Currently, they were sitting on a bench in the garden of the Ignivar house.
Azael looked forward calmly, a faint smile on his face. "I am glad... we were able to talk."
Isabel nodded slightly, her cheeks still faintly flushed from the earlier hug. "Hmm... too. It’s better than trying to avoid you and hide."
Azael turned his head slightly and looked at her from the side, his expression curious.
"By the way..." he paused for a mont before speaking again. "I never asked you, but... can you tell about your husband? How you two t? Where you live? Now that I think about it... I don’t know much about you."
Hearing his question, Isabel fell silent for a mont, thinking.
Her expression turned slightly distant as she recalled the past.
"It was... three years ago when I t him," she said softly. "His na is Michel. He has a clothing shop in this city. It’s just a small shop, nothing fancy."
Azael nodded with interest, leaning back slightly. "Oh... continue. I’m listening."
Isabel gave a small nod and continued, her tone calm.
"I visited his shop a few tis to buy clothes. He used to talk a lot with ... now that I think about it... he was probably trying to flirt with ." She gave a faint, amused smile. "Well, we beca good friends. I don’t think I had any male friend who was as close as Michel."
Azael smirked slightly, a hint of teasing in his voice. "Lucky him to have such a good friend."
Isabel shook her head lightly, smiling. "Young Master, don’t jest."
Azael raised his hands slightly in surrender, still smiling.
Isabel then looked ahead again, her expression turning softer.
"Then one day... he proposed to ."
Azael raised his eyebrows slightly. "Oh... confessed his love to you?"
Isabel nodded gently. "Yes... more like he asked for my hand in marriage."
Azael let out a small breath. "Okay... he was fast. Not trying to date, but directly marriage. Then you accepted him... because you loved him?"
Isabel paused again.
Her expression beca a little complicated.
"Well... at that ti, I accepted it... for many reasons. Not because I loved him."
Azael’s eyes narrowed slightly with curiosity. "What were the reasons?"
Isabel folded her hands gently on her lap, her gaze lowering slightly.
"I was already past the usual age to marry soone... you know... for won, age 20 to 25 is considered the ideal ti for marriage. Mostly among commoners. Since many commoners don’t have much talent in magic, they cannot focus on it... so they marry early."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Also... I was alone. I don’t have parents. So... I wanted soone to call my family. At that ti, I was close to him and felt comfortable with him... so I accepted it."
Azael’s expression remained calm, but inside—
’Lucky bastard!’
He hid his thoughts well and simply nodded.
"That makes sense..."
The two of them continued talking.
Azael asked more questions—about Michel’s shop, where she lived, and other small details about her life.
Isabel answered calmly, her tone gentle.
The conversation flowed naturally between them.
---
Next Day
The carriage moved through the streets of Elaris City, bearing the insignia of the Ignivar Family.
Inside, Azael sat comfortably, his gaze distant as he thought about sothing important.
What should I do... he wondered, thinking about how to make Isabel his woman.
Soon, the carriage ca to a stop a short distance away from a park.
Azael stepped out and stretched his arms lightly. He was wearing simple, casual clothes that didn’t make him look like a noble at all.
It was evening ti.
The sky was painted in shades of orange and purple, and a cool breeze passed through the streets.
Azael began to walk slowly.
People moved along their own paths, so returning ho after work, so talking with friends. Children were still playing, though a few were being called back by their parents.
It was a peaceful and pleasant scene.
After a short walk, Azael entered the park.
Tall trees lined the pathways, their leaves rustling softly in the wind. A few lamps had already been lit, casting a warm glow around.
He found an empty wooden bench and sat down.
Leaning back slightly, he stared ahead, lost in thought.
Aeternum Academy still has more than two months before it starts...
He was making good progress. In just a few days, he would be able to break through his first core. That was good news.
But his mind wasn’t focused on that.
It was on Isabel.
Just yesterday, they had made up. They had both decided to act as if nothing had happened between them.
But now... it was ti to take the next step.
As he sat there thinking, soone suddenly ca and sat on the sa bench.
The person let out a tired sigh.
Azael turned his head slightly and looked at her.
She was a woman with maroon-colored hair. She wasn’t as breathtaking as the won in his family, but she was still beautiful. Her figure was attractive, her body well-shaped, and her presence eye-catching.
But her face... She looked exhausted. Her eyes were dull, and her expression carried a heavy sadness.
Azael looked at her for a mont, then spoke.
"Hello..."
The woman didn’t even look at him.
"I am not in the mood. Find soone else," she replied coldly.
Azael was slightly taken aback, but he didn’t stop.
"Hello, I was just asking why you look sad and tired," he said curiously.
The woman sighed again and stared ahead.
"I am just tired of my work... I hate it," she said in a low voice.
Azael raised his brow slightly.
"What job?"
She finally turned her head and looked at him with a confused expression.
"It seems you don’t know..." she said, then added calmly, "I am a prostitute."
Azael paused for a mont, then nodded.
"I see... so you are tired of your work. Then why don’t you just leave it? You can find another respectable job."
The woman let out a bitter laugh.
"I can’t leave it," she said. "I have a contract with a brothel. I cannot leave before the next ten years. Or they might kill ."
Azael’s expression turned slightly serious.
"It’s a mana contract," she continued. "A serious one. If one side breaks the deal... there will be backlash. Maybe even death."
Azael nodded slowly.
The woman looked away again.
"I wish... I could live like a normal woman too," she said softly. "But I was forced to work in a brothel at an early age... my drunk mother sold ."
Azael didn’t ask for her story. But she continued speaking anyway. Her voice was heavy, filled with sadness.
"I just wanted a normal life... to marry soone... and have a family with them..."
Azael watched her sad expression. And felt pity for her.
It was sad seeing them like this.
"So...is this your usual place? You co here daily? To find...n.."
She nodded.."Yes...I co here to find custors."
Azael didn’t knew what to do about this. Should he help her to achieve what she wanted.
But does he really need to do that. He was not a bad man. Rather he was selfish.
When he wanted sothing. He takes them even if it might be bad thing to do.
Suddenly an idea ford in his head.
’I can try doing that...’
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