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Deep within the territory of Duke Poluman.
At the very center of the vast territory lies a colossal fortress where only the direct family resides.
A middle-aged widow gazed at the moon outside the window while drinking strong liquor.
After her husband's death, she had tidied up the house she lived in and returned to her family home altogether.
A servant who had been close to her since childhood anxiously asked from beside her.
"My lady, no, Countess. You're not good at drinking. You shouldn't be doing this. Are you really not going to attend the youngest master's wedding tomorrow?"
The middle-aged widow turned to the servant with a venomous expression.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, her expression was fierce, but her eyes were moist with sorrow.
"Wedding? Whose wedding? The wedding of my youngest brother with that bitch of a princess from the kingdom who killed my husband? How could Father do that? There are so many prospective spouses, why her, the princess of the kingdom where my husband died while serving as a colonial commander?"
"I don't know for sure, but there must be some political reason."
"Ha. That damn magic. They say they're going to be taught the magic passed down in the Colonia Kingdom. We're sending our mages there and inviting their mages here. What's the big deal? How can Father do this to me just to learn some magic?"
"I don't know well. Could it be something necessary for the family? I heard the magic of that kingdom is incredibly powerful."
"Family, family. That damn family. Elisa, you know, right? How much I loved him."
"I know, Countess. I still can't forget the happy expression you had on the day you got married."
"Just call me Miss. Like before."
"Yes, Miss."
The widow took another swig of the strong liquor.
"Go to the kingdom that killed my husband and congratulate them on the wedding? I'm not going. Elisa, you know that."
"But the Duke might get angry."
"Let him be angry! Has it been a year or two since my husband died? That tiny kingdom where the wedding is being held. That's where my husband died. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I understand, Miss. ...I understand. For now, let's pretend that you'll go until tomorrow morning, and when it's time to leave, I'll go and make up some excuse."
"Thank you, Elisa."
At that moment.
Rustle.
A man dressed entirely in black with a black mask on his face appeared before the two women.
The servant Elisa shouted.
"Eek! Who are you!"
The masked man turned his head towards the widow, regardless of whether the servant was shouting or not.
"Are you the one who summoned me?"
The drunken widow stared at the masked man.
"Who are you? How did you get in here? Elisa, call the guards. No. They'll be swarming in soon since I shouted."
"Are you the one who summoned me?"
"What? Showing up all dressed in black. Why would I summon you?"
"Kalai, the colonial commander of the Colonia Kingdom. Aren't you the one who commissioned me to kill Davian Naone who killed him?"
The widow frowned.
"Who are you to suddenly appear and mention my husband's name?"
"Or I'll leave."
"Why aren't the guards coming? Elisa, go out and call them."
"It's no use. All the guards who could come here are dead."
"What?"
"When you summon me, you have to be prepared for that much. But it seems there was some misunderstanding. I'll be leaving."
At the moment the assassin of death was about to disappear.
"Wait."
"Speak."
"Can you definitely kill that bastard Davian?"
"Didn't you know about me and request the commission? I've never failed."
"Okay. Kill him. You can ask for anything in return."
"The price for my commission is very harsh."
"I don't care what it is. Go and kill that bastard right now."
"Good. I accept the commission. The fee is your life. The second daughter of Duke Poluman. Your life is enough as the commission fee."
The widow poured the remaining liquor in the glass into her mouth at once.
"I'd give my life ten times over, so go and kill that bastard right now."
"What kind of person do you want to marry?"
Bang, boom.
Magic firecrackers exploded, illuminating the night sky with various colors of fireworks.
"Well, I've never thought about it."
Latia lifted her wine glass, swirled it around, and brought it to her lips.
"I guess. You're not interested in that kind of thing, Davian. Otherwise..."
How could you not give me an answer even after receiving my confession?
She swallowed the words along with a sip of wine.
"I have to graduate first. I'll think about that kind of thing afterward."
"It's not worth thinking about that kind of thing until you graduate?"
"I have things to do first."
"Okay, then. Let's say you'll think about things like marriage after you graduate."
Latia took another sip of wine.
"I've noticed you've been hanging around Bonita a lot lately."
"I've been sparring with her. Bonita's skills have improved a lot."
"There's no other reason?"
"What reason?"
"How about Luna? She's cute, right?"
"Suddenly?"
"Belus, the junior who lives with you, is also cute. Are you not hanging out with Samantha from the same club these days?"
"The dungeon core amplification doesn't happen as often as before."
"I heard that a third-year named Hanna Oliver has formed your fan club?"
"I heard about it. It's just kids playing around."
"What about Professor Medium?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Hoo.
Latia sighed.
"I don't know what you think, Davian, but not everyone feels the same way as you."
What do you mean? Davian was about to say that, but he also took a sip of wine.
What good would it do to pretend to know nothing anymore, other than proving himself to be a fool?
"I know roughly."
"Amazing, Davian Naone."
Davian turned his head and looked at Latia.
Her cheeks were flushed red from drinking half a glass of wine.
Davian's eyes met Latia's directly.
"Davian, what do you think of me?"
"You're pretty and cool. And your skills are good."
"Is that all?"
"Are you drunk?"
"No."
Smack.
The sound of lips meeting was heard from somewhere.
Latia's head turned slightly.
A sound she could instinctively recognize, even though she had never done it before.
A young couple sitting at the table next to Latia and Davian were hugging and kissing.
The couple was wearing simple commoner clothes.
Even if you gathered and sold thousands of those clothes, you wouldn't be able to buy one of the gloves that Latia is wearing now.
Compared to Latia and Davian's table with simple snacks and wine glasses.
The table where the kissing couple was sitting was full of plates with only bones left.
Latia muttered to herself quietly.
"They'll probably have to worry about what to eat tomorrow after today is over."
It was a murmur, but Davian could hear it clearly.
"They probably will."
"I've never worn clothes like that, and I've never been so gluttonous. Because I could always get what I wanted."
"Because you are the eldest daughter of the Meridium family, the first noble family of the Alkancia Kingdom."
"But right now... those people look much happier than me. I thought I could have anything I wanted. I was really mistaken."
At that time.
The host's voice, amplified by magic, was heard.
Now, the main characters of today's party. Introducing Her Majesty the Queen of the Colonia Kingdom and Grown Poluman, the direct son of the Poluman Duke!
"Waaaaah!"
Tens of thousands of people who had been enjoying the party in their own ways simultaneously turned towards the stage and cheered.
Davian and Latia also stood up involuntarily and faced the stage set up in the center of the party venue.
The young couple who had been making love after eating a hearty meal of meat for the first time in a long time did the same.
Queen Kartia, who came out much more beautifully adorned than when she was seen in the audience room in the afternoon, was visible.
Next to her stood a handsome young man with sculpted features.
"I guess that's the groom."
Liber, who had returned unnoticed, joined the conversation.
"Oh, the groom is more handsome than I thought?"
"Liber, you're here?"
"Yeah. I decided to continue the conversation after the event with the Queen is over."
The host handed the magic-powered megaphone to the Queen.
To the people of the Colonia Kingdom who came to the wedding eve party, and to the many distinguished guests who came from outside. Thank you once again for coming to this place to celebrate our wedding.
"Waaaaah!"
To the Queen's greetings.
The people of Colonia cheered.
With this marriage, our Colonia Kingdom has formed a deep relationship with the Poluman Duke, the leading power on the Manum continent. We will do our best to ensure that the 20 years that the people experienced as colonial subjects will never be repeated.
"Waaaaah!"
Our Colonia Kingdom will surely continue its status as an independent nation. No matter what happens, I promise with the Queen's honor, or even with my life.
"Waaaaah!"
Wedding eve of a blooming twenty-year-old.
From the lips of the bride, Queen Kartia, who should be shining more beautifully than anyone else, only the promise to protect the kingdom's well-being flowed out.
As Latia said.
The truly happy person today.
It may be the poor commoner couple at the next table who enjoyed the free wine and food to their heart's content.
After some time passed.
When the eve was in full swing.
"I'm going to lay Latia down and go to my room."
"Davian, are you going in already? By the way, Latia is passed out like this again. How come she never changes when she drinks?"
"She even drank strong wine today."
"Then I'm going to go talk to those people from earlier, Davian. The conversation isn't over yet."
A very happy face.
It seems that the mental magic discussion with the other continent's mages is quite interesting.
"Okay. See you tomorrow morning."
"Okay, bye. Take care of Latia, Davian."
"Yeah."
"Oh, and."
Davian, who was about to walk away, turned around.
Liber was standing there, pointing at Davian with his index finger.
"If you don't have someone else in your heart, accept her."
"What? You were listening to everything?"
"I didn't try to listen, but I heard everything."
"Mind your own business, Liber."
"Davian, do you have someone else in your heart? Right?"
"I told you to mind your own business."
"If that's not the case, you wouldn't leave such a pretty girl alone like this for so long, Davian."
"You take care of yourself, Liber."
"I have nothing to say when you put it that way. Ahaha. I'm going to go talk about mental magic."
Queen Kartia had given Davian and his party three rooms next to each other.
Davian entered the first room and roughly laid Latia, whom he had carried on his back, on the bed.
Snore, snore.
Davian looked down at Latia, who had fallen into a deep sleep with a pink face.
She's been like this since her first year, even when drinking just beer, so it's no surprise that she's like this today after drinking wine.
I'm just grateful that she didn't cause a scene in the middle of it, saying she was going to cast magic while drunk.
"Still, I guess she fixed one of her drinking habits?"
After roughly tidying up her disheveled hair.
At the moment he turned around to leave the room.
Davian's expression turned cold.
"Who's there."
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