1. Destined Lovers

On a hot early summer day.

The Morbe shopping district, said to have seen all the gold and treasures of the continent at least once, was bustling with people that gathered from various places today as well.

From luxurious items dazzling enough to make one’s eyes spin to foreign knick-knacks of unknown purpose, sights to captivate the onlookers’ attention were abundant everywhere.

However, despite the merchants’ ambitious intentions, the gazes of the passersby in the shopping district were consistently fixed on one person.

“Wow…”

From somewhere, an exclamation close to admiration flowed out.

If the word ‘lovely’ were to be molded into a person, would it be like this?

Her light pink hair, like a delicate flower petal just about to bloom, swayed gently with each small step, and her yellow eyes sparkled brilliantly like ripe lemons.

Her pure white, clear face, which seemed as if it would leave stardust if touched, was so innocent and delicate that one might immediately swear to dedicate their life to protect her.

“Who on earth is that?”

“You know, Aveline Croeta.”

“Ah, the destined lover mentioned in the prophecy?”

Aveline moved her steps neatly without a change in expression, even amid the whispering voices about her.

The burning gazes or the malicious gossip spreading behind her back were the usual humiliations experienced by anyone in the public eye, and therefore, for her, it was close to a mundane reaction.

Eventually, Aveline stopped in front of a splendid building and gave a small nod. The doorkeeper, who had recognized her long ago, politely opened the door.

As she entered, jewels greeted her, twinkling incessantly like stars in the night sky. Befitting the representative jewelry store of the Morbe shopping district, various colorful gems were displayed in abundance.

At that moment, a clerk who spotted Aveline rushed out in surprise.

“Lady Croeta! How come at this hour…”

“It just happened to be time.”

The man’s face turned pale without a trace of blood. It was quite a contrast to the men on the street earlier who couldn’t take their eyes off her and blushed.

But for Aveline, this too was a reaction she was tired of being familiar with.

She calmly ignored the man’s seemingly flustered expression and added leisurely,

“What are you doing? Hurry up and guide me in.”

“Ah, that’s because Master Theo is currently meeting with a guest who made a reservation in advance…”

“And so?”

“Y-Yes?”

For a moment, the man stupidly asked back.

He was an excellent clerk recognized by Theo, the owner of the Red Moon Jewelry Store, capable of directly attending to noble guests, but in front of Aveline, he always fumbled like a newly hired employee.

“So, are you telling me to turn back now?”

But he couldn’t help it. No matter how much time passed, he couldn’t get used to the discrepancy between her soft, fluttering voice and her ice-cold gaze that sent chills down one’s spine.

“Ah, no! This way, please!”

Finally, the man, regaining his senses a beat late as usual, hurriedly guided Aveline to a private reception room.

Perhaps because they had sent an employee ahead to give notice, the inside of the reception room was somewhat noisy.

But Aveline stepped in gracefully, paying no heed. It was the composure of a woman who always brought commotion wherever she went.

“Oh my.”

A small exclamation flowed from her rosy lips. The gazes of everyone in the reception room turned to her at once.

“I see there was a guest.”

Aveline continued with an innocent face, as if she hadn’t known.

Her voice was as fragile and soft as a baby bird’s down, but contrary to that, the air rapidly became tense.

“L-Lady Croeta.”

A plump man with rings and bracelets layered on both hands hurriedly ran to her. It was Theo, the owner of the jewelry store.

“How come at this time…”

“Do I really need to explain?”

Aveline asked with her eyes gently curved into a smile. The arrogantly raised chin and the softly curved eyes created a striking dissonance.

“Ah, no, not at all.”

Disappointment clouded Theo’s face as he hastily denied.

Having lived in the Morbe shopping district all his life, he could handle the whims of ladies with his eyes closed, but it was a different story when the subject was Aveline Croeta.

“I need to sit down first.”

“Pardon?”

“My legs are a bit sore from standing for so long.”

“Well, that…”

Theo glanced nervously at his current client, Lady Olang, whom he had been focusing on.

The only guest chair here was the velvet sofa she was sitting on.

“Ha…”

Lady Olang, who had been awkwardly holding her position due to Aveline’s sudden intrusion, let out a mirthless laugh at Theo’s glance. Then, finally, she stood up, glaring sharply at Aveline and pointed out.

“Lady Croeta, aren’t you being too rude?”

Lady Olang’s lips, stiff as if she had suffered the utmost humiliation, trembled slightly.

Theo, caught between the two, closed his eyes tightly, anticipating the impending catastrophe. If he could, he wished to keep them closed forever.

“Oh my, Lady Olang.”

Aveline turned her head slightly and looked at Lady Olang with innocent eyes, as if she didn’t know she was there.

“What did you just say?”

“I said you’re being very rude. Whatever business you have, wouldn’t it be right to wait until my business is finished?”

“Oh dear, I suppose I was a bit hasty.”

Aveline added in a gentle tone, seemingly admitting her fault.

“I should have waited at least until you were removed from here.”

“W-What did you say?”

Lady Olang’s face turned red and blue like a knight who had lost his honor.

In contrast, Aveline remained calm. This temperature difference further fueled Lady Olang’s anger.

Aveline Croeta was always that kind of woman. With a face so innocent it was detestable, yet every word from those pretty lips was laced with poison and bristling with thorns.

Knowing this, Lady Olang was still hung up on every word she said. As if caught in an inescapable trap.

“I can’t believe someone could be this uncultured. Indeed, it shows when one hasn’t received proper home education.”

“……”

“You’re so fortunate to have received the prophecy. Without clinging like a leech to the House of Evuteren, would you even deserve such treatment? Well, seeing that you still don’t know your place, I suppose those of low birth can’t be helped.”

Lady Olang criticized Aveline point by point without even taking a breath. Although her voice became slightly agitated towards the end, her stream of criticism flowed smoothly as if it was a long-held thought.

However, Aveline’s face remained as calm as ever, without a single crack. Instead, Theo, who was standing awkwardly beside her, looked as if he was being strangled.

“Lady Olang is right.”

“What…”

When Aveline not only didn’t refute but even agreed with a gentle smile, Lady Olang’s momentum faltered for a moment.

Based on Lady Olang’s experience so far, that woman was the most frightening when she had such an expression.

“Isn’t it truly fortunate? Thanks to that, no matter how much you admire Duke Evuteren, the day your futile fantasy comes true will never arrive.”

“W-What are you saying?”

“I’m kindly giving you the obvious advice that you shouldn’t covet another’s man. It seems even someone who was provided with better home education than me doesn’t understand such principles. Ah, come to think of it, I heard that Lady Olang is also quite adept at stealing men?”

Lady Olang’s complexion suddenly turned pale blue.

In contrast, Aveline was just beautiful and serene, almost creating an illusion that she was giving praise to Lady Olang rather than stabbing her with words.

“Perhaps you received too good of a home education. Indeed, you’re clearly different from someone without roots like me.”

“That…”

Lady Olang’s eyes trembled at the continued, calm criticism.

The atrocity of Viscountess Olang falling for a commoner man young who was her daughter’s age and attempting to assassinate his wife was a hushed story even in their hometown.

‘How does that woman know about that!’

Not only was the precious secret she had been harboring spilled from someone else’s mouth, but even her family’s shame was being stirred up.

And it wasn’t just anyone, but Aveline Croeta, her nemesis. The annoying woman who monopolized that beautiful man she had to give up on as soon as she realized her first love.

Finally unable to contain her anger, Lady Olang threw the fan she was holding at Aveline’s feet.

“Why is someone like you by the Duke’s side? I-I could do so much more for him than someone like you!”

Her heartfelt resentment echoed loudly through the reception room.

Everyone was at a loss, unable to react to the situation that had escalated so extremely in an instant. Theo was now in a position to worry about the fate of his store rather than just a regular customer.

Only Aveline, the very person who had personally added fuel and lit the fire to make the anger burn, continued to watch Lady Olang leisurely.

“…Excuse me.”

At that moment, a calm and low voice instantly shattered the tense atmosphere.

Everyone’s attention immediately turned to the new visitor.

“D-Duke Evuteren!”

Theo and the clerks bowed deeply, caught off guard by the Duke’s sudden appearance. The reception room was in silent uproar.

Those who had managed to control their mouths but not their eyes fearlessly stole glances at him.

From his smooth black hair like a black pearl to the tips of his feet firmly supporting his solid body, he was a man so beautiful that it was inevitable for eyes to be drawn to him even in this situation.

But regrettably, the face said to have been molded by God himself remained consistently stiff, and the amethyst-colored eyes, praised as jewels bestowed by God, were just desolate and unfeeling.

With calm, settled eyes, the man first found Aveline.

Just as something was about to fill those unfeeling eyes, Aveline opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.

“You came to pick me up, my beloved Kazerre.”

Aveline approached him lightly like a butterfly and linked arms. They were such a sweet and affectionate couple that one couldn’t even bring themselves to be envious.

‘Destined lovers directly paired by God.’

Befitting that sacred title, the sight of the two standing side by side was as beautiful as a blessing. If anyone dared to deny God’s existence, these two could be presented as evidence.

“Wh-When…”

Lady Olang, who had been frozen since his appearance, mumbled in a trembling voice.

Aveline leisurely took in the sight of her pitiful rival.

Lady Olang was staring at them blankly, her pale fists trembling. When their eyes met, her bloodshot eyes shook uncontrollably.

It was the moment when the simple dream of a young girl who wanted to show only her best side to the man she admired vanished like a bubble.

“…Well.”

Aveline turned her head gently towards Theo, drawing attention. A sweet and satisfied smile, as if she had just taken a big bite of a delicious dessert, bloomed on her smooth and beautiful face.

“I think we’ll go with rubies instead of sapphires for our engagement gift.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I think red suits me better after all.”

Don’t you think so? As Aveline asked with a smiling eyes, Theo’s vision darkened.

It was the moment when the Pritten sapphires he had bought at a premium became a bad inventory with just one word from her. Theo inwardly shed tears as he estimated the enormous deficit.

The Red Moon Jewelry Store, which had been full of early summer vigor, now sank into gloom as if a funeral was being held.

Only Aveline turned to look at Kazerre with a fresh face, her business concluded.

“Let’s go back now, Kazerre.”

She pulled him closer, putting strength into the arm she had linked with his. The man who had been standing stiffly as if he wouldn’t budge an inch was unexpectedly led by her delicate touch without much resistance.

As they passed through the door and out into the corridor, soon sobs burst out from behind them. The crying, which started small, grew louder with increasing sorrow.

Aveline walked on without stopping, with a satisfied face as if it were a song blessing their future. Her steps were as light and cheerful as a child on a spring picnic.

The two left the store and entered the shortcut leading to where their carriage was parked. The path was relatively quiet, as it was a side road specially prepared to avoid the bustle of the main street.

How much further did they walk like that?

Finally, when there was no one else around, Kazerre, who had been following her compliantly, suddenly stopped.

“What is this about?”