Lakeheart Town, night had already fallen.
At dinner, candlelight quietly burned in the dining room of the Lord's Manor, illuminating the figures of five women.
In the candlelight, Paul entered with a woman.
The moment Laddie saw that figure, she immediately rose to her feet.
Paul introduced her to everyone. "This is my mother, Mariana."
Aside from Laddie and Catherine—they had both met Mariana before—the others present all froze.
Frostine, in particular, stiffened in her seat, her eyes widening as though she had been struck by lightning.
As a member of the Secret Art Society, she recognized that face.
After a brief silence, Irene was the first to speak. "But I heard that you... Sorry, I heard that you passed away from illness many years ago..."
Auffina also looked puzzled. She had never heard Paul mention that his mother was still alive.
Mariana stood perfectly straight, her voice calm. "I did not die. Back then, because the Church was hunting me, I had no choice but to leave Arda so that my family would not be implicated. The official story was that I had died of illness. It was meant to protect the Greiman family."
The Church's pursuit? Irene and Auffina immediately understood. As for Catherine, she had already learned Mariana's secret identity during her time with Paul.
Mariana paused, then looked at the women before her. "Yes, my true identity is that of a Witch. I am also a member of the Secret Art Society, just like Coleridge... and Frostine."
Her words caused the air to freeze. In most places, Witches were hunted down—at least, that had been the case in the past. The Secret Art Society was even more mysterious and dangerous.
Paul continued, "You are my wives, the most important people in this family. I should have