AWWEWNR Chapter 12

💫

 

After the meeting with the Knights, Hanaella returned to her study. 

 

Although she didn’t need to learn how to cast dark magic, she knew it would be useful in many situations. 

 

Indeed, her father, Ethan Verk Ariel, had been a valuable contributor to the Imperial Army, not only by sharing his power with the Knights but also by casting spells on demons himself.

 

While her father had told her that she didn’t have to learn dark magic, as it could be dangerous and the Lord could always rely on the Knights to help them. 

 

After what she had gone through in the past, Hanaella needed her own power. Princess Leige asked her to show her dark magic sometimes.

 

Hanaella began to read through the book of spells. It was easier to learn than she thought. 

 

The main skill, Shadow Binding, was very interesting. 

 

It was a brutal spell that not only summoned shadows from the ground to bind a target, but also wrapped around the target’s body and blew them to bits. 

 

It was a type of dark magic mainly used by the Knights’ Legionnaires as their main skill.

 

‘Hmm…? A higher level skill, a dark magic that only legionnaires and lords can use?’ 

 

「Shadow Paralysis」

 

This was a skill that paralyzed the target’s body completely. 

 

While Shadow Bind could only hold an enemy for a short time, this ability could not be released until the caster freed it themselves. 

 

Hanaella focused her mind on mastering the skills of dark magic, which didn’t seem as difficult to cast as she thought.

 

💫

 

The day of the Tea Party hosted by Rosaryn has arrived. 

 

The Princess had been invited, so Rosaryn had gone to great lengths to prepare for her guests, and she stepped out into the garden to check the tea table one last time. 

 

It was a plan she’d spent days devising, trying to juggle Hanaella, who had shown no interest in Tharrott, and her Highness, who she needed to befriend.

 

It had been a stroke of luck that she had overheard at the coming-of-age ceremony that the Princess was interested in dark magic. 

 

Rosaryn had calculated that if she invited the Princess to a tea party, albeit a small one, Hanaella would have no choice but to accept the invitation. 

 

The Princess would be more than happy to come if she were invited. Sure enough, as she had hoped, neither wrote to decline the invitation.

 

Rosaryn felt she had to take this opportunity. She didn’t know why Hanaella wasn’t interested in Tharrott, but it wouldn’t hurt to get the word out that she didn’t like him. 

 

‘I’d just have to make time for them to be alone. The slightest hint that the two of them were enjoying an affair would spread like wildfire.’

 

To Duke Ariel, she could send him an unaddressed letter explaining that her daughter was smitten with Tharrott, and that her love for him was being hindered by the bad blood between the two families. 

 

He would call Hanaella or Tharrott to find out what happened. 

 

If Hanaella said it was Tharrott, there was evidence that the two of them had been sneaking around at the tea party that day. 

 

He would assume that his daughter was trying to hide their relationship because of her and her family’s woes.

 

At that point, all Tharrott needed to do was appear pitiful and ask Duke Ariel to give his consent to their marriage. 

 

To do so, he must convince him that no matter how much he might protest about it, he’s only holding back his heart for the sake of his family. 

 

Today was the day to break the ice.

 

She had to make Hanaella become Tharrott’s wife, regardless of whether she was acquainted with the Crown Prince. 

 

To her, it didn’t matter who the Crown Prince was at this point.

 

‘Empress.’

 

She needed the Knights of Ariel’s House to catch the Empress’s attention, for that was the only way to ensure Tharrott’s success. 

 

Rosaryn reviewed her plans, determined to keep Tharrott and Hanaella alone today, no matter what.

 

💫

 

“Thank you all for coming.”

 

Rosaryn greeted the guests at the tea party, looking more glamorous and beautiful than ever. 

 

It was a small gathering, with only the Princess, Hanaella, and three noble ladies in attendance, but thanks to the Princess and Hanaella, the quality of the gathering had been greatly honored. 

 

The presence of the Princess and the next Lady of Ariel in Thearine House made Rosaryn feel like she was already one step closer to accomplishing what she had set out to do.

 

The gathered nobles enjoyed the tea party, exchanging brief greetings and small talk. 

 

In the presence of the Princess, they were all cautious in their conversation. 

 

As expected, the Princess showed interest in Hanaella’s dark magic, and upon seeing her, the latter cast the shadow-binding spell she had recently learned.

 

“Oh- how interesting, can you show me anything else?”

 

“My father is capable of greater dark magic, but I’ve only just begun to master it, so this is all I can show you yet.”

 

“Oh, don’t say that, I’m just happy to see you here.”

 

Beaming, Leige took a sip of her tea with a graceful demeanor, then her eyes lit up as if she had remembered something, and she spoke to Hanaella.

 

“So I take it you plan to learn other dark spells as well?”

 

“Yes. Of course…”

 

Clap— 

 

Before Hanaela could finish her sentence, Leige clapped a hand.

 

“Then I’ll invite you to the imperial palace soon, so show them to me again.”

 

A little taken aback by the sudden request, Hanaella smiled and agreed. 

 

Excited, Leige invited the other young ladies present to join her, causing the other ladies’ faces to brighten as well. Rosaryn jumped for joy at this unexpected opportunity.

 

‘Imperial Palace.’

 

And that was the main purpose in the first place. 

 

‘At this rate, it wouldn’t be hard to gain the Empress’s favor. If only I could get Hanaella hooked up with Tharrott…’

 

 At the thought, Rosaryn’s mind began to grow impatient. 

 

She planned to talk it over a bit more, but she needed to get the word out quickly, so she took a sip of her tea, pretended to set it down, and spilled it all over Hanaella’s skirt.

 

“Oops!”

 

“…!”

 

“Oh! I’m sorry, Miss Hanaella!”

 

Rosaryn embarrassed, wiped Hanaella’s skirt with her handkerchief.

 

“Oh, it’s all right…”

 

“It’s my fault. I’ll give you a change of clothes, and we can go into the mansion.”

 

“No, please, it is not that wet, and when I get back to the house…”

 

“Please don’t do that, Lady Hanaella, and get changed.”

 

“Yes, Lady Hanaella. We’re in the middle of a great conversation, and I’d hate to see you go home first.”

 

Finding it difficult to resist each of the young ladies, Hanaella gave a short sigh and said, “I’ll take the clothes, but I’d like to use the restroom.” 

 

Rosaryn replied without the slightest hesitation that she understood, as it was only a matter of escorting her into the manor.

 

As she walked with Rosaryn through the gardens to the Thearine mansion, Hanaella felt a twinge of anxiety. 

 

But as soon as the butler opened the front door, her face instantly hardened when she saw Tharrott standing in the doorway to greet her.

 

“Ah, there you are, my brother, I have accidentally spilled tea on Miss Hanaella’s clothes. Please call a maid to clean her skirt. Miss Hanaella, since my brother is here, I will excuse myself, or if you would like to change into my clothes, my brother can escort you to my dressing room.”

 

“…”

 

“I am so sorry, Miss Hanaella.”

 

“…It’s all right, it was a mistake.”

 

“That’s very kind of you to say, and now that the Princess is here, I’ll leave you to it, my brother, and Miss Hanaella.”

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

Tharrott nodded awkwardly. Hanaella watched Rosaryn’s back as she disappeared, wondering if they had set this up on purpose.

 

“It is a pleasure to see you, my lady Hanaella.”

 

‘Ah… I didn’t want to run into this man.’ 

 

“…Pleased to meet you, Count Thearine.”

 

“Please call me Tharrott.”

 

Hanaella’s face hardened at his words.