WFBD 02

Chapter 02

The Imperial Palace’s Great Hall, where the Attribute Harmony Party was being held.

The hall was filled with the murmur of voices. On the surface, it looked like everyone was laughing and socializing, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

People were strictly gathered only with others of the same attribute.

In the Astel Empire, it had become the norm to ally with those of the same attribute while keeping those of different attributes in check.

Valerie, being a fifth-grade mage, was ostracized even by those of her own attribute, so even her family kept their distance from her.

She was so accustomed to this loneliness that it bored her, and she was just looking around, unfazed.

Suddenly, a sharp pinch on the back of her hand made her frown. She turned her head the other way.

“Can’t you stand still? What if your frivolousness shows? Stop fidgeting.”

Her mother scolded, making sure only Valerie could hear.

“Don’t do anything that stands out, just stay still. That’s the only way you’ll appear even remotely normal.”

She was being treated like a completely broken tool. In her previous life, she would have swallowed it, thinking it was all her fault, but not anymore.

“Isn’t it already common knowledge in the Water Attribute House that I’m a fifth-grade mage?”

“You don’t even intend to make the minimum effort? How can you have no thought of raising your parents’ honor? Tch.”

Her mother glared at Valerie with narrowed eyes. Valerie didn’t look away; she met her gaze.

“What can I do? I inherited this very mindset from you, Mother.”

“W-What? Are you daring to blame me right now?!”

Her mother’s face flushed red as she raised her voice. The noise drew the attention of those around them.

Sensing the stares, Rina composed her expression and approached the two.

“Mother, people are watching. Sister, what kind of habit is that? Apologize to Mother immediately.”

“Hah, as expected, Rina. You’re the only one who understands me.”

“Your face is getting very red from heat. Let’s go get some fresh air for a moment. Sister, you stay here.”

Rina wrapped her arm around their mother’s shoulder and led her away. Of course, as they moved off, she didn’t forget to glare back at Valerie.

Having no time to care about that glare, Valerie was now alone, so she freely turned her head this way and that, scanning her surroundings.

What mattered most to her now was finding Wayne Viterade.

He was the sole surviving Fire Attribute mage in the Astel Empire.

Several hundred years ago, an incurable disease that prevented Fire Attribute mages from controlling their mana had emerged. Because of it, people began dying from mana runaway, and the death toll had rapidly increased.

The Empire had tried to find a cure, but still hadn’t found an answer, leaving Wayne as the only survivor.

Valerie clearly remembered that he was attending today’s party as the sole representative of the Fire Attribute.

Her blue eyes darted busily around.

“There he is.”

In the distance, standing alone before an artificial fountain, she saw Wayne.

His ash-gray hair lightly covered his ears. His red eyes seemed to blaze even from afar, and his sharp gaze felt like it would steal your breath if it met yours.

With an expression that screamed he had no interest in the party, Wayne lethargically downed a whiskey glass full of ice, then set the glass down.

His attire was also eye-catching. Not only was he wearing a thin white silk blouse that revealed his toned physique, but he also had the top two buttons undone, showing a hint of his chest.

Though he had a navy blue jacket draped over his shoulders, it did little to hide his sturdy frame.

In a place where everyone else was dressed formally, his outfit was uniquely unconventional. So much so that one could feel the sidelong glances of those around him, pretending not to look.

Just as Wayne was downing his third whiskey, unfazed by the stares, someone approached him.

“How many is that now?”

It was David Rodrigo, from the Earth Attribute House. He had gentle amber eyes, fair skin, and neatly styled light blond hair. He was also the captain of Special Forces Zero and quite well-known.

As David approached, Wayne’s brow furrowed in annoyance.

“It’s hot, so get lost.”

“You’re hot because you’re drinking. And can’t you do something about your clothes? People are staring.”

“I don’t care.”

Valerie was too far away to hear their conversation. The two talked a bit more, then Wayne took off the jacket he had been wearing, held it in his hand, and headed somewhere.

Afraid of losing him, Valerie followed Wayne’s back with her blue eyes. His long legs strode quickly, and his destination was the terrace of the hall.

Seemingly wanting to avoid others’ gazes, Wayne even drew the curtains, isolating himself. Feeling that this was her chance to speak to him alone, Valerie hurried after him.

She was weaving through the gathered crowd when—

“Oh my…!”

She nearly bumped shoulders with a young lady, but thankfully twisted her body just in time to avoid contact.

The near-miss was with a young lady from the Light Attribute House, who wore a moon-shaped brooch.

She covered the shoulder that nearly touched Valerie and stepped back a few paces.

“Please be more careful.”

“…I’m sorry.”

The Light Attribute lady didn’t bother hiding her displeasure, turning away from Valerie. Yet towards those of her own attribute, she smiled brightly.

Such coldness towards different attributes was the culture of Astel. Valerie was already afraid of how Wayne might treat her, but she clenched her fists and quickened her pace.

“U-Um…”

Valerie carefully parted the curtains and stepped onto the terrace.

There, she saw a broad back leaning against the railing, gazing up at the night sky.

But that back was completely bare. Wayne had taken off not only his jacket but also his shirt, exposing his bare skin.

Valerie’s eyes widened in shock—she hadn’t expected him to be undressed. Just then, Wayne, who had been looking at the sky, turned his head and met her gaze.

Seeing him properly, she could now see his body even more clearly.

From his shoulders down to his chest and stomach, there wasn’t a single area that wasn’t sculpted. Staring at his finely chiseled muscles, Valerie forgot what she was going to say and just stood there dumbfounded.

“What are you staring at?”

Wayne swept his ash-gray hair back and stared at her. The simple act of raising his arm made his muscles bulge.

Valerie was so frozen she couldn’t even blink.

On their wedding night, Bartery had left her to sleep alone, citing the need to put his new bride in her place. So this was the first time she had ever properly seen a man’s body.

Flustered, she finally came to her senses and quickly averted her eyes.

“Wh-Why are you undressed? You can’t be naked outside!”

Valerie crossed her arms over her shoulders, hiding her own body as if she were the one exposed.

“Normally, people cover their eyes.”

Her mind had gone blank, and she had covered her own body first, so she sheepishly raised her hands and covered her eyes as he said.

“Now leave.”

“W-Wait a moment. My name is Valerie Priatin. Didn’t you receive the letters I sent?”

“Valerie Priatin?”

Wayne slowly murmured her name, then as if remembering, let out a short “Ah.”

“The Priatin who kept sending letters to my estate?”

“That’s right. I’m that Valerie Priatin.”

From the day she began her second life, she had sent him several letters asking for a chance to meet and talk directly. But he had never replied even once.

“I sent you several, but since you never replied, I came to find you myself.”

“Tch.”

Wayne openly clicked his tongue loudly.

“Because I had no intention of replying.”

Valerie, who had still been covering her eyes, slowly lowered her hands and looked at him. Wayne made no attempt to hide his annoyed expression.

“I have no intention of marrying, so stop wasting paper.”

His tone was heavy with warning. Then, as if to say there was nothing more to discuss, he even tilted his head, gesturing for her to leave.

But if she were the type to back down so easily, she wouldn’t have come to see him in the first place.

“Just as I thought. You never properly read my letters.”

“Because I assumed they were predictable.”

“I didn’t write a single word about marriage arrangements.”

One of Wayne’s eyebrows rose.

“I already knew you had no intention of marrying, Duke. It’s because you don’t want your child to live the same life, isn’t it?”

“How… do you know that?”

As Wayne furrowed his brow, his expression grew even sharper. His cold face stepped closer, the moonlight fully illuminating his formidable muscles. Though flustered, Valerie managed to feign composure.

Wayne would die one month after this party. Saying that the last spark had gone out, every newspaper in the Empire had been plastered with news of his death.

It was said the Imperial Palace had proposed that before he died, Wayne should marry a commoner or someone of a different attribute and have a child to continue his line.

But the anecdote was well-known: he had flatly refused, saying he didn’t want a child to suffer the same fate.

Valerie clearly remembered that after Wayne died, his personal circumstances were revealed belatedly, and for quite a long time, only stories related to him filled the newspapers.

“The Harmony Party is also a place to find a marriage partner, but the fact that you’re out here on the terrace alone tells me enough.”

“So did you send a threatening letter saying you’d figured out why I won’t marry?”

This time, he came right up to Valerie. His eyes seemed to say he wouldn’t let her off without a proper answer.

She clenched her fists tightly, determined not to be intimidated.

“No. I sent a letter asking to be hired as a gardener for your estate.