Chapter 20

About ten days after Laila had her clothes tailored, Laila and Julius sat across from each other at a table, staring intently at a letter placed between them.

The sender of the letter was Julius's cousin, the eldest daughter of Isabella Bartsek.

"…I think I'll go to the party."

At Julius's words, Laila swallowed hard and nodded.

The sender, Anina Hilvi, had married into a count's family about two years ago. It seemed she had recently discovered she was pregnant, and the Bartsek family was planning a small party to celebrate.

The attendees would be mostly those related to the Bartsek family, around twenty people in total. The letter also expressed a strong desire for Julius to attend.

"Anina is a year older than me, but we trained in magic together as children. She has been sending me letters diligently even after getting married, so I want to attend this celebration, not just send a gift and a letter."

"…Yes."

Julius's words conveyed a firm resolve. For a noble, attending a family party with one's fiancée would be a matter of course. However, for Julius, who was prone to excessive magic and had a weak body, it would be quite a challenge.

(During the last ball, he would have had a magic overload if he hadn't met me…)

But with Laila by his side, he wouldn't need to store up magic or leave his seat to release it. This way, he could not only celebrate his cousin's pregnancy, which he had known since childhood, but also introduce Laila.

After glancing at the letter from Anina, Laila raised her head and nodded.

"Yes, of course. Please let me accompany you."

"Thank you. …It's a family gathering, so you don't have to be too nervous."

"Huh… Well, that's true, but…"

To Julius, it might be a family gathering, but unfortunately, for Laila, they were all members of the prestigious Bartsek family. Not only the family members but also Anina's in-laws and other relatives were all reportedly excellent mages. With Laila, who had no magic, it would be like introducing a foreign object.

Seeming to sense Laila's unease, Julius narrowed his eyes and shrugged.

"Don't worry about your lack of magic. Everyone knows about you, and no one will say anything bad. Besides, if there were such people, Aunt Isabella wouldn't let it slide."

"Is that so…"

Isabella was a great mage, rumored to be able to blow mountains away with a sneeze. There didn't seem to be anyone who would dare to say anything nasty to Julius, who was doted on by her, or to Laila, Julius's fiancée and the daughter of the Kilka Trading Company, with whom they had a unique partnership.

Laila, now convinced, relaxed, and Julius's cheeks softened in relief.

"Then I'll write back that both of us will attend. …Ah, right. This will be the second time I'll see you dressed up."

"Huh? …Oh, right. Since our first meeting."

The dress Laila had worn at that time was prepared by her parents. She had brought it along and stored it in her closet, but as Julius's fiancée, she should wear the dress he had given her.

Julius nodded and smiled softly.

"…I'm looking forward to seeing you dressed up. You'll surely be very beautiful."

"Thank you. I'll do my best to meet your expectations…"

"Sure, I'm looking forward to it. I'll also try to stand by your side without embarrassing you."

Julius said this enthusiastically, but Laila just smiled ambiguously, knowing she would have to do most of the effort.

---

The Bartsek family had several mansions in the capital, but their main residence was in a prime location, lined with the mansions of high-ranking nobles.

The area was vast, and it took a carriage to travel from the gate to the entrance of the mansion. To a commoner like Laila, the mansion that loomed ahead was as large as a castle. It made her realize just how modest and unassuming Julius's secondary residence was.

"Are you nervous?"

"…Quite a bit."

When Laila, who had gotten out of the carriage with Julius, answered honestly, a chuckle came from above.

Today, Julius was wearing a white formal suit for winter—though the jacket was fine, the pants were quite tight, so he had hurriedly asked the tailor to complete them early.

His hair, which had regained its luster, was tied at the nape of his neck, and his outfit was almost the same as the night they first met two months ago. However, he looked quite different in this attire.

(He's definitely more handsome…)

Thanks to the balanced meals prepared by Vernerli and the sweets made by Laila, as well as a good night's sleep, the dark circles under his eyes had completely disappeared, and his cheeks had filled out. His hands, which had once looked bony and veiny, now had some thickness. Laila didn't know this, but according to Julius, his ribs were no longer as prominent, and his abdomen had recovered to a slim, well-built state.

To avoid embarrassing herself standing next to him, Laila had spent the morning with Helka, taking care of her hair, skin, and makeup.

Her hair was pinned up and adorned with flowers that looked like real ones to disguise its shortness. She used white powder and blush, which she rarely used before her engagement, to highlight her fair skin and good complexion.

For the dress, she chose a light blue one from the ones Julius had given her (designed by Helka). The top was simple, with only delicate lace at the neckline and cuffs, but the overskirt was made with ample fabric to create an asymmetrical drape. The gaps in the drape revealed the white skirt underneath, creating a look like a clear autumn sky with a few clouds.

When Laila, helped by Helka, appeared in the living room in this dress, Julius gasped and said, "You're very beautiful," with a deep sense of appreciation. Laila was so elated that Vernerli had to scold her for being too excited.

As a future member of the Bartsek family, the stone on the pendant around Laila's neck bore the Bartsek family crest. The pendant, which Julius had put on her in the living room, made her feel encouraged to stand tall and be confident, naturally straightening her back.

Holding onto Julius's arm, Laila stepped into the entrance hall. Vernerli and Helka were waiting at the mansion, so she would have to do her best from here on.

In contrast to Laila's nervousness, Julius, perhaps feeling like he was returning home, greeted people he passed by enthusiastically, and they all quickly came over to greet him.

"Oh, Julius! You really look much better!"

"It's been a while, Aunt. I've recovered thanks to my fiancée, Laila."

"Nice to meet you. I am Laila Kilka."

"Wow, so this is Julius's fiancée? You're really a non-mage."

"I'm a non-mage, but thanks to her constitution, I've been able to stay healthy."

"Really? …Ah, I'm Henry, Julius's cousin. Nice to meet you, fiancée."

"Yes, nice to meet you, Henry-sama."

"…Hey, it's been a while, Estelle. You're fourteen now, right?"

"Wow, it really is Julius-niisama! Ah, is that your fiancée?"

"Nice to meet you, I am Laila Kilka."

"Yeah, nice to meet you! Julius-niisama, you look so handsome! Hey, can I brag about you to my friends next time?"

"Hehe…not too much, please."

There were supposed to be about twenty attendees today, and they were all friendly. Laila, standing next to Julius, was more surprised by the repeated greetings.

(They're all really nice people… I thought noble families would be more formal.)

As they headed towards the hall, Laila recognized a middle-aged woman and a young woman she didn't know in the back.

(Ah, that's Isabella-sama. The one next to her must be Anina-sama.)

Laila's guess was correct, and Julius walked straight to them, bowing with Laila.