Chapter 9~
Hadel sat upright and began cutting his meat with long, slender fingers. With his pale yellow eyelashes lowered, he looked almost arrogantly refined.
He was so different from Asen—plain and unadorned—that no one would believe they were siblings.
Hadel suddenly stopped cutting and glanced back and forth between Theros and Cecilia.
“You two look quite close, sitting side by side.”
“Well, I suppose you already know. Maybe it’s thanks to Odique.”
Theros replied curtly after taking a sip of wine.
His blunt tone made Cecilia tense up, but at the same time, she felt a strange sense of relief.
It seemed Theros assumed that since Hadel was Asen’s brother, he already knew about the elixir incident. If so, then Theros might also suspect that Hadel could try something underhanded.
Good, Theros!
Cecilia found herself oddly rooting for him.
“We’ll be getting engaged soon.”
“Pfft—!”
She shouldn’t have let her guard down. As Theros casually wrapped one arm around the chair she was sitting on and said that, Cecilia nearly spat out the water she was drinking.
“Oh? I see. Then the two of you will become the most beautiful couple in the empire. What a perfectly matched pair! It warms my heart just to see it.”
Hadel beamed brightly, clearly playing along to please Theros.
Under the table, Cecilia stomped her foot and shot Hadel a glare, silently telling him to shut up. But even after noticing her gaze, he merely turned his head toward Theros with a smug little expression.
Forcing her stiff face to move, Cecilia gave an awkward smile.
“Haha, Lord Hadel, you exaggerate. A ‘perfect couple’? Perhaps Lord Theros, but I’m far from beautiful. One cannot form a marital bond so carelessly, so please don’t rush things.”
Hadel raised his glass and took a sip of red wine.
“Beauty tends to spread to those around it. Even if a crow cannot become a swan, it will at least begin to imitate the swan’s elegance.”
What did he just say? A crow?!
Cecilia bristled, gripping her fork tightly.
“Of course, my fiancée will turn even someone like me into a swan.”
If Theros hadn’t interjected like that, Cecilia might have started an argument with Hadel.
Sensing Theros’s gaze on her, Cecilia turned to look at him.
Once again, his expression was unreadable—cold and rigid. Unlike his words that seemed to support her, there was no warmth in his eyes. It was as if the face she saw at the lake had been a dream, replaced now by a man shielded behind walls of ice.
“It seems the meal is finished. Let’s move to the drawing room. I’ll leave my fiancée’s treatment to you, Researcher.”
Theros rose first and left the dining area. Cecilia gathered her dress and followed him, but just then, Hadel grabbed her from behind.
Startled, Cecilia reacted with irritation.
“What is it now? Just in case—don’t try anything funny. Do the treatment properly and leave.”
Hadel blinked at her reaction, and Cecilia flinched slightly.
Why are his eyes so unnecessarily pretty?!
Hadel blinked once more, then leaned in and whispered.
“Go ahead with the marriage.”
He discreetly pressed a small round bead into her hand.
“This is a magical communication device. I have one as well. If something urgent happens, I’ll contact you through it.”
“What?! Why would I ever need to contact you, Lord Hadel?”
I don’t want anything to do with Odique anymore!
Cecilia barely managed to keep her voice low.
Ignoring her protest, Hadel continued calmly.
“And the marriage benefits everyone. Even if the marquis recovers from the elixir’s effects in six months, by then you’ll already be his wife. He won’t be able to accuse you. For the sake of his family’s honor, he’ll bury the incident.”
“Do you really have to scheme like this? Maybe we could rely on Lord Theros’s generosity.”
“Generosity? From that marquis?” Hadel scoffed. “You’re quite naïve. How do you think he earned his merits in war? By showing mercy to enemies who begged for it? Don’t be ridiculous. Right now, it’s only because of the elixir that he’s even tolerating us.”
[“I always repay those who harm me—one way or another.”]
Cecilia shivered as Theros’s earlier words resurfaced in her mind.
“Anyway, let’s go to the drawing room. Since you’ll be the future daughter-in-law of the Geminiq family, I’ll make sure to treat you properly.”
“Future daughter-in-law? Not a chance!”
Cecilia crossed her arms stubbornly.
Hadel’s emerald-like eyes narrowed at her.
“There’s nothing to gain from arguing here. Let’s go before the marquis notices.”
He pushed her forward by the shoulder.
“If you really hate the marriage, I’ll find another way.”
“What?”
Startled, Cecilia looked at him, and he gave her a strange smile.
“I might have to test the medicine I worked so hard to create. I’m just as curious as Asen. People in my family can’t resist trying new magic. It’s practically a family trait.”
This man…!
Bickering with Hadel, Cecilia was practically dragged into the drawing room.
“Cecilia, have you already grown close to the researcher? My fiancée is quite sociable!”
Theros was already seated on the sofa, waiting for them.
Cecilia sat beside him, while Hadel took the opposite seat.
“Now then, I’ll begin the treatment.”
The previously sly Hadel suddenly grew serious and began chanting an ancient spell.
Soon, a yellow light emerged from his hand. He extended it toward Cecilia.
“Miss, your hand.”
Though his words were brief, Cecilia naturally placed her hand in his. The light flowed into her, spreading warmth throughout her body.
Her heavy limbs felt energized, and her mind cleared.
Beside them, Theros frowned at their joined hands, but neither of them noticed.
As the yellow glow faded, Theros immediately asked,
“How do you feel, Cecilia? Better?”
“Yes.”
The Odique family’s healing magic was real. Even though she had already recovered before dinner, her body now felt even lighter.
“Thank you, Lord Hadel.”
At least for the healing, she had to express her gratitude.
“Think nothing of it. Since the marquis personally requested it, I took extra care. As you know, healing magic is normally reserved for knights.”
Show-off.
Cecilia grumbled inwardly. Though the law restricted healing magic to knights, it was an open secret that the Odique family would treat nobles for a hefty price.
“Thank you for coming all this way to heal my fiancée. Since you couldn’t have dessert earlier, let’s bring it here.”
Soon, a maid brought in cookies, mini cakes, and tea.
Through the open door, Rox followed her in.
Cecilia instinctively reached out, happy to see the fluffy dog again—
But suddenly, Rox’s face twisted into a snarl, and a low growl rumbled from its throat.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
The room was instantly filled with aggressive barking. The cute dog from earlier now looked like a ferocious beast, baring sharp teeth.
Startled, Cecilia glanced at Theros—but his expression remained calm.
He didn’t even try to stop Rox. He simply watched with his arms crossed.
Rox lunged—straight at Hadel.
“Ahh!”
The maid and Cecilia screamed together.
Rox leapt onto Hadel’s chest, knocking him onto the sofa and opening its jaws as if to tear into his throat.
For the first time, Hadel’s composed face twisted in fear.
Clang—
Rox’s fangs were blocked by a magical barrier Hadel hastily created around his neck.
“Rox, enough. Good boy.”
It was Theros’s quiet voice that finally restored order.
At a single command, Rox’s growling subsided, and it calmly stepped down.
“Oh dear, my apologies. Please forgive me, Researcher. He’s unusually temperamental today.”
Theros smiled faintly, though he didn’t look sorry at all.
That was intentional.
Cecilia immediately realized it. He could have stopped Rox sooner—he let it continue just to frighten Hadel.
Hadel tried to speak, but his shock left him gasping like a fish.
Theros continued indifferently,
“How strange. Rox never bares his teeth unless someone is suspicious. I can’t imagine you being suspicious, Researcher… so why would he react that way?”
Though phrased as a question, his expression showed he already knew the answer.
“I noticed you’ve been touching your right pocket repeatedly. Are you hiding something interesting in there?”
With a faint smile, Theros extended his hand—a silent demand.
Hadel broke into a cold sweat and said nothing.
“If you don’t hand it over yourself, I’ll take it by force.”
At that, Hadel stiffly pulled something from his pocket.
Ah…
The moment Cecilia saw it, her heart sank.
A small brown vial—the same one she had seen before—was placed on the table.
She clasped her hands unconsciously, fear creeping in at the thought of what would happen if Theros discovered its true nature.
