When they arrived, Arlo was the first to greet them.
They entered the living room, but Noah did not settle down. He began inspecting the place with a critical eye, as if his gaze was hunting for details. Then he suddenly turned to Arlo and said, "He forces you to clean… How about working with me?"
Arlo never wanted that. "…."
But what caught Arthur and Arlo's attention wasn't Noah it was the healer's entrance.
Two girls walked in side by side, wearing their veils in quiet harmony. One of them entered and sat down calmly, while the other stayed by the door, staring directly at Arlo with a look that was hard to interpret.
Arthur whispered in amazement, "You two… are twins? This is the first time I've seen twins…" His expression was stunned, his gaze contemplative. "She's like an angel…" he murmured, looking at the first, then at the second, but seemed unable to decide.
Everly looked at Arlo, her eyes gleaming with no lack of sarcasm, and said coldly, "You are the devil."
"So what?" he asked.
Everly turned to her sister Evelyn. "Heal him… for little Isabel's sake." She spoke with sincere plea.
Evelyn wiped her blue eye, and in silence, she invited Arlo to enter the room with her.
Noah watched the scene from behind, frozen, then muttered something quietly. As Arlo and Evelyn went into the room, he began looking around again, then stopped abruptly in front of the table, stared at it, and said with sharp sarcasm, "Arthur… you forgot to clean this."
Everly's eyes remained fixed on the door, silently waiting for her sister to come out.
When she caught Noah's gaze with hers, she laughed lightly and said, "You're mischievous. How old are you?"
Noah replied with a faint smile, "That's slander. Can you guess?"
Everly looked at him for a moment, then answered, "You haven't even reached twenty…"
"That's correct," Noah replied honestly, leaving Arthur slightly shocked.
Not long passed before a red light pierced through the closed door, glowing ominously. Everly looked away.
Then blood began seeping from under the door, accompanied by a scream sharp and distorted… not human.
Arthur stepped hesitantly toward the door, staring at it, but Everly's voice stopped him firmly. "You must not see what's happening inside… My sister is sacrificing a part of herself to break the curse."
Arthur stepped back and sat in silence. Soon after, silence fell.
Arlo stumbled out, swaying as if the air were heavier than usual. He nearly fell, but Evelyn caught him gracefully.
Arthur rushed over and helped them sit down, his eyes widening at the sight of Evelyn's white dress stained with blood.
Evelyn muttered in a low voice, "I've removed the restrictions on Arlo… My aura is now seeping into him. He is completely free. But it would be best for him to establish a contract, at the very least."
Arlo and Noah exchanged glances. When their eyes met, Noah's smile was wicked.
Arlo felt uneasy, as if Noah's gaze was digging a grave in the shadows. He didn't like that feeling. He didn't like that smile.
But Noah ignored it and asked, "Why do the twins suffer like this?"
Evelyn pointed to herself and then to her sister. "The bond between us is strong. I can feel everything she goes through." Then she laughed bitterly. "One of the twins must preserve her purity, like her… and the other, her sanity, before she loses it entirely."
Arthur asked slowly, "And what if… she loses her sanity?"
Evelyn shrugged lightly and said, "I continue to live… because Everly is still here. But she is the one who keeps my balance."
Arthur tilted his head and asked, "Do corrupted twins exist?"
Evelyn paused for a moment, thinking… but the answer came from Everly. "Corruption exists everywhere. But in them, it runs deeper than in the devils themselves."
Isabel put her hand on her head and sighed. "It's exhausting… upbringing, care, and then this? If this happened to one of my children…" She paused for a moment, then said in a low but decisive voice, "I might burn the whole world… just so no harm touches them."
Noah looked at her for a long time, then muttered seriously, "You shouldn't say that… What is said becomes real."
After that, the scene changed.
Arthur did not see Isabel for a long time, as if she had vanished from existence. He searched for her here and there, and finally, when he grew weary, he asked Noah.
Noah replied calmly, "My sister Anoushka stole someone's levels for her. It wasn't actual theft, but she deprived that man of progress. Now, my sister is training her to develop her core and teaching her to fight."
Arthur asked, with faint wonder, "Why does she want to evolve so quickly?"
Noah hesitated before answering, "She might marry soon, Arthur. You are not a man."
Later, Arthur finally met her. She was different. Radiant… strong. When she saw him, she asked about ordinary matters, then added some random "facts"—clearly fabricated by Noah.
Isabel whispered, doubt creeping into her words, "I want to develop my spiritual powers… so I don't die after marriage. Oh, and to defend myself! Since the factory opened, I've been facing strange incidents."
Arthur looked at her, then took her hand and said, "That won't happen. Tell me the truth, Isa."
"Tell me honestly."
Isabel raised her gaze to him, looked directly into his eyes, and then spoke, "You're the man here… you tell me. What do you want?"
Arthur sighed slowly, raised his hand, and gently touched her face. She did not pull back. He spoke in a low voice carrying a hint of determination, "I am greedy… If I want something, I want all of it. To the end."
Isabel smiled and replied, "So? My training time is near. Your time is almost up."
Arthur laughed lightly, as if something rare had stirred in his heart. "I've never felt this before… Your eyes speak to me."
Isabel raised an eyebrow in surprise and muttered, "You don't understand. You don't understand anything at all."
Arthur tilted his head slightly, his gaze questioning. "What don't I understand? It's clear that I want you."
Isabel looked away for a moment, trying to contain her agitation. But he moved closer to her, until he almost embraced her completely, and whispered again, "What don't I understand? I want you. I love you."
She muttered, barely raising her voice, "I don't want to tell you now…" She felt her breath catch with something she couldn't describe.
Arthur gently pulled her into his arms, patted her head, then whispered in her ear, "I will come to your house."
"I will wait for you," Isabel replied with feigned calm.
And when he left, Isabel remained standing, staring into nothing… She didn't really understand what he meant by his words. Was that a marriage proposal?
The scene changed again.
Arthur sat before Mr. Richard in a formal meeting.
His voice was steady, clear, as he asked for Isabel's hand in marriage.
On the other side, Isabel stood motionless, staring in disbelief, barely comprehending what was happening. She screamed and called out loudly, "Mary!"
At that moment, Mary was trying to learn how to control her spiritual core.
But Isabel forced her to come along for training, holding onto her as if pulling life from death.
"If I die, we die together... and if I live long, live with me."
Now, Mary stood before her, while Isabel screamed in madness "It's becoming real!"
Mary said, with uneasy calm, "Isabel... you wanted this from the beginning." Then she suddenly lowered her voice. "He's here... he might hear!"
After that, a clear order came from the lord:
A complete ban on Arthur seeing Isabel until the wedding day.
Formal meetings were the only chance to see her face, but she was forced to wear a heavy veil that completely covered her face.
Then Arthur went again to Logan, Noah's grandfather, to ask for Isabel's hand in marriage. Logan agreed, but he was even harsher than her father.
"Don't look at my princess," Logan spoke sharply, his tone even more aggressive.
Before the wedding, Noah went himself, bought everything luxurious and expensive, and sent it to Arthur's house.
Arthur handled every detail, but his head ached.
It wasn't the pain of loss, but the pain of confusion. He never expected to need someone, to choose someone instead of his previous plans. Arthur could no longer bear the loneliness.
One day before the wedding,
Noah burst in lightly and left everything in Arlo's charge.
Then he took Arthur to a simple palace on the outskirts of the capital.
Along the way, Noah asked quietly, glancing at him from the corner of his eye, "How do you feel?"
Arthur replied with a wide smile and a look of astonishment "I think I'm very happy..."
Noah smiled broadly, then said with warm seriousness, "You're lucky. Isabel may be my friend, but she is... my sister. So if she ever comes back to me sad, I will send you to your grave myself." Then he added, "But I am happy. I never thought I would live to see this day."
When they got out of the carriage, Noah said in a low voice, as if revealing a secret, "By the way, Isabel... and my eldest sister... they are both here."
Arthur raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What? I can't see her now! I'm still... I'm still not ready. A dream might come and cause trouble!"
Noah laughed. "My grandfather is here too. He'll take care of hitting you if you try to look at her."
The two walked side by side, and Arthur felt a strange feeling inside, not easily named.
He hadn't wanted to form bonds at first. He hadn't even wanted to establish a simple contract with Arlo.
But now? Arlo had become like an assistant. And Noah, whose presence he could barely tolerate before, he now enjoyed talking to him, always longing to hear him.
Arthur never expected to love anyone, but now... he was waiting for just one look, enough.
He never thought he would receive all these blessings.
Richard was kind like a father, and Logan seemed to him like a stern but affectionate grandfather.
And Noah... was like an annoying little brother.
Warmth seeped into Arthur's heart. He smiled faintly. For the first time, he truly felt he belonged.
A family... unlike anything he had ever known.
Noah suddenly whispered, "my lord Edminael is here."
Arthur stopped in his place, as if time had frozen for a moment. Then Noah added reassuringly with a smile, "Don't worry, he's not angry. He just came to bless you."
Arthur remained standing, not fully believing what was happening... as if his life had finally found its true shape.
Arthur entered slowly and sat before Isabel. He gazed at her calmly. Although the heavy veil covering her face hid her expressions, her presence was heavy, undeniable.
Logan sat beside her, his hand on the handle of his cane.
Logan spoke in a quiet voice, but with a hint of warning:
"Arthur, only one day remains. You are a mature man, but my little princess is still in my hands. Do one wrong thing, and I will kick you far away!"
Noah went first to meet the lord.
Although lord Edminael was not known for his affection or favoritism toward anyone, Noah had earned his complete trust.
He carried out his orders, and for that, he had a place no one could challenge him in, except for one, who was considered an unbreakable guest.
Later, Arthur and Isabel entered the hall where lord. Edminael sat.
He sat quietly. His loose black robe flowed gracefully, threaded with golden patterns forming misty dragons, surrounding him with an aura of dormant power.
His face was covered by a thick veil, revealing only his chin. Yet he had no need for words. His silence alone was enough to fill the place with awe.
After Arthur expressed his thanks and gratitude, the lord's voice finally came, quiet as a breeze in a storm:
"Blessings upon you both. You stand on the threshold of a happy life."
Arthur asked, with a hint of concern in his tone, "What about the war?"
Lord Edminael rested his hand on his chin and spoke without changing his tone:
"Tomorrow is your wedding. Why occupy your mind with it now?"
Arthur raised his head confidently. "Because I am always ready... for you."
Lord Edminael smiled, then spoke, "Focus only on your new family."
Then he quietly extended his hand and allowed a part of his energy to seep into them both. "It is... my blessing."
When they exited, Isabel was trembling violently. Anoushka quickly grabbed her and placed her in front of the fire.
"I'm... freezing!" Isabel muttered, her teeth chattering.
Arthur looked at his hand and found it cold to the point of numbness.
He smiled to himself: 'The lord is in a very good mood, it seems.'
Noah came out a few minutes later, carrying a carefully wrapped gift.
He handed it to Arthur quietly, without saying much.
On the way back, Arthur suddenly broke the silence, as if realizing something subtle:
"From the very beginning... the lord wanted me to marry her, didn't he? But I love her. Matthew must have seen the thread of fate. It was destined that I would see her, and Isabel too..."
Noah shook his head with a smile. "The lord is happy for you."
Arthur looked at the gift in his hands, with hesitation mixed with curiosity...
And wished time would hurry so tomorrow would come quickly.
The next day, the wedding took place.
After the ceremony, Arthur and Isabel returned to their new home.
Isabel finally confessed her wicked deeds. "Actually... Arthur, you were the center of everyone's attention since your first day in the capital. They all wanted to see you and get close to you. But I... kept everyone away from you. It was very easy."