Chapter 653: Unrecognisable Brother

The sun had long since set, painting the sky in deepening shades of purple and indigo as Maria’s carriage rolled through Cassius’s estate.

Diana had insisted on staying behind at the hospital—there were still patients to check on, charts to review, the endless responsibilities of running such a large medical facility.

So Maria had made the journey back alone, her thoughts wrapped in a warm, pleasant haze that she couldn’t quite shake.

As the carriage passed through the iron gates, Maria absently raised a hand to her face.

Her fingers met the corners of her lips that were curved upward.

She was smiling.

Not just now, she realized—she had been smiling the entire journey back.

The whole way, from the hospital to the estate, her lips had been curled in an involuntary expression of pure, unguarded happiness.

Every time she thought about it—about the date—her mouth simply moved on its own.

The thought made something flutter in her chest, light and warm like a caged bird testing its wings.

She felt like a little girl again.

The kind of excitement she remembered from childhood, from trips with her parents, from festivals and celebrations and moments of pure, innocent joy.

And she knew she shouldn’t feel this way.

This wasn’t supposed to be something she looked forward to.

This was an obligation.

A duty. Something she was doing to help her friend, to save a family, to fix the damage she had caused.

Taking joy in it would mean something else entirely. It would mean she actually wanted this.

But she couldn’t help it.

A small, happy hum escaped her lips—a tune she didn’t even recognize, one she was making up as she went along.

She caught herself and blushed, grateful no one was in the carriage to witness her acting like a lovestruck teenager.

Just then, the carriage slowed to a stop.

Maria shook herself, composing her features into something more dignified as the door opened and the driver helped her step down onto the mansion’s front drive.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she heard it.

Hoofbeats.

She turned to see another group arriving—riders on horseback, dismounting with the practiced ease of those accustomed to long journeys.

And there, climbing down from her own horse with a bounce in her step, was Aqua.

Beside her, Joy and Julie were also dismounting.

But it was Aqua who caught Maria’s attention.

The Archmage’s face was lit with barely contained excitement, her eyes sparkling with the kind of gleam that meant she was bursting to share something.

The moment she spotted Maria, she hurried over, practically skipping.

"Auntie Maria! Auntie Maria!" Aqua called out, waving enthusiastically. "I have something to tell you!"

Maria blinked, startled by the sudden enthusiasm.

But she loved gossip—everyone knew that about her—so she quickly recovered and leaned in with curiosity.

"What happened, Aqua? What’s made you so excited?" She tilted her head. "I thought you just went to visit Holy Guard garrison today."

"But from the look on your face, something absolutely mind-blowing must have happened."

"Has there been a rebellion in the capital?"

Aqua chuckled, shaking her head.

"Even more surprising than a rebellion, Auntie Maria."

She leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with the delight of sharing juicy news.

"When you hear about this, you won’t even believe it. You’ll lose your mind, just like I did."

Maria’s curiosity skyrocketed.

"Well, tell me, child! Tell me already!" She grabbed Aqua’s hands. "Don’t keep your poor auntie waiting like this. You know how much I love juicy gossip."

Aqua’s eyes gleamed.

"Remember how we used to talk about Aisha, Julie, and Skadi?" She began. "How we always said it was such a pity they’d never marry? That they’d never find men in their lives because they were too busy with their duties?"

Maria nodded slowly, memories surfacing.

"Yes, I remember. We’d always sigh about it. Such beautiful, amazing women, but so stubborn in their own ways."

"Julie dedicating her life to becoming a renowned knight, Aisha not even liking men at all—she always scowls whenever she looks at one."

She shook her head before showing a awkward look and saying,

"And Skadi...well, Skadi is just too innocent to even think about such things. It always seemed like such a waste."

She looked at Aqua curiously.

"But why are you bringing this up now?"

Aqua’s expression turned triumphant.

"Because everything we thought was completely wrong!" She announced. "Today, I learned that all three of them have men in their lives right now!"

Maria gasped.

"What?! When did this happen? I never knew anything about this!"

"Neither did I!" Aqua nodded vigorously. "I only found out today myself. But that’s not even the most shocking part."

She leaned in conspiratorially.

"The person they’re all involved with—it’s the same man."

Maria’s eyes widened impossibly further.

"One person? All three of them?" She pressed a hand to her chest. "My word. He must be an incredible person to capture the hearts of such remarkable women."

"Those three never even thought about marriage, and now they’re all in love with the same man? He must be absolutely impeccable."

Aqua shook her head, that knowing smile still playing on her lips.

"It’s not three men, Auntie Maria."

Maria blinked.

"What?"

"It’s one person."

Maria’s jaw dropped.

"One person?!" She exclaimed. "One person captured the hearts of all three of them? Aisha, Julie, and Skadi?"

She took a step back, genuinely stunned.

"Now I really have to know who this incredible person is! He must be some kind of love demon! An incubus! To capture all three of those stubborn, beautiful women?"

She shook her head in amazement.

"Who is this man? Tell me immediately!"

Aqua puffed up proudly, barely able to contain herself.

"The person in question..."

She declared dramatically.

"...is none other than my brother! He’s the one who’s captured all three of their hearts!"

She waited for the explosion.

The shock.

The disbelief.

The exact reaction she herself had experienced when she first learned the truth.

She loved this part—watching people’s faces transform as they processed such incredible news.

But Maria didn’t react the way she expected.

For a single moment, surprise flickered across her features.

Then—

Something shifted.

A look of realization dawned in her eyes. Understanding. As if everything had suddenly clicked into place, as if Cassius’s name alone had provided all the answers she needed.

She nodded slowly.

A gentle smile spread across her face.

"I see." She said softly. "That makes sense."

She looked at Aqua with calm acceptance.

"If it’s Cassius, then it makes perfect sense."

Aqua was baffled.

She stared at Maria like she had grown a second head.

"Auntie Maria?" She said suspiciously. "Why are you reacting like that?"

Maria tilted her head innocently. "Like what?"

"Like THAT!" Aqua gestured wildly. "Normally, whenever I even mention the smallest piece of gossip, you become all bright-eyed!"

"You lean in close and demand every single detail!"

"But now I’m telling you the biggest gossip we’ve heard in years, and you’re just...nodding? Smiling? Acting like it’s nothing?"

She reached out and gently pressed her hand to Maria’s forehead.

"Are you feeling alright? Did something happen at the hospital today? Did you see something upsetting? Do you have a fever?"

Maria laughed softly, gently pushing Aqua’s hand away.

"I’m fine, dear. Truly." She patted Aqua’s cheek affectionately. "I just...well, I suppose I’ve learned a few things today myself. Things that make your news less surprising than you might expect."

Aqua’s eyes narrowed with intense curiosity.

"What things? What did you learn? Auntie Maria, you have to tell me!"

Maria couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction at Aqua’s stunned reaction.

Finally, the tables had turned.

Now she was the one holding the juicy information, and Aqua was the one desperate to hear more.

"Well..." Maria began slowly, drawing out the suspense. "The thing is, I also learned some shocking information from Diana today. And that information is..."

She paused for maximum effect

"...she has a new man as well."

Aqua’s brain visibly stopped working.

"Huh?" She blinked rapidly. "W-What?"

She then shook her head like she was trying to physically dislodge confusion from her ears before shouting in disbelief,

"That...That doesn’t make any sense at all!"

"Auntie Diana already has a husband! Lord Wayne! They’ve been married for decades! They have a daughter together!"

"How could she possibly have a new man?!"

Maria chuckled at the reaction, thoroughly enjoying herself.

"Because Diana divorced her husband."

Aqua looked like she bit into a lemon.

"They had problems in their marriage for many years." Maria continued. "Serious problems. And after everything, she found herself a new man."

"Someone who appreciates her. Loves her more than Lord Wayne ever could." She smiled warmly. "And right now, she’s living quite a happy life."

Aqua stood frozen, unable to speak.

She thought she had already reached her limit for shocks today.

First Aisha being an archmage.

Then the revelation about the notebook and her brother.

Then Julie, Aisha, and Skadi all being involved with Cassius.

Her brain was already overflowing with impossible information.

And now this?

Another piece being thrown directly at her face?

She took a deep breath.

Then another.

Finally, she managed to form words.

"Who?" She asked slowly, her voice strained.

"Auntie Maria, who is this person? Who could possibly make Auntie Diana of all people ask for a divorce?"

She shook her head in wonder.

"I mean, she’s so dedicated to maintaining her dignity. So careful about not creating controversy, especially for her daughter’s sake."

"Even if she was going through a hard time, I never thought she’d actually divorce her husband."

"So whoever this man is...he must be something truly special to make her take that step."

She looked at Maria with desperate curiosity.

"So tell me. Who is it?"

And then—

She saw Maria’s face.

That knowing look.

That gentle, almost teasing smile.

And suddenly, everything clicked into place.

Aqua’s eyes shimmered with dawning horror.

"No." She whispered. "No way."

Maria’s smile grew.

"Are you saying..." Aqua’s voice cracked. "The person who stole Auntie Diana’s heart...is it...is it my—"

"Yes, Aqua." Maria’s voice was warm, teasing. "It’s none other than your brother, Cassius. He’s the one who won over a married woman’s heart. And not just any married woman..."

"...but your Auntie Diana’s heart. Making you related to her not only through Vivi, but by her as well since she’s also your sister-in-law now."

Aqua’s mind spun like a top.

She had come here with information. Juicy, explosive information that she thought would absolutely floor Maria.

She had been so proud, so excited to share.

But Maria had come packing so much more ammo.

So much more weight.

"If you had told me that anyone else had managed to capture all three of those women..."

Maria continued cheerfully.

"...I would have been paralyzed with shock. I would have been stiff as a board, completely unable to move."

"That’s how unbelievable that news would be."

"But the moment you said it was your brother?"

She tilted her head with a knowing gaze.

"It made perfect sense. Because if there’s anyone in this world who could possibly do something like that, of course it would be him."

Aqua stared at her, speechless.

"And especially now." Maria added. "Knowing that Diana is his woman as well? Your news about Julie and Aisha and Skadi just...clicked into place. I wasn’t even shocked. It just made sense."

Aqua nodded slowly, a look of dawning understanding on her face.

"I guess that makes sense." She admitted. "When you put it that way..."

She leaned against the carriage, staring up at the darkening sky.

"Julie, Aisha, and Skadi—they’re all young women at marriageable age. It’s natural they might want love, even if they never admitted it."

"But Auntie Diana? She’s already married. She already has a child. And yet my brother still managed to win her over."

She let out a disbelieving laugh.

"I thought I could surprise you. I thought I’d see your shocked face, your wide eyes, your desperate pleas for more details."

She shook her head with a wry smile.

"Instead, I’m the one getting schooled."

Maria chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the reversal.

But then a thought struck her.

She leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You know, Aqua, I’m not done yet."

Aqua immediately tensed.

"I have one more piece of news." Maria continued. "Something that will truly shock you."

Aqua held up her hands defensively.

"Wait, wait, wait." She looked genuinely scared now. "Please don’t tell me my brother has captured another woman. Please don’t tell me he’s managed to win over the Empress or something like that."

Maria burst out laughing.

"The Empress? Don’t be ridiculous, Aqua! The Empress of all people would never do such a thing. I don’t think even Cassius could manage that."

She shook her head, still chuckling.

"No, this is something different. Something not involving a woman at all."

Aqua’s curiosity, despite her fear, immediately piqued.

She leaned forward.

Maria leaned forward too, their faces close.

"When I went to the hospital today." Maria began. "I saw so many new devices. New apparatuses. Different treatments I’d never seen before. I was completely shocked by it all."

Aqua nodded.

"Actually, I’ve heard about that."

She said with a contemplative gaze.

"The new methods and treatments that Auntie Diana has been creating and spreading—they’ve been causing quite a stir in the capital."

"Professors, doctors, even noble officials are talking about it. It’s become a huge deal."

"Everyone’s praising her for advancing medicine and saving so many lives."

But in response, Maria shook her head slowly.

"That’s what everyone thinks. But it’s not true."

Aqua blinked. "What do you mean?"

"What I’m saying is that Diana isn’t the one who created all of those things."

Maria’s voice dropped to a hushed whisper.

"Oh, she helped, certainly. But the one who actually created everything—the devices, the treatments, the new techniques is someone else."

Aqua gasped.

She opened her mouth to ask who, but then stopped herself.

A fearful look crossed her face.

"Please." She said weakly. "Please don’t tell me it was—"

"Yes, Aqua." Maria’s smile was radiant. "It was your brother."

She reached out and took Aqua’s hands.

"I heard it from Diana’s own lips. She told me everything!"

"Cassius is the one who created all those inventions. All those treatments!"

"He’s a medical genius, Aqua! A genius who has brought the entire medical industry to another level!"

Aqua stared at her, utterly dumbfounded.

Her brother.

The same brother she had grown up with.

The same brother she had always thought of as just...her brother.

Was suddenly being revealed as something else entirely.

A legendary mage who created impossible spells.

A medical genius revolutionizing healthcare.

A man who had captured the hearts of Aisha, Julie, Skadi, and Diana—women who should have been completely out of his league.

What else didn’t she know about him?

What other secrets was he hiding?

And more importantly—

Who even was her brother anymore?