(That being said…it only looks like mother, but it's just a hollow doll)
She glanced at the man in front of her who composed and calmed himself.
"You would be more powerful as an empress and a Witch."
"Annul my engagement."
He gave her a perplexed look.
"Airaina, I heard you were acting differently ever since the day of your debut"
She stayed quiet.
"Does this have something to do with your request?"
"Whatever makes you annul the engagement."
He sighed. "Whatever makes you happy… but canceling your engagement with the Crown Prince will be hard and it will hurt your reputation"
"I will be a Witch in the end so it doesn't matter. Just cancel it" Her words were getting restless.
"I'll do what I can, but do your part too."
Her eyes immediately locked into his. She stood up from her seat she said:"That's my specialty." before leaving.
The Marquess sat quietly at his table, remembering something from the distant past.
Tapping on the table with his pen, with each beat getting faster.
"Ahh..."
He sighed. pLooking up from his seat, the creases on his face tells that he's stressed.
"Fredrick, send this to his Majesty." Putting away his work on the left drawer, he handed the old butler a letter.
After the butler left, he looked at the picture of Lillian. "She changed Lillian...I don't understand that child."
His eyes narrowed, realizing something.
It wasn't the first time Ainaira had a change of personality.
12 years ago, after the death of the previous Marchioness, Lillian, the Marquess regretted going to war and being unable to see his wife's last moments and funeral.
When he returned, Ainaira started acting differently. She was screaming, hitting and throwing things at the servants. She neglected her studies and would often buy the most expensive clothes, toys and accessories there is.
She wasn't like this before. Prior to Lillian's death, she was just like her mother: sweet, kind and forgiving.
He dismissed that as her way of grieving.
Eventually she'll return back to normal if time passes, but she never did.
Exasperated, the Marquess put his hand on his face and groans.
"I'm such a bad father…"
-
*CRACK—*
A small cup of tea fell down from Noah's hand.
"What."
Servants stood tense on the side while the Crown Prince comprehended the letter.
Compared to the bright sunny day, and scent of sweet flowers that had just bloom. The Crown Prince received an unexpected letter
"Annulment..."
He said under his breath, unable to believe the contents.
"Haha..."
The faces of the servants break into a cold and nervous sweat.
"AHAHAHAHA—"
*SLAM*
Noah couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. The small round table in front of him cracked from the pressure of hitting it.
"I need to see her...I'm going to the Dharmanath Estate!"
He announced it to his servants.
with that one sentence they all started moving and getting ready to depart.
-
Ainaira did a waving motion with her hands and a black fog slowly started to form into a ghostly raven.
"WOAH!!"
Ainsley jumps at his seat.
The two siblings were at a part of the garden where there is a maze that has rose bushes. In the middle of the garden maze was a long table with 6 chairs.
On the left side of the table, there are various books perched on the table, mostly about magic configuration. The right side is where the siblings have desserts and juice.
Illusions and Hallucinations are the most difficult subjects to do in magic, whether you're a Sorcerer or a Witch.
It takes a large amount of mana to do illusions for Sorcerers, while Witches strain their mental stability instead.
The mind is a chaotic place, imagining things with only vague descriptions will cause your magic to attack you instead or may end up destroying reality.
For Sorcerers, Illusions or Hallucinations are accompanied with chants. It's like a guide or a blueprint, so they don't have to worry about the effects Witches have.
"Most Sorcerers avoid using illusions! You must have a lot of mana!"
"Hm...Sorcerer? Are you sure?"
"Eh? You're not...?"
In a moment of confusion, Ainsley noticed his mistake.
"Oh, you're a Witch! That's even more impressive!"
Seeing the glow in the eyes of her little brother, Ainaira feels like she's the subject of an experiment and he is observing her like a lab rat.
"Unexpectedly, it only took one day for father to agree with me."
She was ready to do anything just to annul the marriage. She even planned out a 1 week of scheme in order for the marquess to nod in defeat.
Though she felt a bit sad that she couldn't enact her plan, she was relieved it only took a few words of convincing and a performance to make him agree.
That's why Ainaira planned to use the remaining day to teach Ainsley magic.
"I'll still be busy though, but I can slip in some lessons for you"
Ainsley smiled hearing her say those words.
"Remember, while there's few Sorcerers powerful enough to cast magic without any chants. If a random amateur did magic with zero chants, they're likely a Witch..."
He took out his pen and notebook and started writing notes.
"Alright, let's start on your magic."
Just as they were about to begin. Ainaira heard footsteps from two people.
She recognized to whom these footsteps belonged.
"Ugh...kill me" she whispered to herself.
Ainsley turned his head at the arch to see Noah and Aeron.
Noah's face looked like he was about to explode, but was concealing it by smiling, which didn't help.
Aeron on the other hand had no emotion on his face, per usual. He's not called the Ice knight for nothing.
The two of them stood up and greeted the Crown Prince.
"Your Royal Highness."
"What business do you have here to grace us with your presence, Your Highness?"
Ainaira's voice was cold and uncaring, which was far from what Noah remembers.
Ainaira acted sweet and loving to Noah in the past, so why is it that she's using that type of tone?
"We need to talk about the annulment."
Noah gripped his hands together.
Noticing his struggles Ainaira internally laughed
(You don't even love me but you're acting like this hurts you...I'm sure your pride got hurt though.)
"I don't think there's anything to discuss further. There was no mistake nor will there be any changes."
"But, we've been engaged since we were young. those times...did they mean nothing to you?"
(Fuck this damn prince! He's seriously not letting this situation go!)
Trying not to show her irritation, she said:
"Ainsley, go with Aeron. Me and his Royal Highness need to talk about something."
Ainsley wanted to intervene and ask if it's alright but felt like he was going out of line. While he is concerned, he decided to follow his older brother outside.
After making sure they're gone, Ainaira was the first to talk.
"Let's quit pretending, or is your ego so big that you can't handle being dumped?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Be honest, not once had you thought about going through this engagement, right? I'm sure you're waiting for the girl of your dreams and once you get her, you'll cancel our engagement."
She repeatedly taps her cheeks then looks at Noah with a dead serious face.
"And... if I'm not mistaken, you already found her."
She recalls that in her first life, Josephine and the princess became close during her debut. therefore Noah would have a lot of moments to talk to her in the palace.
And it was true. His face became emotionless. it was enough for Airaina to know that he's trying to not show his emotions.
"Ha...this doesn't explain why you suddenly changed."
If he looked like a worried lover who is in the process of being dumped earlier, then right now his icy-cold gaze is that of a stranger.
"Oh, please you're not the only one who can act."
She smiled mockingly at him.