~Chapter 114~
IF Side Story 3
Aisel and Sawyer’s Engagement Ceremony
“How about this one, Marquis Pereshte?”
“Hmm…”
Diana tilted her head slightly.
“Then… what about this?”
Countess Poisson, the empire’s most popular designer, laid out silks and many kinds of fabric on the table. She swallowed nervously.
“Hm…”
But again, Diana’s reaction was unsatisfied.
Countess Poisson, looking tense, quickly pulled out another pamphlet.
“Then please take a look at this one, my Lady Marquis.”
Other nobles had told her Diana was gentle and kind.
Before marriage, she had even been called the Saint of Pereshte.
And indeed, Diana was usually not picky.
But today was different.
“Elegant yet refined, cute yet mature, neat but also splendid—without being too much…”
Smiling like an angel, Diana asked:
“Is there no design like that?”
Countess Poisson froze, unable to answer.
“I’ll… think of something better, Marquis.”
“Thank you. It’s just that…”
Diana blushed softly, embarrassed.
“It’s my only daughter’s engagement ceremony.”
Preparations for Aisel’s engagement were in full swing at the Pereshte estate.
After Countess Poisson left, Aisel came inside.
“Mother!”
“Yes, Aisel.”
“Did you meet with Countess Poisson?”
Her eyes moved to the pile of pamphlets on the table.
“Yes, but… none of them seem right. I can’t find a dress worthy of my most precious, most lovable daughter.”
“Oh, anything you choose will be fine with me, Mother.”
“Aisel, why don’t you try choosing one?”
“Hmm…”
She slowly looked through the pamphlets Diana handed her. Then her eyes lit up with an idea.
“Mother, I just thought of something!”
“What is it?”
“What if we used our magic?”
“Magic?”
“Yes. Very few nobles are born with mana. And since it’s so rare, people hardly ever see it with their own eyes.”
Diana stroked her daughter’s hair lovingly.
“Yes, that’s why magic festivals are still so popular.”
“Exactly! So let’s use it for the dress.”
“You mean the ice crystals we can make.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
Excited, Aisel went on.
“Ice crystals with mana sparkle brighter than diamonds. It will definitely look beautiful. If we make matching outfits for Duke and Duchess Iberk too, they’ll surely love it.”
“Oh my…”
How could she be so creative?
Even though Diana hadn’t been able to give her much love in childhood, she had grown up this wise.
She could only feel grateful.
“You’re such a beautiful soul.”
“It’s because I take after you, Mother.”
Aisel smiled brightly, then kept chattering.
“And another thought. What if we use the gift money from the ceremony to build an orphanage?”
“Of course you can. How did you come up with such a wonderful idea?”
“Until now I only thought about revenge. I forgot about my friends who suffered with me at the orphanage.”
Hearing such words, Diana’s lips parted slightly.
“I’m sorry, Aisel. I should have thought of that first, as the adult.”
“No, it’s okay. You were so busy, Mother. Now that everything is over, I just want to take care of the people around me too.”
“…My precious daughter.”
Unable to hold back, Diana hugged her tightly.
“You’re so wonderful.”
She regretted not sharing her childhood more than ever.
“Hehe.”
Aisel happily listened to the sound of her mother’s heartbeat.
Thump-thump.
It reminded her of when she was still inside her womb.
“Since you mentioned it, why don’t we visit your orphanage today? Not the one where I found you, but the original one.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. The one you found me at was where I stayed briefly after escaping here. My real childhood was at another place.”
Aisel smiled brightly at Diana.
There was no shadow on her face—only pure light.
“Then let’s—”
“Mother.”
Just as Diana rose, Aisel gently interrupted.
“Could I go alone?”
“Alone?”
“Yes. I even earned my intermediate mage qualification. I’m officially a Tower mage now.”
“Hmm…”
“I can handle it. Please?”
Her emerald eyes sparkled like stars.
Diana looked at her slowly.
Her daughter was so thoughtful—she surely had something she wanted to hide.
In the end, Diana pretended not to notice and nodded.
“Then at least take a few knights with you.”
“Of course! Thank you, Mother!”
Aisel kissed Diana’s cheek and skipped out happily.
But once the door closed, her face hardened cold.
The head of the orphanage where she lived until age ten—was filth.
He had worked hand-in-hand with Alicia.
“Those who sin must be punished.”
She whispered quietly, then stepped outside the estate.
Just as she was about to board the carriage, someone tapped her shoulder.
“Hmm?”
She turned quickly.
Before her stood Sawyer, the Iberk heir, smiling gently.
“Sawyer!”
“Where are you going, Aisel?”
“Ah, just… somewhere.”
Her cheeks flushed red with shyness.
Their relationship had begun because of Catherine, but now it was different.
Quiet but considerate, and always sincere—Aisel had come to love him truly.
“If I won’t be a bother, may I go with you?”
Sawyer felt the same.
Unlike other nobles his age, she was pure—and very much like him.
The more he knew about her, the more he was drawn in.
“It’s not a good place…”
Aisel trailed off.
She was planning to cause an uproar, to rescue her friends and punish the cruel director.
But she couldn’t let Sawyer see that side of her.
‘He doesn’t yet know the real me.’
Back then, she had acted weak before him to make Catherine look bad.
So perhaps the girl Sawyer loved wasn’t her true self.
Yet Sawyer said softly:
“Any place with you can’t be bad.”
“…Actually, it’s the orphanage where I lived until I was ten.”
Later, after everything was finished, Diana and Aisel told Duke Iberk’s wife, Serena, and Sawyer the whole story.
Thankfully, they only grew angry at Calypso, Alicia, and Catherine—but didn’t change their feelings.
“The orphanage?”
“Yes.”
“Then I have even less reason not to go.”
“…Hmm.”
Sawyer smiled brightly at her.
“…Alright then.”
Yes, she thought, it was time to show her true self.
Following her mother’s teaching that every life is precious, but that those who sin must face punishment—
That was her belief.
And since they were to marry, she couldn’t hide it forever.
At last, Aisel nodded slowly.
