After Lanella's name came out, my parents' expressions completely hardened.

My mother's hand, which was trimming the ribbons on my clothes, trembled softly. No matter how much I thought about it, she seemed so angry that she couldn't stand it.

'I'll have to give her some time to sort out her emotions.'

I rolled my eyes once and asked my uncle.

"...What will be the punishment given to the Crown Prince?"

"Both of them were served life in the tower... The greatest punishment ever given to the Imperial Family, perhaps?"

Uncle checked the newsletter again and answered.

Since the evidence was so clear, it seemed that the conclusion was reached quickly.

He personally handed over the members of the Imperial Palace Knights that my uncle attacked while convoying, and that Lanella and Rayburn did not deny it.

There was no way they could give a good testimony for the man who was trying to kill them.

Even the discriminatory nobles who were trying to defend them at any cost would not have been able to step forward, seeing that public opinion had already been swayed by me.

"How dare he bring black magic to this world. The wizards won't forgive him. They will somehow keep him alive and do all kinds of experiments."

I said while wearing the third outfit my mother brought today.

"It's okay if you don't tell me in detail."

Of course, I was also diligently eating the late-night snacks my father made.

"Because I hate cruelty..."

Actually, I am a great swordsman, but I have never killed anyone. When I handled the assassins earlier, I only aimed at their vital points that stunned them all.

Aaron responded as if he was having fun and was trying to evoke this chilly atmosphere.

"Sure. You hated cruelty, so you aimed only at Ian, who didn't get a single scratch."

Aaron applauded seriously.

"In the end, you were a real expert in trying to even target Ian's heart."

"..."

"I'm a little curious, but after you cut down all the bamboo, did you accept that desperate confession?"

"Do not ask unless you recite how you confessed to Saintess Cessianne."

"Yes. I will shut up."

The topic certainly had the power to change the mood.

My mother and father sat next to me, dressed and fed, and exchanged glances of difficulty.

It was the fact that they had never dreamed of me becoming Ian's lover, so they did not know how to react.

"I can't stand against it. Even if it turns out that Ian is a bit strange, it's hard to find a man like him and you're already determined..."

Then, father spoke hesitantly, and mother slowly nodded her head in agreement.

"And... During your absence, the Duke was so kind to us and protected us from danger... In my conscience, I cannot oppose it."

'Hmm.'

I thought to myself.

'The Duke has laid the groundwork here. They've already fallen for the trick...'

My father added sadly.

"But can't you get married a little later? We haven't met for long."

"Marriage?!"

I was taken aback by my father's words and said:

"Of course, I plan to take it slow after spending enough time with my family..."

My uncle interrupted my words.

"Oscar is so soft. I even poured alcohol that night for fear that the little peacock would flirt with you."

"..."

"Anyway."

My uncle took a peek at my father, who was already in tears as if he was already holding my wedding in his imagination, and then changed the topic.

"Lanella will be sentenced to death. That is the best."

The intention was to return to this important topic once the mind was ready.

"These are the people involved in black magic using people. Because I, the Lord of Caronda, wrote the complaint myself."

After all, my uncle was really talented in this respect.

After taking a deep breath for a while, my father finally answered in a voice without trembling.

"I am not satisfied with quietly waiting for the execution date."

With that said, my mother also listened.

"Even if it's just that this XX did something XX wrong in this world, and it's not the XXX punishment they get for XX destroying our family."

It seemed that she was finally ready to have a conversation a little more calmly.

It is true that I worked so hard to protect my family because of Carlon and the Empress, but in fact, I did not get to know them personally.

So when I heard the rumors that they were getting what they deserved, I thought, 'I'm glad they paid the price for their crimes,' but I didn't feel much emotional agitation.

But Lanella was different.

She must've had iron skin to hand over me, who was born well, to someone like Caitlyn, while she comforted my grieving parents, and then casually wore dresses my mom made.

To our family, perhaps, she was more of a sinner than Carlon or the Empress.

Even after Caitlyn's death, she was the only enemy left in the world.

"Everyone, you did a great job holding it in."

I held my parents' hands and smiled.

"Then my whole family, with me, who is already familiar with harassing people..."

I wanted to see Lanella as much as my family.

I had a lot to say in the first place, but it was also the reason I turned away from Caronda without saying much.

"Shall we visit in a fresh way?"

~*~

The evening the Rainfield family returned to their home, Ian was busy with the rest of the work.

"It's an illegal magic item, so dig carefully."

He added coolly as he handed the bookmark that a suspicious girl had given Annabelle.

"There's a high probability that the Marquis of Abedes is behind it, so dig around there, and if there is evidence that it is true, ask the Imperial Family to bring the right to dispose of him to Wades."

"Hm? The Duke of Wade?"

"Yes. It was an attempt to harm my people, so I'll deal with it at Wades. If you ask Prince Robert, he will do that for you."

The Imperial court was also going to punish Marquis Abedes for the charges that he worked with Carlon, but Ian could not be satisfied with that.

They tried to harm Annabelle, so he wanted to make them pay the price of their sins more cruelly than anyone else.

And the dungeons of Wade were notorious for being more terrifying than the Imperial ones.

"No matter how noble he is, the crime has been confirmed in the Imperial Family anyway, so they will hand it over to me easily."

"Yes, I understand."

The knights who had been given instructions disappeared, and Ian, who was left alone, slowly drew his sword.

To be honest, he wanted to see Annabelle right now, but it was too much of a hassle to run to the Rainfield Mansion.

Annabelle would be spending time with her family at ease, so he didn't want to disturb.

So he started training.

'It's two days before the friendly match anyway...'

This was the first time he had a feeling that he could lose.

On the way together to the capital, Annabelle maintained the same amount of training as usual.

Although her skills had improved by destroying the origins of black magic, she had not neglected any training the slightest bit.

At first glance, her movements were incomparable to those of before.

He didn't necessarily want to beat her, but that didn't mean he wanted to lose.

He wanted to at least do his best in front of her, and she herself wanted to do her best as well.

'This...is the meaning of being rivals as my mother said.'

Ian swung his sword and took a deep breath.

Annabelle had confessed that she had quit being his rival, but somehow, the confrontation with her seemed to make him more desperate now.

It was when he was swinging his sword for such a long time.

"That's a good attitude."

A happy voice was heard from behind.

"Because people who do their best are beautiful. Now is the time for you to show that."

It was Braden who had just returned from the Imperial Palace to decide the disposition of Carlon and the Empress.

"It was a friendly match that I arranged myself."

Ian calmly put the sword back into the sheath and asked quietly.

"It's a friendly match, why did you make such a useless offer?"

"If the two of you don't do well, I think the Wade name will be cut off."

Braden answered without hesitation.

"If Annabelle was hesitating, I would've tried to get her involved. There is no relationship that is as conscious of the other as being rivals, right? Anyway, the more memories between the two of you, the better."

"..."

"His Majesty the Emperor said that he would grant you a commemorative medal with a small magic stone engraved on it, even if it wasn't a victory medal. Of course, only if you win."

As if Braden was giving him a big lesson, he said seriously.

"Give Annabelle the medal and propose to her right away." (pr/n: i need annabelle to win and to propose to him with it jkfh)

"...What?"

"It means that when you push, you have to push firmly. I'm not saying that you should get married right away, but I'm telling you to do that kind of event for Miss Annabelle."

"..."

"The message is as simple as possible. Still, it's a proposal, so there's no way you're not being sincere about her... Keep it as short as possible to get to the middle."

"I might lose though?"

Ian pointed out a very important fact, but Braden answered seriously.

"That imagination won't work... You haven't lost in so long."

"Actually, it's hard for me to predict how it feels to lose."

"Anyway, do your best during the friendly match and go."

"What?"

"You shouldn't be out of shape when you propose. You have to make the most dramatic scene in the coolest possible situation."

Braden seemed to have all the blueprints in place from the moment he proposed a friendly match.

"Trust me. The proposal you give in that situation will be truly enchanting. It would be really cool."

He squinted his eyes and patted Ian on the shoulder.

"I will prepare a gift for my daughter-in-law if you succeed. It's a big win for a bet."