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Chapter Four: Wellmy’s Defeat
What did he just say? Wellmy thought, struck speechless by the lord of magic’s declaration.
“What the... What the hell?!” Arvine exclaimed. “What’s going to happen to Wellmy—no, to House Ernest? I’m supposed to be the next count!”
His panic stemmed exclusively from concerns about his own future. He hadn’t extended a single word of consolation to Wellmy, nor had he tried to refute any of the lord of magic’s claims. All that mattered to him was his position—he, the second son of House Schneiger.
The lord of magic threw him a disgusted look. “That won’t happen, Lord Schneiger. As I just mentioned, Wellmy has no blood relation to any member of House Ernest. Now that this has been made public, she cannot inherit her father’s title.”
This naturally meant that Arvine wouldn’t be the future Count Ernest either. For one to be acknowledged as their parents’ heir, they had to be related by blood. Having been raised as a child of that house held no weight if there were no blood ties. As Wellmy’s biological parents were Clartes and Isabella, she couldn’t inherit House Ernest.
Еn ùm̊ а. іd̆
Technically, if Arvine were to marry Iora, a true descendant of House Ernest, he could become count. However, only his children produced with Iora would be considered legitimate heirs to the title; if he were to have a child with another woman, they would not be in the running.
Of course, this was purely hypothetical—Wellmy’s beloved sister would never be that man’s fiancée again.
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Yet, that didn’t stop him from trying.
“I-Iora! The lord of magic just dumped you, right? Let’s get engaged again!” he pleaded.
How can that man be such a fool? Wellmy thought. Her head still felt fuzzy, but that thought, at least, came clearly to her. How can he propose to Iora again after he berated and abused her at school?
“There won’t be a House Ernest anymore by the time everything is done.” The lord of magic stepped in, although, in Wellmy’s opinion, he shouldn’t even have acknowledged Arvine’s delusions. “The price of their crimes is too heavy; the title will have to return to the crown. Unless you intend to pay reparations to the kingdom and settle their debts in their stead. Then, perhaps...”
Е nu m̄ а̄..îd̄
His words thoroughly crushed Arvine’s hopes.
“No way...” he muttered.
“I would also like to mention that your family is suspected of colluding with the Ernests and breaking the crown’s trust. I’m quite curious to see how that situation will turn out,” the lord of magic added, delivering the coup de grâce to Arvine’s spirit.
Wellmy raised a shaky hand and pointed at the lord of magic. “Wh-Why would you call off your engagement to Iora...?” she asked.
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The moment those words left her mouth, she realized it had been a misstep. Her question might make people think that she didn’t want their engagement to end.
Wellmy couldn’t tell if the lord of magic had caught on or not. His smile unwavering, he brought his face near Wellmy’s. “Isn’t that evident? Regardless of Iora’s past or circumstances, I don’t want to marry a woman tainted with that foolish count’s bloo—”
Е n̊ ūm̊ а
A loud slap interrupted his sentence.
A different tension filled the air as blood rushed to Wellmy’s head. “Don’t you dare insult my sister!” she yelled.
She only realized her mistake when she noticed how quiet the banquet hall had fallen. The partygoers all eyed her in shock.
Ah...
She had messed up.
Glancing at her sister, she saw Iora watching the scene with wide eyes, both hands pressed to her mouth. She had found her out.
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The palm of Wellmy’s hand tingled with a dull ache.
“Well, color me surprised,” the lord of magic said, slowly returning his ice-cold gaze to Wellmy. The slap had jerked his head to the side. “I commend your audacity. Not many would dare raise a hand against me.”
For a split second, Wellmy felt the blood drain from her face, but she quickly regained her defiance, gritting her back teeth.
The other nobles’ whispers of astonishment reached her ears.
“She... Lord Ormirage...”
“She raised a hand against him?!”
Е̊ṅŭ_m̃ а. іd
There was no mistaking the fear in their tones.
The mere act of speaking to a higher-ranked noble unprompted was considered a breach of etiquette. The lord of magic was the most powerful of all marquises, said to rival even the dukes of royal blood in influence. Yet, despite being merely the daughter of a count—the rank below marquis—and a young girl to boot, Wellmy had dared hit him. He’d be within his rights to strike her down there and then.
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Yet, that wasn’t Wellmy’s concern. She intended to die, after all. No—the real issue was that Iora understood why Wellmy had done all of this.
I failed. I failed. She couldn’t gloss over what she’d just said.
Despair washed over her.
“I’ve misjudged you, Aides Ormirage! I heard that you valued merit above anything else, but that is nothing but a lie, isn’t it?!” she exclaimed.
Ӗ n̈.u m а̄
“Who do you think you are speaking to?” Aides retorted.
“Is there another Aides Ormirage in the room?! You’re nothing but a fool who cannot see my sister’s true worth, so stop acting all high and mighty! Have you not read my sister’s papers?!”
Iora had written many papers—a thesis on ways to make healing spells easier on mages for her magic lesson, theories about different, more efficient combinations of medicinal herbs for her potionology lesson... For her graduation paper, she had written about how to combine all of these approaches to lessen the workload of mages specialized in healing magic.
“Iora barely had any time to sleep with all the duties our father had foisted onto her, yet she still wrote all of these papers! She even received an invitation to work at the research branch of the Ministry of Magic!”
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This was already outstanding in its own right, yet that wasn’t even all Iora had done.
“She managed to keep our parents’ domain afloat even when our father squandered all our funds on gambling and my mother wasted money on gowns and jewelry! She did it all on her own as a teenager! And that doesn’t even account for her beauty, her perfect manners, and her magical potential, evident in the color of her eyes! Her talent for magic is undeniable! Each and every one of these qualities could be considered one of the greatest treasures our world has ever seen. That is just how incredible my sister is!”
Е n u.m а̂ .і d
Iora’s talent shouldn’t be buried just because of her parentage.
“Being related to that fool doesn’t diminish her worth! If you’re so blind that you can’t realize the grave mistake you’re committing by repudiating her”—Wellmy’s eyes shot wide open as she pointed at the so-called lord of magic—“then you ought to abandon that pompous nickname of yours right this instant!”
Wellmy thought that she had managed to save her sister—that once Savarin, her mother, and she were gone, Iora would finally be free. That she wouldn’t suffer anymore and live a happy life.
“I thought everything would be all right if I left her in your hands...!” she muttered.
But at some point she had made a mistake. The lord of magic might be blind, but so had been Wellmy.
Aides Ormirage was a sorry excuse for a man.
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“Had I known, I would have entrusted her to that coward! It would have been a million times better!” Breathing heavily, she glared at Aides, eyes brimming with tears. She refused to shed even a single one of them.
The other guests were watching the scene in silence. As for Aides, he looked down at Wellmy, his blank, periwinkle eyes betraying no emotion. Wellmy couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all.
Arvine was the one who broke the stillness. “Hey, coward! Get your hands off Iora!”
Wellmy glanced at her sister, who was cradled in Leo’s arms, her head hung low and her hands pressed against her eyes.
“She’s my—”
“Shut up, Arvine!” Wellmy shouted without even looking at him. “You’re not Iora’s fiancé. You haven’t been for a very long time!”
Ė n um̈ a
“Wha...?!” Arvine was speechless.
“I’m speaking with Aides! Besides, your outburst is probably going to get you charged with lèse-majesté along with me, so how about you just go die somewhere?!”
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“Huh? L-Lèse-ma...?”
“You still haven’t put two and two together? Haven’t you ever wondered why our school’s rules state that ‘Students attending the noble academy will not be punished for disrespecting the royal family’?”
Anyone would know if they used their brain a little.
The crown prince was the same age as Wellmy and Iora. Before they enrolled in school, the tea parties had been abuzz with rumors claiming that he would attend the noble academy. Those whispers had quickly faded when the school year started and no boy matching his description appeared among the students.
E n̊ ù.m̈a . î d́
But Wellmy knew—and she couldn’t have been the only one.
Tracing back through history, no crown prince had ever attended the noble academy. This was odd, considering the school’s integral role in aristocratic society. The school even announced that the prince would only be present for written exams.
What was even stranger was that every year a crown prince reached the age to enroll at the academy, the son of an unknown, landless baron would appear, always bearing the same last name. He would always be among the top students of the class, except during exams. Somehow, his grades would always fall to be barely high enough to remain in the advanced class. The crown prince, on the other hand, would always score near the top of the rankings.
The crown prince was like a shadow. He didn’t go to school, yet his grades were consistently among the highest.
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The baron’s son’s exam grades were a mere fabrication. His true results were actually the crown prince’s. Wellmy had understood the ruse the moment she had seen the scoreboard, and it was what had given her the idea to switch her papers with Iora’s.
“Isn’t that right, Your Highness Prince Leoniel?! I would also like to remind you that I never said I would actually entrust my sister to a coward like you!” Wellmy snapped at Leo, whose arm was still draped around Iora’s shoulders.
Ẇ е b ñо̆ v_é l Е̌ ńum а̄
Leo seemed to believe himself Iora’s knight in shining armor. Yet, despite constantly hovering by her side, he had never actually tried to protect her, even when Arvine had picked on her. He was just a wimp, too scared of his father, the king, to dare reveal his identity. At least, that was how he looked in Wellmy’s eyes.
Perhaps he had always intended to marry Iora later, but one thing was for sure: He hadn’t even attempted to protect her while at school. By revealing his identity and using his power and influence, he could have helped Iora much better than Wellmy ever could. Yet, he hadn’t.
At Wellmy’s words, Leo twirled a finger in the air, a bitter smile on his lips. The ring on his index finger glowed, dispelling the magic. The next instant, his hair turned purple—proof that he was of the royal bloodline—and his eyes shimmered gold, a sign of his potential for offensive magic. His features hadn’t changed in the slightest, yet he seemed like a completely different person.
“No...way...” Arvine groaned in disbelief.
Wellmy paid him no mind. She had said her piece. Her plan had failed. Now, all that awaited her was her own impending doom.
At least, that was what she thought. But then, Aides began chuckling as if he couldn’t hold back anymore.
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“How fiery, Wellmy Ernest.”
His ice-cold expression had thawed into an amused smile, and his eyes sparkled with mirth, as if he found the situation utterly comical.
“You won’t be charged for lèse-majesté—or any other crime, for that matter.”
“What...?” Wellmy breathed, flabbergasted.
Aides brushed back his silver hair and explained, “You were the one who brought the Ernests’ wrongdoings to my attention, weren’t you? I have simply participated in your plan. Attorney General Kilrane and His Highness the Crown Prince have signed a document absolving you of your crimes, and His Majesty has given his consent as well.”
A pause. Then, Wellmy blurted again, “What?”
Е̂ ǹ ū mа
Her brain couldn’t catch up with the situation.
Watching her eyes darting around the room, Aides continued, “The Ministry of Justice has a practice of placing any informant under witness protection. This custom was formalized into law several years ago. Considering your plan was to see the ruin of your family—yourself included—I assume that you were unaware of it.”
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Aides placed a finger under Wellmy’s chin and tilted her face upward.
“It was a fascinating plan. I’m impressed by your audacity, thinking that you could manipulate me like a puppet.”
He glanced at the people standing behind Wellmy—Savarin, her mother, and Arvine. The glint of amusement vanished from his eyes, replaced by his usual icy glare. “Take these fools away. I’m done with them,” he ordered.
The soldiers looked at Kilrane in confusion, and the Attorney General nodded, an exasperated expression crossing his face. “They’re still noble. His Majesty will decide their fate. Take them to the noble prison near the palace.”
Е̂ ń ū m а̇ . і d
“Yes, sir!”
Wellmy had expected Savarin to put up a big fight against his arrest, but to her surprise, he didn’t resist whatsoever. Perhaps he had lost his tongue upon realizing that not only was he about to lose everything, but also the girl he believed to be his daughter had been another man’s child all along. That, or he was simply in a daze.
As for Wellmy’s mother, she shrieked, “N-No! This is a ruse! I... I...”
Meanwhile, Arvine still seemed oblivious to the gravity of his actions. “Why me? I-I just didn’t know!”
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Wellmy couldn’t watch the soldiers take them away, as Aides’s fingers had gripped her chin, preventing her from turning her head.
When the commotion died down, she eventually managed to whisper, “Let go of me.”
Е ǹ ůmа̀ . і́ d̃
“Do you really think you’re in a position to make demands?” Aides retorted.
“Are you going to chide me for my lack of manners?” She chuckled. “What’s the point now?”
Wellmy’s wish had been fulfilled. Whatever came next was no concern of hers. The main source of Iora’s suffering was gone. That was more than enough.
The only issue was that she would apparently be acquitted of her crimes. This was a problem, as Wellmy had intended to die from the very beginning. She had never thought about what she would do if given a second chance. Coupled with the lethargy that came from finally having the weight she’d carried for so long lifted from her shoulders, the pardon felt like nothing but a burden. She’d likely return to being a commoner, but with no marketable skills whatsoever, how was she supposed to live?
They should have just punished me along with the others.
Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do to reverse the decision now that His Majesty had granted her his pardon.
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“Well, then, Wellmy Ernest,” Aides said. “For having purged this kingdom of the rot known as Count Ernest, I shall grant you a reward of my own. What is it that you want?”
Wellmy didn’t hesitate a single second before replying. “Give the pardon His Majesty has granted me to Iora. That way, her diploma from the noble academy won’t be revoked, she’ll get recognition for her achievements, and she will be able to go wherever she wants. Right?” She didn’t have any idea how to improve her own life, but if this could help her sister, even a little, it was good enough.
Wellmy didn’t know what Aides thought of her request, but he nodded, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Why does he look so amused?
“Wellmy...” Iora said, her voice choked with tears.
Wellmy didn’t look at her. She physically couldn’t look at her. And had she been able to, she still wouldn’t have done so.
En̂ u_m̄а̊ .і̃d́
Iora didn’t need Wellmy in her new life.
“How laudable. Are you sure that is all you want?” Aides asked.
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“Don’t break your engagement to Iora,” she added.
The mask had shattered long ago. Wellmy couldn’t care less about the opinion of others at this point, so she simply voiced her demands unabashedly.
Iora might have been free now, but she’d still need money and a support system, and Aides could provide her with that. He could definitely see Iora’s potential, after all.
Now that Wellmy had regained her bearings, she realized that his earlier mockery had simply been his way to force her to reveal her true intentions. The fact that he’d let her slap him when he could have easily dodged the hit likely had been his way of apologizing for speaking ill of Iora.
W е̊ b ňо̃ v ēl̀ Еn.ũ m̆а́
Aides’s cool fingers on her chin still prevented Wellmy from moving her head. The skin at the tip of his finger felt harder than she’d anticipated.
A wry smile curved his lips as he replied, “Sorry, but I have no intention of stealing the girl His Highness loves. He’s like a little brother to me.”
“I don’t trust him,” Wellmy replied. “That coward will abandon her as soon as things get difficult.”
The crowd stirred once again, likely taken aback by Wellmy’s blatant disrespect toward the prince. But when Leo didn’t say anything, they held their tongues.
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His fingers still holding Wellmy’s chin, Aides brought his face closer to hers. The refreshing scent of his cologne tickled Wellmy’s nostrils.
His soft, quiet voice reached her ear, accompanied by the warmth of his breath. “Hmm... Maybe you should allow him to explain his motivations to you later.”
E n̊u m̈ӑ. і̀ d
He pulled back and gazed down at her, a teasing look on his face. Wellmy knew that he was just doing this to get a rise out of her, and it didn’t fail—she felt her irritation grow. She didn’t understand how he kept managing to throw her emotions off-balance. Was she simply frustrated that he’d seen through her schemes? Annoyed that he’d led her by the nose this entire evening? Both definitely played a part in her turmoil, yet she felt like there was something else at play.
Wellmy still refused to lay down her arms. She knew from looking into Aides’s eyes that lies wouldn’t work on him. Unless she told him her true intentions, that infuriating man likely wouldn’t even consider listening.
“I have another request. I will give you whatever you want in exchange. I’ll do anything.”
“Oh? Any examples of what you could give me?” He knew the answer, yet he’d still asked that question. Gritting her teeth, Wellmy glared at Aides.
She had almost nothing to offer him.
“I own nothing...save for my body. But I believe you might find ways to amuse yourself with it, at least a little. I’m rather pretty, am I not? Though I do pale in comparison to my sister. Or you could treat me like a servant. I don’t mind. If you refuse to look at me, you could have me executed or send me to the convent in the north. I’ll accept any fate you choose, so please...” Wellmy felt a single tear run down her cheek. “Please... Help Iora.”
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This was her only wish—her very raison d’être.
“You two sisters say the exact same thing,” Aides said.
“Huh?”
Wellmy didn’t have time to ask what he’d meant before he added, “You claim you will do ‘anything,’ yes? Do you mean it?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
A satisfied smile curled on his lips. “Marry me, Wellmy Ernest.”
Е̌ n ü m̆а̀
Aides’s words shook Wellmy to her core, much like when he’d publicly repudiated Iora.
He chuckled at her dazed expression. “You said you would do anything for Iora, didn’t you, Wellmy Ernest? Then marry me. If you do, I’ll help Iora. I’ll support her so she can live her life however she pleases. But only if you accept my conditions.”
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Her breath taken away, Wellmy gazed into the man’s periwinkle eyes, trying to decipher his true intentions. A glint of sincerity brightened his gaze, contrasting with his words and teasing attitude.
Oh. That’s right.
The night they met, at the debutante ball, his eyes had glimmered just like that.
“All this time, I have looked for a woman like you. How old were you when you started planning this? Around ten, I assume? You were already wearing that mask you crafted when you enrolled at the noble academy, weren’t you? At that party too.”
Е̇ nu m ä .і d̈
He remembers...
She had been one of several dozen young ladies at the debutante ball. All she’d done was bump into him.
Yet he remembered.
“You truly have an eye for people. Lady Karla and His Highness have acknowledged your abilities as well. Quite a few of us figured out your intentions, you see. Your family’s butler, Gordley. Clartes too, knew everything from the beginning, I believe...and so did Iora.”
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Wellmy had always had a feeling that Gordley and Clartes knew. She’d simply chosen not to think about it. But, of course, her clever sister had understood everything. Now that she’d admitted it, it all made sense.
This farce could only end with Wellmy dancing in the palm of Aides’s hand like a jester, just as he planned. She had no way out.
Wе̇b n̈ õv̆ еl̆ Е ńüm̃ а̌
She had lost.
“You have guts. You’re resourceful. You’re resilient, and you have a talent for disenchanting. Moreover, you spare no effort to reach your goals, always looking for the best way to get there, unafraid to gamble for the best outcome. You even tried to use me as a pawn in your plan. What a daring woman you are,” Aides said.
“Your praises honor me, my lord,” Wellmy spat. Well, she tried to. The words came out more sulky than anything else. She didn’t feel the slightest hint of joy at being praised by the man who had defeated her.
“What will your answer be, Lady Wellmy of House Ernest?”
“I accept your proposal, Marquis Aides Ormirage. From this moment onward, I am yours.”
For some reason, cheers erupted from the crowd at Wellmy’s declaration. Just like her, they clearly hadn’t been expecting this denouement.
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“Ladies and gentlemen, as promised, allow me to introduce you to my fiancée,” Aides announced, finally letting go of her chin. Snaking an arm around her hips, he lifted her into his arms. “Wellmy Ernest, future marchioness of Ormirage!”
At his words, Wellmy realized that he really had planned all this from the start.
After all, he had begun the party with, “Allow me to introduce you all to my fiancée, the future Marchioness Ormirage.”
