ALL NOVEL Chapter 5
In the reception room, a lively conversation continued between Fransia and the Duke.
“So, who approached first?”
The Duke asked, glancing at his daughter, clearly hoping that it wasn’t Fransia who made the first move.
“I approached first.”
“Ha!”
The Duke suddenly spat out his tea.
“Y-you? Fransia, you approached first?!”
“Yes, that’s right. I approached first.”
“Oh my goodness.”
He had told Johan that he was the one to approach first, but Fransia wasn’t naive enough to just say it outright.
…In fact, there was a truth hidden here that no one could predict, but no one would ever reach this truth.
“Lord Johan is special.”
Fransia clasped her hands and opened her mouth.
“As you know, Father, Lord Johan has outstanding looks, right? And his personality is so reliable.”
Her face had turned a shade of red. Nevertheless, the praises for Johan continued.
“I feel like he would protect me no matter what happens. He’s healthy, has a great voice, and in my heart, he’s the best suitor. You’ll understand, right Father?”
Fransia’s desperate gaze pierced through the Duke. Although he was not entirely pleased, he had no choice but to smile in front of his daughter.
“Alright, I understand. I can see that he’s a cunning one.”
However, the Duke continued, “But abilities are a different matter. Fransia, you are not only my beloved daughter but also the only daughter of the Ferbache Duke House. You need to be aware of your position.”
His words rang true.
For the only daughter of the Duke House to spend a night with a man outside of her family and choose him as her husband would have huge implications for the family.
It was only possible because the Duke truly loved and respected his daughter, but generally speaking, it was an outrageous situation.
“I know. But Lord Johan is truly the one meant for me. I can promise you that.”
“Ahem.”
The Duke could only clear his throat and look away at Fransia’s determination.
“She’s really lost her senses.”
Had she been unable to properly date anyone all this time? It felt like Fransia was in a daze.
“So, what do you think of Lord Johan’s skills?”
“Hmm? Are you talking about that cursed fox’s skills?”
The Duke looked at Fransia while holding his teacup.
“His affinity for magic is quite remarkable. He’s a promising talent we want to cultivate in our family. With that level of magic at his age, he’ll surely learn magic quickly. He claims he’ll become an Archmage.”
Hearing the word “Archmage,” Fransia tilted her head as if she had never heard about it before.
“Oh, an Archmage?”
“Yes, an Archmage.”
The Duke, having set down his cup, asked, “Why, haven’t you ever heard of his skills with a sword?”
“Haha, no.”
Fransia awkwardly laughed, and the Duke sensed something suspicious. However, he chose not to pry further. There must have been some conversation between them.
No matter how much he dotes on his daughter, he wouldn’t be that obsessive to monitor every little interaction between them.
As the Duke received another cup of tea from Enrique, Fransia squinted her eyes and gazed out the window.
“He talks a lot about magic, but it’s different from before.”
This time it wasn’t about swords but magic.
*
After speaking with the butler of the mansion, it was decided that it would be better to stay overnight.
The distance from Johan’s home to the royal capital could not be overlooked. If he left now, he would obviously arrive at dawn the next day, so he accepted the butler and Enrique’s suggestion.
“When will Fransia finish talking?”
It had been a while since they’d arrived at the guest room. It had been a considerable amount of time since he last saw her.
He had eaten a simple lunch alone in his room and was now waiting for dinner.
With nothing particular to do while waiting for her, boredom deepened.
“Is the conversation not going well?”
The negotiations had concluded.
It was just a matter of proving it on time.
However, it wouldn’t be surprising if, seeing his daughter, the Duke suddenly had blood rush to his head.
“After all, I took a virgin.”
The Duke must have vaguely accepted the conditions, but looking at his daughter’s face, he couldn’t be sure.
Parental feelings for their children are not easily displayed.
“It’s even more concerning since I haven’t seen her for a long time.”
Phew. Johan sighed and flopped onto the guest room’s bed.
“So comfortable.”
The quality was incomparable to the bed used by the third son of a common house.
He was reminded once more of whom he had spent the night with.
“Worries about the future remain, but…”
Life is never easy. One can only do their best.
Although…
“There’s a slight problem.”
It had been 21 years since Johan was reborn into this world.
Naturally, he couldn’t recall the detailed storyline of the work that formed the basis of this world.
It had been over 20 years, how could he remember every little detail of the plot?
─That was the problem.
Not being able to remember the storyline would inevitably disrupt his life as a royal public affairs officer. He had no way of knowing what might happen in the future.
“At least I remember the beginning and key events.”
Most of those key events consist of the heroine, Fransia Ferbache, getting kidnapped or going through some unfortunate events, making them easy to remember.
However, aside from that…
Of course, he remembered the narratives of the characters featured in the work, and the significant actions they took. He had to avoid the story’s main characters at all costs.
But now he could no longer avoid them. It was no longer just about him. Now he had to protect Fransia, who had become his lover.
“Fine. It doesn’t matter that I can’t remember the storyline. I just need to deal with things well.”
As Johan lay on the bed, stroking his chin, he pondered how he would handle it.
Becoming an Archmage in the Royal Public Affairs Office would surely catapult him to a high position, avoiding problems with titles…
“The real problem is how to shake off those crazy bastards.”
The incident begins with Fedelian, who first met Fransia in the public affairs office.
This jerk, who has a fiancée but still looks at other women, is truly a scumbag in terms of character, and he does terrible things to Fransia, who rejected him.
But wait? That bastard Kasys is also after Fransia? That’s when the total chaos begins.
He gets caught between the Crown Prince and the heir of the House of Lenokhnen, being tossed around from here to there.
To protect Fransia from them…
“I need overwhelming power.”
He needs power that even the Emperor cannot ignore. Like a celestial sorcerer, who is regarded as the strongest in this world.
“I’ve got a long road ahead.”
Becoming a celestial sorcerer isn’t easy. Reaching that level means being dubbed a master of masters.
It’s an almost impossible goal, but what can he do? He must pursue it. That’s the only way he can protect Fransia.
And as the husband of the heroine, he should have at least that much capability, right?
“My path is set. The rest is just about execution.”
As Johan was lost in thought, observing the ceiling’s patterns, the guest room door clicked open.
“Oh, there you are! I thought you must have stepped out since you weren’t responding when I knocked.”
It was Fransia. She entered with a maid, smiling brightly as she approached Johan.
“You knocked? I apologize, I was lost in thought.”
Johan hurriedly got up from the bed. Fransia smiled at him and turned to the maid.
“Mary? I have something to discuss with Lord Johan, so please step outside.”
“Yes.”
The maid named Mary left the guest room, leaving behind a drink cart filled with tea and teacups.
Fransia began to speak.
“The conversation went well. Father has decided to observe for a month without any interference.”
“That’s a relief.”
Johan felt a sense of relief as he exhaled, thinking there was no need to worry.
“Now that there shouldn’t be any disruptions to our plans, I just need to reach the Archmage standard of Archmage within a month.”
“Archmage.”
The Archmage level surpasses regular wizards and even grand wizards.
Though technically, he just needs to know how to use the magic of that level, so it’s not that difficult.
Of course, it would be incredibly challenging from an average person’s perspective.
“An Archmage within a month…?”
Fransia blinked, looking at Johan with disbelief.
Johan chuckled lightly and continued,
“My magic capacity is already at the level of an Archmage, so it’s completely feasible.”
“Still, an Archmage…”
“I’ll give you my trust.”
Johan took Fransia’s hand, who was dubious. At the sudden contact, her face flushed, and she flinched.
“What kind of environment do you wish to see?”
“An environment?”
“Yes.”
“Uh… I don’t know.”
Seeing Fransia’s blank expression, Johan lightly smiled and snapped his fingers. With the sound, frost began to rise into the air.
“Then let me add my opinion. Since Fransia is the princess of Ferbache, this would suit you.”
As the frost spread, the curtain of a white world began to unfold, and snowflakes appeared in the quiet air.
As they gently swayed, they resembled butterflies in the sky.
One flake, two flakes, three flakes…
More snowflowers began to fill the air, each spinning in a unique pattern, appearing as if suspended by invisible strings—a marvelous sight.
In that air, as Johan waved his hand, a sky-blue rose made of snowflakes was formed.
“This is the basis for my trust and my gift.”
Johan handed the sky-blue rose to Fransia while smiling. Fransia widened her eyes, unable to believe it.
“How, how is this…?”
Not only did he interfere with the mana floating in the air, but he also showed free manipulation of magic. It was hard to believe someone could learn magic by self-study.
“Wait and believe. I will prove that I can be with Fransia.”
Fransia’s face flushed bright red as she covered her mouth and turned away.
“Ugh, Johan, you used a cheat.”
“What do you mean?”
“Playing dumb like that is so cheeky.”
Suddenly, Fransia buried her face in Johan’s chest.
“I like that about you.”
“…….”
“Really.”
Caught off guard by the sudden confession, Johan carefully embraced Fransia and patted her back.
“Everything will be alright?”
“It will be.”
“This time will be different, right?”
“This time…?”
As Johan tilted his head, Fransia met his gaze and smiled awkwardly.
“No. More importantly, since we’re alone together, should we take the opportunity? Once you return to your family, we won’t be able to meet this often.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Are you against it…?”
“No…”
He instantly understood what she meant.
Rejecting Fransia’s proposal would be an unmanly thing to do.
But this is…
“This is your father-in-law’s house, isn’t it?”
Especially considering that her father was firmly in his position in the mansion, it felt mentally uncomfortable.
“Wouldn’t it be better to do it in a more romantic setting next time?”
“It’s because Father is upstairs, isn’t it?”
“Cough…”
As Johan evaded the question, Fransia puffed up her cheeks.
But she quickly smiled and leaned in to give Johan a light kiss.
“I even like how careful you are about your surroundings.”
What’s so good about that?
To be honest, Johan didn’t quite understand Fransia’s feelings.
Is it right to say it was love at first sight? He didn’t know, having never dated before.
“Something feels off, but…”
The reason why Fransia, who had only met him for two days, liked him so much.
And the reason why he felt a huge affection for Fransia.
He didn’t know why, but it didn’t feel unpleasant.
Having someone love you like this was a happy thing.
“…….”
His heart felt ticklish. Just before his face turned red, Johan changed the subject.
“Fransia, does the Ferbache Mansion in the royal capital have a library?”
“Yes, it does. There are books I learned during my time at the academy.”
“May I stop by? I feel like there are many books I need for studying.”
“Of course. I can guide you and teach you well.”
Fransia covered her mouth as she chuckled.
“A library date, huh?”
“The first date done when I’m not in my right mind.”
Johan smiled broadly as he took Fransia’s hand.
“Let’s go to the library.”
Though there was much to prepare for the future, the answer was interconnected in one way.
To reach the level of a celestial sorcerer, who is praised as the greatest in history, a mythical figure.
So that no one could touch him or Fransia.