Chapter 75: Chapter 75: A Dark Mage
"What should I do now?"
Bennett muttered to herself, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She wore a blue coat embroidered with gold, matching blue trousers, and polished black shoes.
"Bennett, are you done?"
Hearing Alia’s voice from outside, Bennett groaned, ruffling her hair in frustration.
"If I meet her at this time, I could be exposed..." Her voice trembled as faint wisps of black and gray smoke flickered around her body, appearing and vanishing.
She closed her eyes, sweat beading on her forehead. Her fingers stiffened with agony, and she bit her lower lip to stifle the scream.
Before her eyes, her hair lengthened until it brushed her waist, her chest swelled, and her figure shifted into a feminine shape.
"Oh no..." she whispered. Her voice was no longer deep but soft and sweet, undeniably feminine.
"Bennett, you’ll be late at this rate," Alia called, knocking on the dressing room door.
Bennett clenched her fist, silent. ’Ahhh, what should I do, I cant speak. If I do, she’ll find out.’
A memory flashed in her mind: Liona clutching her shoulder, gray mana streaming from her hand as it sank into Bennett’s body.
"Please," Liona had whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace, "don’t let anyone find out about this. I won’t be able to protect you if they do."
The memory faded, leaving Bennett trembling. She slid down to the floor, hugging her knees as her body betrayed emotions she could never show in her male form.
Her red lips parted, and tears glistened along her lashes."I want to enjoy life too... Since childhood, all I’ve done is work, work, work...I want a normal life."
After a while, the gray mana shimmered around her once more. Her hair shortened, her chest flattened, her frame hardened, returning her to her manly form.
She rose, wiping away the tears, her face returning to calm and unreadable again."What choice do I have? I have to go there, whether I want to or not."
Looking at her reflection last time, she combed her hair, wiped the traces of tears, and turned around.
Opening the door, she stepped out, and the first thing she saw was Alia turning from the table, juggling bottles of perfume, and beaming when she saw her.
"This one’s perfect," Alia declared, raising one bottle, spritzing it onto Bennett’s clothes. "Now you’re ready to go.....hehe."
Bennett sighed but nodded, walking past her and heading toward the mansion’s exit.
"Make sure you don’t act cold in front of her."
Her lip twitched at Alia’s shout.
--
The carriage stopped at the palace’s iron gates with a gold design. Bennett stepped down, her sharp gaze falling on the towering structure before her. The knights bowed deeply in respect as she passed.
Moments later, Lilian descended the palace stairs, radiant in the sunlight. Bennett extended her hand with a Stiff smile, her posture gracefully handsome.
"Let’s go, my lady."
Lilian nodded with a smile and placed her White gloves hand in his. She wore a flowing pink gown, her jewelry glimmering with gemstones specially chosen by the empress.
"You look stunning today, my lady," Bennett said calmly, bowing his head to kiss the back of her hand, completing the traditional greeting.
Lilian’s cheeks flushed red as she nodded. Once seated inside the carriage, she stole a quick glance at Bennett across from her.
’He really is handsome... but if I stay with him, my brother will go completely mad.’
After some time, Lilian raised her head and looked at Bennett. "Umm... Sir Bennett, I’d like to make a deal with you," Lilian said, fidgeting with her fingers, her voice low and uncertain.
Noticing her nervousness, Bennett arched a brow and leaned back against the cushions. "What kind of deal are you talking about?"
Lilian drew in a deep breath. "You see... I know you don’t want to marry me, so how about we become partners, and in return, I will tell you the future."
Bennett’s eyes widened in shock. "W-what, Hoe do you know, oh, Ahem, I mean, Future, are you joking with me?"
Bennett changed the topic quickly, puzzled by how she found out about her thoughts when she had made sure not to show any displeasure.
Lilian shook her head and fixed Bennett with a firm look. "No. You know I’m friends with the Saintess."
Hearing this, Bennett’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you talking about Saintess Maria?"
"Mhm." Lilian nodded, swallowing hard, her gaze locked on Bennett’s face as if searching for a reaction.
Hearing her confirmation, Bennett nodded slightly.
’There were rumours about their friendship, but I thought, how can a royal princess of this empire become friends with the leader of the holy empire?’
"Alright... so you’re telling me you know something. Is that information important for me?" She asked, trying to find the truth in her words.
Lilian straightened, her voice steadier. "Yes, and it concerns your life."
Bennett’s eyes narrowed as she heard her, then her lips curved slightly.’Well, that’s convenient. I don’t want this marriage either anyway.’
Her behaviour clearly hints that she didn’t believe Lilian.
She cleared her throat softly. "Ahem. Fine...tell me what the deal is."
"The deal is... we keep postponing the marriage for two years." Lilian raised her head, showing two fingers.
Bennett tilted her head. "Huh. Why specifically two years, if I may ask?"
Lilian turned her head to the carriage window, watching the crowded streets where merchants busily set up their stalls.
’Of course... you’ll get tangled with those yanderes later. Better for me to step aside before that happens, and I get killed by one of them.’
"Okay, so it’s a deal." She extended her hand, pointedly ignoring Bennett’s earlier question.
Seeing her gesture, Bennett lifted his own hand and clasped hers in a firm shake.
"It’s a deal, then."
After the handshake, Lilian drew in a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.
’Now the question is how much should I tell him? I can’t make him suspicious of me.’
Lilian squinted hard, trying to find the things she could tell. "The first thing you need to know... is that in the future, you must avoid someone named Cassion completely."
Bennett folded her arms, tilting her head. "Who is this Cassion, and why do I need to avoid him?"
With a perfectly innocent expression, Lilian shrugged. "I don’t know. It’s just what the Saintess told me before."
She stole a glance at Bennett’s face, then quickly looked away.
’Ugh, how am I supposed to explain? I can’t just tell him Cassion’s a tyrant who’ll do anything to get what he wants... the biggest yandere in the entire novel, and not even readers know why he fell for you.’
"Okay..." Bennett muttered, eyeing her suspiciously before lowering her gaze.
’I guess she’s just spouting random things. Well, either way, I’m getting what I want, postponing the marriage.’
"Oh, and one more thing," Lilian added, her tone cautious. "You’ll have to act like a caring fiancé in front of others. My mother really likes you, and if she finds out about this deal, she won’t tolerate it....she’ll scold me instead."
"Haha..." A chuckle slipped from Bennett’s lips as she recalled her training days in the palace, how the empress would always send maids with fresh fruit and other treats every day.
Lilian’s jaw dropped slightly, her mind going blank for a moment.
’Gulp... if he were born on Earth, he’d be a total celebrity.’
"Now," Lilian said, clearing her throat, extending her hand toward her, "you need to escort me to the palace gates. We’ll both have to smile the whole way to avoid suspicion, understood?"
Bennett nodded, hopping down from the carriage before extending her hand toward her.
"You can become a great schemer and planner, my lady," Bennett said with a little laugh.
Lilian glared at her. "What do you mean by that?"
---
From a high palace window, Ethan’s eyes widened. "Hazel, isn’t that Bennett?"
"Huh? Where?" Hazel quickly set her book aside and ran to the window, leaning over to look down.
Ethan hmphed, displeasure flashing across his face at her obvious excitement the moment Bennett’s name was mentioned.
"Wow, did they come right after their talk—ehhhh!" Hazel squealed, leaning forward against the window.
"Careful." Ethan raised a hand protectively in front of her.
"I won’t fall, don’t worry." Hazel pouted, though her eyes sparkled with delight as she watched Bennett escort Lilian all the way to the palace gates.
---
After escorting Lilian, Bennett descended the stairs and crossed the palace garden, heading toward the iron gates.
Her steps slowed, eyes narrowing as she caught sight of a faint figure running along the palace wall.
In an instant, before she could fully register it, the figure dissolved into shadow and vanished.
’That person... did they just use dark magic, without any backlash?’
Her pulse quickened. She darted forward, leaping with a jump, until she landed near the wall. Her gaze swept the surroundings, wary, taking in everything, every sense on edge.