Chapter 43

"Well... That is...,"

Brillie stammered, clearly flustered.

She had considered the idea of marriage to some extent, but she never expected such a bold approach.

If he had mentioned breaking off the engagement first, as he used to, she might have answered that she wanted to marry him out of pride.

"Since coming to this mansion, I've often brought up breaking off the engagement. I mentioned it first because I thought my situation warranted it."

"I... I understand. I can't say I don't understand."

"But you, lady Brillie... You said you wouldn't break off the engagement. In fact, you said you wanted to marry me. Do you remember that?"

"What? Oh, yes, I do remember."

Of course, Brillie had never forgotten her own resolve.

She was simply trying to deduce the reason why Alter suddenly brought up marriage.

More than anything, Alter's demeanor had changed, making her unwittingly tense up.

"I've changed my mind now. If my father or Duke Illenat isn't thinking about breaking the engagement... then I want to marry you, lady Brillie."

"......."

Brillie gazed at Alter with considerable stiffness, cautiously.

His eyes, which had always seemed gloomily downcast, now revealed a distinct brightness.

No matter what, it appeared her fiancé was sincerely trying to accept marriage.

"There's still a lot I'm inexperienced in, but I'll try to change that from now on. I can't be a burden to you, lady Brillie."

"No... I mean... um..."

Brillie couldn't bring herself to accept his proposal, instead just fiddling with her sleeve.

It was a situation she hadn't expected at all, and she couldn't push forward as firmly as she usually did.

At this moment, she found herself swept up by Alter, her heart pounding louder and louder for no reason.

"I plan to start learning magic little by little now. Even if I can't use it often, I'll be better than before. I won't be coughing up blood in front of you like last time."

"Hmm... are you sure that's okay? The curse hasn't disappeared, has it?"

"I can't rely on others for help forever. I need to try something myself, don't you think?"

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

If he truly wanted to survive, if he wanted the curse gone forever, then he had to eliminate the Frost Witch.

That was why he no longer stubbornly clung to breaking off the engagement, and instead chose to look toward a new goal.

"I won't expect much from you, lady Brillie. If you'd just stay by my side as my wife, that would be enough. If there's anything you wish from me, I'll try my best to fulfill it."

Alter still regarded his marriage to Brillie as both a duty and a matter of mutual interest.

It had been a political marriage arranged by their families, so their feelings for each other were understandably ambiguous.

If they couldn't love each other, shouldn't they at least show some consideration and maintain peace at home?

"... Will that really be enough for you?"

"What more could I want?"

"You could be a little greedier, you know."

"For example... does hoping you'll love me, lady Brillie, sound greedy?"

Alter answered quietly, tinged with hesitation.

Brillie paused momentarily, then spoke calmly.

"If it's greed, then yes, it's greed. But if we're to marry, shouldn't we love each other?"

"You can't move someone's heart by effort alone. If you call it love, it's even harder."

"So you're giving up already?"

"It's not that I've given up, I just think it'll be very difficult."

"Then you can love me first, Alter."

"......?"

Alter's eyes widened as he met Brillie's gaze.

With pure eyes and a faint blush, Brillie, who always acted boldly and resolutely, was showing an affectionate side for the first time.

"I can't be sure... I don't know when it'll happen... But I won't give up. That's what marriage is, isn't it?"

"......."

"I can't be satisfied with just staying by each other's side. I won't ask you to love me right away. Even if it's after we marry... please, love me. Then I'll love you too, Alter."

"......."

Alter swallowed his words, gripped by profound feelings.

He couldn't dare say he could do as she wished.

At the same time, he wasn't allowed to refuse either, and time seemed to pass painfully slowly.

At times like this, what was he supposed to say?

"You've really changed a lot. You seem more confident now."

"I only said what I needed to say."

"That's why you seem confident, isn't it? You just declared you'd marry me. Compared to when we first met, you've truly changed."

"Well... I just assumed we wouldn't break off the engagement, so you don't have to take it too seriously..."

"There's no chance of breaking off the engagement. I've already decided that."

"But Duke Illenat may..."

"My father? Don't worry. I have my plans."

Brillie smiled softly, revealing her steadfast determination.

Since Alter had accepted marrying her, she had no reason to hesitate anymore.

Even if her father objected or she couldn't receive her title in the allotted time, it didn't matter.

As long as somehow the conditions to marry were met, that was enough.

"As long as you prepare yourself, I'll take care of the rest."

"What am I supposed to prepare for?"

"Hmm... Let's just say, prepare yourself to accept me. It won't be hard once your health improves."

"......?"

Alter turned over her words in his mind, and decided he could accept that explanation.

She must have been referring to the commotion surrounding the wedding itself.

Things would get noisy in many ways, so perhaps Brillie simply wanted to prepare herself accordingly.

'I'm not sure if marrying like this is right... but if I have to anyway....'

* * *

Alraune, rare as it was, personally entered the training ground.

Nothing had happened to Alter thus far, and his magic power was circulating more smoothly now.

At this rate, even if he performed magic, there wouldn't be any side effects.

"Now that you are my disciple, I will not use honorifics. Though you are of the grand duke's house, I will show you no special favors. To me, you are nothing but a mage learning from me."

Facing Alter, Alraune spoke with a solemn tone.

Outwardly, he had to treat him the same as any other student, but realistically the blood of the grand duke's house would inevitably attract attention.

Therefore, no one would dare touch Alter, nor would he be shown favoritism for being especially chosen by the great mage.

"Yes. Should I... call you Master from now on?"

"Use the title 'society head' instead. Within the society, there is no distinction between master and disciple. There is only a teacher and a learner."

"Understood."

Alter replied calmly, quietly sensing Alraune's magic power.

Though he hadn't released his magic power yet, its flow was impossible to hide.

Alter realized Alraune's vast reserves were truly worthy of the title Great Mage.

"As your teacher, I ask you: can you sense my magic power?"

"Yes. I can feel it, a little."

"Today, compete with me and feel the gap for yourself. You may have talent, but no amount of talent can make up for a lack of experience and intuition."

Only then did Alraune release his magic power and stabilize its form.

Alter clearly recognized the great mage's level and spoke slowly,

"How long must I train to reach your level, director?"

"It depends on a mage's talent, effort, and luck. And what would you do if you reached my level?"

"I don't want to make the same mistakes."

Alraune instantly realized he was referring to Uriel.

Alter had lost his mother because of the Frost Witch and had even inherited the curse.

It may have happened when he was an infant, but he still seemed unable to let go of his regrets.

"Do you regret your weakness?"

"Is that all I regret? I've wasted many years because of a single curse. The thing is, even now, the curse remains in my heart. Shouldn't I make up for it now?"

"Don't dwell in the past. The past is already gone and cannot be regained. What happened to you and your mother is tragic, but now you must live your own life."

"That's why I said I won't let the same mistake happen again. I won't let the past repeat itself."

"... Then so be it. If your resolve is solid, you will be able to surpass my level."

Satisfied with his answer, Alraune withdrew his magic power at once.

At last, the figure of Uriel overlapped with Alter.

If he had inherited Uriel's temperament, he would not stray as a mage.

"Before I teach you, let me give you a simple test."

"What would you have me do?"

"Cast your magic at me. I'll judge your level myself."

By principle, such an evaluation would normally be handled by another mage or student.

But Alter was Uriel's son, a mage who innately wielded the power of frost.

He had been raised with the best possible talent, yet stifled until now, so he prompted the great mage's curiosity.

"Are you sure you want me to? I'm a bit cautious."

"You're worrying over nothing. Why do you think I showed you my magic power?"

"... Understood."

Alter paused, hesitating for a moment, then steadied the power within him.

As Alraune said, there was no basis for his concerns.

Even if he used his full strength, she would surely respond with composure.

"Huuh..."

Alter immediately transformed his magic power and began wrapping himself in cold.

Unlike before, his mana began flowing at a much faster rate, and even the frigid energy felt familiar.

He was certain he could now cast spells with greater calm and certainty.

'Hmm... Is he controlling cold as if it were an extension of himself...?'

Alraune observed Alter minutely, analyzing the principle behind his magic.

Alter ignored the attribute's peculiarity and simply manipulated cold itself.

He wasn't even conscious of this characteristic, meaning it was a natural-born talent and functioned as an absolute law within him.

'Uriel was talented, but not to this extent. Just because he's inherited Uriel's blood doesn't mean he should be able to use such magic...'

"I'm going to use it now."

At Alter's words, white breath poured from his mouth.

At the same time, frost swept forward, and where it passed faint icy spikes emerged along its path.

But Alraune had already seen through the speed and direction of the cold in an instant.

'Wait. This feeling...'

From the icy power Alter had conjured, Alraune suddenly recalled traces of the past.

Though it ended in a flash of chaos, he couldn't forget the sight of that snowstorm and ice magic he had once witnessed.How had Alter Radiant come to wield such cold now?

'He's manifesting the Frost Witch's cold! What on earth!'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Along with the curse, Alter might have gotten the Frost Witch's powers as well...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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