Previously
Aracella receives a formal meeting request from Damian and, annoyed by his arrogance, responds by asserting her status as a mage. They meet at Cafe Forina and negotiate a contract marriage to prevent their siblings' union and serve their own ambitions.
Paula said as she set her teacup aside.
She was the daughter of Marquis Hayden and an academy classmate of Aracella.
Paula could still vividly recall what her friend had said in a fury back at the academy.
Back then, Aracella had been scouted early by the Magic Tower for her unmatched magical talent, both working and studying at the same time.
Because of that, she realized early on the restrictions placed on married mages and declared her celibacy from her mid-teens.
Yet suddenly, she was getting married.
Paula was so deeply shocked that she nearly tumbled out of her seat.
Paula cupped her chin in her hands and leaned toward her friend, her eyes sparkling.
Aracella answered nonchalantly.
Having grown accustomed to her own reflection, she tended to look at other people's appearances with utter indifference.
Even tumbling flat on the street, Damian Vandermeer would still look handsome.
Paula burst into laughter at those words, then added with a disappointed pout.
Even as she chided her, Paula looked at her friend without the slightest surprise. It was a line of thinking thoroughly characteristic of Aracella.
Paula smiled at the sly reply and nodded enthusiastically.
Aracella nodded, hearing Damian's title for the very first time.
An extraordinary figure, and her own singular self.
Placed side by side, their titles did not sound like a bad combination.
Aracella checked her watch and stood up.
She had carved out a little time to see Paula before meeting Frederick.
Leaving the Hayden estate behind, she headed toward a famous restaurant in the downtown district.
Frederick had arrived first, seated at the center table on the second floor of the restaurant, which operated strictly on reservations.
At her call, a gentle, handsome man turned toward her, his blond hair gleaming white in the sunlight and his eyes glowing red like rubies.
Frederick closed his eyes and smiled softly. His tone was gentle and calm.
He rose to his feet and pulled out the chair for Aracella himself.
Frederick smiled sheepishly and returned to his seat.
The two had first met at the academy seven years ago.
Their friendship began on the day of the entrance ceremony, when Frederick, having lost his way, was wandering alone and happened upon Aracella strolling leisurely across the campus, striking up a conversation with her.
Aracella, who had been ambling along, basking in the sun like a sunbathing cat, lifted her hand and pointed toward a particular building.
In response to Frederick's question, asked so he could properly express his gratitude later, Aracella blinked her large eyes and answered.
The two, who happened to be the only two latecomers to the entrance ceremony, ended up becoming fast friends.
Together with Paula Hayden, the three of them had practically lived side by side.
Now that they were adults, they could not meet and spend time together as often as they once had, but they still kept in touch and gathered every now and then.
Aracella popped a small piece of meat into her mouth and chewed.
A gentle smile spread across Frederick's lips as he watched the sight.
He teased playfully, deftly nudging the platter toward her.
The two exchanged banter and shared an enjoyable conversation.
Once the atmosphere had warmed, Aracella brought up her topic after taking a sip of water.
Frederick dabbed his mouth with a napkin and his eyes widened.
From long ago, Frederick had always been deeply wary of men approaching Aracella.
The reason was simple: as a friend, he was worried that she might end up with someone strange.
Thus, if he found out that Aracella was marrying the very knight she despised so intensely, there was a high likelihood he would grow immediately suspicious and dig into the matter.
There were already far too many obstacles ahead; she had no desire to turn her friends into one of them.
Frederick, who had no way of divining Aracella's true intentions, smiled softly.
Frederick was the sort of person who would hand over the entire banquet just for Aracella if she asked for it. Naturally, he nodded.
Frederick burst into laughter watching Aracella hurriedly hide the menu behind her back.
The eyes that had been smiling the entire time were steeped in an affection far deeper than that of a mere friend.
Aracella had purchased a new dress for the first time in an age specifically to announce her marriage.
The rose-tinted gown featured a corset neckline and overlapping hems arranged like flower petals, with the left shoulder and waist lavishly embellished with artificial blossoms.
Audrey had been overjoyed upon learning that her mistress, who typically wore only mage robes, had finally bought a new dress.
Iris, who had been invited alongside Aracella to the prince's banquet, asked as they rode together in the carriage toward the imperial palace.
Aracella had already briefed her sister on today's surprise announcement.
She added.
Iris let out a soft sigh as she saw her younger sister, who looked like a fairy, smiling like a little villainess.
As the carriage passed through the palace gates, Iris spoke up again.
Iris spoke gently as she clasped her younger sister's hand, her gaze still carrying lingering doubts about the reality of the relationship.
As the elder sister's worry for her younger sister deepened, the carriage pulled up before the banquet hall.
Aracella stepped down from the carriage holding her sister's hand.
The attendants guarding the entrance stared at the two beauties as if bewitched.
The sisters stood side by side before the heavy doors engraved with the imperial family's crest.
The attention of every noble in the hall snapped toward the attendant's booming shout.
It was a rare sight indeed to see the Hugo sisters together.
Unlike Iris, who was socially active like most young noblewomen, Aracella was confined to the Magic Tower, making her elusive to society.
Iris drew plenty of eyes whenever she appeared on her own, but standing beside her sister, she felt an overwhelming, inexplicable intensity in the stares directed at them.
Lips red as rose petals curved into a smile.
The larger the crowd, the better. That way, word of the marriage would spread far and wide without requiring any extra effort from her.
Aracella glanced indifferently across the crowd.
The gazes of the surrounding nobles remained fixed on the two sisters.
Active in entirely different spheres, the sisters shared few superficial similarities, but both were undeniably stunning in distinctly different ways.
If Iris was a gracefully blooming lily, Aracella was a radiant spring rose.
And while Iris was as delicate as she appeared,
Aracella, whether she cared or not, radiated an effortless grace that turned heads wherever she went.
Just as the whispers of half-envy, half-jealousy were swirling, a man strode across the hall toward the Hugo sisters.
Aracella also caught sight of the figure weaving gracefully through the crowd.
Under the chandelier's glow, his silver hair gleamed like fine sugar.
Gaps of astonishment escaped the lips of those who recognized him. For Damian, stopping directly before the sisters, extended his hand toward the younger one.
Jaws dropped in sheer bewilderment as everyone watched Aracella take Damian's hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The two, gorgeous as a painting, began to waltz in the center of the hall.
It was an extraordinary sight in the Citron Empire, where mages and knights were infamous for their bitter rivalry.
A knight and a mage dancing gracefully in each other's embrace.
Damian's expression was none too pleased as he guided her across the floor, his hand resting on her slender waist.
It went unnoticed by the crowd, but it was glaringly obvious to Aracella, who was looking straight at his face.
Aracella, who said it with her eyes rather than aloud, merely shrugged and dismissed his glare.
At last, as the waltz ended, she parted from Damian and sought out Frederick.
He was standing among the crowd, looking entirely lost in thought.
Aracella pressed her lips together and gave her friend a nudge. Only then did Frederick snap out of his daze and whisper to her as he led her toward the dais.
Though they had pledged themselves to a contract marriage, they were hardly close, so Aracella answered purely based on fact.
Having reached the dais, Frederick could not finish his questions and addressed the room first.
Having commanded the room's focus, Frederick stepped down from the dais.
Left standing alone, Aracella surveyed the gathered nobles.
Seeing every eye fixed upon her, she smiled and spoke.
“Listen, everyone. I am getting married.”
The hall instantly erupted into murmurs.
Aracella raised her hand.
Following her announcement, silence descended over the hall.