What shall I do... what shall I do? 

Loyd Landells was absorbed in thoughts while strolling in his family's Garden. He navigated this familiar green labyrinth without looking around at all. 

The ball at Third Prince's mansion would be held tomorrow. It can as well be the last chance for me to confess... after that, it would be hard to see each other again for years. Our parents wouldn't wait for so long. 

Though their parents were friends, there was a difference in their noble status. As a daughter of Count, Amelia wasn't fit to be a wife of Duke's firstborn. 

As long as she is willing to be with me, I don't care about my status or inheritance. I still have Lil bro, who can take my role in the worst-case scenario. 

Even though it was chilly Autumn morning, Loyd was sweating. He took his white handkerchief and lightly wiped his face. 

The problem is - what if she only considers me a good friend and nothing more? If our families learn about my feelings, then she wouldn't even have the right to refuse. Most likely, she would be forced to become my mistress. I'd rather die than force her to be with me against her will. 

Just thinking about it made Loyd feel pain in his chest. More than anything, he wanted Amelia to be happy, even if this happiness was given to her by someone else.

It means I should make my confession in secret, to avoid anyone from finding out... it wouldn't be easy to do it at the ball, but I can ask some people for help. I have enough connections...

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As he started to calm down, the temperature of his body decreased as well. As an Elemental Mage at the Adept level, emotions Loyd felt sometimes transmitted through Mana, affecting his body as a result. It was a negligible price for the power he gained through Magic. 

If she likes me as a man, then there is still a high chance to convince our parents without any conflict. Making her my wife wouldn't be easy in normal circumstances, but with Amelia's talent, it is a different story altogether. I can't accept her as just a mistress. In fact, I don't need anyone other than her in the first place!

Loyd stopped walking at the Garden's center, near a fountain. He deeply exhaled the fresh air, enjoying the pleasant smell of fall foliage. 

Yes, I decided. Tomorrow, I'll confess my love to Amelia. No matter the result, I will accept her answer. I waited for it way too long. My Lil bro is already engaged, even if he is three years younger. She and I are already past our seventeenth Summer and soon will be enrolled in corresponding Mana Mastery Academies, there is no more time to hesitate...

After making this decision, Loyd felt at ease. Even now, he clearly remembered this day when he fell in love with Amelia six years ago. He remembered her smile, his pounding heart, this inexplicable feeling as if something inside his body awakened. He can still remember those sleepless nights when all he did was think about her, fantasying about their life together. In fact, it wasn't something left in the past, even now he sometimes indulged in his fantasies about her. Of course, he never crossed the line and, at most, imagined kissing her gently. As a true gentleman, Loyd never allowed himself to relish in lustful thoughts. 

Either my feelings are mutual or not, tomorrow would be a great day. It would be the day of change. It will determine the rest of my life. 

But this tomorrow was never destined to happen. It was the day, Loyd Landells was murdered in the event known by later generations as The Landells Massacre. It was the day that inadvertently created two most terrifying existences ever known to humanity.