Summoned by a Pretend Villainess

23. A very strong wind against a soft gentle breeze

The Marquessate of the Vandross family was located inside the empire's capital. It covered hectares of land and was directly adjacent to the west part of the imperial palace. The family used to be the most respected and renowned highly-ranked noble of their class.

Known for being the home of wind elemental magic users, their generations had been part of the imperial's army. Being the wind as their primary power, their agility, and speed greatly increased and helped them in becoming sword masters.

Therefore, there has never been an offspring of them that did not become one of the squadron's commanders. Their lineage from generation to generation had inherited their power and had become a constant aid to the imperial family.

Not until the only daughter of the Vandross family was born.

Laina Zephyr Vandross.

Despite being the only child of her parents, she strived to become deserving of being their successor. She was a woman respected by her peers, envied by even men, and greatly sought by most of the promising bachelors of her time. Her beauty was like the flower in full bloom, and her elegance was like the breeze gently swaying them.

But to her horror, her magic that should have evolved into a wind element did not occur. She practiced hard and tried everything to awaken the power that runs in the blood of a Vandross but to no avail. Her mana stopped increasing, and her magic reached its limit.

Like a withering plant, the proud lady was eaten by her anxiety and depression. Her parents showed great disappointment in her. Her name which was once at the top of most sought women was slowly forgotten. Her confidence declined. And she grew graver and gloomier each day.

The family that once exalts her began neglecting her. All because she failed to continue their legacy. To do so, her parents arranged for her to be wed to a wind magic user. Her dream of marrying the man of her own choice had vanished. And to spite her parents, she ran away, and met another man, but she only came back to them in the end.

She married the man her parents chose for her. A man of lower class, but wields the same magic her family had. That man got everything she had worked hard to achieve. The title of a marquess, the position of a squadron commander, and the beloved and preferred child of her parents.

Even after marrying him, she was still cast aside. Ignored and forgotten. No more than just the wife of a dignified imperial knight.

So, when the heavens gifted her a child, she did everything to make the child inherit their legacy. She would pray every day and give offerings to the temple. She would do volunteering and feed the unfortunate children of the slums.

And at last, the heavens did grant her wishes. She gave birth to a child that will be her salvation.

Her only beloved child.

"Madame, the young marquess had just arrived."

Laina looked away from the newspaper she was reading. Her face glowed with obvious joy at the news.

"Tell him to come find me immediately." Though her excitement to see her son cannot be contained, she remained sitting and waited for him instead.

But her waiting did not even take a few minutes. The arrival of the man she was anticipating was abrupt.

"No need for that." A dark-sounding voice loomed in the room. Followed by the figure of a tall man with dark bluish hair and greyish eyes, the same eye color as hers.

"Ah, Gayle! It was sweet of you to travel here from the capital to see me." She rushed and embraced the man standing stiffly at the entrance.

Luven, showing no affection nor deep emotions at the reunion with his mother, who was settling at the villa owned by the Vandross family outside the capital, did not move at the warm welcome.