Chapter 4 [Part 1] – A Turbulent Night
“Ashia? Ashia Bliss?”
“Pardon?”
On the fourth floor of the Grand Duke’s residence, there was a lab wherein everything that is needed to study magic could be found. It has always been quiet, but it will soon be a place filled with excitement. A man reading a book in one corner of the lab jumped up from his seat and shouted.
“Ashia’s really here?”
As he stood up, Redin, who was sitting in the opposite chair, also rose up from his seat.
“Do you know Miss Ashia Bliss, Mr. Ventus?”
“I know of her. Do you know each other? More than that, where is she as of now?”
“She is currently in His Highness’ office……”
At Redin’s reply, Ventus threw the books he was reading onto the floor and walked towards the door. But, Redin wouldn’t let Ventus go to the Grand Duke’s office.
When Redin blocked Ventus’ path, his face hardened at once.
“What is it? What’s wrong with you?”
“They are currently having a conversation.”
“Ha, their conversation would surely be about his sexual desire. You should know that I am also aware of that fact. So, get out of the way.”
Ventus tried to push Redin’s hand away, but he tightened his grip even more, as if he wouldn’t back down.
“I was told not to let anyone in.”
“……Am I just anyone?”
TL/N: Sounds like something the male lead would say.
Ventus’ eyes widened at his unexpected behavior.
“Please wait for a moment. I’ll let you in as soon as their conversation comes to an end.”
“……Tsk.”
Ventus, who was pouting his lips, turned to his persuasion.
I trudged towards where I sat earlier and picked up any book that I could reach.
‘Ashia Bliss…..Is he even sure that she’s Ashia?’
Because he couldn’t meet her right away, his expression showed nothing but grief. But, it quickly turned to anticipation once he was reminded of his memories of her.
Of course, the first place where Ventus and Ashia met was the tower.
One day, a brash 15-year-old girl suddenly appeared in front of him. She asked him to help her live inside the tower in exchange for doing chores.
It was Ventus who took her in and taught her magic.
– Ven.
– Kiddo, you should call me ‘Master’.
– It’s too long. I prefer just Ven.
– You’re also going to speak informally to me soon, aren’t you?
– Can I?
– ……..
She was a loud but lovely child.
Rather, her endless energy made the tower, that was usually dull and gloomy, lively. It was also Ashia who changed him.
The Wizards of the Tower were known to be obsessed with endless research and excessive desire for knowledge. Ventus was no different.
Seven years ago, an accident occured. For that reason, Ashia sealed her fire attribute herself, and eventually had to leave the tower.
Had it not been for that, Ashia wouldn’t have left the tower, and Ventus and Ashia wouldn’t have parted that way.
If it weren’t for that matter 7 years ago…
Ashia could have been the master of the tower.
***
The marriage between Kaligo Edmund and Renna Cornelli only lasted for five years.
It wasn’t a marriage that was decided out of love in the first place, but as time went by, Renna fell in love with him deeply.
TL/N: I’m literally screaming-
From then on, Renna, who didn’t have the will to live because she couldn’t escape from the grasp of her cruel family, was able to have a reason that was more than enough for her to live on.
He was indifferent and cold, but the unexpected expressions he’d show her once in a while made her intrigued by him.
However, the relationship between the two never really developed. That was probably the reason why Renna became tired of him as he kept on drawing a line between us.
The two were known to be a perfect couple.
But that’s what the people around him perceived. Aside from the fact that she loved him, Renna, the real person involved, was the only one who knew of their horrible and lonely marriage.
He was ascetic in every situation.
It goes without saying that he is also ascetic in terms of sexuality. In their 5 years of marriage, they have not had their first night yet.
Indeed, can such a relationship be like that of a married couple’s?
Is there a woman my husband has hidden? Does he have a certain disease he can’t inform me of? Is it because he fancies someone of the same gender?
Renna was getting tired of having such doubts day by day.
Every night, I waited for him to warm our cold bed, but he never once came. As I waited, I felt extremely cold, lonely, and miserable.
When no successor was born after five years of marriage, she was the one who had to bear all their suspicious and stinging glares. Moreover, all the arrows were headed for her life.
Nevertheless, Renna never felt hatred towards him or changed the way she looked at him.
Tired and distressed, she couldn’t hate him.
Every woman’s dream is to have a marriage full of happiness. She was no different. But, there was a man who shattered all her visions of a woman’s supposedly marriage life.
That man was Kaligo Edmund. He was…..pardon? What curse?