The wagon convoy finally came to a complete stop. Gaile, Tresia, Melisa, Rayand, and all the mercenary members immediately got down from the horse-drawn wagons. They lined up neatly and simultaneously bowed to pay their respects to the ruler of the territory.
"Raise your heads!" Duke Melvin commanded, his baritone voice echoing with authority.
After they all raised their heads, Rayand stepped forward representing his group. The man handed over two specially sealed letters entrusted by Arvin directly to Duke Melvin.
The Duke received the letters, broke the seals, and began to read them silently while everyone waited in silence.
"Hello father, I'm sorry I sent so many people there. They are a professional mercenary group. I recruited them to be an additional combat force in our territory. When it comes to loyalty, they are very loyal. Unfortunately, their loyalty has been betrayed several times by their former employers. Among them is a person named Gaile. He is the strongest among them and is a dual-sword user."
Duke Melvin's eyes shifted to the next paragraph, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly as he read the following sentences.
"Oh right father, do you see Gaile's beautiful daughter with the purple hair? Please matchmake her with Ervin. She is a very loyal person as well as a great prospective mage in the future. I am certain Ervin will definitely fall in love with her at first sight. I leave the rest to you, father. Your son, Arvin Vedegra."
After finishing reading the unexpected final sentences, Duke Melvin folded the letter. For a moment, he narrowed his eyes and observed Melisa from afar, and without the slightest hesitation, he walked approaching the girl to get a clearer look at her.
Realizing the evaluating gaze of the ruler, Melisa could only lower her gaze feeling nervous.
"Call Ervin here!" Duke Melvin ordered, breaking the silence and giving instructions to one of his guards.
A guard soldier swiftly bowed in respect and walked quickly into the mansion to fetch his master's second son.
Seeing her husband's behavior suddenly calling for Ervin after reading the letter, Duchess Olive's curiosity was piqued.
"My Dear, I want to read that letter!" Duchess Olive requested, holding her hand out to her husband.
The Duke sighed, then immediately handed the letter he had just read to his wife. And then, Duchess Olive read the contents of the letter carefully from beginning to end.
Not long after understanding the intent of her eldest son's letter, Duchess Olive instead gave a crisp laugh. She then stepped forward approaching the purple-haired girl who had been standing awkwardly next to Gaile.
"So, your name is Melisa, right?" Duchess Olive asked with a very friendly and soothing tone of voice.
Melisa was slightly startled to be greeted by the lady of the house. "Y-Yes, I am Melisa, My Lady!" she answered haltingly while bowing politely.
"Wow... you are very polite." Duchess Olive praised, smiling warmly seeing Melisa's innocence. "But, hopefully you can melt the heart of my stubborn son! If you succeed, the two of us will definitely give our blessing to you both!"
Before Melisa could process the words of support from the Duchess, her gaze was automatically diverted to someone who had just emerged from behind the mansion's main doors. A blue-haired boy whose age looked about the same as hers had walked down the stairs and approached the Duke.
Is he the younger brother of that heartless young master? Melisa thought in her heart, her eyes fixed on the teenager's figure. He is very handsome and cute just like he told me before. Even though his handsomeness still cannot rival Young Master Arvin.
The handsome yet cute-faced teenager with blue hair was Ervin Vedegra, the second son of Duke Melvin Vedegra.
"Father, why are you called me here for?" he asked his father with a flat expression and a voice that was no less flat, very similar to his older brother's demeanor.
Seeing Ervin's arrival, Duchess Olive leaned her body slightly and whispered something into Melisa's ear so it wouldn't be heard by anyone else.
"You have already been told about how to melt him, right?" Duchess Olive whispered with a conspiratorial smile.
Melisa swallowed hard, then nodded slowly.
"If so, practice it on him after my husband introduces him to you!" Duchess Olive commanded, gently patting Melisa's shoulder and highly anticipating the interaction that would happen shortly.
As predicted by the Duchess, Duke Melvin finally stepped forward and introduced his second son to all the newly arrived mercenary members, and of course, specifically introduced him to Melisa.
"Everyone, this is my second son, Ervin Vedegra!" Duke Melvin said, introducing the blue-haired teenager with his calm baritone voice.
Receiving the indirect cue from Duchess Olive earlier, Melisa immediately took a small step forward. She looked at Ervin's flat face, then greeted him.
"Hello young master, I am Melisa. Nice to meet you!" she greeted with a very friendly and cheerful tone, immediately followed by a wide smile that looked so sincere and cute.
Zing!
Something felt like it shot quickly through the air and hit Ervin's chest like an invisible bullet.
When his pair of blue eyes saw the sweet smile from the purple-haired girl in front of him, Ervin's fortress of calmness crumbled instantly. The teenager was immediately captivated. His eyes widened slightly, and his heart suddenly beat fast with an irregular rhythm.
"I-I am E-Ervin Vedegra! N-Nice to m-meet You!" Ervin replied with a voice that sounded very nervous, completely opposite to his flat expression a few seconds ago. His handsome face now slowly began to turn red.
Everyone in Gaile's group was truly shocked half to death seeing Ervin's reaction, instantly becoming flustered and captivated by Melisa in just a matter of seconds. That spontaneous reaction was very accurate and exactly as Arvin had told them all before they departed for the Vedegra territory.
His two parents standing behind Ervin also looked at each other with looks of disbelief. They could not comprehend how their eldest son could predict his younger brother's reaction so accurately and precisely in his letter.
Especially for Melisa herself. The purple-haired girl also could not believe what she was seeing with her own eyes right now. Everything Arvin had told her after she was healed had now all become reality without missing the mark even slightly.
"D-Do you have a lover?" Ervin asked suddenly with a shy tone, unable to divert his gaze from Melisa's face.
Receiving such a blunt question from a young master she had just met, Melisa blinked her eyes.
"Not yet, Young Master. I am still thirteen years old. It is impossible for me to have a lover at this age." Melisa answered honestly and politely.
Hearing that answer, Ervin's eyes sparkled slightly. "D-Do you want to be my lover?" Ervin asked again, this time his voice sounding even more nervous but filled with hope. "I don't know how to explain it, and I don't know what is happening to me... but suddenly right now I feel like I have fallen in love with you."
Hearing the honest confession and innocence from the young master in front of her, Melisa fell silent for a moment. Her heart churned, but she finally let out a resigned sigh and gave a faint smile.
She felt she had truly lost completely in the bet she had made with Arvin. According to their agreement back then, if Ervin truly fell in love with her, then Melisa had to forget her one-sided feelings for Arvin and had to love his younger brother sincerely.
I lost! According to our bet in the capital, I will keep my promise and love your younger brother sincerely! You are truly a terrifying Young Master! Can you really arrange other people's futures like this? Melisa thought, admitting her defeat to the Young Master.
Melisa looked back at Ervin, who was still waiting for her answer with a blushing face.
"If your parents give their blessing, then I am ready to be your lover, Young Master Ervin." Melisa answered with a soothing, gentle smile.
"My wife and I definitely give our blessing to the two of you, but I must confirm it myself with this foolish son of mine!" Duke Melvin interjected suddenly, breaking the romantic atmosphere between the two teenagers.