The handsome and generous 1st Prince Irid, who had been preparing to visit the Urensto Count's family to help boost my reputation, hardened his expression after receiving an urgent message through a crystal ball.
From what I overheard, it seemed various issues had arisen.
He spoke to me with an apologetic expression.
"I don't think I can accompany you to the Urensto Count's residence. There are more incidents in the provinces than expected, and I need to go down immediately to coordinate. For instance, it seems Baron Port is experiencing hallucinations..."
"I didn't give you the manual so you could enjoy figuring things out yourself, but perhaps I should have. If you meet him, please tell him to try operating it by touch while standing in front of a mirror."
"I knew this was your doing."
One might think I could just wait for Irid if he's busy, but I had already set up an appointment with the Urensto family by letter.
If I postponed it now, wouldn't my intentions be too transparent?
'Since His Highness the Prince who was supposed to accompany me has urgent business, I'll be arriving a few days later. Please understand.'
Saying that would be like announcing to everyone that I wanted to show off my connection to the Prince, which feels awkward. I think it's better to keep the appointment even without Irid.
Besides, the plan wasn't completely ruined.
"But don't worry. It won't take long. I'll rush to the Urensto Count's residence as soon as I finish. It should take about three days."
"Ohhh."
Right, if Irid comes later, there's no problem. I might even be able to emphasize that I'm so favored that he rushes to me first thing after finishing his official duties.
Though the three-day timeframe does concern me slightly.
"The Count of Urensto wouldn't throw out a prospective son-in-law in just three days... as long as no one causes trouble."
"Of course, of course. No problem at all."
I'm a man who knows timing. I have no intention of acting foolishly when meeting my future in-laws. I smiled with an innocent expression.
Irid, perhaps feeling bad about breaking his promise to accompany me, thought for a moment and added:
"Dress well. It's about time I granted you a title, so I'll hold the conferment ceremony there."
"You're giving me a title too?"
When I asked with wide eyes, Irid replied as if it were nothing special:
"Considering your achievements and abilities, it's strange you haven't received one already. Do you need a territory as well?"
"No. I don't particularly want territory, and if I want to play around with territory development, I can just go to a friend's domain. I'm not that interested..."
"I thought so."
A title, huh? They say that becoming a mage of the Magic Tower already grants you respect equivalent to a baron, but that's more like an honorary position. You can't pass it down to your children.
But the title Irid was talking about seemed to be a proper hereditary one. While rising in social status doesn't excite me much, I appreciate Irid's thoughtfulness.
He's trying to boost my name value so I won't feel intimidated as a commoner mage in front of my future in-laws, isn't he?
Thank you, my lord...
I gave him a light salute.
"Then I'll see you there, Your Highness!"
"Yes, and don't cause any trouble."
Clippity-clop, clippity-clop.
The carriage carrying the Prince receded into the distance. I watched it for a moment before turning around. I should start preparing for the meeting with the parents.
Parents...
Through Yuna's sister Sissel Urensto's case, I learned that the Urensto Count's family situation was quite messy. The father and mother seemed obsessively fixated on the family's honor.
They placed little value on anything besides honor. It's as if they viewed their children as trophies.
That's why Yuna doesn't particularly like her parents. She doesn't even keep in touch with them. But... there was a faint glimmer of expectation in the corner of Yuna's eyes.
They say blood is thicker than water. If family members could change their hearts and live harmoniously, that would be ideal.
I had commissioned a famous tailor to make an outfit for today. I asked for an elegant outfit in line with current fashion, and they produced a splendid piece with a somewhat uniform-like feel.
One distinctive feature was the feathered hat that came with it. I've seen this somewhere before. I saw it in Roderus's transformation form.
When I asked, they said the fashion of the "Blue Rose" was gaining cult popularity. To me, it felt like a lucky item, as if imbued with the power of Dae-su and Lu-lu's pure love.
I changed from my Purple Tower robe, which I'd worn for what seemed like my entire life, into the uniform. I added gold string decorations and neatly arranged my hair.
"Heat Ray."
Fire magic came through for me again. A fire mage can use just two fingers as a hair iron. I normalized my messy, sticking-out hair.
I applied light makeup too. My face can sometimes look gloomy or suspicious to some people, so I added a touch to give it some color.
Finally, I adjusted my clothes, and I was done.
Fully armed, I left the changing room with a bright, natural smile. Yuna was waiting outside the door, dressed in her usual robe.
Her hair was sticking out in places, and her clothes showed signs of daily wear. To put it bluntly, she looked a bit disheveled. But Yuna looks cute in anything, so it's fine.
I adjusted my voice to sound gentle and spoke to her.
"Yuna, are you ready?"
Yuna's eyes widened.
"W-who are you?!"
"Oh come on... don't joke like that. If you suddenly got amnesia at this timing, I can't imagine how complicated things would get. If you're ready, shall we go?"
"N-no, your face..."
What about my face? Did I apply too much blush?
===============================================================
They say people change when they dress up, and it was truly the case. The fully armed Mad Magician was performing handsomeness with his entire body. Yuna was overwhelmed by his radiant brilliance.
Even after taking the teleportation magic circle to reach the Urensto County, she still couldn't adapt to the Mad Magician's great transformation.
Could this really be the same disheveled, crumpled man? Unable to believe it, she glanced up at him.
"Hmm?"
"U-ugh..."
Yuna had to quickly turn her head away, like someone who had stared directly at the sun. Her heart was pounding wildly. His appearance was harmful to cardiac health.
"...!!"
Then she suddenly came to her senses. What she felt was a sense of crisis. What if another woman approached him for his number? What if someone flirted with him while passing by?
...Should she cast "Subtraction" if that happened?
Yuna raised her staff and began surveying the surroundings vigilantly.
"What's wrong?"
"D-don't dress up so much. It's too much."
"I dressed up partly to impress your parents, but honestly, I wanted to look good for you too. Still too much?"
"...Too much!"
She finally understood why Yuri kept saying he had no self-restraint. Yuna began walking while firmly holding his hand. This one is mine. She wanted to mark him as such.
He was the first lover she had gained in her long life.
After walking a short distance, the Urensto Count's mansion came into view. The estate, adorned with purple lavender gardens, was built on a gentle hill.
"..."
Recalling the past, she had no particularly good memories.
The Urensto couple demanded perfection from their children and required them to excel beyond others at all times. But how could that be possible? Misguided efforts and wrong education could only achieve so little.
Regarding their educational policy, the youngest, Juel, adapted; Sissel complied; and Yuna rebelled. Even at a young age, she knew they were wrong.
Her rebellion was more like passive resistance. She ignored the tutors' teachings, took Juel and Sissel's hands to play outside, and stubbornly remained idle even when whipped.
The Urensto couple viewed the defiant Yuna negatively, so... when a mage from the old Purple Tower visited and praised her talent.
'Try to work hard there at least. Be careful not to tarnish the family's honor.'
They handed her over without hesitation.
Yes, they wouldn't have known.
They wouldn't have known that the old Purple Tower harbored evil intentions, nor that Yuna would endure terrible times after entering the tower. They probably only knew that the talented Yuna had become the youngest Tower Master.
Yuna knew this. She understood.
Because she understood, the Urensto Count's family hadn't been erased. If there had been even a slight connection, she would have eliminated them long ago. Therefore... her feelings toward her parents were complex.
A bit of misplaced hatred, thinking that if they had been ordinary parents who loved their children without an obsession with honor, she wouldn't have had to endure such terrible experiences...
Resentment and anger toward parents who leveraged their daughter's position as Purple Tower Master in social circles, yet never sent a single letter personally...
And hope and expectation that perhaps they might have changed after so much time had passed...
And that expectation...
"Welcome! I am Ibele, the Countess of Urensto. Thank you for visiting the Urensto family. You're so handsome! Our child has found an excellent groom!"
"You've finally returned home, Yuna Urensto. You don't know how long we've been waiting for you! Your room has been maintained all this time. We've kept it clean every day. Go check it out."
"Ah, y-yes..."
Seemed to be rewarded.
===============================================================
Warm welcome.
All the servants of the Urensto Count's family came out to attend to the returning Yuna and her groom, and luxurious dishes filled the long table for the evening banquet.
The chandelier cast a soft light illuminating the central hall, and the music flowing quietly from a crystal ball created an elegant atmosphere.
The Mad Magician blended in seamlessly. He ate with proper etiquette like someone who had been properly trained in manners, and his movements impressed even the Count.
In fact, Yuna, born into nobility, seemed more awkward by comparison.
"The chef's skills are truly excellent. May I know the name of this dish?"
"That's a traditional southern pork dish called Quidetz. I'll prepare the recipe for you on your way back, Magician."
"Thank you for your kindness, Countess."
While the Mad Magician conversed with the Countess, the Count spoke to Yuna in a caring voice.
"Have you been well? I heard that the Purple Tower's situation hasn't been good recently, so I wonder if you've been eating properly."
Yuna flinched in surprise. It had been a long time since she'd conversed with her father, and this caring tone was something she'd never heard before.
A bit awkwardly, but steadily, she opened her mouth to speak.
"...Y-you knew?"
"Of course I knew. Though you left home, you're still the precious daughter of the Urensto family. I considered sending funds to the Purple Tower, but I was concerned it might hurt your noble pride, so I refrained."
"U-um. I see..."
"It seems that decision was correct. You revitalized the tower on your own. If this father had helped, it might have cast doubt on your abilities. I am very proud of you."
"..."
She was acknowledged.
The person who used to get angry, demanding she fill the "Wall of Glory," and who acted like a hungry whale, always pushing her to work harder no matter what achievements she made, was now acknowledging her.
It was a strange feeling. Should she say her heart was touched, or that it was stirring? "I am proud of you." Why did these simple words move her heart so much?
Yuna bowed her head with a slightly flushed face. Her eyes were about to become moist.
After that, she relaxed a bit and began having everyday conversations with the Count couple she hadn't seen in nearly 10 years. Recent news, funny stories, delicious foods, things like that.
The small joys that families can share and enjoy together.
The Mad Magician watched with a beaming smile. Yes, people change over time. Perhaps the Count and his wife were reflecting on their past selves.
Yuna, smiling brightly while chatting, suddenly remembered something and asked:
"What about Juel?"
Juel. Juel Urensto.
In childhood, she was the child most favored by the Urensto couple, surpassing Sissel and Yuna. The child who somehow managed to fill the "Wall of Glory."
Now that she noticed, Juel wasn't at the dinner table. As far as she knew, Juel should still be living at the Count's residence.
To this, the Countess replied casually:
"Juel is undergoing body correction."
"Body correction...?"
"She's eating only one meal a day to lose weight. With her wedding approaching, she needs to look her prettiest, don't you think?"
"Umm..."
Wedding, she said.
"Speaking of which, you and the Magician are in a serious relationship, right? Yuna, if the timing works out, how about a joint wedding ceremony? Since our family has double the joy, a joint wedding could be even more grand."
"That's..."
She wanted to refuse. As Yuna was contemplating how to decline, the Mad Magician smoothly intervened and defused the situation.
"We'll consider it positively, Countess. However, as a servant of the 2nd Prince, it's difficult for me to set a date hastily before my lord's ascension. I'd like to think about it slowly. Please understand."
"Oh my, if that's the case, it can't be helped... I only suggested it because I thought it was a good opportunity, so please don't worry too much."
That day's harmonious family dinner concluded in this manner.
"Magician, would it be alright if you shared a room with Yuna?"
"I'm fine with it, but wouldn't that be improper?"
"Not at all. Yuna's room has a large bed, so you won't be uncomfortable. I'll tell the servants... not to wander around at night. Then I'll see you again at breakfast tomorrow."
"...Yes."
They even received permission to share a room.
Though it had been a place where smiles bloomed continuously, there was a shadow cast over the faces of Yuna and the Mad Magician as they returned to their room.
"..."
"..."
They both had the same thought. Something felt off. Somehow.
A subtly unpleasant feeling kept rising within them.