episode_0003

After organizing their plans, Johan and Francia left the hotel.

The manager quietly turned his gaze away, as he could tell just by looking at Francia’s dress that it was of considerable luxury.

‘You know we spent a night we shouldn’t have.’

Francia, who exudes a noble air and can be seen as a high-ranking noblewoman, and a noblewoman who is wearing clothes of an appropriate material that does not match her appearance.

Even a passing dog can tell that the status difference between the two is clear.

“Are you here, Your Majesty?”

As she came out in front of the building, the three knights who had been waiting for Francia raised their heads.

A middle-aged knight with a sturdy build and a face covered in scars stood at the front.

He glanced around, examined John’s appearance, and furrowed his brow. It seemed as if he had immediately understood what had happened the night before.

But perhaps because he was in front of Francia, his wrinkled face quickly relaxed.

“The Duke is waiting.”

“Okay. Let’s go back right away.”

“But the man next to me… … .”

“Ah. This guy.”

Francia smiled and pointed at John with her hand.

“The third son of the Harsen family, Johann Harsen Young-sik. He is my future husband. You guys should say hello too.”

The middle-aged knight’s face turned cold when he heard the word “husband.” He must have been so surprised that his face suddenly turned pale.

“Princess, your husband! Without even consulting the Duke… … .”

“Okay. Enough with the father talk.”

Francia turned her head quickly and went to the front of the carriage, where she was escorted up by the driver.

“Eric, don’t say anything, you’ll be nagged by your father.”

“… Yes.”

Despite what Francia said, the middle-aged knight, Eric, still stared at Johan with an uneasy expression.

John opened his eyes shallowly, accepting the gaze without any emotion.

‘…indeed.’

If a knight is worthy of being entrusted with the escort of Francia by the Duke of Perbace, does that mean that the third son of the viscount’s family can be ignored?

Certainly, in the current situation, since the Duke would have supported him, it wouldn’t be a big problem even if he sent him disrespectful looks.

◦Please take %◦.”

The knight on the left pointed in the direction with his hand. John got into the carriage while receiving a cold stare.

“We’ll leave right away.”

“Yeah.”

As the carriage wheels began to roll, Francia smiled brightly.

“My father may seem cold on the outside, but he is a warm-hearted person. If I explain John’s plan calmly and clearly to him, he will definitely understand.”

It’s true that he’s cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He only shows his warm side to his only daughter.

Even the cold part is not just cold. It is a battlefield demon that fits the description of cold-blooded.

How would he treat a low-ranking nobleman who came to him out of nowhere, saying he would marry his only daughter and take her first child? It wouldn’t be strange if he were executed on the spot.

‘But I still believe in something.’

If you show the talent to join the ranks of the Imperial Officials as a special magician, the Duke will have no choice but to change his mind.

And while John’s family line is said to be lacking, it is not entirely without its flaws.

As the Harsen family’s power is weak, the Duke’s words cannot help but carry weight.

From the perspective of a duke who cherishes his daughter, it might be better to send his only daughter to the Harsen family rather than giving her up for a political marriage full of all kinds of intrigue.

‘There are enough bargaining chips.’

John answered with a light smile.

“That’s right. The Duke is a very affectionate person. I’m sure he’ll listen to what we have to say.”

“That’s right. But have I ever told you about your father?”

John shook his head.

“I haven’t heard anything about the Duke, but I told you because I thought it was thanks to the Duke’s love that Francia was able to grow up so beautifully.”

As he said that, Francia covered her mouth with her hand and smiled shyly.

“Haha, you speak well too.”

It seemed like he liked the lip service. Yohan smiled and looked out the window.

‘Let me think about what magic I can use right now.’

I know how to use all kinds of magic for convenience. Things like cleaning magic and manipulation magic that moves objects with magic power.

But that wasn’t enough. A high-level and powerful attribute magic was needed.

‘I can only use basic attribute magic.’

The only attribute magic it can do is shoot small fireballs like fireballs or bolts that shock enemies on contact.

This alone would be enough to claim the title of a proper wizard, but it would be nothing short of an imperial officer, the first order of knights in the empire.

Because the Imperial Civil Service is a knightly order, an asymmetrical force of the Empire, it is on a different level from a mercenary group or an adventurer’s guild.

‘Is it a priority to learn as many high-level magics as possible before the entrance exam?’

His talent is outstanding. He can even decipher the runes himself. With just a little more learning, the flower of magic that has been rotting away until now will bloom.

John asked.

“How long has Francia been learning magic?”

“Me? Uh… … .”

Francia answered, tapping her cheek with her index finger.

“I received magical affinity training from the time I was a child who could barely walk. After my affinity level reached a certain level, I started learning runes formally. Magic came next.”

It’s a classic route, from gradually increasing your affinity without missing a beat to finding attributes that match your aptitude with various runes.

“But why is that?”

“I think it’s time to learn magic properly.”

“Hmm? Didn’t you learn magic…?”

When Francia asked cautiously, Johan smiled lightly.

“I learned it all by myself. That’s why I can only use small magic like this.”

Exactly. John snapped his fingers. A small snowflake appeared in the air.

“Right now, I can only express my magical powers. So this time, I plan to learn properly in order to be with Francia.”

Francia smiled awkwardly.

“There’s no need to push yourself too hard. I’ll explain it to your father.”

Her voice was filled with concern.

Francia must be saying that because she knows that magic becomes difficult to learn once you get older.

“It’s okay. What Francia is worried about won’t happen. Don’t worry, I’ll show you later.”

John smiled faintly and turned his head out the window again.

The mansion of the Duke of Pervace in the zodiac was approaching.

* * *

The Pervace Mansion of the Zodiac.

The cold, ominous air makes my breath and nostrils puff up just by breathing.

Even though it’s been quite some time since winter passed, the reason the servants of this mansion are shivering is.

“Francia’s location is.”

Duke Perbache, Frost Perbache, was increasing his frost attribute magic power to the limit.

“… They are currently coming to the mansion. They will arrive in about 10 minutes.”

The Duke of Perbace’s aide, Enrique, swallowed hard at the ominous murderous intent that the Duke was emitting.

“Yeah. Yeah. I guess it’ll come.”

He asked with a hardened face, his hands clasped together at his desk in his office, his air of seriousness radiating from his face.

“Has the man who was with Francia finished his investigation?”

“Yes.”

Aide Enrique unfolded the documents he had brought and began listing the personal information of the man Francia was seeing.

“Johann Harsen. The third son of the Harsen family. He did not enter university, but he achieved the highest grades in social studies at the academy.”

Palak. As the papers were turned over, Enrique’s mouth opened again.

“He showed exceptional talent in both swordsmanship and magic in special classes, but he did not enter any department. He did not apply for the civil service either.”

Duke Pervace, Frost frowned.

“There’s no fault to be found for nothing. It’s really unpleasant.”

It was a career that could be said to be perfect, but the Duke did not tolerate it.

Even Lenokhonen, who formed the two major mountain ranges with Perbace, would not have tolerated it.

“He must be capable, considering he graduated at the top of his class in social studies. If he had come in as an aide, I would have welcomed him with open arms. But I can’t accept him as a son-in-law.”

Frost looked at his portrait with shallow eyes.

The shadows of the Duke of Pervace had stolen the painting that was stored in the Academy.

“Now that I look at it, your appearance is not ordinary. You must have bewitched our Francia with this face. You damn fox! ”

Otherwise, there is no way that the wise Francia would spend the night with such a strange man.

‘Damn, I should have declined your request to attend the party yesterday, no matter what.’

The peacock’s face became even more wrinkled.

I had a chance to visit the center for a while, so I came with Francia to travel. But guess what? There’s a grand party being held at the Marquis’ house!

Francia could not help but be interested in it, and the Duke could not bring himself to refuse her earnest request and gave his permission.

Instead, the condition set was that he return before it got too late.

But Francia never came back.

She wasn’t even shadowed because there were knights escorting her…

‘They can’t even do their jobs properly…!’

What on earth were you doing instead of protecting Francia! If something had happened with this strange man… … .

“It seems that you have a unique perspective on etiquette and various knowledge and skills.”

“Etiquette? Techniques? There are many people in our family who have an eye for these things!”

Boom! Frost slammed the desk down. Everything he touched froze and a white frost began to spread.

“I can’t accept this guy. If what I imagine happened, this guy wouldn’t be okay.”

The air in the office was frozen solid. A cold flame seemed to rise from his eyes.

“Still, it would be better to listen to the princess’s opinion… … .”

“Francia is not old enough for that yet.”

Enrique thought as he saw the peacock snickering.

‘I’m twenty, I’m old enough to get married… ‘

Women’s marriages are usually decided between the ages of 17 and 23, but it is not unusual for high-ranking nobles to have their partners decided from childhood.

But what about Francia Perbace? Even though she is twenty, the prime age for marriage, she can’t even bring up the ‘end’ of marriage.

This was because of the overprotection of the Duke of Pervace.

Naturally, the other nobles did not approach him at all. They also knew that if they made contact, they would be left with nothing.

‘… There’s nothing I can do. I’m in the middle so I have no choice but to mediate.’

Enrique sighed secretly and shook his head.

* * *

As I continued my conversation with Francia, I soon arrived at the Perbache mansion in the zodiac.

John got out of the carriage first as if he was used to it and offered Francia a hand.

“Oh my, thank you.”

Francia smiled and got out of the carriage, escorted by Johan.

Clank!

As the gate to the mansion opened, the waiting servants and an unknown man greeted me politely.

“Welcome, Princess. And Johan Harsen Youngsik.”

John’s body flinched. Did that mean he had finished investigating himself?

You could tell that Duke Pervace had ground his teeth hard.

“The Duke wants to see you right away.”

The nameless man in front of me got straight to the point.

John’s throat felt heavy as he swallowed.

‘You’re here.’

This is the first gateway to living a life with Francia.