Riezel had no idea what Yuri and the young master of the Basolo family had discussed.
The distance was too far, and unless the young master and his subordinates shouted loudly as they did just now, he couldn't hear any sound.
However, Yuri's complexion didn't look good.
Riezel could tell that she had said something to the young master with a cold expression that made him particularly excited, continuously exclaiming phrases like 'No!' 'It's impossible!' and 'I will never give up!'.
That appearance, how to describe it? It was like a devoted dog rejected by his goddess.
In fact, it really seemed like that.
Shaking his head to disperse these useless thoughts, Riezel stopped paying attention to the commotion and continued practicing swordsmanship by the pavilion.
Each practice session left him sweating, yet due to the rapid stamina recovery thanks to the 'Healing Power' development ability, he felt no exhaustion.
It was indeed a peculiar sensation.
Not long after, the luxurious carriage parked outside the door was driven away, and the neatly arranged knights followed suit, creating quite a stir.
Only then did Riezel put down his sword, wipe the sweat off his forehead, and look at Yuri's figure.
She remained standing at the mansion's entrance, her expression unchanged even as the Basolo family's people departed. She conversed with Marilyn—or rather, issued some instructions, only letting Marilyn leave later.
Shortly afterward, Yuri finally made eye contact with Riezel.
It was only at this moment that her expression eased a bit, with a lingering sense of helplessness in her eyes as she walked toward him.
"You've been here the whole time?" Yuri asked with a casual tone as she sat down in the pavilion, observing Riezel, who was drenched in sweat and holding a wooden sword.
"Yeah..." Riezel shrugged, placing the wooden sword borrowed from the bodyguard aside. "Your suitor or something?"
He was, of course, referring to the son and the so-called young master of the Basolo family.
"I guess so..." Yuri expressed indifference, her tone plain. "A troublesome one."
"Hmm..." Riezel smirked, tossing a money pouch onto the table. "I find him pretty straightforward, y'know? Managed to bribe his way to me. I'm guessing people in this mansion must've been bothered quite a bit by his people."
At his words, Yuri remained silent, only staring at the money pouch on the table with an expression of annoyance.
Without a doubt, such incidents were not occurring for the first time.
After a long while, she suddenly spoke.
"I have to return home..."
Yuri's words initially surprised Riezel, but he quickly understood.
"To the Frenzel territory?"
As a marquis of Jinas, the Frenzel family naturally possessed territory. Located to the north of Jinas, the climate was cold, not with constant snowfall but characterized by a perpetual winter, making it unsuitable for a large population.
Considering Yuri's status and position, she could have requested a central territory from the kingdom, but she didn't. Despite the Frenzel family's decline, they still held onto their own land.
After being granted a marquis title, Yuri reclaimed her family's ancestral territory and didn't seek additional land. This led to the Frenzel family's holdings being in remote areas within Jinas.
The main residence of the Frenzel family was within that territory, while the current mansion in the royal capital served as their secondary one.
In other words, Riezel was currently in the Frenzel family's secondary residence in Jinas's royal capital.
Due to her role as the chief court magician, Yuri often had to leave her territory to handle work in the royal capital, hence her ownership of a mansion here. Now, she seemed prepared to leave the royal capital and return to her territory.
Riezel couldn't believe that this had nothing to do with that young master of the Basolo family.
"What's going on, really?" Riezel finally asked the crucial question.
Yuri seemed reluctant to speak, but seeing his direct and sincere gaze, she fell silent for a while before sighing.
"The Basolo family has proposed a marriage alliance to my family..." Yuri said in a grim mood. "It seems my family has agreed."
Upon hearing this, Riezel's expression became peculiar.
"What? Your family agreed to a marriage proposed by someone else?" Riezel questioned in a surprised tone. "Can they even decide such things for you?"
One couldn't blame him for saying so.
If Yuri were just a mere wealthy daughter from a noble family, it wouldn't be unusual for her family to arrange a marriage. Noble families were often involved in such alliances.
However, the peculiarity arose from the fact that it concerned Yuri.
The reason was simple.
In the Frenzel family, Yuri was the head of the family.
Because she took over the Frenzel family, becoming a Strategic-Class Magician, the kingdom regarded her as a treasure, and it was because of her that the family had its current standing.
Therefore, she was the sky of the Frenzel family, the true ruler and a decisive master.
In the Frenzel family, who had the authority to decide her marriage?
Perhaps even the King of Jinas himself, when considering arranging a marriage, had to take into account Yuri's mood. Otherwise, if this Strategic-Class Magician became discontent, it would be a disastrous situation for the kingdom.
In such a situation, who could decide to marry her off?
Riezel's evaluation of her as 'one of the most impressive characters in this world' was not just a casual remark.
It was understandable that he seemed to be getting a bit confused.
"My father agreed to this without my consent."
With just one sentence, Yuri revealed to him how helpless she was.
However, after saying that, she noticed that his complexion had also become somewhat unpleasant.
"What's wrong?" Yuri asked doubtfully.
"...It's nothing."
Naturally, Riezel wouldn't tell her that her words reminded him of his grandfather's unilateral decision in his previous life, forcing him to marry the overweight daughter of a nouveau riche family.
"So, you're going back to oppose this marriage?" Riezel asked as he understood why she suddenly decided to go back.
To his question, she has only one response.
"Without my consent, this so-called marriage won't stand."
Yuri's indifferent words were entirely different from her usual demeanor in front of Riezel.
In front of him, she appeared as a girl who lacked friends, enjoyed chatting with friends, and found happiness even in small things. But at this moment, she was a strong and cold head of a major noble family.
This was the true nature of the girl, a facade she usually displayed in front of others.
"Then I wish you a safe journey." Riezel could only say a farewell.
However—
"What are you talking about?" Yuri said somewhat oddly. "Aren't you coming with me too?"
"Huh? Me? Why?" Riezel was taken aback, pointing at himself.
"Of course..." Yuri chuckled as she looked at his surprised expression, her mood finally improving. "Are you planning to stay here and wait to be attacked by that so-called Heretic Assassin?"
"Doesn't this place have a magic defense system?" Riezel was genuinely puzzled. "It should be safe for me to stay here, right?"
"That's when I'm here..." Yuri explained. "The magic defense system in this residence is set up to protect me and operates fully only when I'm present. Once I leave, the defense system automatically shuts down most of its functions to conserve energy. It's a magic program set by the kingdom's court magicians when they arranged the defense system in this residence. Even I can't control it."
With that explanation, she found it necessary to take him along for his safety.
"You must be kidding, right?" Riezel was speechless.
"Nope, I'm serious." Yuri said, quite amused. "You don't want to come home with me?"
"Heh..." Riezel laughed lightly and rolled his eyes, which was rare.
Was this a question of willingness? No, it was a matter of reason!
"In what way and reason should I go home with you? As a homeless guy you brought in from outside or something?" Riezel said with a raised eyebrow.
"Pfttt..."
His words made Yuri's burst into laughter.
But that was not wrong.
Being brought home by a woman of similar age, neither relative nor friend, would easily lead to misunderstandings.
In the medieval era, especially, bringing in someone unclear from the outside could be a matter of great seriousness, almost as severe as being mistaken for a criminal.
"Okay..." Yuri thought for a moment. "I'll tell people at home that I invited you home as a guest in the name of a friend from the academy."
"Friend from the academy?" Riezel was stunned.
"You do know, right?" Yuri smiled and said, "I used to be a student at Spriller Academy. Although we're the same age, I graduated early. Strictly speaking, I can be considered your senior, no?"
At her words, Riezel was at a loss.
Spriller Academy was regarded as the most prestigious national magic school on the continent. There were four such magic schools in total on the Akasha continent, each established by one of the four major countries and located within their respective capitals.
Spriller Academy, founded by Jinas, stood as the most prestigious magic school, and it was the very place attended by the original Riezel.
Yuri, on the other hand, had already graduated early, making her his senior.
"Alright, come home with me, Junior~" Yuri said with a teasing smile. "I'll take good care of you~"
Hearing her teasing, Riezel's eye corner twitched, and he didn't feel like talking anymore.