Unexpectedly, I Became the Emperor’s Fiancé

Although I couldn’t figure out why Tommy disappeared from everyone’s memory except for mine, it seemed like something I could gradually find out later.

The only materials I found about the Levins family were a newspaper article from six years ago and a book about the noble families in the empire. Compared to other families, this was quite a small amount of information, but it was enough for me.

I decided to read the book first, setting aside the newspaper article from six years ago for later.

[The Levins family is famous for producing archmages. Those who carry the Levins blood are all exceptionally skilled in magic, with quite a few awakening as archmages. However, strangely, none of them have ever reached the master rank. Because of this, people call the Levins “the genius family of misfortune,” and the esteem they held up until the 1,000th year of the empire has been gradually declining.]

“Hmm.”

I closed the book after reading that far. This was enough to get a general feel for what kind of family the Levins were.

Magicians are divided into four categories: beginners, who have just started practicing magic and are not yet adept at manipulating mana; magicians, who can easily handle mana and have mastered a certain field of magic to some extent; and archmages, who can manipulate mana as if it were part of their own body and freely use magic from all areas.

And finally, they called them Masters, those who surpassed the realm of an Archmage, breathing all magic as if it were air and accomplishing feats impossible for humans – such feats included reversing time or twisting space.

Then, shall we read the newspaper article now? I put the book aside and picked up the newspaper.

“……!”

Having read one of the relatively shorter articles at a quick pace, I inadvertently dropped the newspaper.

The article, written six years ago, was about the annihilation of the Levins.

In short, the article mentioned that the temple, which was never in good terms with the mage tower to begin with, had annihilated the Levins.

This was an article from six years ago…

“Good heavens.”

I covered my mouth with both hands and let out a soft sigh.

According to the article, the temple had seized evidence of the Levin’s patriarch plotting a rebellion and annihilated the Levins, resulting in the loss of all direct family members’ lives.

Tommy had said his name was Thomas “Levin.”

Moreover, the date of this article precisely matched the time Tommy had arrived at the mansion.

“……”

My lips tightened, feeling as though I had learned something I shouldn’t have.

I regretted looking into it, torn between the thought that I shouldn’t have and the relief that at least now I know. It was during one of those moments when I had forgotten even how to breathe.

“Sister.”

Someone tapped my shoulder from behind and called out to me. There was only one person in the mansion who called me “sister,” so I easily recognized who was standing behind me.

“Ian, what brings you to the study?”

I tried to look nonchalant as I turned around, and Ian gave me a slight smile.

“I came looking for you, sister. I had a feeling you would be in the study, and it seems I was right.”

“Me?”

I tilted my head, puzzled as to why Ian would be looking for me. If he needed help, he would normally ask the servants or our parents.

Why was he looking for me?

Seeing my confusion, Ian’s smile widened as if he had expected such a reaction.

“There’s something I want to show you, sister.”

Something he wanted to show me? My nose wrinkled slightly. I couldn’t imagine what Ian would want to show me that was causing such a reaction.

Seeing me like that, he gestured towards the door of the study and said, “Let’s go.”

I watched Ian’s back as he turned and walked towards the door for a moment, then slowly followed him.

I had been thinking too much about the Levins, to the point of getting a headache.

So, taking a break at this moment didn’t seem too bad.

***

The place Ian took me to was a greenhouse. What does he want to show me here? I would have understood if it was the training ground, but I couldn’t guess what he wanted to show me in the greenhouse, which made me even more curious.

“Sister.”

While I was scanning the surroundings with curiosity, I heard Ian’s voice next to me.

“Look over here.”

When I followed his instruction and looked where he was pointing, I saw a lily sitting on his finger. Why a lily all of a sudden…?

While I was looking back and forth between Ian and the lily, puzzled, Ian slightly lifted the finger that was holding the lily.

Then, the lily, which had been sitting like a doll, fluttered its wings a few times and then leapt from Ian’s finger.

After flying around Ian with clumsy flaps, it landed back in its original spot.

“……!”

I covered my mouth with both hands, gasping, as I watched the scene from beginning to end.

Although the flight lasted only a few seconds, the lily definitely flew, defying what those who said its clipped wing feathers would prevent it from flying.

“How, how did you…”

I trailed off, staring blankly at the quietly chirping lily.

“At that time, you said it would be nice if Lily could fly. So, I came from time to time to train her.”

Ean impressively understood and answered the question I hadn’t quite finished asking, smiling gently as he carefully placed Lily back into the cage.

“I told you. Lily will be able to fly soon.”

“…You could have just ignored my words, but thank you for remembering them.”

Awakened by Ian’s words, I smiled brightly at Lily inside the cage. I became indescribably grateful to Ian for investing his time and effort simply because I had expressed a desire to see Lily fly.

At my sincere thanks, Ian blushed and shook his head vigorously.

“You don’t need to thank me for this. It was something you said, of course, I should remember it.”

At his words, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Very few people remembered something I said as if to myself. At most, it was Tommy, the nanny, and perhaps my father.

And maybe Ruth….

“!”

My thoughts abruptly stopped, and I was startled.
My goodness. I’m thinking about Ruth again, aren’t I?

Once again, it was shocking how my thoughts uncontrollably raced towards him.

It was not long ago that I realized all my recent thoughts end up about Ruth.

I had been thinking about him a lot since the day we first met, but lately, I find myself thinking about Ruth over anything.

Thoughts like ‘What is Ruth doing now?’ or ‘Ruth would like this, I wish I could get it for him.’ started to occur to me.

And then, at some point, Ruth would naturally come to mind even when I was thinking about something else.

At first, I didn’t take it seriously, but as time went by, I was enveloped in a feeling as if I was missing something. And that sense of unease grew stronger thanks to the heartbeat I noticed when I met Ruth last time.

While I was harboring such thoughts, Ian opened the floodgates.

“Actually, I was planning to show this to you as a birthday present for my sister.”
But I couldn’t help it and showed it now. Ian added, with a sheepish smile.

I was about to let his words slide when I suddenly hesitated. It belatedly dawned on me that I had never mentioned my birthday to Ian.

“How did you know it’s almost my birthday?”

“My mother told me that it’s soon your birthday. Anyway, if there’s something you want for your birthday, please let me know. I’ll prepare it for your birthday.”

As I cautiously asked, Ian immediately answered without hesitation.

Ah. Right, of course. It must have been mother who told him.

I realized what I had forgotten and easily accepted the reason why Ian knew about my birthday.

“Then, can I see Lily flying outside the greenhouse on my birthday?”

“Outside the greenhouse?”

After pondering for a moment, when I mentioned what I wanted most now, Ian showed a surprised expression.

“Um… If we let Lily fly outside the greenhouse, wouldn’t she fly away to another place?”

“Why would that be?”

I glanced at Ian, who was worrying unnecessarily, and stroked Lily’s head with my index finger as she came closer to me.

After all, if Lily’s heart isn’t here, it’s no use holding onto her body. So, even if Lily, who becomes free to fly someday, leaves my side, it would be okay.

Of course… I’d be a little sad.

“What? But Lily is your pet bird, and you really like her.”

Ian seemed to find it strange that I was acting nonchalantly despite talking about Lily possibly leaving.

To resolve his confusion, I voiced out the thoughts I had in my heart.

“But if Lily wants to fly somewhere else, we should let her go.”

“…..”

“And while I do like Lily, if her heart isn’t here, I don’t particularly want to cling to her.”

Having said that, I took my fingers off Lily’s head and turned to look at Ian.

He had a perplexed look on his face, as if he couldn’t understand why I was saying this.

Perhaps because I was expecting such a reaction, I couldn’t help but smile with my eyes.

“I didn’t fall in love with Lily just because she chirps beautifully in a cage, Ian. I fell in love with Lily, the bird itself.”

I murmured, recalling the images of Lily that remained in my memory.

Though considered a tamed pet bird to alleviate boredom, I preferred the moments when Lily sang clearly over the moments when she sat quietly like a doll.

More precisely, I liked Lily’s lively moments. That’s why I wished Lily could fly.

There wouldn’t be a time when she’s more vibrant than when a bird roams freely in the sky.

“So, Ian. Can you help Lily this time too?”

“……”

Ian remained silent for a long while upon my request.

Then, finally, he opened his mouth.

“……Yes.”

Looking at me with a wavering gaze.