The Duke's Unwanted Wife

“I don’t know what you were expecting from a child. I knew he was younger than me but who knew it was this much younger. I feel weird.”    

“Yes, he is a bit tinier than you. So, that’s the man you fell in love with? I see. I’ll make sure to raise him properly,” Madaline said with fire in her eyes.    

“There’s no need to go that far. He’ll grow up to be a splendid person if you leave him alone. Although, I wonder. If we didn’t save each other, would we have ended up together? I’m curious.”    

“I think, no matter what, a human’s nature is determined from the moment they are born. Regardless of circumstances, they will stay true to themselves. If he was a good person when he’s grown up, I’m sure he will grow up to be the same. So, no matter what, I think…” Madaline abruptly stopped, both of them watching Amaika approach. Since the werephoenixes never aged or died, it was the same as the one in Natalia’s memories. They knelt in front of Natalia.    

“I feel drawn to you. Will you be my master?”    

“Huh. That was quick,” Madaline commented.    

“Say something other than that, Madaline!”    

“Divine Birds are beings who transcend time and space. Even if they don’t have the memories, the feelings must’ve reached them. That’s really impactful, isn’t it? This way, you don’t have to work too hard.”    

“No, I won’t bind them to myself ignorantly as I did before. I know a divine Bird is wise but you binding yourself to me comes with severe consequences. There are burdens you will bear and there would be sacrifices made on your behalf. Lives will be lost if you decide to be bound to me. Can you accept it?”    

“You’re different from other small humans I’ve come across. If you have thought that far ahead, then I see no problem in making you my master.”    

“Instead of binding yourself to me, why don’t you bind yourself to that werewolf?” Natalia said, pointing to Marvis. The disapproval on their face was immediate. Their annoyance for Marvis also transcended space and time.    

“He bears immaculate talents as far as I can see but he feels disappointing.”    

“Is it because you’re comparing him to someone else? He’s just a child.”    

“How did you know…that I’m comparing him to someone else?”    

“How can you feel disappointed if this is the first time you’re meeting him? Isn’t that an indication that you have met someone like him?”    

“Perhaps.”    

“Why don’t you get to know him first? You don’t have to do it right away. It might take years and you have to settle with that. But it is not my wish to bind you to my side. As a majestic being, you shouldn’t bind yourself with someone else but if it is necessary for you, then bind yourself to him.”    

“...I see. I understand now. Thank you,” they said, standing up. After they talked away, Madaline finally spoke again.    

“Don’t you think that was harsh?”    

“It’s one of the things I considered necessary. There are harsh decisions I had to make and this happens to be one of them. Amaika is loyal and I’m sure they will make the right decision if they consider it well.”    

“If that is what you wish, then I shall abide by your decision. I am just worried about something. Amaika is important to you and so am I. What if you had decided not to call me, just as you have decided not to contract Amaika? The mere thought of that is upsetting. There’s also the fact of priorities. You placed me at a higher priority because I had the power to help you. What if I didn’t? Would you have forged ahead by yourself?”    

“I have no reason to cause unnecessary sorrow and harm to people’s lives. I would prefer that all of them are happy. So, your conjecture is correct. If it will cause harm to your life, then I will prefer not doing it.”    

“You’re really cruel, Natalia.”    

“I’d like to believe I’m impartial. Please take care of them for me.”    

“I will do all I can.”    

Natalia appeared back in the mansion just in time for her training classes. She didn’t think her training in the past would be different as she had sufficient financial intelligence. Letting Sebastian handle it them was just because she didn’t have all the time in the world to do multiple things at once.    

“Thank you for making it in time. Did you see what you wanted to see?” Dame Violet asked as she entered the office. Taking a brief glance, she saw Sebastian was there as well. She nodded and took a seat. Surprisingly, they had provided a cup of tea and snacks for them both. Sebastian refrained from eating the snacks but Natalia bit right into it.    

The first lesson progressed well. Dame Violet was impressed that the two kept up with her lessons and ramped up the pace. She was convinced that in just a few weeks, she wouldn’t have anything to teach them anymore. She decided to hand over minor documents from the Merchant Association to them both to take care of.    

“Grandmother, when do you plan on reaching out to the Queen of Polivia so we can import Mythril directly from them and help the people of the mountain tribes?”    

“It’s a bit hard butting into personal affairs like that, especially in foreign nations. But I will make sure to arrange a meeting with the Queen of Polivia. If she agrees, then you two can come with me.”    

“Thank you, Grandmother,” Natalia said, smiling brightly. Sebastian didn’t respond, only raising his head once. Natalia knew what she said impacted him but she didn’t say anything else. Sebastian was the type of person who knew how to think for himself and arrive at logical solutions. The Sebastian she knew was overprotective so she was naturally curious to see how he would turn out. There was also the case of Vivia.    

“How did you ever learn to tame this hair of yours?” Vivia asked while brushing it. Since they naturally had a different hair type with its vibrant red color, it was harder to take care of it. Most of the servants in her father’s home didn’t know how to take care of it so it was a journey of trial and failure to be able to take care of it. But in the Hazel household, the servants were equipped to handle her hair, making it look better than she ever could.    

“Trial and error. I lost a lot of it in that process. But don’t worry. I made everyone think that my hair looks perfect even in its natural form.”    

“Hahaha, I wouldn’t expect anything less. So, where did you want to go again?”    

“I want to go to the Grayson fief. There is a child I wish to find. I want mother to take a walk with me there.”    

“If this is the wish of my dearest daughter, then your mother will comply.”    

After dressing her daughter up, the two geared up to leave, thinking it was only the both of them that would go. They were surprised to see Sebastian waiting for them with a bashful look on his face. Natalia did not object to his presence and together, they left in a carriage.    

“Wow! So they have contraptions like that in Polivia?”    

Natalia nodded, smiling. Even then and now, their mother seemed to really enjoy the idea of the Sky Tube. Sebastian looked interested too but he didn’t join the conversation, especially since they were talking about Polivia.    

“Bastian, you’re not curious about the Sky Tube?”    

“I do think it’s a wonderful contraption but I doubt its existence.”    

“Hmm, I thought you would. But the people who build these contraption have a special name for their profession. They are called engineers. They create a type of magic that is not like ours. I think you might be interested in it.”    

“Why does it seem like you’re intent on making me go to Polivia?”    

“It’s because you’re curious. You don’t need to suppress yourself.”    

“Easy for you to say,” he mumbled, taking his attention back to the scenery moving with the carriage. After watching for a little bit, he found something strange. He turned to Natalia immediately.    

“Why does it feel like we’re moving faster than normal?”    

“It’s because we are. Instead of directly teleporting to our destination, I laid out a general spell that lets us skip some parts of the journey.”    

“But that’s an insanely complicated spell!”    

“It is. It took me days to come up with it.”    

“Natalia, normally, it takes a lifetime to come up with something like this. I can’t believe this. Outshadowed and dwarfed by my own little sister.”    

“You aren’t one to talk. You solved a 50-year dispute in one sitting yesterday.”    

“Really?! That’s amazing, Sebastian! Mommy is proud of you!” Vivia squealed, hugging her child. He blushed but didn’t struggle, glad his mother wasn’t all skin and bones like the last time she held him. It wasn’t like she had gotten plump overnight but her skin was looking healthier.    

“Both my children are very amazing. Mommy must work hard to not be left behind, eh? Perhaps I will compete for the position of the House head.”    

“You’re just starting to heal, mother. Perhaps you should consider something more subtle. You don’t have to lean in right away.”    

“What about becoming an engineer like you said? Mommy would like to see and build those magnificent contraptions!”    

“If that is what you wish for, then you can do it, mother,” Natalia encouraged. Vivia reached to hug Natalia too. Tears fell from her eyes as she burst with happiness. She never imagined this day would come but now, she was living it.