier personally met with her, asked her to come to the villa, and Emilia agreed.
“I am sorry to bother you with this when Lord Jared is in such a critical situation.”
“It’s alright. Moving around like this distracts me, and I genuinely wanted to welcome you sooner.”
Olivier was filled with deep anxiety and worry upon learning that her fiancé, Jared, had been dispatched to Duke Rüdiger’s territory, fought, and was injured.
Initially, there was no news, and now, even though there was contact, the situation was far from joyous.
Pfeil, sensing her worry, had gone to Duke Rüdiger’s territory, which eased her anxiety slightly. She had received word from him that she shouldn’t worry too much, but her unease would only subside when she saw her fiancé’s face with her own eyes.
Still, she couldn’t afford to be consumed by worry. As Jared was destined to become a Court Mage, similar incidents were bound to occur in the future. She couldn’t possibly be constantly worried and overwhelmed by anxiety each time.
Therefore, as a form of distraction and with preparations for welcoming her to the villa having been underway for some time but delayed by various issues, she decided to formally invite her younger sister. She had also harbored a desire to not leave her sister in an uncomfortable villa for an extended period, so she acted on her impulse.
“The position of a Court Mage’s wife must be quite arduous, won’t it?”
“It might be. But I will have to get used to it. I am to become his wife, after all. Rather than being protected, I want to be a wife who supports Jared.”
Emilia, dressed in practical, lightweight attire unlike Olivier’s formal dress, her expression clouded.
She, too, was aware that Jared had been injured in Duke Rüdiger’s territory.
It had all started when her younger sister learned of Jared through her father and sent a letter, concerned for him and for her older sister, expressing her desire to move in.
To welcome her sister, who worried about both them and her fiancé, Olivier had sought permission from her parents and housemates and went to pick up Emilia. Although it was a sudden decision, Jared had entrusted Emilia to her, and her mother had happily praised the idea. The residents had no objections either, so she could confidently welcome her sister.
All that remained was for Jared to return safely and be surprised by his new family.
“It’s difficult, isn’t it, to only be able to wait?”
She softly murmured a rare complaint to her sister.
Olivier had no means to protect her fiancé. If we consider mere combat, Jared was exceptionally strong. There was, in truth, not much she could do for him. That helplessness was frustrating.
“It’s not that I wish I could use magic and fight, but sometimes I hate that I’m powerless.”
“Older Sister…”
“I’m sorry. I’ve brought down the mood on what should have been a happy moving day. Not dwelling on such thoughts is also something I need to work on.”
With a wry smile as if to brush it off, she picked up the luggage placed on the ground and began carrying it.
The larger bags had already been swiftly handled by the strong Rosa and Rio, so now she was just carrying the smaller items one by one.
Even so, Emilia, a girl of her age, had quite a bit of luggage. It was summer, a time when you easily worked up a sweat from physical exertion, but she could consider it light exercise and a good way to clear her head. After all, just staying in her room would only lead to negative thoughts.
“Please wait, I’ll help you!”
Emilia hurried to grab some luggage and followed behind.
While the servants sent by her father, whom he trusted, efficiently carried the baggage, Olivier continued to move, trying to push away the anxiety gnawing at her heart.
