I staked my resignation on it. I vowed that I would act as a protective barrier around my in-laws during this New Year’s Ball and would become a living totem, holding the family together.
I swore not to interact with any nobles outside of my in-laws. At the same time, I had to ensure my in-laws wouldn’t engage with other nobles either. It was the only way to safeguard what little peace of mind I had left.
It’s stifling.
If I failed to keep that vow, the feeling of eyes boring into the back of my head would be the least of my problems. I’d likely be bombarded with a barrage of questions until my eardrums felt like they were going to burst.
Honestly, I was a bit scared to look back. I could surely handle a punch or two, but taking multiple blows to the gut in a short span of time was a different story.
That was exactly the situation now. Here I was, attending my first official event since getting into a relationship. But I didn’t have just one partner—there were six.
Two of them came from ducal families, and one was a duke herself. Even the most indifferent sage would be giving me a standing ovation. It was no wonder I was being bombarded by stares.
Still, I could handle it if it stopped there. Marriages among the nobility were standard practice, after all. The fact that the Mage Duchess herself was marrying someone as young as me might be surprising to them, but the concept of marriage itself wasn’t shocking. It was a lot of attention, but not something entirely out of the ordinary.
“Wait, she’s Her Grace’s disciple? That young lady?”
“Unbelievable. Her Grace has always offered advice here and there, but she’s never taken on a formal disciple.”
“Exactly. Even the past Tower Masters never had the privilege of being taught by her. This is huge.”
However, the appearance of the Mage Duchess’s disciple was a whole different issue. No matter how you spun it, this was an event that shouldn’t have happened. The reaction from the nobles, after hearing the Mage Duchess’s declaration, spoke volumes.
Despite countless pleas from other Tower Masters over the years, the Mage Duchess never took on a disciple. And now there was one out of the blue? This was the kind of news that would make any mage gasp, not just in the empire but anywhere in the world.
Naturally, the nobles who had been keeping their distance started stirring. It was no surprise considering the potential political ripple effects of someone being named the Mage Duchess’s disciple. And it wasn’t just any disciple—she was the only disciple. That made it even more powerful.
“We haven’t had the chance to meet before, but now we’re family.”
“Oh, um, yes...”
“Once you have time, come visit the tower. I’ll teach you properly as your teacher.”
Even in the middle of all this, the Mage Duchess gently patted Louise on the head while speaking in a soft tone. It was almost funny how a simple comment like that could send the nobles spiraling into chaos in real-time.
Of course, I didn’t stop it. Although Louise was now the center of excessive attention with her new title as ‘the Mage Duchess’s only disciple,’ this was something she had to bear considering her original status. It was still much better than being seen as a lesser-ranking lover.
“Congratulations, Louise. A future Tower Master is standing right before us.”
I gave Louise a reassuring smile. Of everyone here, she was probably the most overwhelmed. She could use some guidance on how to handle this.
“Th-thank you!”
With my words snapping her back to reality, Louise quickly bowed to the Mage Duchess, expressing her gratitude. And just like that, their unofficial mentorship from nine years ago was formalized.
It was truly a joyous occasion...
***That was the story I explained to the 1st Manager, who had joined us late.
“So, that’s why I’m here too?”
“Yep. It’s not like you had anywhere else to be, anyway.”
“Well, that’s true.”
As the 1st Manager nodded, I added with a smirk.
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