When they reached the garden, Arthur and Benjamin gave them a distance of about ten steps.

……So did the prince notice or not?

Hyacinth pondered intensely, feeling strange about her own behavior of constantly watching others.

Actually, Arthur’s point was correct.

The marriage discussion between her and Michael was a matter between royal families. It couldn’t be easily broken. No matter who she liked before marriage—or even now—as long as she remained physically pure. Besides, her feelings were just unrequited love, not even a real romance. What’s the problem?

Be proud. As the flower of Tyche, she should carry herself with confidence. She straightened her back.

“That man earlier was Duke Trisel, wasn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“He certainly is a charming man.”

“…….”

“If I get another chance to meet him, I’d like to apologize for my rudeness.”

So he deliberately acted rudely.

Why? Hyacinth wondered, and then found the answer immediately.

……He noticed.

Damn it, Arthur. Just wait. Someday, I’ll get permission from my sister cousin-in-law and pull out a handful of your hair.

At that moment, Prince Michael stopped walking. Hyacinth followed suit and turned calmly. She realized it was time for her to defend herself.

Shall we clarify the sequence of events?

If she had fallen for someone else while already engaged, she would have been morally condemned. But that wasn’t the sequence of events. She was already in love with someone when the engagement came along.

She had done nothing wrong.

“I heard you have a fiancé.”

Don’t criticize my past. You’re not clean either.

Michael smirked at her indirect words.

“Are you admitting it?”

“Admitting what?”

“I’m asking because it seems like you consider the Duke as your former fiancé.”

“Then, Your Highness, were you deeply attached to your former fiancée?”

The smile slowly faded from the prince’s lips. Though not as cold as his, it was no longer bright. The prince seemed to clench his jaw briefly. His throat bobbed roughly.

Hyacinth quietly looked down at the ground, checking the positions of her two cousins’ shadows. They were ten steps away. Standing still.

They must be eavesdropping on this conversation……

“As you know, in our world, marriage is not about feelings.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Shall we move on?”

“It was an unwelcome topic. I hope it doesn’t come up again.”

“Ah, I’ll be careful. I didn’t know you were so firm in your convictions, lady.”

A smile bloomed again on the prince’s lips. As always, it was excessive. More than necessary.

It made her think of someone who never smiled at all.

“That’s just how I am. I don’t hesitate to express my intentions.”

“Hmm. I see. Understood.”

The prince nodded a few times. Then he suddenly bent down and plucked a rose, thorns and all, and handed it to Hyacinth.

“Thank you.”

Hyacinth accepted it reflexively, pricking her pinky finger. She hid the wound and smiled naturally.

“I look forward to working with you, lady.”

“……Yes.”

Before resuming their walk, Hyacinth glanced sideways at her two cousins. Arthur had a strange expression, while Benjamin still looked serious.

Her pricked finger continued to sting.

This isn’t right, she thought, almost whispering to herself.

In conclusion, the prince did not apologize to the Duke. Perhaps he couldn’t.

At the banquet held to welcome the prince, Duke Trisel—unsurprisingly—did not attend. Hyacinth was quite relieved.

She didn’t want to be seen dancing with the prince, honestly.

And she didn’t want the prince to see her true feelings.

Just yesterday, she had resented the Duke’s reclusive nature, but now she was glad. The less she saw him, the quicker she could move on.

Hyacinth intended to move on cleanly.

She had the confidence…… she ‘did’.

* * *

Since a foreign prince, a state guest, was visiting, the date of the jousting tournament was moved up. After all, a festival was the best way to showcase the nation’s strength.

Participation in the jousting tournament was no longer optional but mandatory.

Every lord had to send at least one knight to compete. Festivals had to be grand and lengthy. If there were too few participants, it would seem lackluster.

The prize for the winner also became extravagantly eye-catching.

The simple wreath was replaced with a gold tiara.

The court of Tyche buzzed with excitement over who would receive the tiara from the winning knight and become this year’s ‘Lady of the Jousting Tournament.’

“The princes are banned from participating.”

“That’s only fair.”

“Well then, who will be the lady?”

If the princes had participated, Hyacinth Hener, the flower of Tyche, would have taken the tiara. But now, with the winner uncertain, the title of ‘Lady of the Jousting Tournament’ was also up in the air.

“I still think it will be Lady Laurel. The court knights are excellent. I heard Sir Jedith is competing; he might win.”

“Oh, that’s a plausible guess. Want to bet?”

“Sure!”

Nobles and servants alike eagerly joined the betting. The stakes grew rapidly, eventually surpassing the value of the gold tiara.

While Tyche Castle was consumed by this gambling frenzy, Hyacinth quietly kept her composure, embroidering a handkerchief. Although the Kingdom of Kochen had not yet sent an official delegation, the marriage discussions were becoming increasingly concrete.

Numerous agreements were exchanged.

The date and location of the ceremony, the dowry, the succession rights, and the inheritance of the Laurel Duchy.

The process was slower than expected. It was said that Queen Johanna’s meticulous attention to every detail was causing the delay.

‘Mother is really taking her time…….’

Based on Caleb’s words, it seemed she was deliberately dragging it out. Although it was presumptuous to speculate.

Hyacinth didn’t complain much. Occasionally, her nanny Seina and the maids seemed to be watching her closely, but she didn’t mind.

A smooth life lay ahead. Just as it always had.

She was certain as she threaded the needle through the fabric.

She would marry before next year and have a child within the following year. She hoped the first would be a son. After having two children, the prince might take a mistress……. Perhaps she would travel then.

In a way, Arthur’s words were entirely correct.

A marriage without love meant no expectations and no disappointments. Hyacinth—if she had already borne heirs—wouldn’t demand that her spouse refrain from taking a mistress. Not that she planned to take a lover herself.

“Lady.”

“Yes. What is it, Nanny?”

“Do you dislike the prince?”

“No. Not at all.”

She neither liked nor disliked him.

Of course, she didn’t intend to take his outward appearance at face value. Michael was the second prince of Kochen. He had to have a different side.

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, it’s nothing. I just wondered if you were feeling uneasy about the marriage.”

“Not at all, Nanny.”

“…….”

“I’m at peace.”

There was no fresh excitement of a new bride. Only a calm acceptance that this day had finally come. Hyacinth thought as she continued to work with the needle.

Life is really boring.

* * *

……Still, it’s better than a disaster.

On the day of the jousting tournament, Hyacinth, beautifully dressed with great care, thought as she took her seat. A boring but uneventful life was much better than a hard and painful one. Absolutely.

It’s not like she was bursting at the seams.

“Hyce, you’re still in the lead.”

“Huh?”

At Diane’s chatter, she lowered her head to look at her friend.

“We bet on who would be the ‘Lady of the Jousting Tournament.’ You’re currently leading the stakes.”

“That’s an honor.”

“Honor? Of course, it is. His Highness Prince Michael should know this too!”

Hyacinth smiled faintly. Diane, resting her chin on her hand, looked at her with sparkling eyes.

“How is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is His Highness treating you well?”

“He is the perfect knight.”

Although there was a peculiar tension during their first meeting, the prince had thoroughly respected her since then. Even without love, there would be respect. She could affirm that without a doubt.

“Is His Highness participating in the tournament?”

“Huh? No. They can’t risk a guest of honor getting hurt.”

“Right. He can’t participate.”

Diane lowered her hands from her chin. The friend who had been a tender flower returned to being a demure lady.

By now, a knight was blowing a trumpet. The resounding sound marked the opening of the jousting tournament.

“How do you feel about getting married?”

Diane whispered quietly during the noisy moment.

Hyacinth looked at her friend, realizing that Diane had deliberately chosen this moment.

It was a natural opportunity to reveal her true feelings. Hyacinth reached out and straightened her friend’s hair ornament.

‘I don’t think much of it.’

When she mouthed the words,

‘Hyce, you’re so wise.’

Diane gave a kind reply.

Knights entered in a line, riding their horses.

Though their faces were hidden by helmets, their identities were hinted at by the crests on their capes and the ribbons tied to their helmets.

The clinking of armor. Lances raised high into the sky. The knights exuded a fierce spirit.

Like the other ladies, Hyacinth waved to the participants.

‘Hyce, you’re so wise.’

Wise. ‘Wisdom.’

The word Diane left behind gnawed at her mind. As Hyacinth mulled over her restless feelings, the first match began.

Two knights, two horses clashed loudly.

Dust swirled up chaotically. In a jousting tournament, the outcome could be decided in an unexpected moment. Within a few blinks, the match was over.

One side must have been overwhelmingly strong.