This Time, I Became the Fiance of a Duke’s Daughter. But She is Rumored to have Bad Personality, and Ten Years Older – Chapter 142

Harald Alway smiled fondly at his daughter’s fiancé, who remained unchanged even after his decision to become a Court Mage.

As the head of the Ducal Family, he had met countless people. It was precisely because of this experience that he respected a young man who stayed true to himself, regardless of shifts in status or position.

When young men like Jared swiftly gained status, arrogance often followed. He had witnessed many individuals, consciously or not, take their achievements for granted, neglecting them until their downfall.

However, this boy, who conversed with his son and wife while his smile never wavered, was different.

He had earned the Mage Association’s recognition through sheer skill alone and actively pursued his goals to survive. Instead of succumbing to despair after being ostracized by his father and deemed unable to inherit the family estate, he lived positively. As a result, he was selected as a Court Mage Candidate, even defeating Balbanus Kaif, who possessed power equal to or greater than that of a Court Mage, and secured a position as a Court Mage.

— The Alway Ducal Family had played no part in this matter.

Among the heartless individuals, many, fueled by envy and jealousy, whispered that he was chosen as a Court Mage Candidate only due to the Duke’s influence.

But such claims were baseless. More importantly, if such a thing were true, his daughter would never forgive Harald.

Harald would have been content even if Jared hadn’t become a Court Mage.

He had desired Jared, the grandson of Baron Daum, a loyal retainer to whom he had entrusted his beloved older sister, long before anyone else. Without explicitly stating it, he had indirectly expressed his wish for Jared to Baron Daum, framing it as a consultation regarding Olivier.

However, he learned that Baron Daum intended to have Jared inherit the Daum Barony, as he could not take over the family estate, and marry his granddaughter, Yeny Daum. Olivier, who was indifferent to titles, had initially considered this acceptable. Yet, not wanting to burden Baron Daum, whom she considered family, she backed down.

Whether the Baron’s son had plotted to use Jared to gain status or simply wished for his son’s happiness, Olivier was unsure. When the proposal to marry Jared to Olivier was presented, she hesitated.

Although told that Baron Daum also approved, she couldn’t fully believe it. Yet, if things remained as they were, her connection with Jared might be severed.

It wasn’t about assimilating him. That wasn’t it at all. Harald Alway simply admired those who forged ahead through their own strength.

As a member of the Ducal Family, he was aware of those who exploited their positions. He had encountered more than one or two foolish individuals who acted recklessly in their parents’ names.

That was precisely why he wanted Olivier, his stubborn and dear daughter who, despite facing threats to her mother’s life and her own perilous situations, refused to yield, to meet Jared, who never festered in adversity but continued to move forward.

He hoped that Olivier, who had faced dangers herself, might change if she met Jared. And Jared brought about even more than he had hoped.

He had repelled the bandits targeting Hannelore and provided the impetus to expose the mastermind. Cornelia, his consort and childhood friend, remained secluded in her family home for the time being, but it was only a matter of time. His beloved wife would no longer be in danger.

To deter other consorts from contemplating foolish actions, Cornelia would need to serve as a cautionary example. Given the gravity of her misdeeds, there would be no leniency.

He hoped this would pacify the consorts and their children who were engaged in a covert struggle for succession.

Most of all, he was grateful that Jared was looking after his only son, Conrad, who was born with magical abilities. Conrad, born with magic, was ostracized and envied by his siblings.

His mother, Therese, a woman of viscount lineage, held a low position among the consorts. However, for her sake, his dear friend’s sister whom he had known since childhood, he wanted to repay her kindness.

— It was for this reason that he wanted to entrust Conrad to Jared, who was a Court Mage Candidate.

Outside of a few key individuals, the household staff were entangled in the power struggles of the various consorts. It was revealed that magicians who judged Conrad to be lacking talent were acting under the direction of Cornelia or other consorts.

Naturally, these magicians were punished, and the consorts were warned that there would be no second chances.

He hoped this would alleviate even a fraction of the burden on Conrad and Therese.

The fact that Jared was chosen as a Court Mage before he could fully entrust his precious son to him was a true astonishment.

He had momentarily indulged in a needless worry that Jared might lose interest in looking after Conrad in the future. However, he remained unchanged, just as when they first met: kind, good-natured, and a boy one couldn’t help but want to support.

Conrad, who admired Jared as an older brother, would undoubtedly be delighted to continue his tutelage.

Word would eventually spread that he was being mentored, even unofficially, by a Court Mage. Once that was known, requests would pour in. Offers of marriage to become consorts, seeking a connection with him now that he was chosen as a Court Mage, had begun reaching the Alway Ducal Family.

Given Olivier’s status as the main wife, many proposals were directed to the Ducal Family rather than Jared or the Daum Barony.

Most of these were declined by the family, leaving only those whose alliances would prove beneficial to Olivier, who would then handle the rest. Honestly, he could have refused them all. However, he couldn’t possibly ignore every single one.

He imagined his daughter was currently enduring hardships, and while he felt apologetic, he hoped she would understand that this, too, was part of her duty as the main wife.

Harald himself had been free to choose his consort as he was permitted a love marriage and had no consorts, so he felt compelled to protect his daughters from such matters.

He did not want to disrupt the peaceful lives of his beloved daughter and the kind-hearted boy.

This was precisely why Harald Alway was in turmoil.

— Whether to reveal the truth behind the death of Jared Murphy’s mother, Liz Murphy.