Chapter 1. Why Did I Give In?

“Go down to the Iblaine territory until I call for you again.”

Enduring his mother’s cold gaze, Karsion nodded dejectedly.

Born constitutionally frail, he frequently found himself bedridden. This was a severe physical disadvantage for surviving in the imperial palace, where secret battles raged over the crown prince position.

And all this reality was too harsh for an eight-year-old boy to bear.

In the carriage heading to the Iblaine territory, Karsion, overcome with gloom, muttered to himself:

“Dumping me in the middle of nowhere means even Mother has abandoned me, right?”

“That’s not true, Your Highness.”

“I should thank you for at least saying that.”

It was an extremely pessimistic retort for an eight-year-old. Doiman, who had been relegated to a minor position for serving the Third Prince, insisted until the end that it wasn’t true.

But Karsion was no fool.

Though his life had been short, he had experienced enough bitterness and cruelty in the imperial palace to know better.

“I’m being removed because I’m in the Crown Prince’s way.”

“That’s not it…”

Doiman’s voice grew progressively quieter. That uncertain voice pierced Karsion’s heart.

‘Why was I born? I’m just an obstacle to my brother, and no one even likes me. Not even the mother who gave birth to me.’

Though the warm, mild southern air enveloped his skin, only cold winds blew through Karsion’s heart.

‘I’ll stay here quietly, like a dead mouse.’

As Mother wishes.

Perhaps if he obeyed well enough, she would look at him with warmer eyes. With this painful resolution, Karsion stepped out of the carriage. They had arrived at the Iblaine mansion.

Befitting the pretext of “recuperation,” the weather was perfect.

“Your Highness, you must be tired from your long journey.”

The Viscount and Viscountess Iblaine were waiting in front of the mansion. Karsion nodded politely with a gloomy face.

That’s when it happened.

At exactly his eye level, a person’s face appeared and disappeared in a flash. Karsion’s small brow furrowed. Black hair was peeking out from behind Viscount Pascal Iblaine.

The viscount couple smiled kindly, encouraging “someone” to come forward and greet him. Karsion waited for this “someone” to reveal themselves.

Eventually, a girl with round teal eyes peeked her head out from behind Viscount Pascal.

“Hello, Karsion. I’m Renéee Iblaine. Would you like some blueberries?”

“…”

Where had she learned the manners to address a prince by name so casually? Normally, he would have snapped back, asking who she thought she was to speak to him as an equal. But for some reason, the words only circled in his throat. It was because he had never heard his name called with such warmth, though the young boy didn’t yet understand the exact reason.

The tingling sensation in his heart was more uncomfortable than he expected, so Karsion frowned. And the adults watching the honest young prince had a touch of sadness in their eyes.

Looking at the small hands stained with blueberry juice, Karsion replied grumpily:

“I don’t like blueberries.”

The girl’s large eyes filled with tears at an astonishing speed. Karsion was flustered.

“Well, give me one anyway. It might… not taste bad.”

What nonsense was this?

He knew perfectly well what blueberries tasted like. They simply weren’t the kind of flavor he enjoyed.

As he chewed the unpleasant blueberries, Karsion looked at Renéee, who was smiling brightly as if tears had never formed in her eyes. One question bloomed in his mind:

‘Why did I give in to her?’

This was just the beginning.

Unable to find an answer, as countless hours passed, Karsion grew accustomed to a life of yielding to Renéee as if being absorbed by her.

***

“How long will you be gone when you go to the capital this time?”

Renéee, who had grown into a proper young lady, asked with her chin resting on one hand.

Karsion looked up from his studies. Sixteen-year-old Renéee, bathed in bright sunlight, was too beautiful. To hide how his gaze dropped to her cherry-red lips, he glanced out the window before meeting her eyes again.

“About three months?”

“Really? Why so long this time?”

“By order of His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress. For once, they agree on something.”

“Sigh… what am I going to do without you? I’ll be so bored.”

As if just imagining it made her bored, Renéee’s swinging feet tapped against Karsion’s legs. Gladly allowing it, Karsion mirrored her pose, resting his chin on one hand.

“I could take you with me if you want.”

“When you say it like that, it’s really tempting!”

“Let’s just go together.”

After dropping the hint, Karsion waited for her to accept.

He had started going up to Shutzen two years ago. It began when the Emperor and Empress, curious after reading reports that the Third Prince had not only fully recovered his health in the Iblaine territory but also showed remarkable talent in swordsmanship, summoned him.

Until now, he had only stayed for about a week before returning quickly, but this year, as Karsion was of age for his debutante, he had to stay longer.

They had never been apart for three months before.

As Renéee’s deliberation dragged on, Karsion grew impatient and openly pleaded.

“Come with me. Please? Please.”

“I can’t. I can’t leave Rio alone.”

“Ugh, that bastard.”

“Grrrr…”

The large dog that understood human speech with uncanny accuracy had been lying lazily in a corner of the study but now bared its teeth menacingly. Karsion glared at the dog in annoyance. He had never liked it from the first time he saw it.

‘The growling scared me when I was younger. Now it’s nothing.’

Come to think of it, that dog was already fully grown when he first saw it, but even after 8 years, it still looks the same? It doesn’t even seem to have aged much. What’s the average lifespan of a dog again?

“Hey, how old are you? You must be a grandpa by now, right?”

“What grandpa? He’s so cute.”

“You said you found him in the forest when you were six, right? He must not have much time left.”

“Gasp, how could you say something so cruel… Apologize right now.”

“Sorry.”

“Not to me, to Rio. Otherwise, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“…”

Karsion closed his mouth in indignation.

‘I am the Third Prince of the great Arnoble Empire. And I’m supposed to apologize to that annoying dog? Ugh, I’m so angry. That interfering bastard who’s preventing her from coming to Shutzen with me should be removed, and yet I have to apologize…’

“Hurry up.”

“…I’m sorry, do…g.”

“Karsion.”

“Fine, fine. I’m sorry, Rio.”

At her stern voice, Karsion apologized to Rio as if pushed. Anger was boiling inside him. The dog’s expressions were annoyingly smug, but whenever Renéee looked at it, it would wag its tail and pant as if nothing had happened.

That bastard must be a fox, not a dog.

Finding it ridiculous that he was genuinely jealous of a pet, Karsion dropped the matter.

“You’re sixteen too. Let’s debut together.”

“What? But I’ve never even been to Shutzen.”

“You can go with me this time. We’ll be apart for three months. Does that make sense?”

“Well, no, but… Rio…”

“How many servants are there in the mansion to worry about that? Renéee, we’re sixteen.”

The persuasion seemed to work as Renéee began to seriously consider it. Just then, Rio whimpered pitifully and rubbed against Renéee’s leg, as if begging her not to leave him behind.

Her resolve wavering, Renéee mumbled excuses.

“But I don’t know anyone in society, and I don’t have a partner…”

“Are you going to skip your debutante forever because of him?”

Grrrr…!

That bastard is interfering at a crucial moment again.

Ignoring Rio, who only bared his teeth at him, Karsion focused on Renéee. This was an important moment.

“Forget that. Come with me.”

“Huh?”

“If not having a partner is the problem, I don’t have one either. There’s no need to have our first dance with someone we barely know. We have each other. That’s what friends are for.”

‘…Ah, d*mn.’

‘I shouldn’t have said that last part.’

Despite regretting his slip, Karsion was happy that he was halfway successful. That year, the two made their debut in Shutzen society and shared their first dance together. Perfectly as friends, though.

“Sigh…”

And so began the days of being completely smitten with Renéee Iblaine.

‘When should I confess? What if I confess and we can’t even be friends anymore?’

While continuing these painful yet sweet deliberations, Karsion was certain of one thing: Renéee would be with him until the last day of his life.

Arrogantly believing so, little did he know that just two years later, he would lose her forever.