Chapter 4

Laila Kilka, who had been proposed to by a man she had met for less than a minute, was in a great dilemma.

"I-I'm in a difficult position!"

"Why?"

"Because, suddenly getting married... "

"But I'm sure you were just told that your engagement was broken off at the venue. That means you're free now. So, don't I have the right to propose to you?"

The man, who had been taciturn until now, attacked her with a fluent syllogism, but this was not the kind of conversation she wanted to have.

"W-Well, that's true, but..."

"I also have a bit of status. I can give you a more comfortable life than that smirking man."

"Smirking... You mean Joachim? Well, that's fine, but..."

Even if Laila, who was anxious about marriage, couldn't immediately say "Yes, I understand" to a man she had only met for about two minutes, and who looked quite terrifying.

(B-But I can't say, "You look like a ghost and scare me"... Alright!)

"Um... I'm very flattered, but when it comes to marriage, we need the approval of both families, don't we? I don't know what you see in me, but it shouldn't be your decision alone. First, we need the approval of your family."

As she spoke, she praised herself for the clever way she had turned him down.

The young man had probably proposed to Laila on a whim, so if she asked, "What do your family think?" he would surely come to his senses.

The young man blinked and finally released Laila, but then gently took her right hand.

She shuddered at the grip of his large, bony hand, which felt almost no flesh, but it wasn't as rough as Joachim's, so she was a bit confused.

"...I fell in love with you at third sight."

"...What?"

"And about the family's approval. Come with me for a moment."

With that, the young man pulled Laila's right hand.

It was clear that he was heading for the venue.

(What, but in this state?)

"Um... "

"Yes?"

"Your hand..."

"Hand? ...Oh, I see."

The young man stopped, seemed to understand, released Laila's right hand, and took her left hand.

(No, that's not it!)

But before Laila could interject, the young man walked briskly and eventually returned to the venue.

Until then, they had been in dimly lit corridors and balconies, so the chandelier's light in the venue stabbed her eyes.

Then, Laila heard the guests whispering as they looked at them.

--Is that the "Ghost Mage"?

--It is. But the woman he's holding, wasn't she just dumped?

--What's going on?

--What's going on?

The voices that came in waves were not at all favorable to Laila. While it was fine that Laila had been dumped, the young man was apparently called the "Ghost Mage."

(He does look gaunt and ghostly... but do they have to say it so loudly?)

Looking up at the young man, she wondered if he couldn't hear the voices or simply didn't care, as he walked steadily with a blank expression.

Surely, his destination was his parents. Laila followed, but a bad feeling was growing.

The young man walked straight ahead, ignoring his surroundings, as if he were looking for his family.

There, in the venue, was—

"...Aunt."

The young man called out.

The one who responded was a middle-aged woman sitting alone on a sofa at the back of the venue, surrounded by a crowd of nobles. The people around her were all middle-aged men and women with an air of authority.

Laila knew who she was.

Because she was the one who had greeted everyone as the host at the beginning of the evening.

The woman, dressed in a cobalt blue dress like a bright night sky, looked up at the young man and Laila, blinked her long lashes, and stood up.

"Oh... What's the matter, Julius? ...Who is this lady?"

"I just proposed to this lady."

The moment the young man, called Julius, bluntly stated this, the nobles surrounding the woman murmured and looked at Laila and Julius with shock.

"What!? Lord Julius!?"

"Lord Isabella, what will you do?"

Asked by everyone, the middle-aged woman called Isabella tilted her head.

The very cute gesture suited her petite and delicate appearance, but Laila knew that she was not a gentle noblewoman.

Isabella Bartsek.

The head of the prestigious Bartsek family of mages, a board member of the Rendia Kingdom's Magic Research Institute, and one of the top five great mages in the Rendia Kingdom.

Despite her small and refined appearance, she had ridden a horse into battle in her youth and brought a hundred enemy soldiers to their knees in an instant. Even now, it was said that she could send a towering man flying into the sky with a flick of her finger or burn down a mansion to ashes in a moment.

Despite such ominous legends, Isabella was basically a friendly and sociable person. She often hosted events for young people and established schools to teach magic to common children, making her popular in the kingdom. The king also relied heavily on her.

(Come to think of it, I heard that Lady Isabella has a nephew in addition to her children...)

Her brother had recently passed away, but she had a nephew whom she had adopted as a foster child over a decade ago and doted on as an aunt.

Moreover, from the conversation, it seemed that this great female mage's beloved nephew was the man holding Laila's hand, Julius.

He had said he had "a bit of status," but it was far more than that.

To be adopted into the Bartsek family, he must be an excellent mage, and being doted on by Isabella made him an extraordinary catch.

(No way, he's such a person... Ah!)

Laila, who was sweating profusely and stiff with fear, trembled as she was stared at by Isabella. She instinctively gripped Julius's hand, but he didn't look displeased and even squeezed her hand gently to comfort her.

"...What's your name?"

"I-I'm Laila Kilka, daughter of the Kilka Trading Company! Thank you for inviting me tonight!"

"Kilka... Could you be the one who was causing a commotion in the corner earlier?"

At Isabella's murmur, Laila thought she might vomit blood on the spot.

She had indeed been involved in that commotion, but she considered herself more of a victim. However, she had indeed caused trouble at the Bartsek family's evening party, and if Isabella punished her, no one would complain.

(Father, Mother... I'm sorry. I might die tonight.)

Laila, whose soul was about to leave her body, and Julius, who silently stared at her, and the murmuring nobles were all observed by Isabella, who then sat down on the sofa and took a sip of wine.

"...So. Laila Kilka, come here."

"Y-Yes..."

"Don't worry. I won't kill you right away, so don't look so scared."

Her inner thoughts had been exposed. She might really be killed.

Julius supported the wobbly Laila and led her to his aunt. When Laila, prompted by Julius, extended her hand, Isabella's cool hand touched it, making her shudder slightly.

"...Hmm, I see. I understand... Julius, is that what you mean?"

"That's what I mean."

"So, you proposed to her?"

"Yes, I fell in love with her at third sight."

"I see."

Please don't finish the conversation just between the two of you.

Eventually, Isabella released Laila's hand, took another sip of wine, and spoke.

"Very well. Get married."

Laila's heart screamed, "No way!"

"Thank you, Aunt."

"However, it's too sudden for her, and I've surprised her. ...Miss Laila Kilka."

"Y-Yes!?"

"I have no objections to my nephew proposing to you. However, I haven't heard your opinion yet... I won't ask for an immediate answer. I'll write a letter later, and you can take your time to discuss it with your family."

Laila's eyes almost rolled back at Isabella's gentle tone.

Someone of Isabella's stature could have said, "Since my nephew says so, you must marry him. If you refuse, your life is at risk," and no one would have complained.

But she gave Laila, a mere merchant's daughter, time to consider.

(Now, I can't possibly say "No"...)

There were various reasons to be anxious about the match, but her desire to get married quickly was genuine. It was unthinkable for a non-mage commoner to marry into a prestigious mage family, but Isabella must have some ulterior motive.

(If that's the case, my response should be...)

"...Understood. I am deeply grateful for Lady Isabella's consideration."

"Thank you. I look forward to a favorable response."

Isabella smiled, but Laila found her smile somewhat frightening.