Narrator's POV
There wasn't much conversation between Merlin and Adrianne on the way back, but Adrianne noticed that Merlin was in a good mood.
He had a smile on his face, but it wasn't the usual polite smile. It was a rare sincere smile.
'Even if I'm slightly annoyed that he bought those Orcs, I'm still happy to see him display a facial expression that matches his young age.'
Merlin didn't know it, but his genius slightly worried Adrianne. Unlike his mother, Adrianne had grown up in an ordinary environment.
She knew that Merlin's intelligence could prevent him from living a normal boy's life, and that worried her, just like Susan.
That's why she appreciated these rare moments when Merlin "let his guard down" in front of his close ones.
"Miss Adrianne, we have arrived," shouted the carriage driver.
"Merlin..." Adrianne reached out her hand to help Merlin get down. Of course, Merlin took it.
He could get down by himself, but etiquette didn't allow such acts, unless he wasn't accompanied, which is unusual for a boy.
"Thank you."
After thanking Adrianne, Merlin casually headed towards his quarters in the manor.
"Excuse me, Merlin." On the way to his quarters with Adrianne, Merlin was intercepted by someone he didn't expect to meet so quickly.
"Miss Olivia!" Merlin spoke to her formally, automatically drawing a line between them, unlike Olivia who had approached him in a friendly manner.
Olivia's eyes widened slightly before returning to their original state.
She seemed slightly surprised by Merlin's attitude, but she also understood his attempt to put some distance between them.
This small attempt clearly couldn't stop a woman eager to have a child, especially not in a world where men are sought-after creatures.
"I'd like to take a little walk after such a long day of work, can you accompany me?"
She approached Merlin, ignoring Adrianne's presence who was accompanying him. Merlin signaled Adrianne to leave them alone.
"I'll take my leave." She bowed before glancing at Merlin and leaving.
From the direction she took, she was heading towards Chloe's office.
"We're alone, Miss Olivia, what would you like to see in this humble place?"
...
Merlin's POV
Finally, I had the opportunity to talk to her alone.
"I noticed some pretty flowers in your garden, could you show them to me up close?"
"Of course, if you'd like to follow me."
I reached out my hand to her. My gesture seemed to surprise her for a moment, but she smiled slightly before taking it.
Her hand was slightly cold, but it wasn't unpleasant. I even found it soothing.
"Have you been informed of the situation by your mother?" After a few minutes in the manor's corridor, Olivia finally spoke first.
She must have started to inquire; it seems my formal behavior worries her.
"Yes, indeed, and I'm still amazed that Miss Olivia is interested in me in this way." I glanced at Olivia to see her reaction to my words.
I felt her hand tighten around mine, and she seemed to avoid any eye contact.
"I just want a child; far be it from me to monopolize you. Especially given your talent." There was a slight bitter tone in her voice.
"That's the problem, I don't want to give my child away like that." My words stopped Olivia in her tracks.
"You want to go against the baroness's will??" She wore an icy expression.
It reminded me of a rumor from the novel The Fallen Empress, which said that a magus's elements are the incarnation of their nature.
For example, a magus with an affinity for fire would often be extremely passionate or prone to exaggerated anger.
Olivia, like me, belonged to the Darkness element. We were supposed to be intriguing people, hiding our true intentions.
I even had the Illusion element, which reflects my changing nature.
"I think there's a misunderstanding. I don't want to break the baroness Blight's promise or word, but I wish to modify it slightly." I fixed my gaze on her icy eyes, which became slightly confused.
"I refuse to give my children to a woman who won't be mine. That's why... I want you to become my concubine in the future."
At the sound of my words, Olivia's eyes couldn't hide their surprise. She approached me before getting to my height to look me straight in the eyes.
"You want me as your concubine?? Is the baroness even aware?"
Her voice contained doubt, which I could understand. If she became my concubine, I would be somewhat linked to Countess Black.
It would guarantee them children in the future, but it was a proposition that disadvantaged me in the long term from a logical and political point of view.
"Yes, I'm serious. And no, my mother isn't aware." I said this while turning my back to her to encourage her to resume walking.
We arrived at the garden a few minutes later. Olivia still hadn't responded to my sudden proposition.
"Do you know the meaning of this flower in the language of flowers?" Olivia shook her head negatively.
She seemed slightly embarrassed by her lack of knowledge in this area, which made me smile as I handed her the flower.
"It's a violet; it symbolizes loyalty and fidelity, but also... No, that can wait. For now, I'm too young to be certain." I smiled as I slipped the flower into Olivia's hair.
"You'll have your child, that's certain, since my mother gave her word. But there's no question of it having another father than me or of you knowing other men." I smiled saying this.
"So, you want us to become engaged?" Olivia asked me this with a hesitant tone.
"That's right, and in exchange, you'll not only have my mother's promise, but also other advantages..." I smiled looking into her black eyes.
I could see that she was almost under my control. All I had left to do was reduce her pride, which wouldn't be easy given my current age.
"So? Do you agree, Olivia??" I called her directly by her name for the first time.
Surprisingly, a strong wind blew in the garden, carrying away some petals. The atmosphere became surprisingly romantic.
"Yes... I want to be your concubine in the future." She hesitated slightly before accepting my proposal.
It seems I still need to fully conquer her.
...
Narrator's POV
'Am I dreaming or did I just get engaged?' Olivia didn't know the language of flowers, but she wasn't stupid.
She had understood that Merlin had clearly marked her as his by giving her this flower.
There's also Merlin's direct request; it's a better offer than the one proposed by the baroness.
"I'd like your help for my first practice in the way of the magus. Will you be available?"
Merlin's voice pulled Olivia out of her thoughts. She nodded to show her assent.
"I can indeed help you."
She had simply thought of giving advice to Merlin at first, but things were now different.
Merlin would be part of, or linked to, the Black house. It was in their interest for him to become powerful quickly.
Olivia only regretted currently being bound by her obligations to the Magus Association because of her current mission, but she could devote this night to helping her fiancé in his practice.
"Great, see you tonight then. Give this to the guard, he'll let you into my room." Merlin walked away before Olivia could respond.
"I'm going to enter a boy's room?" It was something she had only read about in stories until now.
'Calm down, Olivia, he's just a kid. Nothing's going to happen in that room.' She took a deep breath, trying to reassure herself.
After managing to calm her chaotic thoughts, Olivia left the manor's garden, keeping the flower that Merlin had put in her hair.
(Image)