The method I chose to appease Aria was indeed straightforward: I would reveal the truth behind the engagement. If she understood the reality of the situation, perhaps she would empathize with my position.
“Confession? You want to confess something?”
The moment I mentioned the word “confession,” Aria’s face turned a deep shade of red.
“…?”
Although I was a bit puzzled, I calmly proceeded with my explanation.
The engagement to Bianca was not genuine but a result of intricate political negotiations driven by mutual interests.
“…..”
To my surprise, after hearing my explanation, Aria looked as if the sky had fallen. However, she soon composed herself and spoke with a seriousness I had not seen before.
“…Young Lord Cain, this may be quite presumptuous, but if it’s not too rude, may I say something to you?”
“…Uh, yes. It’s okay.”
Overwhelmed by Aria’s serious demeanor, I nodded without hesitation.
“I will speak as Aria, the exclusive mage of the Duchy of Estel and a disciple of Carol, rather than as your maid. Young Lord Cain, there is something dangerous about the current Marquis of Castana’s family.”
“…Isn’t that obvious? The Castana Marquis family has always been regarded as suspicious by the Estel Duchy. I haven’t been particularly nervous since I arrived.”
“No, I didn’t mean it that way.”
Aria waved her hand slightly, and—
Ugh—
A flow of mana, which could be considered the source of this world, appeared before my eyes.
“This…”
The sight was startling.
The strange flow of mana seemed to affect the entire Castana Marquis family, not just the room where Aria and I were staying. Even with my limited knowledge of magic, it was clear that this was no ordinary magical flow.
“I sensed it the moment I entered the Castana Marquis family’s estate. There’s an unusual flow of mana here that my current skills can’t easily grasp. It’s subtle, but it seems to influence specific emotions in people.”
“…influence specific emotions?”
I struggled to understand why such magic would be spread throughout the entire Castana Marquis family.
“I have only one thing to say. While staying at this place, Young Lord Cain may find it difficult to control his emotions. Even minor feelings might become exaggerated without your realizing it. So…”
As she spoke, Aria bit her lip tightly.
“Bianca del Castana. You mustn’t fall in love with that false fiancée. Absolutely not!”
“…..”
At Aria’s stern advice, I couldn’t help but smile. Her directness seemed somewhat unnecessary given my situation.
“…if that’s the case, I don’t think you need to worry too much. Because…”
Indeed, it was a very simple matter. It was clear that I would never fall in love with Bianca.
After all—
“There’s no way a woman like Bianca could truly love a man like me, is there?”
Bianca came from a powerful family, was stunningly beautiful, and had even become a renowned mage herself. In her eyes, a mere descendant of the ducal family like me would surely seem insignificant. Moreover, she was already promised to another man.
I recalled a conversation from our youth:
[Cain, just in case, if you subdue the witch that appeared in your estate and your dukedom is restored, what would you do first?]
[Why do you stick to such hypothetical scenarios? It’s ominous…]
[Oh, just answer quickly! Don’t keep me wondering!]
[Well, given my age, I should start with marriage. I can’t bear the thought of the Estel lineage ending with me.]
[Hehe, do you have a woman in mind?]
[My reputation may be tarnished, but there must be someone out there.]
[Hmm, by the way, Bianca, why are you so interested in others’ future plans?]
[Why are you suddenly interrupting my conversation with Cain? Is it because you’re of a different race and don’t understand human etiquette?]
[I’m still listening, so I can’t ignore it. Bianca, aren’t you also past the age of marriage?]
[You’re much older than us!]
[Lady Kyrie and Bianca, please calm down. Saintess, can’t you just observe and let them speak?]
[Hehe, compared to usual, I’m quite moderate. I don’t need to intervene. Good job, Cain.]
[Heh, you keep interrupting. And Kyrie, you should know that Bianca has promised her future to another. It’s on a different level from an old v!rgin like you who is centuries old.]
[Oh, that’s an interesting story. Must be an arranged marriage, right? Aristocrats often marry for political reasons.]
[It’s not like that. When I was young, I promised a certain person that we would be together as adults. It’s a sentiment someone like you would never understand.]
[So, I’m not alone. Never.]
Bianca had indeed said that there was a man who promised her a future. They had made such a promise in their youth.
Therefore, Bianca wouldn’t fall in love with me. Our relationship was always a pretense, and there was no chance for genuine affection between us.
So, Arya’s concerns were unfounded.
…Yes, maybe.
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