“Do you really have to marry him? Why him of all people? There are so many other good men.”
When Asmof announced her engagement to Gilford long ago, Emperor Rudvalt did not support her decision.
Of course, his concerns were valid. Asmof was the emperor’s right hand, the head of the alchemists, and a hero called the Great Mage. In contrast, Gilford had nothing—no connections, no notable background, and was an orphan of unclear origins.
“I don’t really know him. We haven’t known each other for long. How can I trust him?”
Akali, too, opposed the marriage. She expressed suspicion about the series of coincidental meetings and wondered if Gilford had some hidden motive.
“Captain, please reconsider. That man… there’s something cold about his gaze.”
Noah, her most cherished subordinate, also kept a wary eye on Gilford.
Of course, they all spoke out of concern for Asmof. But there was something they had forgotten.
All their warnings and doubts were the same words they had spoken when they had decided to stay by Asmof’s side.
She had been like that once too—an orphan, a stranger. Her noble friends had long since forgotten that fact.
“Everyone thinks you’re invincible.”
“-That’s because I’m the Great Mage.”
“Great Mage… then allow me to speak boldly to you, Great Mage. No matter how powerful your magic is, you are still only human. Humans die far more easily than they appear. So please, be careful.”
Everyone worried that she was rushing into marriage. Yet, in reality, she had waited quite a long time. Meeting Gilford and falling in love hadn’t even taken the time it would take to drink a cup of tea.
Her friends and subordinates loved her, but none of them truly understood the weight of being called the Great Mage that rested on her shoulders. She was strong, a genius, and, in a sense, a monster.
“Only Gilford saw me as human.”
Gilford was the first and last person to acknowledge the vulnerability within her. He was the only one in the world to whom she could reveal her most tender, unguarded heart.
Ultimately, Asmof defied everyone’s objections and married a man who had nothing, and she enjoyed a happy marriage—and even had a child.
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, those years became the happiest and most precious in her life.
“You’re always writing letters.”
At the palace, after dealing with irritating humans and returning home, there was always her husband, waiting patiently.
Karia mimicked a gentle tone she had never used in her life and approached Gilford, who welcomed her with a soft smile.
“I’m sending greetings to a friend far away.”
“You have too many friends.”
She had learned how to throw little fits because of him. Before, she had always pursued the truths of a vast world, but the more time she spent with him, the more she became interested in the small things she hadn’t noticed. Everything around her brought her happiness.
“Write one to me too.”
“We’re always together. There’s no need to write a letter when words will do.”
“-Then, if we are far apart, would you write to me?”
Gilford smiled and said that wouldn’t happen. And indeed, it shouldn’t.
“Gilford, where are you right now? If you remember me, please write a letter.”
She watched Gilford’s face blur, realizing it was just a dream. She had wanted to see him even a little longer, but her damn consciousness sharpened, and light flooded her vision.
When she finally woke from the nap, she gasped in surprise. The face she had only seen in her dreams was now vividly before her eyes.
“Would you like to receive a letter?”
Karia, who had instinctively reached out, snapped back to reality at the playful voice.
It wasn’t Gilford. It was Noah, captain of the Black Night Mercenaries.
Karia glanced around with tired eyes. She had dozed off in the office of her townhouse, and it seemed she had slept more deeply than she thought. The sky outside was already tinged with red.
“I was going to wait because you were sleeping, but it’s getting late. Do you have a request?”
“Ah.”
Karia washed her face to shake off the remnants of sleep and stood. She asked a maid to bring her outerwear for going out.
She had planned to go out in the afternoon but had been lost in her dream for too long.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. If it’s okay, we can discuss it while I go out.”
“That’s fine. I’ve already had tea anyway.”
He smiled at the butler standing at the door, who returned the gesture politely.
“How do you feel about living alone?”
“Comfortable. The staff are capable, and the Black Night mercenaries are skilled at security. And they’re quite proper for mercenaries. Like knights pretending to be mercenaries, perhaps. The wages aren’t wasted.”
Noah responded with a peculiar smile, offering no defense to her sharp assessment.
“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”
“Still, even after buying a house and walking around with mercenaries, rumors spread slower than expected. That’s why I called you.”
Karia had spent a week diligently visiting various places in the capital: dress shops, jewelry stores, furniture stores, cafes, galleries, auction houses, even opera theaters—the places nobles frequented.
Yet, rumors about the Pandeon Duke couple’s discord didn’t spread as quickly as she had hoped.
Even Alcard, whom she ran into by chance that afternoon, had a completely surprised expression when she mentioned divorce.
It seemed likely that someone was controlling the flow of gossip—whether the Pandeon Dukes, the Grand Duke’s family, or both.
“The Black Night specializes in collecting gossip. Spreading it should be easy, right?”
“Shall I widely spread the news of their divorce?”
“That’s fine, but… for gossip to spread aggressively, it needs to be more sensational.”
Karia paused, thinking. There are limits to artificially spreading rumors. If the momentum breaks midway, interest dies, and the gossip dies with it.
To prevent that, she needed to create a rumor people couldn’t help but talk about.
Her lips curved into a wicked smile as her plan formed.
“How about: ‘The Duke of Pandeon had an affair’?”
“Did that bastard really cheat?!”
Noah shouted as soon as she finished speaking. Karia turned in surprise, and seeing he may have gone too far, he quickly turned his head and coughed awkwardly.
“Well, it’s not certain, but maybe… and if not, what then?”
“What do you mean ‘if not’?”
“My husband has a rather handsome face, so he’s quite popular. Meanwhile, I was always cooped up in the mansion, so no threat there. If this story spreads, I’m sure several women would be willing to claim to be his mistress.”
Being underestimated had its benefits, Karia thought with a dark chuckle. If a real mistress appeared, she could use it to her advantage; if not, people would naturally be curious about Karia’s actions anyway.
“After all, he’s the type who wouldn’t avoid a one-night mistake.”
After that humiliating night and the embarrassed morning, Karia could never forget that day.
He now claimed he didn’t want children—was that something he decided alone and just notified her?
Although it was fortunate that there were no children yet, Karia would never forget his expression and voice that day.
“What a bastard, worse than I thought—.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Never mind if you didn’t hear it.”
Karia muttered the words in a low, deadly tone and continued walking, giving them little importance.
She paused briefly. Hundreds of steps lay before her.
They were standing at the central staircase leading to the main entrance. It was less steep than the Pandeon stairs where she had fallen, but still high enough to be dangerous if she misstepped.
‘Come to think of it, I rolled down the stairs and regained my past life memories.’
Her eyes slowly turned to Noah, standing beside her.
‘Wouldn’t others do the same?’
Karia suddenly closed her mouth and stared at him. Reflexively, Noah smiled.
She didn’t respond, keeping her gaze locked on him, and the intensity made Noah’s face flush and cold sweat run down his back.
“W-Why are you staring at me like that?”
As he stammered, Karia slowly extended her hand. Her white, long fingers, once pretty in her eyes, now resembled a spider’s web.
It was likely because her gaze looked like a predatory spider hunting its prey.
Instinctively sensing danger, Noah debated countless times whether to move before her fingers reached him.
“-Your clothes are a little messy.”
“Th-Thank you.”
When her fingertips finally touched him, her demeanor softened. She casually straightened his clothes, as if that had been her intention all along. Noah only relaxed after her hand left him.
