“I apologize on behalf of Arthur for the hurt his shortcomings caused you. But, my dear niece, as you know, his intuition is quite good.”

“…Yes.”

“That’s why I can’t easily dismiss his outcry. I truly want you to be happy. And as someone who has lived a little longer, let me meddle a bit… You and that man are too different.”

Hyacinth had been the flower of the court’s social circle until now.

That man would rather bite his tongue than participate in social gatherings.

One seemed to embody the most brilliant colors of summer,

While the other seemed to carve out the harshest cold of winter.

The bright and cheerful Hyacinth Hener. The calm and composed Ethan Erentis.

Though they were both handsome and beautiful, fitting together in appearance, the air around them held different seasons.

“To overcome differences, you need affection to bridge that gap. You might have it.”

But would Ethan Erentis?

That man, who seemed exhausted by life, would he really try to change himself for someone else?

“If you keep at it, you might end up breaking yourself.”

“…”

“Do you still want Duke Trisel?”

“Maybe someday… If we live together, he might come to like me…”

“And if not? If Ethan Erentis remains that wintery man? I don’t want to see my precious niece wither away.”

“In that regard, I agree with Kendrick.”

Johanna, who had been listening quietly, interjected softly.

“Living a life as a sunflower forever is a kind of hell. But Hyce.”

“Yes.”

“In some ways, I think differently from your uncle.”

Johanna reached out and held the hand of the child she had raised as her own, though not born from her. She often called her daughter, even knowing she was her niece. In truth, she felt that way.

“Hyacinth. I…”

Like Kendrick, Johanna also wanted Hyacinth to live happily forever. Without any worries. Always enjoying the sunny days.

“I want you to live without constraints.”

A wish close to a prayer flowed from her lips.

This wish would change Hyacinth’s life entirely. Johanna spoke, fully aware of its weight.

“Don’t be chosen by a man; choose the man yourself.”

“…”

“I want to give you that choice. Because you are a precious daughter to me.”

Not just to me, but to you too, right?

Johanna glared at her husband. The man, unable to defy his wife, buried his forehead in his palm with a troubled look.

Hyacinth threw herself into Johanna’s arms. She buried her forehead in her collarbone and hugged her tightly with both arms. Feeling the strong embrace, Johanna quietly asked.

“Do you want Ethan Erentis?”

“…Yes.”

“You know he doesn’t want you, right?”

“You raised me with love, didn’t you?”

A clear voice speaking firmly. Even with her face half-hidden, Hyacinth did not waver.

Still upright and still lovable.

“You raised me to know how to love and be loved.”

“…”

“One day, I will be loved. I believe that.”

“I see.”

Johanna glanced at the final decision-maker, conveying the question, ‘What will you do now?’ King Kendrick, lips tightly sealed, was repeatedly hesitating. Children were more challenging than any state affairs.

Hyacinth slowly stood up and took her uncle’s hand.

A cautious gesture without any force. The touch of a shy girl made the giant man crumble. The victor who had conquered dozens of castles and slain thousands of enemies was defeated at that moment.

“If you want it, you should have it.”

The king whispered quietly.

He was right.

‘Hener’ got what they wanted.

* * *

A series of events that unfolded like a whirlwind turned Tyche Castle upside down. The court’s social circle watched with bated breath.

Prince Michael von Regenstein returned to his homeland.

He couldn’t take his bride with him. Speculations about the reason were varied.

Did they fail to reach an agreement, or did one side demand too much? Perhaps the two Highnesses wanted to keep Lady Laurel by their side.

No one knew the exact background, but the flower of Tyche Castle, Hyacinth Hener, did not become Prince Michael’s bride.

“It’s a shame.”

The prince left those words and departed.

Lady Laurel, who watched him leave with an indifferent expression, announced new news the following morning.

She was to marry Duke Ethan Erentis of Trisel.

* * *

Even as he headed to the audience room at the king’s summons, Ethan Erentis hadn’t anticipated his future. He was merely gauging when to return to the north while gazing at the clear sky.

It was warm here.

So warm that even the matters he buried and his frozen emotions were all coming back to life. The man blinked and tried to block out the people around him.

But there were stories he had to hear—stories he had to listen to.

Hyacinth Hener and Michael von Regenstein’s engagement was off. It was quite an unexpected turn. Neither the woman nor the man seemed like the type to call it off.

And to be honest, he didn’t like it.

…He hoped it would be resolved.

“Please enter, Your Highness.”

At the attendant’s guidance, the door opened.

In solemn silence, Ethan Erentis stepped inside and recognized the woman standing before the king. Her red hair was immediately identifiable. That vivid color was shining under the sunlight.

“Come forward, Duke.”

Ethan Erentis moved his briefly halted steps and stood just below the king, facing Hyacinth Hener.

A man and a woman standing before the king. Surely not. At the moment Ethan Erentis realized,

“What do you think of my niece?”

A question beyond mere suggestion fell.

At the king’s question, the man couldn’t immediately respond. After a long silence, Ethan Erentis answered.

“The north is too harsh a land, Your Majesty. It is fierce and cold.”

“…”

“Do not send a tenderly raised flower to such a rugged place.”

An implicit refusal.

Though she was rejected right in front of her, Hyacinth Hener’s expression remained unchanged. Arrogant, confident, and stubborn…

Damn it.

“Do you know, Duke? I was the one who named her Hyacinth.”

“…”

“Hyacinths bloom proudly even in the cold.”

“…”

“As you said, Johanna and I raised her with love.”

Why give me such a woman?

Ethan was dumbfounded. He couldn’t help but be.

In this situation where it seemed he had no choice, what would happen if he refused until the end? Would he be punished for his insolence?

Ethan Erentis let out a laugh that sounded more like a scoff as he looked at the woman across from him. In the sunlight, the ‘flower raised tenderly by the king’ was fidgeting with her fingers.

A sight so beautiful that anyone would call it enchanting.

A captivating face, a graceful body, elegant movements. She was indeed Tyche’s pride.

And that damn red hair.

A color so irritating that it pricked the deepest parts of his soul.

Their gazes intertwined. The woman’s eyes, full of emotions—excitement, fear, desperation—glimmered, while the man’s eyes, devoid of all desires, were left with only boredom.

“Duke.”

“…”

“Duke Trisel.”

“Why me?”

“Who else if not you?”

“The union between the royal family and the ducal house was already established in the previous generation. There is no need to repeat it in this generation.”

Though the current Duke, Ethan Erentis, was not of royal blood,

It was also an unchanging truth that the previous Duchess was of a distant royal lineage.

“Has the loyalty of the ducal house been insufficient?”

“It is to strengthen the bond between the royal family and the ducal house.”

“Then.”

“I wanted to assign the best and most suitable man as a partner for my beloved niece. I desired you. That’s all.”

Aha… The flower was not the woman but him. To be plucked and controlled.

This was indeed the royal family, Ethan Erentis let out a dry laugh.

“Duke Trisel.”

“…”

“Ethan.”

A call urging for an answer. Pressing for a decision they already made was quite amusing. Suddenly, the man grew tired of it all. Tired enough to answer.

“If you’re giving her, then I will take her.”

“…Take good care of her.”

He bowed deeply in respect.

Perhaps fearing he might change his mind, the royal family moved swiftly. Could they be this efficient in other matters too? It was an impressive speed of progress.

A full day had passed since their conversation in the audience room.

A gossipy socialite let slip the news of the ‘union of Trisel and Laurel.’ Tyche naturally buzzed with excitement. The unbelievable news became a confirmed fact the next day, and before the season completely changed, Ethan Erentis and Hyacinth Hener were married with blessings.

The bride, blooming like a spring flower, was dazzlingly beautiful.

Even the usually taciturn groom occasionally glanced at his wife, who was so lovely. With her blushing cheeks and the royal family’s symbol of rich and beautiful red hair—she was like a single rose.

The newlyweds spent their first week at Tyche Castle.

After receiving grand congratulations, they departed for the north amidst tearful farewells from family and friends.

“Be happy, Hyce!”

“Live well!”

“Write often! I’ll visit next year!”

“You are our joy, Hyacinth.”

Reflecting on the excessive love she had received, Hyacinth boarded the carriage. The only person accompanying her to the north was her nanny, Seina.

Ethan Erentis, her husband, closed the door for her. Hyacinth opened the window and leaned out to wave.

To bid farewell to Tyche, which she would miss along with her crying uncle, her smiling aunt, her cousins, and friends.

She waved for a long time.

“Please sit down now, lady, Duchess.”

Until Seina’s urging.

When she finally sat down, Hyacinth looked out the window and suddenly realized.

It was a spring where she had never seen a single rainbow.