Peryani came to her husband's office after her daughter's visit, and as she expected, he was anxious.
"Oh please, it's not the end of the world." She rolled her eyes and patted her gloved hand on Namilde's purple hair.
"But..."
"What?" She said with a teasing tone.
With his cold cerulean eyes, he glared at her and turned away.
"Come on, she'll finally get to meet Ian."
"I don't like it." Namilde crossed his arms and laid his back on the chair.
"You never showed her to Ian before, even though he requested a visit so many times," Peryani spoke and went beside Namilde, slyly sitting on his desk.
"He's annoying," Namilde answered, still not looking at his wife.
"Not to mention, you always avoided him whenever we went to formal gatherings with Nera."
"I don't want him to see Nera."
"Why not?" She teased again, even though she knows the answer.
"He's annoying."
"He's your best friend."
"He's still annoying."
"You let him meet Noel and Noah immediately though."
"...A daughter is different." Namilde hesitated.
"You met Jasmine before."
"He let me meet her on his own accord."
"And you won't let him with ours?"
"No."
"But you allowed Nera to go to his house?"
"She asked me to," Namilde's voice became quieter and quieter. "...How can I say no to her?"
"You're so cute." Peryani giggled and kissed Namilde on the forehead. Caught off guard by her actions, he furrowed his eyebrows with a light blush showing on his face.
"What the--?"
"Let's go out for a walk in the garden, hm?" Peryani lightly pulled her husband's hand.
Namilde stared at his beaming wife and gave up arguing. With a small smile showing on his face, he sighed and nodded to his wife's words.
"...Alright, my love."
***
Nera arrived safe and sound at the Vanderwale estate with three guards around her.
She didn't bring any weapons on her but asked one of her guards to bring her sword with him at all times, as she always does.
Even as a family of knights, they are still people bound by rules within nobility and it is a rule that nobles are not allowed to bring weapons to another household unless they go there as a knight or they're permitted to.
Nera gulped and saw how large the estate was.
'It's a house of a Dukedom alright.'
This was only their house made in the capital, what more is their mansion in their territory?
One of the guards opened the carriage and held her hand as she went down. She still isn't used to it, carrying Jessica's memories, but as Nera she knows this is the usual.
Nera quickly notices how strict the entry is inside the Vanderwale estate. 'I guess it's because they're a family under Duke Vanderwale...'
Despite her being a daughter of a renowned figure in the Empire, there were multiple checks on her and her guards, but even so, her guards weren't allowed entry inside the main gates and they were asked to wait in front of the guard house.
Nera said it was fine since she can handle things on her own and since it's the Vanderwale estate, it was alright to be without guards.
She still found it peculiar how heavily guarded the place was. Even her home isn't this guarded as much, granted most of them are knights and could defend themselves.
Shaking out of her thoughts, Nera sees the beaming face of the silver-haired girl in front of the gate along with two men following behind her.
"Nera! You've finally arrived." Jasmine chirped and grasped Nera's hand.
Nera smiles at her enthusiasm, "Thank you for accepting my unreasonable request so fast, Jasmine."
Jasmine waved her hand, "I was so happy you sent me a letter that I just had to reply immediately!"
'How cute...' Nera whispers in her head. 'She's really a female lead!'
Jasmine lightly tugs Nera towards the other people that were with her.
As she walked closer, she got a better view of the other Vanderwales.
'Man, how beautiful are these people?' She asked in her head.
The two Vanderwales, only slightly having a difference in height with the father being taller, were basically carbon copies of each other. They were both silver-haired, reaching beyond their waists, with the son having longer. Green emerald eyes and white porcelain skin.
The older was staring at them blankly while the younger had a scowl on his face with his arms crossed, glaring straight at Nera.
'Looks like someone doesn't want me here.'
Nera and Jasmine stopped in their tracks as they arrived in front of the two men.
Nera's mother told her multiple times about greetings for the past week so there was no way she could forget it.
"Greetings, Your Excellency, Duke Vanderwale, and Young Master Jamie. I am Nera mi Ponterise. May the goddess bring her blessings upon you." Nera bowed, stiffly but precise with her movements so it went unnoticed to most.
Nera stayed in her bowing position for a few more seconds as she has not heard the Duke allowing her to stand up.
"Father?" Jasmine then spoke, bringing back the Duke to his senses.
"Oh my, how rude of me. You may raise your head, Lady Ponterise. May the goddess bring blessings upon you too." Duke Ian waved his hand frantically.
'What's wrong with him?' went through the minds of the Vanderwale children. They have not seen their father this flustered before except...
"Thank you, Your
Excellency."
"..."
Another awkward silence between them grew as the Duke just continued to stare at the dark-purpled hair woman.
"...Father." Jamie cleared his throat.
"Ah! I'm so sorry again." Duke Ian covered his face with his hands.
"What's wrong, Your Excellency?" Nera shyly asked.
"It's just that... you look so much like your father when he was younger. It's baffling me."
Nera's eyes widened and her body stiffened. Despite her being the only daughter, she was also the only one to inherit her father's blue eyes while her brothers had their mother's brown.
"I apologize if it makes you uncomfortable. I can't help but stare."
"No worries, Your Excellency."
Ian shook his head and spoke with a smug look on his face. "Just call me uncle!"