Selina gazed out the window.

When she first entered Thalia’s territory, the land had seemed utterly barren, not a single blade of grass in sight. Compared to the Empire—so vast, lush with forests, and rich in farmland—Thalia’s landscape felt utterly alien to her.

‘…Maybe it only feels that way because of what’s in my heart.’

She squeezed her eyes shut, and as she did, the conversation with Calix she’d tried to forget drifted up once more in her mind.

“Give me all the information you know about the Empire.”
“Everything you’ve learned so far, and anything you come to know in the future.”

That was how Calix told her she could prove her sincerity—by acting as his informant, delivering every bit of intelligence she had about the Empire.

‘…Do you really think my father is telling me something important?’

Had the marquis’s performance fooled him so completely that Calix believed their relationship was genuinely loving, that of a doting father and daughter?

“You’ll have plenty of chances to find out for yourself.”

Selina didn’t understand what he meant by that. Or rather, after learning what he truly wanted from her, it became difficult to think clearly at all.

Calix had told her he wanted them to become a proper couple. She didn’t know why he’d suddenly changed his mind about marrying her, but she’d believed those words were sincere. But the truth was that behind that façade of a “good couple,” he only wanted her to become his informant—to spy for him.

‘I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up from the beginning.’

She pressed her lips tightly together, forcing herself to keep her eyes fixed on the distance. If she didn’t, she felt she might start to cry.

When Calix first asked her to gather information about the Empire, it felt as if her heart had been shredded into thin strips of paper.

But at least Selina knew what situation she was in.

‘Maybe…this is the price I have to pay for my sins against Calix.’

For the secret dealings between the marquis and herself—those things Calix could never know—maybe this was her punishment.

And when she thought of it that way, the weight of her guilt seemed just a little bit lighter.

‘Fine. I’ll do it.’

After much hesitation, Selina finally accepted Calix’s proposal. She still didn’t know how she would be able to obtain any valuable information now that she was in Thalia and had severed all ties with Imperial nobles. However, if the opportunity ever arose, she was willing to help Calix. In her mind, it was the least she could do — a small act of responsibility for their past connection.

What surprised her, though, was Calix’s reaction to her answer.

After she agreed, he simply stared at her for a long moment without saying anything. Several minutes passed in silence before he finally spoke.

“Alright.”

That was all.

‘Did I make another mistake?’

Calix’s ambiguous reaction left Selina unsettled for the entire journey to Thalia. Even after they left the dress shop, he didn’t ride in the carriage with her, so that awkward feeling only lingered.

“Haa…”

Inevitably, she could only sigh. Sitting inside the carriage, she glanced warily at Calix, riding a short distance away on horseback. It had been a long time since they left the Empire, yet he seemed no different to how he was on the day they left.

As she watched him talking to Rochester and riding alongside him, she realised that the landscape outside had changed. The once barren scenery was now lined with lush green trees.

‘Are we in another region now?’

As she scanned her vibrant surroundings, she suddenly spotted a fairytale castle with spires jutting into the sky and rising above a long outer wall. They had passed through several small towns on the way, but none of them had the same atmosphere as the city now in view. Encircled by dense woodlands and exuding an air of imposing grandeur, the fortress took her breath away.

“Could that be…?”

She murmured, eyes fixed on the castle, when Rochester approached and tapped on the carriage door.

“Once we pass through those gates, we’ll have arrived.”

There was something solemn in the air, and Selina realized her guess was right. Though she had been longing to finally leave the cramped carriage and arrive at the ducal residence, now that she was at the threshold, all she felt was a wave of anxiety.

‘Will I really be alright?’

Selina clenched her hands together tightly. The people of Thalia would certainly not welcome someone from the Empire — especially not the daughter of a mere marquess rather than an imperial princess. If they found out who she truly was, she was sure they would become even more hostile.

Turning back now wasn’t an option. She straightened her back and lifted her chin, putting on a show of resolve that she didn’t truly feel.

As the carriage rolled through the castle gates, the scene that unfolded before her took her breath away. Houses with brightly coloured roofs lined the streets like something from a fairy tale, and the main road through the centre was immaculate.

On either side, neat rows of people had gathered to greet the return of Thalia’s sun.

“Long live the Grand Duke!”

“Welcome home, Your Grace!”

The cheers erupted as soon as the carriage appeared. People shouted his name with elation—some so overcome with emotion that tears streamed down their faces.

‘So many people are welcoming Calix…’

Selina shrank away from the window, instinctively hiding her face. She was terrified that once they saw her, the excitement in their eyes would turn to disappointment. If she could have hidden completely, she would have.

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt and the door swung open. Startled by the abruptness of it all, Selina blinked in surprise. Calix Syles appeared before her, his hand outstretched.

“Come. Walk with me.”

“W-With you…?”

She repeated the question, even though she’d clearly understood him—simply too flustered to process it.

Calix nodded and added.

“There’s no better way to win people’s favor than to stand before them openly, as you are.”

How could showing herself possibly win anyone over? She could only hope that seeing her wouldn’t leave them disappointed.

She wanted to refuse, but Calix’s grip was gentle yet firm as he took her hand, leaning in to murmur quietly by her ear:

“Don’t worry. Nothing you fear will happen.”

‘As if you could know what it is I’m afraid of.’

Swallowing her anxiety, Selina cautiously lowered her trembling foot to the ground. Taking his hand, she mounted a horse for the first time. What frightened her most, however, was not the riding itself, but the fact that all eyes were fixed upon her.

Her palms grew slick with sweat as she gripped the horse’s mane. Calix clucked his tongue and gently placed the reins in her hand.

“Hold one side. I’ll guide the other.”

He walked beside her, leading the horse forward. It seemed a ridiculous thought at the time, but the image struck her nonetheless: he looked just like a knight escorting a princess.

With Calix beside her, she rode slowly through the crowd. At first, she squeezed her eyes shut, overwhelmed by the growing murmurs around her. However, as the whispers grew louder, she realised that she could not keep her head bowed forever.

‘Come on. You have to lift your head. The Madam said herself—a new duchess shouldn’t shrink away on her first introduction.’

Summoning her courage, Selina finally lifted her head and opened her eyes. Before her lay a vast, lush green square adorned with garlands swaying in the breeze. In the centre was a sea of faces, all looking on at her and welcoming her with shouts of joy.

Instead of the hatred and contempt she had anticipated, everyone blessed her arrival by showering her path with petals. Seeing so many beautiful flowers laid out before her brought a swell of emotion to her chest.

Tears pricked her eyes. No one had ever treated her like this before. For a moment, it felt as if she were dreaming.

Her hand slipped from the reins as she reached up to wipe her eyes.

“Careful.”

Calix said, halting his horse and turning Selina toward him. He must have noticed the way her eyes glistened, for he produced a handkerchief and offered it to her.

“Smiling is always allowed. But you should be careful about crying.”

He murmured, voice low enough for only her to hear.

“You never know how people might interpret it.”

And just as he finished speaking—

Thwip!

The noise was cut through by the sound of a single arrow soaring over the crowd and striking the ground just in front of Selina’s horse’s hooves.

The horse reared up, whinnying in terror. Selina found herself clinging desperately to the animal as it bucked beneath her.