The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce

44

“It’s… well…”

Brillié stammered, clearly flustered.

She had considered marriage to some extent, but who knew it would come at her so boldly?

If he had brought up breaking off the engagement first, as before, she would have agreed to marry him out of pride.

“I’ve often brought up breaking off the engagement since I came to this mansion. I thought I had good reason to be the first to mention it.”

“That… makes sense. It’s not that I don’t understand.”

“But Miss Brillié… you said you wouldn’t break off the engagement. In fact, you said you wanted to marry me, remember?”

“Huh? Oh, I remember.”

Of course, Brillié had never forgotten her resolve.

She was just trying to guess why Alter had suddenly mentioned marriage.

Especially since Alter’s demeanor had changed, she couldn’t help but feel tense inadvertently.

“Now, I’ve changed my mind too. If my father or Duke Elenath doesn’t consider breaking off the engagement… I would like to marry you, Miss Brillié.”

“…”

Brillié looked at Alter cautiously, her body tense.

Her eyes, which were always cast down in gloom, were now shining with a clear light.

It seemed that Alter, her fiancé, was sincerely willing to accept marriage.

“There are still many things I’m naive about, but I will try to change them now. I can’t inconvenience you, Miss Brillié.”

“No… I mean… that is…”

Brillie couldn’t bring herself to accept the offer, merely fiddling with the hem of her garment.

It was an entirely unexpected situation, and she couldn’t push forward with her usual resolve.

At this moment, she felt swept away by Alter, with only her heartbeat growing louder.

“I’m thinking of learning a bit of magic. I might not use it often, but it should be better than before. There won’t be any more incidents of me vomiting blood in front of you, Miss Brillie.”

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“Um… Are you sure that’s okay? The curse hasn’t disappeared, has it?”

“I can’t just keep receiving help forever. I have to try to do something too, don’t I?”

It was only after confronting the image of the Frost Witch that Alter began to envision his own future.

If he truly wanted to survive, to completely eradicate the curse, he had to eliminate the Frost Witch.

That’s why he was moving towards a new goal, without obsessing over the broken engagement.

“I won’t ask too much of you, Miss Brillie. Just being my wife is enough for me to be satisfied. If there’s anything you wish from me, I’ll do my best to accommodate it.”

Alter still treated his marriage to Brillie as an obligation, a matter of mutual interest.

It was a marriage of strategy, orchestrated by their families, so naturally, their feelings for each other were ambiguous.

If they couldn’t love each other, perhaps they should at least show some consideration and maintain domestic peace.

“… Are you really satisfied with just that?”

“What more could I possibly want?”

“You could be a little more greedy, couldn’t you?”

“For example… Would it be greedy to wish for Miss Brillie to love me?”

Alter replied quietly, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Brillie paused for a moment, then spoke calmly.

“If that’s greed, then it’s greed. But if we’re going to marry, shouldn’t we love each other?”

“The human heart isn’t moved by effort alone. If we’re talking about love, it becomes even more difficult.”

“So, have you already given up?”

“It’s not so much giving up, as it is acknowledging that it will be very hard.”

“Then, Mr. Alter, you should start by loving me first.”

“…?”

Alter flinched, then met Brillie’s gaze.

Brillie’s eyes, pure and carrying a faint blush, were showing a tender mood for the first time.

“I can’t be certain… I don’t know when… but I won’t give up. That’s what marriage is, isn’t it?”

“…”

“I can’t be satisfied with just being by your side. I won’t ask you to do it right now. Even after we’re married… please make sure to love me. Then, I will love you back, Mr. Alter.”

“…”

Alter swallowed his silence, captured by profound sensations.

He couldn’t dare to answer affirmatively.

At the same time, he wasn’t permitted to refuse, and time seemed to crawl.

What should one say in such a moment?

“You’ve changed quite a bit, though. You seem more confident now.”

“… I’ve only said what needed to be said.”

“That’s what makes you confident, right? You’ve declared you’ll marry me. Compared to when we first met, you’ve really changed a lot.”

“Well… assuming we don’t break off the engagement, you don’t have to take it too seriously…”

“There won’t be any breaking off. I’ve decided that.”

“But what about Elector or the Duke…”

“My father? Don’t worry. I have it all planned out.”

Brillie smiled faintly, revealing her firm resolve.

Now that Alter had accepted the marriage, there was no need to hesitate.

Even if her father opposed, even if she didn’t receive the title within the given deadline, it didn’t matter.

As long as the conditions for marriage were met in some way.

“Just prepare yourself. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“What am I supposed to prepare?”

“Um… consider it preparing to accept me? It shouldn’t be hard if you’re feeling better.”

“…?”

Alter pondered the meaning of her words and then somewhat accepted them.

It must have referred to the commotion that arises before and after a wedding ceremony.

It was bound to get noisy, so perhaps Brillie was preparing to respond appropriately.

‘I’m not sure if marrying like this is right… but if it has to be done…’

***

Allaune rarely entered the training grounds himself.

So far, no problems had arisen with Alter, and the circulation of magic had become even smoother.

Now, he could manifest magic without worrying about side effects.

“Now that you are my disciple, I will not use honorifics. I will not give you special treatment just because you are the scion of a grand duke. You are simply a magician receiving my teachings.”

Alraune faced Alter with a solemn voice.

“Of course, on the surface, I must treat all disciples fairly, but in reality, the bloodline of the Grand Duke’s family is bound to attract attention.

Therefore, no one will be able to touch Alter, and he will not be discriminated against for being specially chosen as a disciple of the Archmage.

“Yes. Should I call you ‘Master’ from now on?”

“Use the title ‘President of the Academy.’ In the academy, we do not distinguish between master and disciple. There are only teachers and learners.”

“I understand.”

Alter responded calmly and then faintly observed Alraune’s magical power.

Alraune had not yet released her magic, but the flow of it could not be concealed.

As befitting the title of Archmage, a vast magical power was inherent within her.

“As a teacher, I ask you. Can you detect my magic?”

“Yes. I can feel it a little.”

“Today, while comparing yourself with me, you will realize the gap. You may have talent, but the lack of experience and sense cannot be replaced.”

Only then did Alraune release her magic, constructing a stable form.

Alter, recognizing the level of the Archmage, slowly opened his mouth.

“How much time must I invest to reach the same realm as you, President of the Academy?”

“The qualities of a magician, effort, and luck will create variances. What do you aim to achieve by reaching the same realm as me?”

“I do not wish to experience the same mistakes.”

Alraune realized that his words were related to Uriel.

Alter had lost his mother due to the Frost Witch and even inherited the curse.

Although it was an accident that occurred when he was an infant, he had not been able to shake off the lingering attachment.

“Do you regret your weakness?”

“Is that all I regret? I had to abandon many years because of a single curse. And yet, the curse still remains in my heart. Shouldn’t I make amends now?”

“Do not be bound by the past. The past that has passed will not return. The events of you and your mother are tragic, but now you must be faithful to your life.”

“That’s why I told you I won’t make the same mistakes. The past must not repeat itself.”

“… Then it is settled. If your resolve is firm, you can transcend my realm anytime.”

Alraune, satisfied with the answer, immediately withdrew her magic.

Only now did Uriel’s figure overlap with Alter’s.

If he had inherited Uriel’s temperament, he would not choose the wrong path as a magician.

“Before I teach you, I must test you briefly.”

“What should I do?”

“Cast your magic on me. I will judge your level after experiencing it myself.”

Normally, such verification would be delegated to another magician or apprentice.

But the opponent was Uriel’s son, a magician who inherently wielded the power of ice.

Having been suppressed with his top-tier talent until now, it was inevitable that he would pique the archmage’s curiosity.

“Is it really alright for me to do so? I’m a bit cautious.”

“You’re harboring vain worries. Why else would I have shown you my magic power?”

“…Understood.”

Alter seemed to ponder for a moment before he composed the magic within him.

It seemed to be an unnecessary concern, as Alraune had said.

Even if he were to manifest his magic with all his might, Alraune would be able to respond calmly.

“Hoo…”

Alter immediately began to transform his magic power, starting to be enveloped in coldness.

Unlike before, the magic was released at a rapid pace, and the coldness felt familiar.

Now, it seemed he could implement the magic calmly and firmly.

“Hmm… To wield the coldness as if it were his own limbs…”

Alraune observed Alter meticulously, deciphering the principles of the magic’s composition.

Alter was manipulating the coldness itself, disregarding the irregularity of the attribute.

Unaware of such a characteristic himself, it must be acting as an innate talent and an absolute rule.

“Uriel was excellent too, but not to this extent. To think that such magic could come from Uriel’s lineage…”

“Now, I will use it.”

Following Alter’s voice, a white breath poured out.

Simultaneously, the coldness surged forth, and faint traces of frost appeared where it passed.

But Alraune had already grasped the approach speed and direction of the coldness.

“Wait. This sensation…”

Alraune found himself connecting with fragments of the past through the coldness created by Alter.

Though it ended in a moment of discord, he had not forgotten the blizzard and ice magic he had witnessed then.

How could Alter Radiant have come to handle such coldness?

“To manifest the Frost Witch’s coldness! What is this!”