Regulus didn't linger in the Forbidden Library for long.
It wasn't that he wasn't interested in the vast collection of grimoires, but rather because of the writing system of this world. Although he was actively learning, it wasn't something he could master overnight.
Besides, Betty, the Forbidden Library, and eventually Echidna, the Witch of Greed, would all be his. There was no need to rush.
However, the moment Regulus carried Beatrice out into the corridor, he happened to see Julia emerging from Roswaal's room.
He had intended to greet her.
But Julia didn't wait for Regulus to speak. After a slight, stiff curtsy, she turned on her heel and walked briskly down the hall, her face an unreadable mask.
This made Regulus pause.
"It seems I'm disliked."
"Are you disliked, I suppose?" Beatrice asked from his arms, tilting her head. "Julia is someone Betty watched grow up. Betty has never seen her act like this before, in fact."
"Is that so."
Regulus's gaze remained on the departing blue-haired girl. It looked like Roswaal had already delivered the news. However, judging by Julia's cold attitude, she clearly didn't entirely agree with her father's decision.
"Don't look at her!"
Beatrice suddenly raised her small hands, cupped Regulus's cheeks, and forcibly turned his face back towards her. "Didn't you just say you'd introduce Betty to the other girls downstairs, in fact?!"
Faced with this situation, Regulus couldn't help but chuckle. Beatrice's actions were clearly driven by jealousy.
"Alright, alright~ I'll take you down now. But do you really dislike me looking at other women that much?"
"Of course, I suppose!" Beatrice pouted, her butterfly eyes narrowing. "Mother told Betty before she died that if you returned, I must keep a close eye on you. After all, there are already enough people. You absolutely cannot be allowed to continue flirting around, in fact!"
"Are there that many people?"
"Aren't there?!" Beatrice huffed. "Mother, and Mother's friends who are also Witches! Besides them, there are many girls with unclear relationships to you who are still being watched over by Shaula in the Sage's Tower even now, I suppose!"
Beatrice's words revealed strong dissatisfaction, but listening to her complaints gave Regulus some incredibly valuable lore.
Shaula of the Pleiades Watchtower also has a connection to me? And inside that tower, there were an unknown number of women waiting for him? If that was the case, he definitely had to visit the Sage's Tower when he had the chance.
At the same time, Julia, now out of Regulus's sight, walked down the stairs with a deeply troubled expression.
'A fiancé, huh…'
She had never thought about getting married. After all, her father had promised her that she would inherit his name, his magic crest, and his title as the head of the Mathers family.
But a few minutes ago, she was told that she would henceforth accompany the man named Regulus as his lover.
That single command meant she had lost the qualification to inherit the name and the title.
'Why is this happening?' she thought, her hands clenching into fists. 'If this is my fate, what have I been striving for ever since I gained consciousness?'
She let out a helpless sigh.
To be honest, not inheriting Roswaal's name and marrying according to her father's arrangements wasn't entirely unacceptable. Her father's words were absolute; as a loyal daughter, she only needed to obey.
But the real problem was the man himself.
There were too many women!
During their brief encounter in the courtyard, she had realized the truth. The official envoy from the Royal Capital was actually just one girl—the blonde Knight named Carol. The other hundred girls? They were all wives of that man.
Having to share a man with over a hundred other wives—this was the true humiliation that bothered her.
'Although I've agreed to follow Father's orders, I will not humble myself to someone weaker than me,' Julia resolved, her heterochromatic eyes flashing with warrior's pride. 'Since that's the case, I'll go and clarify things with him directly now, to avoid him complaining to Father later when I refuse his advances.'
Having made her decision, Julia headed straight towards the mansion's main hall.
When Julia returned to the main hall, the first thing she saw was Beatrice.
The Great Spirit was surrounded by the women of the harem, who were fawning over the adorable little girl. Beatrice was very popular, though judging by her scowling reaction, she didn't look happy about being treated like a stuffed toy at all.
But now wasn't the time to focus on that.
Julia scanned the hall and found Regulus standing off to the side with Carol.
She walked straight over. Only as she got closer did she notice that Regulus's hand had actually bypassed the gaps in Carol's armor and was resting intimately against the Knight's waist.
Julia's eyebrow twitched involuntarily.
But she had nothing to say about it. He was just flirting with his own woman; it wasn't her place to forbid it.
"Miss Carol."
"Whoa!!!"
A cry of alarm escaped Carol's lips. Noticing Julia, Carol immediately jumped a full step away from Regulus, her face burning as vibrant as the evening sunset.
Julia politely ignored the scandalous display.
"Miss Carol, due to Father's physical inconvenience, I will be taking command of this mission from the Royal Capital in Father's stead."
"Miss Julia... in his stead?" Carol asked, still trying to compose herself.
"Yes. Please rest assured. Although I absolutely cannot compare to Father's realm of magic, my martial abilities have been recognized by him. I guarantee I can complete this escort mission."
"This… alright," Carol nodded. She had no other choice. Since the Marquis was bedridden, she couldn't drag him to the battlefield.
"Also, one more thing," Julia added. "Can the departure time for the front lines be set for the morning after tomorrow?"
"Can't we leave tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow isn't possible. I need to go to a certain place first." As she spoke, Julia shifted her gaze directly to Regulus.
She was to be the guide, leading this man to the Sanctuary tomorrow. This was also one of her father's strict instructions.
"Mr. Regulus," Julia said, her tone turning icy and formal. "I assume Father has already spoken to you about our... future relationship."
"He did mention that you'll be staying by my side," Regulus smiled.
"Regarding that, I want to make something clear to you right now," Julia stood tall, crossing her arms beneath her chest. "Although I will follow Father's arrangements to accompany you, I have also made an oath to myself."
She stared him down.
"Unless a man can defeat me head-on, make me lose all ability to resist in battle, and then—during that very moment of absolute defeat—directly proceed to the final step... Otherwise, I will absolutely not compromise my body to anyone."
Regulus raised an eyebrow, genuinely amused. "Defeat you, and then immediately proceed to the final step?"
"Exactly. Right there on the ground," Julia said boldly, her face flushing slightly but her gaze remaining fierce. "Do you want to try? If you can actually do it, I have no problem with whatever you do to me afterward."
Julia's words were full of absolute confidence.
She didn't believe that the man in front of her would be her opponent.
As for why she was so sure? It came from her refined warrior's intuition. She didn't feel any threat from Regulus. She couldn't sense the dense mana of a supreme mage, nor did she sense the sharp, overwhelming aura that should belong to a strong swordsman. To her senses, he was just an ordinary, arrogant nobleman.
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