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*****
It wasn't because I was young that Ferze. proposed a contract marriage to Visenna.
It was to repay that debt, since his life was saved thanks to me.
Since this was a problem that couldn't be solved with money alone, he proposed a deal to Visenna and offered my status as an adopted daughter.
The Karnen mine that Ferze had offered as a condition of the deal was something that even the emperor coveted.
The magic stones and metals from the mine accounted for 30% of the Grand Duchy of Yekart's annual income.
Ferze couldn't have been a very kind person, and he certainly wasn't a magpie who repaid favors.
It was a huge loss for the Grand Duke, so he went ahead with the contract marriage.
*****
The owner of the voice was wearing a black robe stained with blood.
He looked a little taller than me.
The person who approached was not a fully grown adult.
He was a boy not much older than me.
"...... Who, who are you?"
I didn't know how much magic the opponent had, and I had never used magic before, but I thought I should at least use defensive magic.
I heard a low chuckle, and the boy slid down the robe covering his face.
*****
- It's true, miss.
- You're lying, right? My dad told you to do that, right?
- How could I lie in front of you?
The answer I heard was always the same.
When I continued to ask, the aide gave the same answer.
It felt like I was talking to a parrot.
- I don't know much about this, so I'd like you to ask His Highness when he comes.....
In the end, he showed a puzzled expression.
I had no choice but to leave because I felt like if I asked anymore, the frail aide would collapse.
The news of the Grand Duke's death also spread throughout the rest of the Duke's estate as well.
*****
"No, just kidding."
I shook my head with a pale face.
Despite strongly denying that it was a joke, the doubts between the two did not go away easily.
Even though they weren't related by blood, it seems like Sharkis and Shurei are brothers.
They were both looking at me with narrowed eyes.
'Looking at it that way, there are quite a few similarities.'
What are you going to do?
Shurei, who had that look in his eyes, looked at me and burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded.
Phew, thank goodness.
*****
Knock, knock.
The office door opened with a knock.
As the aide entered, Eustia, who had been looking at the documents, raised his head.
"His Highness the Grand Duke of Yekartes has sent a letter."
That's really annoying news to hear.
Eustia reached out and took the letter from his aide.
Srak.
The letter sealed with red wax was opened with a paper knife.
Soon, the Grand Duke's fine handwriting came into view.
*****
The next morning, the fun and tedious flight training session arrived.
Miray taught me the basic magic, and Shurei helped me with the physical training.
The training that used to take two hours ended up taking quite a while.
After another hour of training, we were finally given a sweet break.
"Tweety, thank you for your hard work."
I offered a carrot to a giant wyvern.
The sound of a carrot being bitten rang in my ears.
'Has your appetite changed? You're eating well.'
Even while eating the carrot I gave him, Tweety was busy looking at Shurei's face.
*****
If you were a minor, marriage was impossible, but if you were a nobleman, engagement was possible through a deal between two families.
The engagement itself is established by the parties going to the clerk and submitting the documents.
According to the imperial family law, minors under the age of 19 required the consent of a parent or guardian.
Since I had never gone to the palace to propose an engagement, Ferze and I were not yet in a relationship.
The contract between my family, Visenna, and his family, Yekartes, simply remains.
'It must be difficult for Ferze too, right?'
I trusted and entrusted Visenna with the task of quickly lifting my curse, but there was no sign of it being lifted.
If the engagement really happens, there will be a turmoil in the Djibril Empire.