A Viper Lurking Behind the Conversation

"Miss Wisdom." Fatenai was walking toward her seat when Theretine, in the adjacent chair, pushed his back slightly. A manservant immediately stepped in to pull it out for him. He stood up, placed his left hand over his right chest, and bowed slightly—a very formal etiquette in the Kingdom of Luther, used here to show he held Fatenai in high regard. "It's a pleasure to see you."

Yet, in Fatenai's eyes, the gesture held an inexplicable meaning. Given the words Duke Wisdom had just spoken, Theretine's expression remained unchanged. It was clear he was well aware of the marriage arrangement, so this show of courtesy felt like a calculated move.

Was he truly fond of her, or was there another motive?

Fatenai undoubtedly believed the latter.

"The pleasure is mine... Mr. Allennew." Fatenai paused, her response as flawless as ever. She lifted her skirt slightly and curtsied, a faint blush appearing on her face under the lights, making her look as though she were quite taken with him.

As she rose from her curtsy, Fatenai took this opportunity to get a good look at her so-called fiancé. Theretine had short, golden hair—a dazzling color—yet his delicate face was as plain as a clear stream.

What was worth noting were Theretine's surprisingly beautiful azure eyes. Much like Duke Wisdom's, they gave his temperament a distinct shift, transforming him from a plain, delicate youth into the image of a gentle young nobleman.

Fatenai smiled at him again, said nothing, and took her seat.

The conversation between Duke Wisdom and Earl Allennew drifted into her ears. Fatenai had no intention of joining in; she simply sat up straight, used her fork to pick up the food from the tray the manservant offered, and placed it on her plate.

"This is Godega Wild Boar from the Godega Highlands. Though they are rough creatures, the meat is exceptionally delicious. The Wisdom Family is truly the most prosperous ducal house in the Kingdom of Luther; the sauce, while rich, never masks the meat's natural flavor." Theretine's gentle voice sounded. When Fatenai turned, she saw him looking at her with a smile in the corners of his eyes.

Fatenai was startled, then smiled. "Is that so?"

"You should try it," Theretine said to her.

Was he truly trying to share a meal with her, or was there a hidden meaning? Fatenai looked at Theretine's gentle, open smile and felt she might be overthinking things, yet it was precisely this smile that forced her to be suspicious.

Fatenai showed no sign of her inner turmoil. Instead, she obediently brought the meat to her lips, moving with elegance and composure. After a moment of chewing and swallowing, she wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin and praised, "It is indeed. Very good."

Her response was impeccable—polite, yet not overly eager.

"Actually, our family's territory has a different way of preparing it, and it's quite beautiful there as well... Speaking of which, the Durend Rose suits you perfectly. It is a flower that is both clever and beautiful," Theretine added.

Fatenai smiled without a word. Theretine continued to tell her about things in the Godega Highlands. As she listened, flashes of surprise appeared in her eyes, making her look like a young girl who had just discovered love but was holding back due to her status.

Duchess Wisdom watched this scene unfold. Because of her recent fainting spell, her face remained pale, but now that pallor was tinged with joy.

Both Duke Wisdom and Earl Allennew wore expressions of satisfaction.

"I didn't expect you two to have so much to talk about," the Duchess said with a smile as the dinner concluded, just after Theretine finished telling Fatenai an amusing story from his family's territory. "It seems we could invite some guests for a ball. Lonai hasn't had much contact with other young ladies yet... It's time for her to be presented to His Majesty."

An audience with His Majesty meant she would be entering the social scene and marriage market.

"I will follow Father and Mother's wishes," Fatenai smiled, as if she hadn't realized her mother was creating opportunities for them to be alone.

Fatenai spoke with Theretine a little longer before lifting her skirt to return to her room—Theretine seemed to have been called away by Earl Allennew, otherwise, he would have had much more to say to her.

As she left, Fatenai glanced back and saw Theretine watching her go. When he saw her turn, he offered a faint smile.

"Haa..." She pushed the door shut and leaned against it. She didn't know how many times she had taken a deep breath today. She looked nothing like a young girl who had met her sweetheart; her face was even paler, like someone who had been bedridden for a long time.

"Yo, Miss Wisdom, you're back?" Hermes was sitting on the table, his feet dangling in the air, greeting Fatenai. "You looked quite happy just now. Do you not like that Mr. Allennew?"

"How would you know? Were you sneaking after me?" Fatenai frowned, rudely pulling the hair accessories from her head. Her platinum-blonde hair cascaded down her back, highlighting her foul mood.

Hermes grinned. "Just a small skill. I can 'see' many things. What would you like to see now, Miss? The conversation between Duke and Duchess Wisdom, or the dialogue between Earl Allennew and Theretine? Oh, I can't do the latter."

"Father and Mother?" Fatenai's mind was a mess; she had answered Hermes's question subconsciously.

"That's right, it's quite interesting." As Hermes said this, he tossed a golden ball into the air. It floated, and faint sounds began to emanate from within it.

Fatenai was still thinking about other things, but at Hermes's words, her train of thought was interrupted, and she was drawn to the sound. Yet, a vague sense of panic began to rise in her.

"Duke... Lonai, she..."

"The Allennew Family is the only one Lonai can choose right now. We must settle this before they spread the rumors to Godega..."

"Fatenai will be willing. This is the only thing she can do for the family at this time."

"How pitiful, becoming an inexplicable trade item. The lives of nobles are truly terrible. In my opinion, your father and mother won't tolerate you refusing this marriage, will they? You're worth less than a few gold stones..."

Hermes was still enthusiastically watching the ball floating in the air when he saw Fatenai stride over and snatch the yellow sphere. The force of her movement caused something to fly from her person. Hermes, quick-witted, caught it and realized it was a ring.

The Black Sparrow crest on the ring was clearly visible.

"Enough." Hermes froze. He looked down at Fatenai's face—a face hidden by platinum hair, pale enough to leave one speechless. She said softly, then let go, allowing the golden ball to fall toward Hermes's hand. Hermes stood stunned. It wasn't until the ball hit the floor that he reacted, scrambling to pick it up, only to realize the ring in his palm had been snatched back by Fatenai at some point.

Fatenai tilted her head, her violet-blue eyes fixed on Hermes. "What other skills do you have, Mr. Hermes?"

For some reason, Hermes felt that at this moment, Fatenai's gaze was like that of some beast—dangerous and cold.

"Hey, don't call me 'Mr.', it's too formal... Cough." Hermes scratched his hair. "My abilities aren't strong, and I don't have many usable skills... Besides, what kind of place is this? The Mana is so thin that even the simplest eavesdropping skill can't be used properly, let alone the techniques you possess as a 'Master'..."

"In other words, you only know a few mischievous parlor tricks." Fatenai skipped over his concerns and said bluntly.

"Ahe, how can you say that? I aspire to be a master alchemist..." Hermes pained his face. "You were laughing and chatting with that Mr. Allennew at the dinner table, how can you look down on me like this?"

Fatenai's expression didn't change. Her hand tightened, and she didn't even feel the sharp edges of the ring piercing her palm.

"Even so, don't let your little tricks appear in front of me again," she said finally. She turned to open the door, letting the maid in to help her change, not wanting to deal with Hermes's prattling any longer.

Hermes felt a bit aggrieved as he tossed his golden ball in place. "Sigh, how can you not believe me? Besides me, who else can you trust right now? But I think, Miss Wisdom, marrying into the Allennew Family might actually be quite relaxing!"

"But you need to have the capability, and I don't even know your origins," Fatenai said in a low voice to Hermes after changing, frowning slightly.

She always felt that the boy looked no different from any other mischievous child, yet he had hit the nail on the head regarding many things.

She truly had no intention of marrying into the Allennew Family, yet Theretine's attentiveness terrified her, and her family's attitude left her feeling somewhat desperate.

Given Duke Wisdom's personality, in the face of family interests, her status as a family heir who couldn't use Mana would only make it harder for her to escape this marriage.

The more Fatenai thought, the more irritable she became. Every word Theretine had said today flashed through her mind.

Her fiancé's words wouldn't bring her any sense of sweetness—others might think of fragrant roses when discussing a garden, but she could only think of the vipers hidden within the flowers.

Although the Allennew Family held a hereditary earldom, they lacked the corresponding noble reputation. They needed a powerful ally, even if it were only a viscount family with an ancient history.

What if that ally was the Wisdom Family? Even if this Miss Wisdom was a "mediocre person" who couldn't use Mana, it didn't matter...

Saying sweet things and introducing so much to her was merely to give her, the "lost and helpless" girl, a good impression, so she would obediently become this political bargaining chip...