EmpathicWan
Great chapter! I feel like the duel should be over at the first point though since he was disarmed. The relationship with her brother is super cute and the way her parents are slowly being tolerated(?) works very well. It would be silly for their family relationship to change drastically just because the truth came out. I remember the mom agreed to distancing as a child since she would be leaving at 13 but then she stayed. So I'm wondering why the mom never tried to get close after the ceremony, was it just because she was used to ignoring her for years already?
I'm thoroughly enjoying your story. Mari's growth is very well done, and the pacing of it is just right. Noah is absolutely adorable, and it's incredible how much an innocent and naive child can heal a person. Mari's father is definitely past the point of being forgiven. Her mother though, I can sympathize with being in a patriarchal society. I'd only be disappointed that she didn't try harder.