Lady Marielle de Saivelle was the most famous and esteemed lady in the entire nation. She, the only heir of the great dukedom of Corvailles, was fifteen—a year away from 'marrying age.' (quite old fashioned, I'll say. Disgusting, even.)
Marielle was known well across the kingdom for both her looks and her personality. Only she could rival members of the royal family in the number of portraits made in her image and spread throughout the continent.
And in stories, too.
This is because, she was anticipated to and considered destined to become a member of said royal family.
Now, you might be wondering, how could the only heir of the greatest dukedom marry off into the king's seed?
Well, because they wouldn't. She wouldn't. No, see, she isn't an heir at all. Corvailles is a democracy of sorts, hence why Marielle and her father are the 'Saivelles' rather than of the founding family, Corvaille.
Of course, it was beyond common for political dynasties to form in the city. The Saivelles had ruled Corvailles for six generations, already.
But the rumors were that it would be no more.
Besides that, it is her character that matters far more than her future.
Beauty...! Her beauty was renowned! But, she's a fifteen year old girl—how perverse! No, instead, she was 'pretty,' like you'd say your sister was.
Or like you wouldn't.
Spicy orange hair bound in two long tails—hair that hadn't been cut nearly since birth. Not quite as long as the wild Liora's, but long nonetheless.
Her eyes were a magical hue of pink—a sign of the original Corvailles family's blood, and bestowned upon her by her mother, Lorili Corvailles (now Saivelle, of course.)
She was a tad 'under developed' in the eyes of the perverted, lustful, peasants—though, they actually relished in the girl's supposed innocence. She was a symbol.
Her face, as expected of nobility, was soft and elegant, beautiful, pretty, picturesque!
Most famously, though, wasn't her looks, but her personality!
A heart of gold, they say. A living saint! The virtuous one above all! The future queen of kindness! The princess of peace!
"Omigosh, what the fuck are you looking at, peasant? Who let this filthy mongrel into my home?"
The girl berated her rather young servant for the disastrous security issue—one that wasn't an issue at all—as drops of spit flew from her rabbit-toothed mouth.
The butler didn't even flinch as the droplets came into contact with his face.
He looked miserable.
She wasn't how Linnie had pictured—not in any way! Sure, she was plenty pretty, (even if the portraits had left out her buck-teeth), but... her personality! At just first glance, it was clearly rotten!
"I-I'm sorry, but I—" the butler started.
"Don't be sorry, Belen, be better. Tch, useless thing."
"You're right, but—"
"That's enough now, get out of my sight! And don't forget to bring this miscreant with you, too!"
'Seriously? 'Mongrel'? 'Miscreant'? Do I really give off that impression? Actually, I totally do. But it's still not nice!'
"L-lady Marielle—"
"That's enough talking back. Chop-chop."
"What a bitch... damn!"
Her shocked face made Linnie look behind him in confusion. Then he realized he'd said that out loud.
"You... you—! Execute! Execute the mongrel! No, forget it, hand me a sword—I'll do it myself!"
'Uh-oh!'
"Linnie? Where'd you run off to? That bathroom was huge, you've seriously—oh, you're in here!"
Liora pushed open the door and ran over to the boy, not even taking notice of the infuriated girl standing there in front of them.
"There's two toilets in the one bathroom, isn't that weird? What do they need two toilets for? Are two people gonna pee at the same time? I don't think so. That'd be super weird, don't you think?"
"Seriously!? Two!? Two! Belen, explain this! Who are these two strays in front of me!?" she screamed shrilly.
"But... I'm not Belen..." the servant said, barely audible.
The young lady didn't even acknowledge his words, whether it was on purpose or completely blocked by rage.
Liora finally noticed what was going on and leaned into Linnie's ear.
"What's her problem? Doesn't she know two big front teeth don't even do anything? You don't chew with those ones!" she said out loud.
"Why the hell would you lean into my ear and then not whisper!?"
"Oops, that's my bad..."
They both slowly turned to the girl who, having obviously heard what Liora said, was now... shivering in anger? Even her teeth were chattering.
It was most definitely not 'shaking,' but shivering.
"Belen, fetch me my—wait, you're not Belen! Damn!"
"That's what I've been trying to say, Lady Marielle," the boy said, looking at the ground. "I don't know who these two are, but judging by their outfits, they're most likely with the wizard."
The young lady looked them up and down, only then noticing their eccentric attire.
"With the wizard...? They're wizards, then!?"
The lady and the boy were now turned away from Linnie and Liora, having a fierce conversation.
"No, I don't think so. They look too young to be wizards, I think. They're probably apprentices."
"That's impossible you dolt, my father said the wizard was young and had no apprentices!"
"Why don't we ask them?"
"Tch, go ahead, then."
"Uh—okay," the boy said without confidence. He turned around and cleared his throat. "S-sorry for the misunderstanding. You two are with the wizard, aren't you?"
"That's right we're Alwyn's apprentices! We're a big deal, so you better watch your words from now on, alright?" Linnie said with a smug grin.
'I've got them. Now they're all scared. Even if this girl is an important noble, anyone would fear a powerful magic-user if they were right in front of them.'
"Ugh, seriously?" the young lady moaned. "This can't be happening to me."
'Not... quite the reaction I was expecting.'
Linnie looked away from the girl and to the boy. As their eyes met, the boy seemed to shrink, and he looked away.
He had golden blonde, straight hair. It fell town past his ears, and was complimented by his glowing purple eyes. His eyebrows were stuck upturned on the inner corners, as if he was permanently pouting.
And his face...
If Linnie hadn't known better, he'd have said this was the noble in the room, not the red-faced girl to the blonde boy's side.