Lacey was an orphan. She had been scouted for her magic talent, acknowledged as the greatest mage in the country, and sent off on a quest. But now that the dreadfully powerful Demon King had been vanquished, Lacey’s own journey was over.
A passing breeze swept through Lacey’s black hair. It was a welcome breath of air, since she was wearing a very stuffy robe. When she shut her eyes, she could hear the crisp peal of children laughing. The sounds echoed melodiously, making her feel warm inside. She took it all in, letting it fill her, and then...she remembered once more.
Her journey and her life’s purpose were all over now.
Lacey quietly watched the children with a gentle gaze. Wayne stayed silent for a while, not knowing what to say, but eventually managed to get something out.
“You still insist that there’s nothing you want?”
After Lacey’s party had defeated the Demon King and concluded their journey, they had been rewarded with money and one wish each. However, Lacey had declined to have a wish granted. Her companions had repeatedly tried to persuade her to not waste the opportunity. But although she’d thought it over, Lacey had no goals or desires. Therefore, she’d answered that she wanted nothing.
Lacey slowly shook her head.
“All right,” Wayne responded simply.
There was an even longer pause. Then he sedately asked, “You wanna come to my house?”
“Huh?”
“Well, not exactly my house, but you’d be a guest at the secondary Cielanic residence. I have to be at the palace a lot, so I don’t think I’d get to see you much. But at the very least, it’d be a lot better than living in a cheap inn.”
Lacey had been a little surprised by Wayne’s suggestion, but his clarification made more sense. Still, she had to shake her head no to that as well.
“I’m not going to stay at the inn forever. I should probably be getting married in another month or two. I told you about it before. I’m engaged to the eldest son of Duke Dejafaim.”
“You did mention that,” Wayne said curtly, turning away from her.
Lacey’s marriage into House Dejafaim had been decided about five years ago. She had already distinguished herself with her exceptional magical prowess, and there were whispers that she would likely be chosen to join the quest to defeat the Demon King. Lacey’s status as an orphan made her conveniently disposable. Her whole life’s purpose was to vanquish the Demon King, so she had no particular objections.
Even if Lacey hadn’t gone on the quest, she would still have held tremendous value just for her body. The engagement had been made not out of desire for Lacey, but for the progeny she might bear when matched with another individual with a high level of mana.
Ultimately, Lacey had set out on the quest to rout the demons just as everyone had expected and had returned alive after successfully defeating the Demon King. Duke Dejafaim was undoubtedly elated by the additional prestige she would bring to the family.
“This staff...” Lacey began as she glanced over to where it was carefully leaning. It was nothing fancy, but it was made of solid wood, and Lacey’s hands were always tightly closed around it. “He thinks it’s filthy. He didn’t say it outright, though.”
Her fiancé had given her a fake smile and spoken in a roundabout manner, but his meaning had gotten across loud and clear.
Yet Lacey still believed herself to be at fault. When she’d first met her fiancé, she didn’t have a clue what to wear or how to act. The engagement had been made by virtue of her being a mage, so she’d worn what she considered to be her uniform. But in the eyes of a noble, she had probably looked to be no more than a child in a shabby robe.
Her first meeting had ended in failure, so she’d attempted to be more self-aware in future meetings. Regardless, she couldn’t procure the kind of clothing that nobles wore. Even if she tried to change her looks with transformation magic, she was going to be married to this person for life. Applying a temporary cosmetic change would be pointless.
Then a few days ago, when she’d met her fiancé for the first time since returning to the capital, she’d accidentally brought her staff along out of a force of habit. That had led to the aforementioned incident.
That was when it really sank in. Lacey wasn’t being sought after for her prowess as a mage. Her mana alone was what made her attractive. She would be a wife in name only, with the sole purpose of bearing children.
Her quest was over, her life’s goal had been accomplished, and this would be her final destination.
There was an emblem on Lacey’s right hand. She’d been branded with it when she’d been picked up as an orphan so that she would live to serve the country and never disobey. It had been there since she was very young, so it didn’t cause her any distress. Her goal was just a little different this time. That was why Lacey didn’t have anything to wish for from the king and money didn’t matter to her. She had nothing to spend it on.
“I see,” Wayne simply murmured. Still holding the portraits under one arm, he turned away, then crossed his legs and put his chin in his hands.
He was probably worried about her. Wayne had been like that throughout their quest, always keeping a watchful eye over Lacey. He didn’t get angry at her—he was just incessantly concerned about whether she was eating enough, if she’d changed clothes lately, if she’d had a bath, et cetera.
At first, she was confused why the second son of a prestigious noble who had never had to take care of anyone else would do this, but the reason was most likely because Lacey was so inattentive to her own needs that he had to step up. He wasn’t the right age or gender, but to this day, she secretly thought that if she’d ever had a mother, she’d be a lot like him.
“Actually, Wayne, there was something I wanted to see you about. If I’m joining the Dejafaim household, then I’ll have to get rid of this staff. But it’s got mana in it, so I can’t just toss it. I’d have to incinerate it with magic. I can’t bring myself to do that... I don’t have the courage. So I want you to burn it.”