Another Visitor

Akiro and Miss Zione had left after the sudden announcement. Seeing that they're busy, Luna chose not to bother them and went to her own room instead. Moreover, the stickiness of her body that she continued to feel make her utterly uncomfortable.

Amidst that, she began to notice that she had been doing physical activities ever since she reached Vermillion.

"I'll clean myself first," Luna uttered. Because she previously heard about the incoming visitor, it would be rude of her to not dress properly. After cleaning up her body, she chose a more elegant light blue dress than the simple ones she used to wear.

It was a dress made to suit the current cold, snowy weather of this nation. Afterward, Luna put up a hair clip adorned with a small silver crown, combed her long black hair, and smiled in front of the mirror. Moreover, she chose her low-heeled sandals like usual, or else Luna couldn't guarantee that she'd be able to keep her composure while walking. Even though her legs had healed, she was sure that her body was still tired.

At the moment she finished dressing up, someone knocked on the door which Luna quickly permitted the person to enter. Miss Zione entered with a tray in her hands. On top of it was a hot drink in a mug and a piece of bread placed on a ceramic plate.

"Miss Luna, Master instructed me to give this to you. It will help recover your strength," Miss Zione said. Then she gently placed it on the small square table in the corner of her room. Luna immediately walked toward it and sat on the chair.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," she uttered.

Miss Zione nodded and bowed. She lit up Luna's fireplace and left with the now empty tray. After that, Luna took a sip from the dark-colored liquid inside the mug. Despite its color, Luna felt a familiar taste and fragrance that delighted her completely.

"It's chocolate!" Luna uttered. She really liked the drink, especially during the current cold winter season. She didn't forget to take the piece of bread and dipped it into the hot chocolate drink.

"Delicious," she uttered. After emptying her food, Luna stood up and look at the window. Its glass was slightly blurred but the snowy scene outside could still be seen. After that, she took the single-seater couch near the fireplace. Removing her sandals, the thick fluffy carpet heated her feet.

"This is the best," Luna whispered. As she fell asleep, she missed welcoming the visitor too.

Meanwhile, on the first floor, Akiro, Ryle, and Miss Zione were in the lobby as they were waiting for the carriage to arrive. Then someone knocked through the door shortly after. Akiro stood up with Miss Zione. She opened the huge two-way door to which they saw a man guiding a woman to step out of the slippery pavement.

She was the young lady that sent them a letter. The young lady was wearing a thick elegant dark-colored coat, her light brown hair stood out and her yellow eyes seemed lightly glowing when one gazed into them.

"Lady Liliana Shan Lilieth is thanking your warm welcome despite informing Honorary Master Mage in a rush," the lady said and smiled sweetly. She bent and bowed a little while holding a part of her dress, a common greeting befitting of a noble lady in Magus Nation.

"Lady Liliana, let's head and talk inside," Akiro said.

"I agree," she said.

Akiro and the lady entered the mansion together with only one official Knight while Miss Zione instructed the lady's escort where to place her personal carriage and led the rest of her men to the back door to give them hot beverages for today's cold weather.

Liliana Shan Lilieth.

She's the youngest daughter of 4th Archmage Lilieth. Despite being in her twenties, Lady Liliana was known as a young lady by everyone as her eldest brothers were still treating her like one. It's also not her first time visiting Akiro's mansion but even though she came from a high-class family, she did not dare treat Akiro without the utmost respect.

After sitting in the lobby, Akiro started the conversation. "What may be the reason for your visit, Lady Liliana?" he asked and made a wild guess but he didn't know if it's the main reason for her visit.

"May I request for us to speak in private?" Lady Liliana asked. After saying that, she looked at Ryle which the latter turned his head away and kept quiet.

"Very well, we can talk to my office then," Akiro answered.

"Thanks for your consideration," Lady Liliana said.

Turning her head to a certain man, she said,

"Don't worry, we'll just talk pure business and nothing else."

"I don't care. I shouldn't have shown up here if I know you're the unexpected visitor," Ryle whispered.

Despite his weak voice, she heard it clearly and smiled. After that, she followed Akiro to his office. Her personal Knight also entered inside for her protection. It was a given when a noble visited another's house. Inside his study room, the young lady gave a letter attached with the 4th Archmage's seal to Akiro.

"It was an important letter from my father and I volunteered instead of my brothers because I have my own reason to visit the Honorary Master Mage's humble mansion," Lady Liliana said.

Akiro took the letter and opened it. A series of words about the status of Magus Nation was written there. It was an important document that Akiro requested to have a copy from the lady's father which the latter sent it out without hesitation.

"Send my regards to Archmage Lilieth. About your personal visit here, there's no need to go into circles," Akiro said.

"I'll surely relay your message. Regarding my worries, I suspected that the young master of Noble Xanthe will be going here if his family failed to find him despite its connections. As his betrothed, I feel responsible to urge him to go home," she said.

"Hmm, I'm aware that Lady Liliana is indeed his future wife but I hope that they'll let him decide his own future. I'm not insulting the lady in front of me but I'm sure that your relationship with him will get better if both your families withdraw it for the time being. It'll better if he'll be the one proposing, am I right?" Akiro said.

This was one of the reasons why Ryle Xanthe began to hide from his family. Every decision he should have been doing ended up in his parents' hands.

The nobles in Magus Nation rarely arranged marriages because their sons and daughters were more likely to have romantic relationships with others inside the Academy. As a part of their growth, their parents agreed to it as long as their partners were strong enough to protect themselves. Since the founding of the nation, most nobles became less strict with their members' future partners as long as one managed to attend and survive the Academy.

It was because graduating from the Academy meant the assurance of climbing to the top of the Magus Nation. Nonetheless, it didn't mean that arranged marriages completely disappeared. Such an example was Ryle's situation.

Understanding Akiro's words, Lady Liliana nodded.

"I'll suggest it to our families' sides. If ever they agreed, Honorary Master Mage, will you allow me to visit your mansion so I can frequently see him?" she asked.

Akiro couldn't help but be startled. His mansion suddenly became a dating place between these two people. Sighing, he agreed to the lady's decision. "It's settled then and Lady Liliana, you can spend a night here. Let it be your chance to talk to him," he said.

Delighted, Lady Liliana stood up, took a part of her dress in both sides ,and bowed in a lady-like manner.

"I suppose it's a long ride. You may take a rest to the guest room Miss Zione has prepared," he continued.

Leaving his office, Akiro said that Miss Zione would accompany her there as he had to do some paperwork.

"This way, young lady. You're personal Knight has her connected room with you for your convenience," Miss Zione said.

The lady's official Knight was a woman which was a rare sight among the nobles.

"You're as formal as ever Miss Zione. I'll be glad if you just call me Lily," Lady Liliana said.

Along their way, Lady Liliana chatted with Miss Zione even though she knew that the latter wouldn't respond. When they reached the room, the other room facing it suddenly opened.

A delicate young lady in a light-blue dress and her rare eye-catching black hair welcomed Lady Liliana that extremely shook her entire existence.

'When did a woman of her caliber aside from Miss Zione is inside his mansion?!' Lady Liliana thought.

--To be continued...