Episode 4. A Visitor on a Rainy Day

The sudden downpour showed no sign of letting up. To console the heartbroken Brienne, the Ford couple had hurriedly arranged a retreat, exchanging glances as they watched their daughter’s mood.

It was Damon Ford who cleared his throat and spoke first.

“Ahem, how long has it been since we last took a trip, my dear? It’s so nice to have the whole family together for a change.”

“Indeed. With Shiloh finally home, just as Brienne had been waiting, it feels lively again.”

Olivia smiled warmly at Brienne. Their awkward efforts could have moved a stranger to tears, yet they failed to ease Brienne’s heart.

Since the journey began, Brienne had done nothing but stare at the floor of the carriage.

She sighed. “Mother, Father… I appreciate your intentions, but this was unnecessary.”

Brienne’s eyes turned toward Damon. “…Especially you, Father. Taking leave over something like this will leave a poor impression on His Majesty. You must uphold your place in the council.”

“Brie, ‘something like this’—this is all for you…”

The Marquis of Ford tried to explain but fell silent. Though he had received permission from the emperor, it was true that he had abruptly dropped everything and departed.

“And there was no need to bring Shiloh, who just got home. Now he’s just cranky toward me.”

Brienne glanced at Shiloh as if to say, ‘See?’ Shiloh shrugged and shot back at once.

“Why are you blaming me? You’re just mad because you think I’ll make fun of you for running off the moment Kaiden’s engagement went public.”

“Shiloh…!”

Olivia frowned at Shiloh’s attitude. Dragged on a family trip and forced to cancel plans with friends because of Brienne, Shiloh simply leaned back as if clueless.

Brienne furrowed her brow and turned her gaze to the window. The heavy rain pouring from the sky mirrored her own heart.

A whole day. She had locked herself in her room, thinking only of Kaiden.

If the feelings were so easily extinguished, she never would have fallen for him. It felt unfair somehow, to have hidden it for so long without ever saying a word.

Brienne’s face darkened, her eyes cast downward. “You’re right, Brother… All this time, I just assumed I’d marry Kaiden one day.”

“…Brienne?”

Only then did Shiloh realize the situation was serious. He had expected his sister to snap at him like usual. Straightening his posture, his expression turned sincere.

“No way, should I punch him for you? Where would feel the best? Stomach? Solar plexus? Or maybe that perfect face of his?”

Olivia groaned and shook her head. Watching Brienne carefully, Damon quietly spoke.

“Brie, I’ve been meaning to ask… Why do you like Kaiden so much?”

Brienne’s light green eyes wavered. If she had to name a reason, it would be Kaiden’s personality, voice, face—everything. There was no way not to like him. He was her first friend, and the only one who sought her out and comforted her when everyone else turned away.

“……”

As Brienne fell silent, Olivia gave a bittersweet smile and took her daughter’s hand. “You must have a lot of memories. He always spent your birthday at our house. And every summer, you practically lived at the Bannon family’s lake. I remember it well. You two were so close…”

“…Yes. Everywhere I go, I’m reminded of Kaiden.”

Brienne’s room, the Ford garden, even the capital square. Kaiden’s presence lingered in every place her eyes could reach, not just at the Bannon estate. As tears welled in her eyes, Damon, watching his daughter with pity, spoke hesitantly.

“Then, did you ask Kaiden what happened?”

“No, I… I thought it would be rude to Melosi Bailey.”

Brienne forced a smile and shook her head. She had written letters many times, but never sent them. Contacting a man who was officially engaged was inappropriate, and she feared the response she might receive.

“In that case, let’s wait and see if he contacts you. If we return to the capital and still hear nothing, I’ll ask Duke Bannon to arrange a meeting.”

At her father’s words, Brienne nodded cautiously. Even if it was just comforting talk, knowing her father would personally reach out to the Duke lightened her heart a little.

“…Thank you, Father. Mother.”

After that, casual conversation began to flow again, and the Ford family’s carriage continued its journey through the rain without pause. As the carriage entered the marquisate and passed through the gates, the waiting servants came out to greet them in unison.

“Welcome back.”

“Yes. Before dinner, I’d like a bath first. The humidity is dreadful. Looks like the rain won’t stop for a while.”

“Understood.”

The steward at the front bowed and withdrew. Brienne, walking behind her family, suddenly turned around as if remembering something.

“Excuse me, I have a request…”

“Yes, Miss.”

“…If Kaiden comes to visit, could you inform me right away?”

The steward’s face showed a hint of discomfort. With the news having stirred such a commotion in the capital, he naturally knew why the family had returned.

“…Understood.”

Composing his expression, the steward bowed deeply. After that request, Brienne didn’t look back again.

***

“Isn’t this a bit much? It’s not even a party, just a dinner…”

After finishing her bath and coming down to the dining room, Brienne glanced around the table with a sour expression. Grilled lobster, steak simmered for hours in hot water, turkey stuffed full with various vegetables and spices…

“Your father asked them to be especially mindful. He said to prepare only the dishes our Brienne likes.”

“That’s…”

“Ahem, you must be hungry. Let’s eat.”

At Olivia’s words, Damon gestured toward Brienne’s plate, slightly embarrassed. Feeling oddly ticklish inside, Brienne quietly picked up her fork.

“Thank you for being so thoughtful, Father… I’ll eat well.”

The meal prepared to suit Brienne’s tastes was truly splendid. When the dessert was served as a sweet finale, the once gloomy Brienne found herself gradually drawn into Shiloh’s stories.

It was a story about how Shiloh had chased after one girl from enrollment to graduation.

“But do you know what that mage said on the day of the commencement? That her goal was to get into the Belif ducal house, and if that didn’t work out, she’d settle for the Ford marquisate later. And the reason… it was just so absurd…”

“What was it?”

Damon pulled his lips from the wine glass, curiosity on his face. Shiloh slammed the table lightly, still looking bitter.

“Hereis Belif! You all know him, right? That slippery bastard…”

“Of course. I heard he graduated top of his class at the academy.”

“Exactly. I don’t know how someone with such poor attendance managed that, but anyway… that girl apparently fell for his face in the end! I got played. I thought she had some noble goal, working her way up from commoner status to become second in the class!”

From Shiloh’s red nose, it was clear he was tipsy. Brienne, staring at him curiously, tilted her head.

“She fell for his face? What do you mean by that?”

“…What? Don’t tell me you don’t know Hereis Belif?”

Of course she knew. She just hadn’t cared. Brienne raised her glass and shrugged.

“I know him. He’s Kaiden’s friend.”

Shiloh looked at Brienne in disbelief. As expected, his little sister knew nothing beyond Kaiden.

Who was Hereis Belif?

He wasn’t just Kaiden’s friend.

Any magazine bearing his name would sell out instantly. His handkerchiefs traded in the dorms at over ten times their value. There were even cases of portraits being cut out from attendance sheets, student records, even bulletin boards…

At a loss for words, Shiloh fell silent. But Brienne, unable to suppress her curiosity, spoke up.

“And being second in class is already a huge deal, right? So why is it strange that someone like that wants to work for a duke’s family?”

Puzzlement crossed Brienne’s face.

Though Shiloh had graduated from the Roeta Academy, Brienne, like most Rontiano nobles, knew nothing about magic. After all, magic had its roots in the Holy Kingdom of Roeta, and the academy’s foreign exchange system had only been around a few years.

“Brienne, think about it. The Bannon and Belif families, those noble factions, have consistently rejected Roeta. But the Belif dukedom? And it has an heir who just graduated top of the academy. Why would they need another mage from Roeta?”

“That’s…”

“Anyway, what I’m saying is, a high-ranking mage would only keep a lesser one around if they were romantically involved. Sure, there might be political reasons, but… between mages, mana always clashes.”

Finishing his thought, Shiloh downed his wine. Brienne, following suit, sipped from her glass.

“…Mana clashes?”

“Yes. Especially someone like Hereis Belif, with overwhelming magic power, he destabilizes the mana of other mages. When mana clashes, the stronger one always wins. The only way to suppress that is with a ‘Soul Binding Spell,’ where the two exchange mana until their mana natures match.”

“……”

Brienne couldn’t understand a word of it. Neither could Damon nor Olivia, ordinary nobles of Rontiano.

Shiloh glanced around and quickly added with a sheepish face, “Oh, in other words… mages are independent beings who can’t work with other mages. But once they’re soul-bound, they become inseparable for life. I was taught that even death can’t break a bond like that. That’s why mages usually act alone unless they’re at the academy, where their mana can be suppressed.”

Lovers bound so deeply even death couldn’t part them… What kind of world did mages live in? Brienne’s eyes widened as she looked at Shiloh. He seemed like a different person, boasting his knowledge of magic instead of just rambling nonsense.

Olivia, who had been observing Brienne closely throughout, asked gently, “Brie, are you interested in magic too? Do you want to go to the academy?”

“Oh, no. Not at this age… I was just curious.”

Brienne frantically waved her hands. She had once dreamed of entering the academy. Of crossing the sea to learn in a new world, of visiting that library so large you could never finish it in a lifetime.

She even wanted to get her magical aptitude tested like Shiloh…

But not enough to leave Kaiden behind.

And now, Kaiden was…

“Well, I don’t know what any of that means, but I understand that mage must be impressive. No wonder you liked her.”

Damon lifted his glass with a pleased smile. Shiloh’s face turned bright red.

“What? Liked her? Me?”

“Well, didn’t you?”

“Ugh…! Don’t be ridiculous!”

As Shiloh flared up, Damon’s eyes widened in surprise. Olivia and Brienne exchanged knowing glances and burst into laughter, remembering how shyly Shiloh had described the mage’s navy blue hair and enchanting voice all dinner long.

But just then—

Knock knock.

“Master, someone’s here on urgent business!”

A voice called out urgently from beyond the door. When Damon gave permission, the steward appeared, looking tense.

“There’s a visitor. I believe you should see this for yourself.”

…A visitor?

Brienne’s eyes wavered violently.