Wizard: I Have a World of the Dead

Wallenberg, fitting room.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the arched windows, casting warm golden patches of light on the oak floor.

The fitting room was small, with mirrors hanging on all four walls and several wooden mannequins in the corner, draped with various fabrics and half-finished dresses.

The air was filled with the delicate scent of lavender, mixed with the fresh aroma of freshly ironed fabric.

The harvest festival is approaching. According to the custom of the Southern Territory, after the autumn harvest each year, Earl Vinhart will hold a grand banquet in Graystone City, inviting the nobles of the territory to gather together.

This was Margaret's first time attending such an occasion as Baron Wallenberg's fiancée. She was so nervous that she hadn't slept well for three whole days.

She was standing on a round carpet in the center of the fitting room, with a full-length mirror in front of her, reflecting a young girl in a dark blue velvet dress.

The skirt spread out at her feet, like an inverted bell-shaped flower. The neckline and cuffs were embroidered with silver thread, which shimmered slightly in the sunlight.

The waist was cinched tightly, outlining a slender figure, and the skirt folds cascaded down from the waist like a waterfall.

"Is it pretty?"

She turned and asked Lin Qi, who was sitting on the sofa by the window. Her skirt swayed gently with her movement, the silver embroidery drawing an arc in the light.

Lin Qi leaned back on the sofa, one leg casually crossed over the other, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold.

He glanced up, nodded, and said, "It looks good."

"Really?" Margaret's eyes lit up. She looked down at herself, then touched the folds at her waist. "But..."

"I feel like the waist area isn't cinched tight enough; will it make me look a bit bulky? And the neckline, is it too low?"

Lin Qi smiled gently and said, "Anything is fine."

Margaret puffed out her cheeks slightly: "That won't do."

She turned around, adjusted her neckline in front of the mirror, and said earnestly, "This is my first time attending a banquet as the fiancée of the Baron Wallenberg. I can't let you down."

But you've already tried on 6 items, okay?

Thinking of this, Lin Qi put down his teacup, stood up, and walked behind her: "This one will do."

The two people in the mirror stood together. He was wearing a casual shirt and trousers, his hair was casually pulled back, and he had a bit of stubble on his chin.

She wore an exquisite gown, her makeup was meticulous, and her hair was styled in a neat updo.

He took a step closer.

They were very close. Close enough that she could feel the gentle breeze from his breath brushing against her ear.

That warm breath, like a feather, gently brushed against her earlobe and slid down her neck.

Margaret felt her heart race, and a blush quickly spread across her cheeks, starting from her ears. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Although they had been living in Wallenberg for some time, the couple's wedding had not yet taken place.

Lynch always maintained the proper decorum expected of an aristocrat, and never overstepped his bounds with Margaret.

This is the first time we've been this close.

"However...it seems like something is missing."

Just as Margaret's heart was pounding, Lynch's voice rang in her ears again. He gazed thoughtfully at Margaret's smooth chest.

Margaret was taken aback: "What?"

Lin Qi did not answer, but reached into his pocket, took out a small velvet bag the size of a palm, untied the ribbon with one hand, turned the bag upside down, and gave it a gentle shake.

"Splash!"

With a clear sound, a dazzling light poured out from his palm.

It was a necklace of gemstones.

The main stone is a pigeon blood ruby, about the size of a thumbnail, whose facets refract a deep red light in the sunlight, like solidified flames.

A ring of tiny white diamonds surrounds the ruby, each one perfectly polished. Light dances, refracts, and intertwines among them, creating a flowing galaxy.

Margaret's gaze was fixed on the necklace.

As a noblewoman, Margaret had seen quite a few jewelry necklaces, if not all of them, but none of them were like this.

The chain weaving technique, the precision of the inlay, the exquisite details that shine through every part.

I can't believe that a craftsman could have such skill.

Lin Qi walked behind her and gently brushed aside the stray hairs at the back of her neck. She trembled slightly when his fingertips touched her skin.

The moment the necklace was fastened, the cool gemstone pressed against her collarbone, heavy as a star that had fallen there.

Lin Qi took a step back and looked at her in the mirror.

A deep blue velvet gown, paired with a pigeon-blood ruby ​​necklace. The blue is as serene as the deep sea, the red as fiery as flames. The two complement each other, as if they were born for each other.

"Now," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips, "it's perfect."

Margaret stared at herself in the mirror for a long time.

She reached out, her fingertips gently touching the ruby ​​on her collarbone. A cool sensation spread from her fingertips, and then...

Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Beep! Talk!"

A few tears suddenly welled up in her eyes and dripped onto the floor.

Lin Qi was somewhat taken aback: "What's wrong?"

Why are you suddenly crying?

"No..." She quickly raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye with her fingertips. The tear stain was wiped away, but a slight redness remained at the corner of her eye.

"It's nothing." Her voice was a little hoarse, but with a smile. "It's just... I've never been this kind of person to me before."

Most nobles were philanderers with many lovers and children, and Baron Barack was no exception.

Margaret was just one of his many daughters, because her mother was born into a humble family and she even had to spend her childhood as an illegitimate child.

It wasn't until she was around six years old that Barak realized her value because of her exquisite features and outstanding appearance, and then he verified her identity.

Even so, she lived only as a tool for a political marriage, and neither the baron nor anyone else in the family had the energy or motivation to invest emotionally in her.

Margaret looked up at Lynch and said earnestly, "Thank you, Lynch."

Her voice wasn't loud, but she pronounced every word clearly.

"I don't know... how to repay your kindness... I don't know what I can offer... I can only promise you."

She emphasized, "After marriage, I will definitely fulfill my responsibilities as a wife."

Lynch chuckled.

He didn't say anything, but simply hugged her, gently pulling her into his arms, lowered his head, and lightly kissed her forehead.

This sudden action caught Margaret off guard. Her cheeks flushed red from her forehead down to her ears, neck, and then to the collarbone where the necklace was attached.

Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, her mind was blank, and she couldn't remember anything.

"Cough cough—"

A soft cough came from the doorway.

The two of them turned their heads at the same time.

The old butler, Cliff, stood in the doorway, one hand still raised as if to knock, the other behind his back, and chuckled nonchalantly, "I wonder if I've come at the wrong time?"

Margaret's face was already bright red. She quickly lowered her head, pretending to straighten her skirt, wishing she could shrink into that pile of dark blue velvet.

"I'll go prepare some tea and snacks first."

She quickly gave a curtsy, then lifted her skirt and hurried out.

Cliff looked in the direction she left, then turned back to look at Lynch. The smile on his lips finally turned into a very soft laugh.

"Your Excellency," he said, his tone carrying a knowing edge of experience, "when I was young, I also..."

"Let's get down to business," Lin Qi interrupted.

Cliff's smile faded as he went into the fitting room. He took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Lynch with both hands.

"The invitation from Twin Rivers City has arrived. The Harvest Festival banquet is on the fifteenth of next month."