The Villainess is my fiance: But she is gentle towards me

Vivian slowly turned his head toward the voice and found the woman standing there, a woman with blue eyes like clear water and hair that matched the same calm color.

With her dress added in, she looked almost unreal, like someone who had stepped out of a painting.

He stared at her for a moment longer than he meant to, then spoke, keeping his voice steady.

"It's just an exaggeration. My name is Vivian D. Zenithara."

He gave Edward a small nudge.

Edward straightened up at once.

"My name is Edward D. Zenithara. It's nice meeting you," he said with a polite smile.

The woman didn't speak right away.

She simply looked at the two brothers, her eyes moving slowly from one to the other.

Vivian didn't miss the strange feeling crawling up his spine.

Something about her felt… off. Not dangerous, just different.

He could sense mana around her, but it was like trying to look through fog. Nothing was clear.

He kept quiet, watching her with a calm face.

After a long moment, she finally nodded.

"No. This isn't an exaggeration," she said softly. "If anyone deserves that title, it is you."

Her voice was gentle, but there was no doubt in her words.

And for the first time since the celebration started, Vivian felt like the person in front of him wasn't just another noble trying to act important, she was something else entirely.

The hall around them kept moving, loud and full of color, yet her presence felt like it pushed everything else a little farther away.

Edward blinked up at her, impressed.

Vivian didn't move, but his eyes narrowed just a little, trying to understand who exactly he was dealing with.

The night had suddenly become much more interesting.

After a short silence, the woman finally spoke again.

"My name is Esabella Roseline."

The moment those words left her lips, both Vivian and Edward froze.

Their eyes widened at the same time.

Vivian recovered fast, slipping his calm mask back on, but Edward… not a chance.

"But you are young—" he blurted out.

Vivian clamped a hand over his mouth so fast Edward almost squeaked.

"I apologize, Miss Esabella," Vivian said, keeping his voice smooth. "He's rude."

Esabella let out a soft chuckle and waved her hand. "No problem."

Vivian released Edward, and the boy immediately leaned forward with bright eyes.

"Are you the same Miss Esabella that Grandfather was friends with?" he asked, full of curiosity.

Esabella smiled gently and bent down a little to pat his head. "Yes, little one. Your grandfather and I were good friends."

Edward's eyes sparkled like he had just met a legend.

Vivian, on the other hand, felt a chill run down his spine.

He drew in a slow breath, staring at her with a tighter focus now.

Esabella Roseline.

One of the two Ascended-rank warriors in the entire empire.

And not just a warrior, she was a mage too. A true monster among geniuses.

Everyone knew her name. Everyone knew her power.

But only a handful had ever seen her face.

And even fewer knew she looked this young.

Young enough to walk into a hall full of nobles and blend in as if she were just another rising talent.

Vivian forced his breathing to stay steady, but inside he was wrestling with chaos, and the source of that chaos was the same shameless pest living in his sword.

[Hey, let me out right now. I want her.]

Vivian nearly choked on air.

'Shut up,' he snapped in his mind.

[You asshole! I'm commanding you as my master. You are to obey me. Release me at once. I will impress her!]

The spirit's voice grew wild, like a man who had seen paradise and wanted to jump straight into it.

Vivian's eyebrow twitched.

This creature… this thing… genuinely believed a master was supposed to obey the spirit.

He wondered if the sword had been forged by a drunk blacksmith or a mad one.

He didn't bother replying this time.

He simply shut the voice out and stood there, silent and calm on the outside, while the spirit inside his mind kept screaming like a crazed rooster.

Esabella looked at him with quiet amusement, unaware of the internal war happening inside his skull.

"So now that you've reached Swordmaster," she said, her voice light but steady, "don't get ahead of yourself."

Vivian blinked, her sudden shift catching him off guard.

"Reaching Grandmaster will be your real hurdle."

Her words weren't harsh, they were honest, almost gentle.

But they carried the weight of someone who had seen countless warriors break themselves trying to reach the next realm.

Vivian straightened slightly.

He felt Edward looking up at him, waiting to see how he would respond.

Somewhere deep in his sword, the spirit whispered again, this time in a dramatic whine:

[Forget grandmaster. Let me out, I want her. She's the one. This is fate.]

Vivian mentally tossed that comment into the trash.

"I will remember your advice," Vivian said, giving a small bow.

Esabella let out a soft laugh and leaned in a little, her blue eyes shining with mischief.

"Do you have a dance partner yet?"

"Huh?"

The word slipped out before Vivian could stop it.

His mouth even twitched open for a second, but he forced it shut and answered calmly, "I've."

"Who?" she asked right away, not giving him even a heartbeat to breathe.

"It is Princess Charlotte," he said, keeping his tone flat and polite.

"Tsk."

Esabella clicked her tongue the moment she heard the name. "That brat sure is lucky."

She stepped a bit closer, lowering her voice playfully.

"But don't be stuck on only one. How about you and I dance before she comes?"

Vivian's lips stretched into the most awkward smile he had ever produced in his life.

He didn't even manage a proper answer, just silence and discomfort wrapped together.

"You're not fun," Esabella sighed with a little frown.

Then, without warning, her gaze drifted down to Edward. Her entire expression shifted, lighter, playful, almost teasing.

"Okay," she said, "the real reason I came here… how about I take him as a disciple?"

Edward blinked. Vivian blinked harder.

The hall didn't go quiet, but inside Vivian's mind everything froze, along with the sword spirit, who suddenly screamed like a dying goose:

[TAKE ME AS A DISCIPLE! PICK ME! STEP ON ME!]

Vivian ignored him again.

Esabella just smiled, tapping Edward's head like she was already claiming him.

The air around them felt different now, like the moment before a big storm, only warmer and strangely exciting.

Edward stared at her, unsure what to say, while Vivian wondered if tonight was determined to set new records for surprises.

"He has talent for magic," Esabella said, tapping Edward's forehead lightly.

"As a mage, he should've started a few years ago, but it's not too late. So… how about it?"

Edward straightened his back, puffing out his chest like a proud little warrior.

"No, Lady. I won't learn magic. I'm a swordsman. I won't quit being one."

His voice was steady, filled with pride, real pride. Pride in his sword, pride in the path he had already chosen.

Esabella didn't get angry. She only smiled and leaned down to match his height.

"You don't have to worry. You can keep learning the sword while learning magic. If you master both, you'll be twice as strong. Isn't that good?"

Edward opened his mouth, ready to refuse again, but Vivian gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Edward stopped right away, turning to look at him.

Vivian stepped forward.

"I can't decide that," he said calmly. "Miss Esabella, how about you speak to my mother?"

He kept his voice steady, respectful, but inside he wasn't against the idea at all.

Edward learning magic wouldn't hurt him, it would only help.

And if Esabella herself was offering to teach him, then refusing blindly would be stupid.

But their mother… she would be the one deciding. Vivian wasn't home most of the time.

If Edward went to learn magic, he would have to leave the estate too, maybe even live far away to train.

Vivian didn't know how their mother would respond to that.

He didn't want to make that choice for her.

Esabella nodded lightly, understanding more than she let on.

"Well, then where is your mother?"

Esabella asked, her tone light but clearly interested.

Vivian glanced around the hall. "She isn't here yet, but she should be here with Father…"

Before he could finish, the guards' voices rang out loud and clear:

"Duke Vined D. Zenithara and Duchess Elena D. Zenithara are entering!"

Every head in the hall turned toward the entrance.

The sound of soft footsteps followed, and then Vivian's parents appeared.

Their posture was perfect, calm, strong, elegant. They didn't need to show power; it showed itself.

Vivian's eyes brightened the moment he saw them. Edward's did too. Both boys stood a little taller without even thinking about it.

Their father walked forward with steady steps, his expression composed.

Their mother walked beside him, her presence warm yet commanding, like a gentle flame that lit the whole hall.

Esabella didn't speak. She simply watched them approach, hands resting lightly on her glass.