Previously
Aracella unilaterally announces her marriage to Damian at the banquet, securing the union by making it a public matter of honor for both families. Frederick confronts Aracella in the garden, revealing his unrequited feelings and a past promise of marriage that she dismisses as a joke.
The woman’s body trembled as though she might lunge at Aracella at any second.
While the butler looked embarrassed and Audrey was anxious, Aracella regarded her with a calm expression.
She looked somewhat familiar, but Aracella could not place her.
From the way she spoke, she was clearly a noblewoman, yet Aracella still did not recognize her.
The woman’s eyes widened when she realized Aracella truly had no idea who she was.
She stammered, scowling deeply.
Only then did Aracella recognize the woman standing before her.
Or rather, she recognized her surname, to be precise.
A long time ago, there had been a rivalry between two families of the same rank over a ruby mine.
Those families were Marquis Hugo and Marquis White.
The two houses, which had been close friends until then, grew bitter after the contest.
As the heads of each family began mocking one another, they separated their children, who had played together, and forbade them from ever meeting.
In the end, the mine went to Marquis Hugo, and the feud between the families sharpened with each passing generation.
Recently, however, the third generation of Marquis Hugo had claimed a complete victory in every arena, and Marquis White had slipped into second place in his later years.
Aracella had never paid much attention to this family feud, but she vaguely recalled the many things she had heard about them.
Even so, she could not remember the face of the rival family’s daughter.
Niara bit her lower lip, glaring furiously at Aracella.
If glares could fight, she would have torn Aracella to shreds on the spot.
Niara raised an index finger, pointing right at Aracella.
Naturally, Aracella was not the least bit intimidated by a young lady a head shorter than her.
Aracella had not said a word, yet Niara was screaming and throwing a tantrum.
Audrey grimaced, shocked by the outrageous words, but Aracella’s face showed not the slightest hint of offense.
Instead of losing her temper, Aracella clasped both hands over her mouth in exaggerated shock.
As she lowered the pale hand covering her face, a mocking smile played on Aracella’s lips.
Her face burning crimson, Niara lunged forward in fury.
Charging toward Aracella, Niara collided with an invisible barrier and was thrown backward onto the floor.
Having deflected Niara’s attack with defensive magic, Aracella spoke to the butler in an even voice.
The butler, flustered for a moment, bowed his head immediately and slipped away. A short while later, he returned with Damian.
Wisely, he had summoned the master of the manor instead of a doctor.
Niara scrambled to Damian, tears streaming down her face.
Aracella narrowed her eyes at the sight.
Could this woman actually be Damian Vandermeer’s secret lover?
Seeing Damian scowl and sidestep Niara, however, it seemed that was hardly the case.
A spark of disdain filled his golden eyes as he looked down at her.
Niara cried out, her face crumpled in sorrow.
At those words, Niara whipped her head around and glared daggers at Aracella.
Aracella smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Standing bathed in the sunlight streaming through the elaborate glass window, she looked dazzling enough to be an angel freshly descended from the heavens.
It was an undeniable truth that no one in the room could dispute.
Staring at Aracella, a bitter sense of inferiority washed over Niara’s face.
Biting her lip, Niara quickly turned back to Damian, pleading desperately.
Damian glanced at Aracella before answering.
Aracella rested a hand against her chest and lifted her chin, exuding pure confidence and self-assurance.
Niara thought Aracella was utterly shameless, yet she had no words to counter her, which only infuriated her further.
At that moment, a recent memory about Miss White crossed Aracella’s mind.
Iris had mentioned a certain Lady Niara White who had been pursuing Damian Vandermeer for quite some time.
It was clear now that the young woman standing before her was that very person.
Even with that sardonic smirk, Aracella’s features shone with fairy-like brilliance.
Damian let out a deep sigh and stepped between Niara and Aracella as Niara glared as though ready to commit murder.
Niara looked heartbroken, but Damian’s expression remained unyielding.
As she was finally shown out of the manor like an unwanted guest, Niara cast a parting threat toward Aracella.
Aracella peeked out from behind Damian’s back, smiling sweetly as she rested her chin on her palm.
Niara White stomped off, shrieking in frustration, leaving only Aracella and Damian behind.
Damian sounded thoroughly disgusted as he promptly denied it.
She could tell it was the absolute truth without needing to investigate any further.
The two moved to Damian’s study. Before long, a servant brought in tea and refreshments.
Unlike most nobles who remained in the capital and only returned to their estates when necessary, the members of the Vandermeer Ducal house resided primarily in their southern territory.
In truth, the duchy was as vast as the capital itself, and the family’s prestige was firmly established, so they had little reason to linger in the capital.
Aracella paused at his calm, matter-of-fact reply.
She had suspected as much for some time; this man truly seemed to be an outsider within his own household.
Thoughtful enough not to pry, she smoothly changed the subject.
Taking a sip of tea, Aracella lifted her lowered gaze.
Her glass-clear eyes peered at Damian from beneath long lashes.
He could hardly believe he was going to pay his respects to her family after having already announced their marriage.
Yet since it was unavoidable, Damian gave a nod, acknowledging how absurd the situation must look.
Aracella rested a hand against her cheek, musing deeply before breaking into a bright smile.
Aracella’s casual announcement over dinner the previous evening threw Marquis Hugo—who was already reeling from the newspaper article—into absolute shock.
While the Marquis and his wife fussed and scolded her for notifying them so late, Adrian threw himself into preparing for the meeting with his second sister’s groom.
The valet stifled a chuckle as he straightened the collar of Adrian’s suit.
The boy, barely in his early teens, was dressed impeccably, his hair neatly slicked back with pomade.
His sole objective was to appear far more distinguished and dependable than today’s guest.
‘I’ll show him my dignity as the heir of Marquis Hugo and never let him take my sister away!’
Brimming with grand ambitions, Adrian waited alongside his family for Damian’s arrival.
Before long, a carriage bearing the crest of a red falcon rolled into the Marquis’s estate. Adrian watched wide-eyed as the man stepped out.
Adrian’s eyes widened at the sight of a face so strikingly handsome and refined.
Until now, he had believed the handsomest man in the world was his father, followed closely by himself, but the moment he saw Damian, he realized just how mistaken he had been.
‘It’s fine! He might be short as a dwarf…!’
Yet as Damian drew closer, he ruthlessly shattered Adrian’s hopes once more.
He was even taller than his father.
Adrian froze in shock.
Up until this point, the tallest person in the entire world had also been his father.
Clinging to his last shred of hope, Adrian then heard the crushing words from his elder sister.
Adrian’s favorite lesson during his heir training was swordsmanship.
He much preferred swinging a blade outdoors to sitting at a desk studying. Of course, with his second sister being a mage, he could never admit that openly.
Regardless, Adrian understood well the reverence commanded by a Sword Master. A Sword Master was someone far stronger than his father.
Aracella touched the shoulder of her younger brother, who stood dazed from shock.
Adrian did not open his mouth, even when his sister patted him on the back.
Soon, the boy, standing frozen with his head lowered, squeezed his eyes shut and yelled.
Adrian threw his arms wide and planted himself in front of Aracella.
“You can’t take my sister away!”
While the rest of the family looked at Adrian in astonishment, Damian stared down at the small boy for a moment. Then, bending forward, he spoke with utter seriousness.
Up close, Damian was undeniably handsome, but his eyes were chillingly cold. Terrified to his core,
Adrian, overwhelmed by fear and despair, burst into tears and ran straight to his mother.
Aracella and Damian’s eyes met over the backdrop of Adrian’s sobs.