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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Greetings
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The Hugo Marquisate managed to complete preparations for a special guest in just half a day.
The dining hall, decorated with lavender grown in the garden, was both bright and elegant. White daffodil vases were placed here and there on the long table lined with golden candlesticks.
With the Marquis seated at the head of the table, Aracilla and Demian were on his left, and the Marquis's family on his right.
Adrian, seated next to Iris, had barely calmed down, but his chubby cheeks were still slightly puffed out.
"We prepared this in a hurry, so there might be some shortcomings. Please bear with us."
"Not at all. It's truly splendid and magnificent."
In fact, the dishes served by the attendants were all so perfect that there was no sign of the rushed preparation.
The seasoned skill befitting an old, distinguished family shone brightly even under pressure.
"Sir, I have something I'd like to ask."
Not long after the meal began, the Marquis, who had taken a sip of wine, set his glass down and began.
"Please speak."
"…Sir, why did you decide to marry our Aracilla?"
He had two daughters. Objectively speaking, the bride a typical noble would prefer was the eldest, not the second.
With her graceful and modest appearance, proper demeanor that fully embodied noble etiquette, and a discreet, calm personality that assured she would become a virtuous lady in the future.
Iris had been an ideal prospective bride, receiving marriage proposals from various families since childhood.
So, regardless of age, he naturally thought Iris would be the first of his children to marry, but he never expected Aracilla to suddenly step in.
"I heard it's not a political marriage."
Frankly, he still couldn't believe the two had been dating, but since they claimed it, the Marquis accepted it for now.
"I don't know if you're aware, Sir, but my second daughter is a bit… uncommon."
The Marquis, unable to bring himself to call his daughter unique, eccentric, or an oddball, expressed it indirectly.
Demian swallowed all the food in his mouth and drank some water before speaking.
"Lady Hugo is indeed an extraordinary person."
They hadn't known each other long, nor had they talked much.
Even at a glance, Aracilla Hugo was an unusual woman. Surprisingly, Demian didn't see that as a bad thing.
In fact, if Aracilla had been naive and meek, he might have reconsidered this contract marriage.
"But that's why I liked her. I felt there wouldn't be anything stifling after marriage. As I dislike feeling constrained."
"That's because you haven't lived with my daughter yet, Sir."
The Marchioness, who had many exasperating moments because of her second daughter throughout her life, sighed softly.
"Did you decide to marry for such a trivial reason? What if you feel stifled after marriage?"
Her overall appearance was similar to her eldest daughter's, but her blue eyes were identical to Aracilla's, and she looked directly at Demian.
"Marriage is the most important decision in life. So both of you should think carefully before choosing."
Honestly, she couldn't say it because he was someone else's son, but Demian was no more likely to live a harmonious married life than Aracilla.
The Marquis and Marchioness's worries deepened, wondering if such a pair should truly marry.
"Don't worry, Marchioness. Lady Hugo and I have had more than enough discussions before reaching this decision."
"Exactly, Mother. And shouldn't you be more worried about *me* feeling stifled after marriage?"
Aracilla looked at her mother with a prim expression. Though she was astonishingly beautiful, despite being born of her own womb…
"Just thinking about becoming someone's wife is already suffocating *me*."
Even with that 'someone' sitting right next to her, her daughter's unreserved remarks made the Marchioness press a hand to her forehead.
"It's fine. I, too, feel equally suffocated just thinking about becoming a husband."
"Oh dear, we should both be careful not to die before we even get married."
Even while exchanging banter-like remarks, Demian and Aracilla's faces remained expressionless.
The Marquis's family truly wondered why these two were getting married.
Why on earth…?
"Sir Vandermir, Aracilla is not the type to live by simply assisting her husband, like other people."
The Marchioness, who had been silent for a long time, spoke again in a solemn and heavy voice.
"Therefore, rather than expecting the impossible from my daughter, it would be a wiser choice to stop here."
The Marchioness had been the one who most opposed Aracilla's single-mindedness and her dream of becoming the Magic Tower Master.
However, after deciding to support her, the Marchioness was also the one who most actively championed her.
"I am not so lacking that I require my wife's assistance."
Demian calmly and indirectly rejected the Marchioness's advice.
"Whatever Lady Hugo chooses to do after marriage, I will not interfere. I will continue my life as I wish, and she will continue hers as she wishes."
"Does that mean you won't stop Aracilla from working at the Magic Tower even after marriage?"
Iris, who understood that Demian had no intention of restricting Aracilla in any way as a husband, asked with a surprised expression.
It was a common understanding that noblewomen, regardless of what they did before marriage, should give everything up after marriage and focus solely on household management and assisting their husbands.
"I have no right to stop her. Whether she continues to work at the Magic Tower is entirely Lady Hugo's decision."
At his words, Aracilla also looked at Demian with slightly surprised eyes.
The two had not yet reached an agreement on this matter. Of course, Aracilla intended to work unconditionally even after marriage, but she didn't know his true intentions.
'He's less rigid than I thought for a knight?'
The Magic Tower is also very conservative, but the knight order is even more so. To the extent that not a single female knight has joined the Imperial Knights since its founding.
Thus, it was indeed surprising for Demian Vandermir, currently called an exemplary figure among all knights, to make such a statement without prior discussion.
"…It seems the two of you truly had many discussions."
In reality, the two had barely had five proper conversations, but the Marquis, moved by Demian's answer, misunderstood.
"I thought I was the only man in the world who truly got along with my lovely second daughter."
"It's fine, Father. Sir and I don't get along *that* well."
Aracilla thought they probably wouldn't get along *that* well in the future either. What just happened was merely like a broken clock being right once in a while.
"Still, please stop worrying about our marriage and help us make it work."
"Indeed. Marquis and Marchioness, please do not worry too much."
Demian shifted his gaze slightly and addressed Iris and Adrian as well.
"The same goes for Lady Hugo and Young Master."
Just as the Marquis's family, realizing they could no longer oppose the couple's marriage, was about to resume their meal.
"…I have something I'm curious about too."
Adrian, who had been gloomily picking at his food the whole time, raised his hand. Everyone's gaze turned to the boy.
"What is it, Adrian?"
"Sir Vandermir, are you very affectionate?"
At the sudden, ambush-like question, Aracilla nearly spat out the water she was drinking. Demian, uncharacteristically, blinked slowly.
"…Affectionate?"
"Yes, my second sister likes affectionate men."
Now Adrian also knew he couldn't stop his sister's marriage.
So, sadly, he reluctantly decided to accept the relationship between his beloved second sister and an outsider.
"Please show a lot of affection to my sister. Please take good care of my second sister."
"…"
Demian's face was blank as he looked at Adrian, who was bowing resolutely. Aracilla desperately held back her laughter beside him.
"Pfft."
"…Lady, don't laugh."
Demian sighed silently. His opponent was merely an eleven-year-old boy. It was awkward to say anything.
"I'm not… *cough*."
Aracilla covered her face with both hands. The others behaved more decorously, but were similarly holding back laughter.
But in the end, everyone failed to hold back their laughter and burst out.
* * *
"Sir Vandermir."
Demian, who was heading to the entrance to leave after the meal, was called by the Marquis.
From his slightly curly, pale purple hair to his large yet delicate features, he greatly resembled his second daughter.
To be precise, Aracilla resembled her father.
"What is it, Marquis?"
"I have something to say to you."
The Marquis, who let out a short cough, soon offered his hand with a gentle smile.
"Please take good care of my daughter, Sir."
When he smiled, the daughter and father resembled each other even more. Demian hesitated for a moment, then lightly clasped his hand before immediately releasing it.
"I wished for her to live safely under my wing, doing what she desired and achieving her dreams throughout her life. But it seems there are no children in the world who follow their parents' wishes."
A wistful smile appeared on the Marquis's lips, then vanished. He had already transformed into the dignified Marquis as he spoke.
"Please keep the promises you made during dinner. The one about letting Aracilla live freely."
"Don't worry. I fully intend to do so."
The Marquis's family didn't know, but the marriage with Aracilla was a contract anyway.
So, whatever she did after marriage, Demian had no desire to interfere.
In fact, if she kept busy with her own affairs, it would be good, as there would be no reason for her to exert influence over him.
"Yes, thank you."
The Marquis patted Demian's shoulder and went inside. Left alone, Demian glanced at his own shoulder with a somewhat strange expression.
He had felt it from the beginning, the Hugo Marquisate had a good family atmosphere, even compared to other families. Affection and a sense of bond could be felt even in their casual remarks.
'Completely opposite to the Vandermirs.'
Seeing Aracilla appear, crossing the corridor, Demian suddenly became curious.
What would a woman raised in such a family think when she saw his own family?
"It seems Lady Hugo was raised with quite a lot of love."
He, who had been quietly watching Aracilla come out to see him off, spoke on impulse.
"No? Not 'quite', but *very* much loved, actually."
There wasn't an ounce of doubt or hesitation in her reply. Demian let out a dry chuckle.
"That must be why you are always so confident."
"That's just my personality. But it's true that I can be even more confident because I trust my family."
Without a family strongly supporting her, Aracilla would inevitably falter. It was a fact she knew better than anyone.
"Is that so? So your eccentric personality is because you're a mage."
What nonsense, how absurd.
Seeing Demian's carriage arrive to pick him up, Aracilla offered a handshake.
"Thank you for your time today. Please have a safe trip home."
"And you as well, Lady. Have a good night."
However, this time too, Demian did not respond to her handshake, instead giving a short bow of his head.
Aracilla's lips twitched.
"Sir, just one question. Is refusing only *my* handshake a special treatment of sorts?"
"I have never refused only Lady Hugo's handshake."
"Well, *I* felt that way."
Aracilla, who had witnessed her father and Demian shaking hands from afar, widened her eyes. But Demian reacted as if it were nothing significant.
"Then it must be your misconception."
Hah, listen to him talk? Her crooked lips trembled.
"Perhaps that obnoxious personality of yours is because you're a knight?"
"I would say it's innate."
Demian retorted without backing down. That made him even more obnoxious. Aracilla waved her hand with an annoyed expression.
"Alright, enough of that. Is there anything I need to prepare or be careful about tomorrow?"
"You just need to be prepared to take the second son, who is quite an eyesore."
That resolve would likely need to be even firmer than what Demian had brought today.
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow."
He bid a polite farewell and departed in his carriage.
