First love.

Unrequited love.

A love that had become somewhat pathetic because she couldn’t let go even though she knew she had to end it.

For Stella, all of that love was for Duke Kalian Rochester alone.

‘It was a miracle.’

Stella still thought of her meeting Duke Rochester as a miracle.

The kind of miracle that happens only once in a lifetime.

The House of Rochester, which had been the center of power for hundreds of years, and the fallen House Ambrose had no point of contact no matter how one looked at it.

‘But we still met.’

She met a boy at her first and last party that she attended with her parents as a child, and from then on, her long unrequited love began.

‘I didn’t know Sanderson knew about it though.’

It was an old first love, but she thought no one knew.

Even now, more than ten years later, there was nothing between Stella and Duke Rochester.

Their only connection was her occasionally seeing him from afar when the duke briefly returned to the capital after the social season ended.

“Stella.”

At the sound calling her, Stella lifted her head from the lily she was trimming. Her father was looking at her, having gotten up at some point.

“What are you doing at this late hour? You’ll harm your health.”

Count Ambrose, who had been speaking affectionately, frowned when he saw the bundle of lilies on the dining table.

“……Don’t tell me you’re planning to sell flowers on the street?”

“Yes.”

Stella nodded while avoiding her father’s gaze.

“A memorial altar for the two princes was set up in the square earlier. So I thought I’d try selling flowers early tomorrow morning. I think I could make a decent amount.”

In reality, after paying for the lilies she had practically begged the flower shop owner for, there wouldn’t be much left.

But it would at least cover the next day’s bread.

“Stella, I’ve been thinking about something. Perhaps we should also attend the funeral held at the royal palace.”

This again.

Her busy hands stopped. She felt as if bile was rising in her stomach.

Mary was just a child who knew nothing, so she could say such things, but father wasn’t.

“Our names are still on the nobility registry. Rather than that, we should go to the royal palace and find someone who would lend us money……”

“There’s no one who would lend us money.”

Her voice grew slightly louder from frustration.

To borrow money, one needed collateral, didn’t they? But right now, all House Ambrose could offer was a handful of dust from inside the cupboard.

The money they could borrow out of sympathy and dignity had long been scraped to the bottom.

“And with our circumstances, paying for clothes to enter the royal palace is impossible. You know we don’t even have money for carriage fare, let alone dresses or formal wear.”

I should stop, ah, I should stop.

“Going to the royal palace is more distant than a dream for us.”

Oh no.

Her words had too many thorns in them. Realizing this, Stella’s complexion turned pale.

“Father, that’s……”

“I’m sorry.”

Count Ambrose smiled bitterly.

“It’s just, I…… I wanted you and your siblings to somehow escape from this hell.”

Those were sincere words. Stella got up and embraced her father.

“……I’m sorry. I was too tired and spoke harshly. I’m sorry.”

“No. How could I not know you’re suffering? I’m the one who’s sorry to you. You’re so pretty and kind, yet you couldn’t even have a debutante because of your incompetent father……”

“That’s not true!”

Stella hugged her father tighter and shook her head.

“I know that both father and mother love me very much.”

That was an obvious fact.

The Count and Countess Ambrose truly cherished and loved their first daughter.

To what extent? Even in this situation, they had driven away all the scoundrels who came with money to take Stella away.

If it had been another family, they would have sold off their grown daughter first.

“I spoke too harshly. Please forgive me, father.”

“My beloved daughter.”

Count Ambrose smiled faintly and repeatedly stroked Stella’s thin back.

“I always pray that you will marry someone you love, just like your mother and I did.”

“……Father.”

“Be happy as much as you’ve suffered, no, even more than that.”

Count Ambrose smiled brightly.

“If you think of it that way, this hardship must also be a blessing from God.”

Her throat suddenly felt blocked. Stella slowly blinked a few times and then smiled.

“……You’re right. I’m sure it will be.”

These were words without malice.

These were words meant to worry about and comfort her.

“Surely this pain will end someday.”

“Yes, yes. Let’s stop here for today and go to sleep. Those things can be done after waking up tomorrow morning.”

“Well, actually. I drank tea earlier but brewed it too strong, so I can’t fall asleep. I’ll go to bed right away when I get sleepy.”

“You shouldn’t drink strongly brewed tea late at night.”

Only after delivering affectionate nagging for a while did Count Ambrose return to bed.

Phew.

Left alone, Stella pressed her eyelids and let out a long breath. She began busily moving her hands again to trim the lilies.

Father said those things because he cared for her.

Because he loved her, he said those things just hoping things would go well for her.

So there was no reason to feel frustrated.

“……Ah.”

Her hands had stopped at some point. Stella listlessly lowered her gaze. Her pale green eyes touched the single lily she was holding.

Should I go?

An impulse suddenly surged.

‘Should I go offer flowers at the memorial altar?’

Duke Rochester would surely visit the memorial altar at least once.

If she was lucky, if a miracle happened once more.

‘I could see him even from afar.’

Her heart pounded.

This was a gamble. A small gamble she could make with a single flower.

But whatever the result, the bread on Stella’s plate would become very small.

After hesitating for a moment, Stella brought the lily she was holding to the tip of her nose.

Just this one flower.

‘Yes, just this once……’

When she breathed in deeply, the rich lily fragrance filled her lungs completely.

Ah, now I feel like I can breathe.

Only then could Stella smile.

⁕⁕⁕

I shouldn’t have come after all.

“Come in.”

When the door opened, a middle-aged man with a gentle impression greeted Kalian.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Uncle.”

When Kalian deliberately trailed off his words, Dukren smiled and completed the word.

This meant this place was not where the king and duke of this country met, but where an uncle who lost his sons and a nephew who lost his cousins met.

Dukren gestured toward a single sofa for Kalian. As soon as Duke Rochester took his seat, tea and alcohol were brought out.

For a moment, the two men were silent. Dukren held his teacup, and Kalian simply remained silent.

“I was relieved to see you.”

Dukren began speaking when the night sky had darkened deeply outside the window.

“Fortunately, both military life and the journey to the capital seem to have been comfortable. Your complexion looks much brighter…… Well.”

Dukren smiled.

“Since you’ve gained something excessive, both your steps and complexion must be light.”

The eyes looking at Kalian through the wrinkled eyelids that held a thin smile glinted eerily.

“Haha.”

Kalian, who had crossed one leg over the other, raised the corner of his mouth.

“I’m the one who’s less worried. Since my two cousins died in vain, I thought you must be suffering greatly.”

Kalian’s eyes openly surveyed Dukren sitting across from him.

“But since uncle’s complexion is brighter than mine, how fortunate is this?”

Ripples formed in the teacup Dukren was holding. His other hand tensed.

Pretending not to see this, Kalian continued speaking naturally.

“Isn’t there a phrase that not showing suffering or wavering to the people is the quality of a true king?”

Kalian looked straight at Dukren.

“Uncle truly is a true king.”

Then silence fell between them again. Dukren, who forced the corners of his mouth up, opened his mouth.

“……I once granted your ridiculous request before. So now you should grant my request this time.”

“What might that be?”

“Get married.”

At the words that came out lightly as if suggesting a walk, Kalian frowned.

So this is how it comes out.

Dukren took a sip of tea and continued speaking peacefully.

“Since you’ve risen to second in the line of succession, isn’t it natural?”

“You speak as if my bride has already been decided.”

“Well, you’re my beloved nephew. I carefully selected her with time and effort.”

He probably carefully selected his spy with time and effort.

There was no reason to sit here any longer. Kalian stood up.

“I think I should be going now.”

“Ah. And Kalian.”

Dukren didn’t stop him. He was just looking at his nephew with a very gentle smile.

“The young lady I chose seems to have liked you for a very long time.”

“……”

“Please treat her kindly.”

That was the end. The door closed and Kalian’s face scrunched up as he crossed the royal palace corridor.

Damn old man.

How desperate he looked, wanting to put a leash around his neck somehow. No matter how he thought about it, the one who should be lying in a coffin wasn’t his cousins but that old man.

“Damn.”

Kalian, who clicked his tongue lightly, saw a particularly bright place.

It was the memorial altar set up in the middle of the square.

Kalian, who stopped walking for a moment, lightly tapped the window with his long fingers.

The particularly bright night sky brought back old memories.

A party too late for a child to attend, countless candles embroidering the night sky, and even the little girl who stood there lost and alone beneath them.

“Tch.”

Kalian’s face, which had been recalling memories, became more distorted than before.

With the same expression as if he had remembered something dirty, Kalian left the royal palace.

⁕⁕⁕