"Miss Wisdom." Fatenai was heading for her seat when Theretine, already seated beside it, nudged his chair back. A footman immediately pulled it out for him. Theretine stood and bowed slightly, placing his left hand over his right breast. It was a highly formal gesture in the Kingdom of Luther, and in this situation it showed that he was very taken with Fatenai. "It's a pleasure to see you."
Yet Fatenai couldn't read the meaning behind it. Even after the Duke of Wisdom's words earlier, Theretine's expression hadn't changed. He clearly knew he was supposed to marry her, and now he was being courteous, as if to win her favor...
Was he simply very taken with her, or did it mean something else?
Fatenai had no doubt it was the latter.
"I feel the same... Mr. Allennew." Fatenai paused for a moment, but her reply was as flawlessly measured as ever. She lifted her skirt slightly and curtsied, a faint blush rising on her face beneath the lamplight, making it seem as though she was just as taken with Theretine.
Only after rising from her curtsy did Fatenai take the opportunity to get a good look at her supposed fiancé. Theretine had short, golden hair, a dazzling color, but his handsome features were as unremarkable as a clear stream.
What stood out were Theretine's unusually beautiful deep blue eyes. Like the Duke of Wisdom's, they transformed his whole bearing, changing the impression he gave from merely handsome but ordinary to that of a gentle young nobleman.
Fatenai smiled at him again without a word, then sat down.
The Duke of Wisdom and Earl Allennew were conversing beside her. Fatenai had no intention of joining in, so she simply sat up straight and used her fork to transfer food from the tray a footman had brought to her plate.
"This is Godega Wild Boar from the Godega Highlands. They may be crude beasts, but their meat is exceptionally delicious. The Wisdom Family truly is the most powerful ducal family in the Kingdom of Luther. The sauce is rich, but it doesn't overwhelm the meat's flavor." Theretine's gentle voice rang out. When Fatenai turned, she saw him looking at her with a smile in his eyes as he spoke.
Fatenai paused, then smiled. "Is that so?"
"You should try some," Theretine said.
Was he genuinely hoping to share a delicious dish with her, or was there some hidden meaning? Looking at Theretine's warm, open smile, Fatenai felt she might be reading too much into it. But it was precisely that smile that made her unable to stop wondering.
Fatenai gave no sign that anything was amiss. Instead, she obediently brought the meat to her mouth. She ate with effortless grace, chewing and swallowing before dabbing the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "You're right. It's very good."
Her answer was perfectly judged: polite, but not overly eager.
"Back in my family's lands, there's another way of preparing it, and the scenery there is lovely, too... Speaking of flowers, the Durend Rose suits you very well. It's a clever and beautiful flower," Theretine added.
Fatenai smiled without replying. Theretine went on to tell her about the Godega Highlands. As she listened, her eyes occasionally lit up with delight, making her seem like a young girl falling in love for the first time, yet remaining reserved because of her status.
The Duchess Wisdom watched the scene. Her face was still pale from having fainted earlier, but there was a hint of joy in her pallor now.
The Duke of Wisdom and Earl Allennew both looked pleased, too.
"I didn't realize you two had so much to talk about," the Duchess Wisdom said with a smile as the dinner ended. Theretine had just finished telling Fatenai an amusing story from his family's lands. "Perhaps we should invite some guests over and hold a ball. Lonai hasn't had much contact with the other young ladies... It's time for her to be presented to His Majesty."
Being presented to His Majesty meant she could take part in society and marry.
"I'll leave it to Father and Mother to decide," Fatenai replied with a smile, as though she hadn't realized her mother was trying to create an opportunity for the two of them to spend time together.
Fatenai spoke with Theretine a little longer before lifting her skirt and returning to her room. Earl Allennew seemed to have called Theretine away; otherwise, he could have kept talking with Fatenai for a long time.
As she left, Fatenai glanced back and saw Theretine watching her. When he noticed her turn, he gave her a faint smile.
"Hah..." Fatenai opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it. She leaned against the back of it. She had lost count of how many times she'd taken a deep breath that day. She looked nothing like a young girl who had just met the person she loved. Her face was even paler, like that of someone bedridden with a long illness.
"Oh, Miss Wisdom, you're back?" Hermes was sitting on the table with his legs dangling as he greeted Fatenai. "You seemed pretty happy earlier. You don't like Mr. Allennew?"
"How would you know? Did you secretly follow me?" Fatenai frowned and roughly removed the ornaments from her hair. Her platinum-blonde hair fell down her back, reflecting her foul mood.
Hermes grinned. "Just a little trick. I can 'see' all sorts of things. What would you like to see right now, miss? A conversation between the Duke of Wisdom and Duchess Wisdom, or one between Earl Allennew and Theretine? Oh, I can't manage the latter."
"My father and mother?" Fatenai's thoughts were in a jumble. She answered Hermes automatically.
"Right. It's quite interesting, too." As he spoke, Hermes tossed a golden orb into the air. It floated there, and faint sounds came from within.
Fatenai was still thinking about other things. Hermes's words interrupted her thoughts, and the sounds drew her attention, but she felt a faint sense of unease.
"Your Grace... Lonai..."
"The Allennew Family is the only family Lonai can choose right now. Settle this before they spread the rumors to Godega..."
"Fatenai will agree. This is the only thing she can do for the family right now."
"How pitiful. She's become some kind of bargaining chip. Noble life really is awful... I doubt your father and mother would tolerate you refusing this marriage, would they? You're worth less than a few gold stones..."
Hermes was still engrossed in the orb floating in the air when Fatenai strode over and clamped a hand around it. The sudden, forceful movement sent something flying off her. Hermes was quick enough to catch it, and saw that it was a ring.
The Black Sparrow design on the ring was clearly visible.
"That's enough." Hermes froze and looked down at Fatenai's face. Her platinum-blonde hair concealed most of it, but what showed was so pale it left him speechless. She spoke softly, then let go, allowing the golden orb to fall into Hermes's hands. He stood there, stunned. Only when the orb hit the floor did he react. Flustered, he jumped down and picked it up, only to realize that the ring in his palm had somehow been taken back by Fatenai.
Fatenai tilted her face slightly and fixed her blue-violet eyes on Hermes. "What other tricks can you do, Mr. Hermes?"
For some reason, Fatenai's eyes at that moment reminded Hermes of some kind of beast. They were dangerous and unyielding.
"Hey, don't call me 'Mr.' That's too formal... Ahem." Hermes scratched his head. "My powers aren't that strong, and I don't have many tricks I can use... Besides, what kind of place is this? There's so little Mana here. I can't even use the simplest eavesdropping trick properly, let alone your skills as the 'Master'..."
"So you only know a few little tricks for playing pranks." Fatenai ignored his concerns and spoke bluntly.
"Aw, why put it like that? I'm aiming to become a master alchemist..." Hermes grimaced. "You were chatting away with Mr. Allennew at the dinner table. Why are you looking down on me so much?"
Fatenai's expression didn't change. Her hand clenched tighter and tighter. The ring's sharp edges cut into her palm, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Even so, don't let your little tricks show up in front of me again," she said at last. Then she turned and opened the door to let the maid in to change her clothes, no longer wanting to listen to Hermes prattle on.
Hermes tossed the golden orb in the air, looking a little hurt. "Aw, how can you not believe me? Who else can you trust right now besides me? Still, Miss Wisdom, I think marrying into the Allennew Family might make things easier for you!"
"But you need to be capable enough, and I don't even know where you came from," Fatenai said quietly after changing clothes, frowning slightly.
That child seemed no different from a mischievous kid, yet he'd been right about a lot of things.
She truly had no intention of marrying into the Allennew Family. But Theretine's attentions unsettled her, and her family's attitude left her feeling somewhat desperate.
Given the Duke of Wisdom's temperament, with the family's interests at stake, being an heir who couldn't use Mana would only make it harder for her to escape the marriage.
The more Fatenai thought about it, the more irritated she became. Her mind replayed every word Theretine had said that day.
Her fiancé's words brought her no sweet feelings at all. Other people might think of fragrant roses when talking about a flower garden, but all she could think of were the vipers lurking among the blossoms.
The Allennew Family had a hereditary count's fief, but they lacked the standing to match it. They needed a powerful ally, even if it was only a viscount's family with an ancient history.
What if that ally was the Wisdom Family? Even if Miss Wisdom was a "mediocrity" who couldn't use Mana, it wouldn't matter...
His kind words and lengthy explanations were just meant to give the "confused and helpless" her a good impression, so she'd obediently become a political bargaining chip...
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