Chapter 6: This Makes No Sense
‘What is with this woman?’
Damian looked up at Aracila standing on the podium, feeling utterly dumbfounded.
He never expected the marriage announcement to be so sudden and shockingly bold. And he certainly didn’t expect Aracila to be the one to say it.
He was sure they would have made him do it…
Dressed in a gown that looked like a rose in full bloom, she stood there, dazzling with her beauty and smiling brightly.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, but that wasn’t the only reason people were staring at her in a daze.
‘The Eccentric Sorceress.’
Damian repeated her nickname in his mind and let out a chuckle.
It was as if she couldn’t see how stunned everyone was, as Aracila continued her speech without missing a beat.
“I’m far too busy and talented a sorceress to go around telling each of you individually, so I decided to announce it like this. I hope you all join me in celebrating this joyous occasion between the House of Duke Vandemir, the House of Marquess Hugo, and myself. Now then, I’ll be taking my leave.”
With confident strides, Aracila descended from the podium, heading straight for Damian.
“Well? With this, there’s no way out of it now, right?”
She looked up at him with a proud smile, and Damian let out a hollow laugh.
Indeed, this was an announcement that not even the House of Vandemir could take back. After all, it wasn’t Damian who said it—it was Aracila.
Moreover, for the sake of their daughter’s honor, the House of Marquess Hugo would now insist on the marriage without compromise.
“You don’t seem concerned about your reputation, my lady.”
“Why should I be swayed by idle gossip?”
“As bold and unpredictable as any sorceress, I see.”
Damian’s comment referred to the common stereotype of sorcerers, which was widely accepted by society. Aracila merely shrugged in response.
“If you’re upset because I stole your chance to act like a man just now, then I must apologize.”
But her face showed not a trace of regret.
“I don’t mind. And if I had acted, I would have done so as a knight.”
“Oh dear, how will you live with the shame of being outdone by a sorceress?”
“Let’s just say I was being chivalrous.”
Damian placed a hand over his chest, bowed politely, and walked away.
The person who filled the space he left behind was Paula. With a slightly flushed face, she grabbed her friend’s shoulders.
“Aracila, since when did you plan this outrageous announcement?”
“Since I decided to get married.”
“Wow, Aracila Hugo, you really are something else. And clearly, I’m not the only one who’s shocked.”
Paula was used to Aracila’s sudden and unpredictable actions, so she merely shrugged.
Just as Paula said, the hall was buzzing with people murmuring in shock.
It seemed even more dramatic because the stars of this sudden marriage announcement were the Eccentric Sorceress and the Ruthless Knight.
“For my wedding, do you want to catch my bouquet?”
Having achieved her goal, Aracila didn’t seem to care about the crowd’s reactions.
“Of course! It’s tradition for the closest friend to catch it, and I’m planning to get married someday too.”
Although her fiancé wasn’t present at the event, Paula already had an arranged marriage decided by her family.
They’d been engaged for over ten years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they were to marry at any moment.
“…Aracila.”
At that moment, a low, strained voice called her name. It was Frederick, his face deathly pale.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Just the two of us.”
Frederick glanced uneasily at Paula, who waved her hand, signaling them to go ahead.
The two of them walked out to the garden beyond the banquet hall. Under the quiet night sky and pale moonlight, they faced each other beneath the pergola.
“Thanks, Frederick. Because of you, I was able to announce my marriage in front of everyone.”
Still unaware of how serious Frederick’s expression was, Aracila offered her thanks cheerfully.
Frederick’s lips trembled. Under the moonlight, his deeply shocked face was more clearly revealed.
“…Are you really marrying Lord Vandemir?”
“Hm? Yeah.”
“Why…? He’s a knight. When did you two even get close?”
His voice was filled with disbelief. Aracila clasped her hands behind her back and answered nonchalantly.
“Not long ago. They say love comes like destiny, right?”
“Love? Destiny…?”
Frederick let out a hollow laugh, sounding almost deranged. Aracila tilted her head, puzzled by his strange reaction.
“…You were always against marriage.”
“Yeah, but he changed my mind.”
Strictly speaking, it was the prophetic dream that changed her mind, but she hadn’t told anyone about her ability yet.
‘People would think I’m crazy if they knew.’
So she always covered it up with excuses and her magical talents.
“…Do you remember, Aracila?”
Frederick’s voice was strained as he barely managed to calm himself down. His crimson eyes glistened sorrowfully through the golden hair that fell over his face.
“We promised to marry each other if we were still single at forty. I… I still remember that promise…”
“When did I say that? I don’t remember making any such promise.”
“……”
At Aracila’s puzzled response, Frederick’s face crumbled in despair.
For a moment, he was speechless, then managed to force out his words.
“I… I said it, and you agreed… You said okay…”
“Really? I must’ve been out of my mind. What kind of joke was that?”
Aracila had been a staunch believer in staying single since her early academy days. She must have been even more naïve back when she made that joke.
“Honestly, I think being a knight’s wife would be better than being a crown princess. It’s a lot more liberating.”
“……”
“Oh, not that there’s anything wrong with you. But it’s not like we’ve ever seen each other as more than friends.”
To Aracila, Frederick was just as comfortable and good a friend as Paula.
She remembered from her prophetic dream that he would help her someday, and so she smiled at him kindly.
But what Frederick wanted wasn’t mere friendship…
“So… that promise only meant something to me…”
“Hm? What did you say?”
Muttering gloomily, Frederick clenched his fists and turned away, almost fleeing.
“Hey? Frederick!”
Aracila watched in bewilderment as her friend left without even saying goodbye.
‘What’s gotten into him?’
Was he that shocked by her marriage announcement? No, he seemed more… upset about something…
She couldn’t quite figure out his reaction, but she brushed it off lightly.
Oh well, I’ll send him a gift later. He’ll get over it.
***
The next morning, the news of Aracila Hugo and Damian Vandemir’s sudden marriage announcement made the front pages of every newspaper.
“The Union of the Century? The Youngest Sword Master and the Genius Sorceress to Wed!”
Arriving early at the Mage Tower, Aracila sat at her desk, reading the article with a serious expression.
“Senior! Is it true you’re getting married?!”
“Are you really marrying a knight…?”
Sally and Rudy burst into her office, bombarding her with questions. They were stunned by the news of their respected mentor marrying the Captain of the Knights and had rushed over in disbelief.
“You’ve both read the article?”
“Yes!”
“Then you must know what the real problem is, right?”
Aracila’s expression, framed by her gold-rimmed glasses, was intensely serious. Sally and Rudy swallowed nervously, feeling the tension rise.
“What’s going on? Is it a fake scandal?”
“Did the Knights leak this to ruin your reputation…?”
“No, the marriage is real. The problem is that in every article, my name comes after his.”
She pointed at the various newspapers sprawled across her desk.
In nearly every headline, Damian’s name was mentioned first, followed by hers.
“It’s subtly irritating, isn’t it? If this were a matter between noble families, I’d get it. But from person to person, aren’t I the more famous and accomplished one?”
“Of course! But maybe it’s because he’s the Knight Commander?”
After all, Aracila was still just a mage of the Tower, while Damian was the leader of an entire order of knights.
Accepting Rudy’s reasoning, Aracila murmured,
“Still… I should insist my name comes first on the wedding invitations.”
“That’s a great idea! …Wait, Senior, are you really marrying a knight?!”
“Yep. You don’t come across a face like his twice in one lifetime.”
Her juniors stomped their feet in disbelief, but Aracila casually repeated her excuse, as naturally as breathing.
To Sally and Rudy, it sounded like she was completely resolved to go through with the marriage.
Knowing how stubborn she could be once she made up her mind, the two apprentices felt utterly defeated.
There’s no stopping this… It’s over…
“Senior… does this mean you’ll quit the Mage Tower…?”
Sally nervously fidgeted with her fingers, her face clouded with worry. Aracila had been asked this same question by her family the night before.
“Quit? Why would I quit the Tower?”
“Well… every other married sorceress has quit…”
“I’m not quitting. Why would I leave just because of some marriage?”
She gave the same answer she’d given to her family.
“Really…?”
“Of course. I’ve said it a million times—I’m going to become the Tower Master. Four stars aren’t enough for me.”
Her unwavering ambition seemed to reassure them, and their faces brightened slightly.
All morning, Aracila was bombarded with the same question from her colleagues at the Tower.
Some people made snide, sarcastic remarks, but she brushed them off effortlessly.
“If you don’t have at least four stars, keep your mouth shut.”
That left only the senior mages, who were considerably older than her, with anything to say.
To them, she addressed more politely:
“If your opinions are based on outdated stereotypes or prejudices, I’ll have to charge you 10 gold per word.”
By afternoon, no one dared to bring up her marriage in front of her anymore.
With the work environment suddenly much more pleasant, Aracila finished her tasks early and left the Tower.
Having made her marriage public, she needed to discuss the next steps at Damian’s estate.
***
“Welcome, Lady Aracila. Would you kindly wait in the drawing room?”
The elderly butler bowed politely, and Aracila nodded without a second thought.
“Sure.”
“Right this way…”
Just then—
“Lord Vandemir is such an idiot!”
A woman burst down the staircase, her voice quivering with anger. Aracila stopped and turned to look.
She locked eyes with the girl, who had reddish-blonde hair and a petite figure.
‘She looks… familiar?’
While Aracila was trying to place her, the girl’s expression turned hostile.
She stomped over and bumped Aracila’s shoulder, snapping,
“Did you just bump into me on purpose?”
What is she talking about? She’s the one who bumped into me.
Annoyed, Aracila responded calmly,
“I’m sorry, but you’re so small I didn’t even see you.”
The girl was indeed short, whereas Aracila was notably tall.
The girl’s face flushed bright red, and she stamped her foot in frustration.
“Ugh… Did you just insult me?! You’re always trying to steal the man I like!”
Where did that nonsense come from?
Concerned by her irrational outburst, Aracila gently placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder and asked,
“Do people often tell you that you’re delusional? You know, that can be a serious condition.”
The girl’s face twisted even more furiously at the comment.
