As the months fly by, I am doing great at the mage's guild. So far, I am getting to use my potion making and enchanting skills. My coworkers are friendly enough, quiet and tend to keep to themselves. I have been writing letters to Jerald in this time and he’s living the high life. Managing his own ship routes gifted to him by his father. I am happy for him honestly. The three eggs hatch as well. The first egg is a small red lizard. The second is a white winged snake. The last one is a golden-brown turtle-like creature.

They are so small! I'm going to carry them around. I don't trust Sarah not to find them and kill them. So as I traveled between the mages guild and home I would stop to feed the three. I pack away my notes and head back to the palace. So far my plan of going to parties to avoid Sarah has been working. In return I am more tired socially but I feel it’s worth it.

Today’s party is looking to be all business so I can relax a little. That is until I see Erica. She is wearing a very well made dress. She notices me and smiles walking over with two wine glasses in hand “Andras! Hello! It’s been so long.” I smile at her “That it has. How have you been faring?” She hums thoughtful “Oh you know. Just been getting myself out there in the world.” I nod at that. Good for her. She holds out a glass to me “Let’s drink Andras. To our futures.” I gently take the glass. [Glass of Wine]. Good Sarah didn’t get to the wine.

Drinking the wine Erica hands me, I lick my lips at the flavor. Then I look her in the eyes and wow. She's the most beautiful and stunning woman I have ever seen. How could I have not seen it before? All I want is to pick her up and whisk her away forever. Mental age gap be damned! Erica smiles as I shift stepping closer to her “My lady, you do look very fashionable tonight.” she blushes as she lightly grasps my hand “Of course. I am glad you took notice.” I lightly kiss her hand. She giggles and shifts “Let us dance?” I bow “Lets.” and we dance. It’s almost like a romantic movie. My heart feels a burning warmth at the idea.

As we parted ways I could feel my heart yearn for her. I must see her again. We must. Yes we have to. She is so beautiful. Like the pearls in the ocean. Very fitting Lake. Ah pearls! Could you fetch her some? They would make the perfect gift for her. Of course! Our master likes this girl. She will get only the best. Only the best indeed Shade. Gale, come to me! He flies and lands onto my extended arm “Gale, find the finest jewels in the land. Once you locate them let me know so I may purchase them.” Gale bows his head “Of course young master. But… Do you truly love this woman?” Do I? “Of course I do Gale! I can feel the love I have for her in my very chest.” I love her. The words ring true around my mind and in my heart.

Over the course of the next three months I chased my love. Buying her every desire. Taking her all across Astria and even across the sea. We went anywhere my love wanted to go. As we rode in the carriage from one of our trips I knelt with a ring held out from my palms “Erica. Would you become my wife?” Her eyes water as she nods, smiling brightly. “Of courseI Yes!” and she takes the ring, putting it on her finger. Admiring it. I smile watching her and feeling the fire of love burning in me.

I leave behind my three pets in my room. I task my contracted elementals to tend to them. I want to be free to care for Erica. I want to fill her every need. She loves the gifts I give to her and that fuels this burning in my heart. I need to impress her more. Give all of myself to her. Nothing else matters but her happiness. She is the one thing I love. The one thing I'll ever need.

Soon the day of our engagement arrives and everyone celebrates. I laugh and chat with the nobles who arrived. Jerald comes and he frowns as he approaches me “Andras? You're marrying Erica? But she used to bother you all the time in school.” I hum and shrug “She has matured. She isn’t the teen we used to know anymore.” Jerald raises a brow but nods slowly “Alright… Well in any case I am happy for you. With how much you locked yourself into studying I worried about you.” I chuckle and shake my head “I might be a bookworm but I am still a man.” Jerald snorts at that. He eyes me with a hit of worry and shifts “Man… I really hope it works out for you.” I nod to him and begin to walk away. As I do I hear him mutter “And I hope I am wrong…” Hmm must be worried about me. Jerald is a true friend indeed. After the engagement party I spent the weekend showering Erica with presents.

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Four weeks pass and a wedding date is announced. I am super happy Erica wants to do this so quickly. We have been drinking wine and having a good old time at parties. We both prepare for the wedding and I feel so excited. My heart is burning with the light of love. I bought the best venue and invited almost everyone I knew to the event. I want this to be the best wedding in the world. I get the best wedding planner out there and use all my allowance to put it all together.

The day of the wedding arrives and I greet everyone warmly. As I greet Jerald, who is of course going to be my best man he ushers me to the side. He eyes me with extreme concern “Andras. Where are your contracted elementals?” I blink at Jerald. Where are they? They are all watching my pets. My elementals are hard at work! I smile warmly. “They are hard at work tending to some pets I bought.” Jerald stares at me blankly “What? Even Shade?” At that I shrug. Our conversation is cut short by the priest calling everyone to stand. Jerald pats my back “I really hope I am wrong.” I feel a cold shiver run up my spine as he walks off. Shaking my head I smile as I walk to meet my future wife at the altar.

As our lips connect I feel something break in my mind. I do not love this woman. The thought rattles through my mind as I am released by the potion. I reel back and shift regaining my mind. I look to the priest then to her and pale “You… You tried to force me to marry you.” Erica blinks shocked as she pales “Wh-what?” I point at her “You fed me a love potion!” Just as suddenly I feel my connections to my contracted elementals at the forefront of my mind. Shade shifts around in my shadow, and I reign in my anger as I take a deep breath. “Erica. Tell me the truth. At the party you gave me wine. The same wine you have been giving me on our dates. It had love potion in it. Didn’t it?” I don’t know how observation didn’t see it, but I guess it can only tell me so much. It’s not like it’s the spell identify.

Erica is pale as a ghost as she stutters “I-I don’t know what you are saying! Love potion… I would never do that!” I frown, great she won't admit it. Jerald steps to my side and coughs into his hand “I had hoped I was wrong. But just in case I casted Dispel Potion on Andras.” I turned to Jerald in surprise “Wait… How did you figure it out?” Jerald shakes his head “It was like you were obsessed with her. It felt… Out of character? I am not sure how you would treat a girlfriend, but I had a hunch it wouldn’t be like that.” He's right. I am a bit more of a physical person than a gift giving one. The priest coughs into his hand “By the light of Metphis… I have never seen a case where a love potion was used to force a marriage. Young man are you feeling alright?” I look to the priest.

To be honest, no. I am not feeling 'alright'. I feel violated. Betrayed. Disgusted by Erica's pure presents here. I shake my head "No. I almost got married to a woman who would stoop so low." Not only that reason but… If I speak my mind, it could be bad. Jerald lays a hand on my shoulder "How about sitting down? While the guards come to arrest that woman." I nod and sit down next to Jerald.

I feel numb. Like I wasn't just almost mind controlled. How could one of the people I trusted do that? When I checked the wine, I was only looking for poison… It never even crossed my mind to look for a love potion. Can I even trust any noble girl after this? What if some girl gets obsessed like Erica and tries again? I shift as I feel Jerald tabbing my back "It's going to be okay now. She's going to be in prison for life." Why is he- oh. I touch my face and feel the tears.

I have been crying. The numb feeling falls away as I grab Jerald for a crushing hug. I try not to loudly sob but… The horrible feeling in my chest… I want to feel normal again. So, I hold onto my friend, and I cry. I can't just brush this off like the other stuff. My actual mind was attacked. Me, the person stuck in this hellish world. I need some sense of normalcy. In real life I have never cried on anyone's shoulder. But that doesn't matter. I need this. I need to hold onto someone and cry. If I don't I feel like I would fall apart.