The Enchanted Mates

"What? Am I hearing it right? You mean to say that every distant relative from Beaufort House can attend the Imperial Academy without paying the tuition fees! I can't believe I will see another scholar coming out of our family in three years." "Meadow, you brat! Why did you hide your academy invitation from us?" The older uncle, who was in disbelief earlier after returning from the field, now looked at me like he wanted to chase after me with a broom. "Your exam is coming up in a few weeks. Don't tell me you haven't started your preparations yet!" Oh, for god's sake, how would I know anything about this when it wasn't me who hid that in the first place? "I-I don't want- " My tongue felt heavy, but I tried to say something in defense, only to get interrupted by my older uncle's wife. "The men of this family get to decide that, not you." And to make things worse, this woman doesn't like me at all. "You shall listen to everything we say and do what we tell you to, young lady." She was so stern that my heart trembled in fright. "What can you possibly do by staying home? Wait for your coming-of-age ceremony and ask your father to marry you off to the first man you run into at the ball and fall in love with just two sweet words he whispers to you?" I would have laughed it off if it had been directed at me, but I am not me, at least in this world. "She wasn't thinking straight, honey. Please go easy on her." It was then my oldest uncle stepped up. "Unlike our youngest, you know how much this child is attached to us and our village." Her husband tried to calm her down first before he turned his gaze toward the person beside him. "Hey, will there be a test where a student can showcase her ability? Your daughter may manage to bring a decent score if there is a cultivation domain for mages on the list." I gulped hard. This individual, thoroughly reading the invitation letter, sitting in the only chair they have in their living room, was the unfortunate father of the owner of this body I am currently possessing, and he still doesn't know yet that his child is no longer among them. There is nothing I can do to change this reality when I am desperate to go home, but I don't know how. . . . . . The last thing I remember was attending a family event after returning from the military more than a decade later. I can't put my feelings into words just how excited I was about getting engaged right after my retirement. More than anything, I wanted to make it up to my best friend for making him wait for me for so long and my brothers for pushing them to take over our family businesses they were less interested in. They needed to be there for our parents more than me before we became victims of another conspiracy from our relatives or associates. After forcing myself into such a life for everyone's benefit, I couldn't be so wrong in believing my happiness was just around the corner and that I could fix my relationship with the people I hurt. This whole situation didn't make any sense to me at first. I thought I was dreaming with my mind emulating an image of the ballroom where I was dancing with my problematic military comrade until it wasn't. It was strange to see myself strangling a young girl on the floor, which was something I was very tempted to do with Sir Damien for stealing me from the guy I wanted to confess my feelings to after our first dance. But, of course, it wasn't to that extent to take someone's life. Before I knew it, I was dragged away from that girl and thrown directly into a cell. I forced myself to come to terms with this peculiar situation and couldn't have been more shocked after finding out about my execution at dawn. It didn't help when I could barely keep my eyes open because of the intense pain in my head, which felt oddly familiar. I realized it was the same feeling I experienced while dancing with that jerk in our world, and I probably fainted afterward. I was thrown off-guard when he, the bane of my existence, appeared out of nowhere and sneered at me while asking me, 'Since when did a noble require to follow the law to punish a peasant like you?' I thought he was picking a fight until I realized he wasn't and quietly endured him ordering me around while calling me a fool. "...the magic level required for the test is far from close to what she was born with." I snapped out of my thoughts, hearing the father. "Would we have enough time to hire an instructor for her?" His expression didn't give away much, but his words gave away his worry. It is natural for a father to worry about his children. Even if they are poor, nothing can stop them from spending all their savings on sending them to school. "Children your age normally look forward to this day. They get so excited that they start making plans for the future to make their parents proud or impress the person they like, but I never burdened you with my expectations, did I?" I fidgeted uncomfortably, standing in my place. "I have always wanted you to grow at your own pace." He sounded very disappointed, but I couldn't find a proper reason why Meadow hid this letter from her family. "Seeing how responsible you have been, I thought you wouldn't do anything wrong!" "Going to school is every child's right, but I don't think a certificate can decide my fate." I let out a sigh. We needed to talk anyway. Besides, this situation didn't look that bad. While I am at it, let's turn this odd situation in my favor. "It won't be enough to tell how far I might go in the future or how qualified I would be," I smirked like Meadow from the memory of her experience in the aristocratic world. "What will you do if I return as an educated fool instead of a scholar?" "...is it because of the incident last time?" The father asked in a cautious but stiff tone. Though I wasn't in my right mind that day, I could have remembered if that guy had visited me just for once. I might be overstepping my boundaries in deciding things for Meadow, but I have to live her life and wait until I find the exit. "Call off my engagement for me," I said in a heartbeat, looking straight in the eye for the first time. "Fulfilling your great-grandfather's last wish couldn't be more important to you than sending me to the academy, could it?" "It isn't like they won't agree with us regarding breaking this engagement, but..." After staring at me for a while, the father broke the silence finally. He looked hesitant before opening his mouth, asking, "...will you be okay with this? We thought you liked him." I don't know about this girl, but I have no plan to marry anyone here. Not, at least, to someone man like Meadow's betrothed, who was nowhere to be seen, even though it was his cousin's birthday banquet where the incident took place. "I can't have someone like him as my life partner who gives me mixed feelings at every step." I sighed. "He makes it hard for me to decide whether he is a coward by birth or he just doesn't care much about what happens to his betrothed and her family." Of course, I have been away from my family and have less understanding of how relationships like this work, but I have my own set of morals. I am against the ancestors of the family who force fate upon their descendants who haven't been born yet. There is a history between these two families. I don't have the details, but from what I heard, their bond was barely there until they hit the jackpot two generations ago and became loaded. As they rank up, the support they receive from Meadow's family for generations becomes so insignificant that they begin to look down upon the people their elders worshiped as their saviors. The good thing was that people in this family didn't look startled or scold me for talking back to the father like that. Still, I instinctively turned around and took the stairs to my room. These people probably doted on Meadow more than I thought. I believe they won't let their daughter marry that scumbag after the humiliation she had to face and how they almost lost her. "For someone who almost got beheaded, you are so full of vitality now." A voice I was so familiar with made me jump as soon as I opened the door of my room. Without wasting a second, I shut the door behind me before the sounds went out, and the whole family rushed in. "You little- " I hissed, pressing my hand on my thumping heart. "Just what are you thinking about coming here when everyone is home? Didn't I tell you about their sharp senses and how the aunt doesn't respect my privacy and watches me like a hawk?" As if he doesn't look weird enough in his Gothic-styled clothing, and now he has the nerve to roll around my mattresses with his shoes on? I am already having it hard adjusting here, but this guy always troubles me by appearing like this out of nowhere. Let's not mention how he almost makes a mess out of my room, and I receive an earful from my aunt because of him. "The worst thing they could do is force me to take your responsibility. What else?" My hands formed into fists, seeing him shrug with an easy smile adorned on his face. "I know you don't know manners, but would it hurt to be less b@rbaric and more considerate about other people's sentiments?" I clenched my jaw in anger. "Even my family wouldn't like me bringing a man into my room. Especially my father and godfather. They would have beaten you to a pulp before thinking about the consequences." This esteemed being only knows how to obliterate enemy camps from the root. He knew nothing about social etiquette and never bothered to show respect to the higher-ups, except for my father. He is a hot-blooded aggressor who talks with his fists and fairly beats up everyone who goes on his nerves or tries to show their superiority by being children of senior cabinet officers. Well, I saw it coming. Even if Sir Damien was from a nonexistent elite family, a militarist like him shouldn't be looked down upon. But did he have to be so rude to everyone he comes across? Even if I tell him now how wrong it is to sneak into a lady's room, he wouldn't understand a thing and argue with me, reminding me how we used to spend nights together in the camp. He smirked. "We are somewhere else, though." There he goes again! "And I am stronger than everyone who lives in this village." His smile deepened as he pointed his finger toward the door. "Let me demonstrate my power once more, in case you don't remember about last time." Although it was still a mystery how he found me, what he was suggesting right now reminded me of that day at the prison, where he blew out the entire roof to get me out of there. Not to mention, this bastard does what he says. Instinctively, I reached for his hand before he ran wild and did something that would give me nightmares. "Hey! I got it!" I smiled, tight-lipped. "You don't need to prove anything, you hear me. Just stay put for me." "I told you it would be pointless, but you didn't listen to me and chose to stay here instead of leaving with me." He tried to shrug off my hand but failed to do that. "Do you think this family is in a place to demand something so outrageous from a noble?" "Did you forget that I was an elite, too?" I squeezed his hand firmly as a reassurance. "I may not be the best at it, but in the military, I have tried my hands in politics well enough to clear allegations in your name while you go around causing trouble without a break." "Hmph!" He scoffed, grumbling, "As if you have any backing besides me." Why you little... I should be glad to have him here with me and be thankful for finding me fast enough to save me from my execution, but I haven't gotten over the fact that I lost the opportunity to propose to the man I have feelings for. Damien was aware of my plan, alright? Just like how he knows how much I am against the idea of him taking me somewhere with a new identity after fabricating my death. I understand why he is so desperate. He had it bad after seeing me almost dying in prison after coming to a world we have no clue about. It can't be overcome easily, but I have to try and keep assuring my partner that everything will be alright. "Hey, why do you look so haggard!?" Frowning, I used my other hand to touch his face. "Did I spoil you so much that you can no longer manage anything yourself?" He did look paler than the last time I saw him. I think he lost some weight, too. In our world, he was healthier probably because I was there for him and shared his burden. I am dying to ask him what he does and how he found me in the prison, but something tells me I shouldn't pry for the details. He will let me know what I am sure of. But for how long could I keep up with my pretense that I didn't smell blood coming from him? What if he works under some nobles who use assassins and mercenaries as tools for sacrifice? I wouldn't believe it if he said he was a part-timer in a meat shop because I know this guy. Too well, at that. And then, to save me, he made more enemies. "Wait up! I'll get you something real quick." I chimed as I moved away from him without noticing the change in his expression and how flustered he looked. I was too tense to pay attention to anything other than my problems. Attending the academy might be the solution I had been looking for. My aunt stuffs my cabinet with fresh fruit from our farm and homemade snacks this family receives from the villagers who adore Meadow and wish for her speedy recovery. How could I let Damien hurt these many innocent people for my sake? "W-will you still care about me if I tell you now that I found your academy invitation letter before your aunt in this room?" The corners of my eyes twitched as I halted at my steps. To think I was worrying about someone who never missed a chance to annoy me. Looking over my shoulder, I asked him with my hands forming into fists, "Say what again?" I felt the urge to bury him alive in the woods behind this house while no one was watching, but what he said next left me speechless. "That academy may not be a safe place for everyone, but you, at least, won't die, considering how little your presence would be for even the educators to pay attention to you over those aristocratic kids." He paused for a while, and I saw his lips curled up with a smirk. "So, regardless of how much you try, you won't excel in anything even if you put your mind to it." I hope that's the case. Damien has no intention of provoking me, right? As I thought that to myself, I cautiously turned around questioning, "...that's because there would be no one to guide me?" "I will be there, but don't tell anyone we are close." Instead of answering me directly, he told me something I wasn't expecting to hear from him. "It would be a pain in the arse if I had someone of your rank and status following me around the whole academy." He looked at me with irritation, but mischief in his eyes. "Unlike you, I will have an image to maintain. Please don't ruin it for me or throw yourself at me getting jealous seeing me with ladies." Aren't we way past the age to talk about something so childish? I looked at him in disbelief. But if he thinks I will be morally demotivated just by this, he has another thing coming. There is no way I'd let anyone step all over me. I swear I'd make a mess of the whole class system there if it gets too much to take for me! I grinned deviously. "Don't worry about it, sir. I know how to have fun too."