Chapter 2

Some time ago, Fierra attended a tea party at the Bellotsa mansion.

<We exchanged vows two days ago.>

<Oh my, really? Ah, then is this the first time you’re announcing it here?>

<Well, you could say that.>

Lady Bellotsa replied with a shy smile.

Anyone could see she was a woman in love.

Last year, or even until this winter, things had been quiet, but after the coming-of-age ceremony in late spring, news of engagements began to spread everywhere, as if everyone had been waiting for it.

Most of the members at gatherings Fierra attended were around her age, so the change felt even more apparent.

At today’s gathering, two people had already announced their engagement.

Counting the previous gatherings, it seemed about five people had done so.

<I’m worried about the engagement ceremony, honestly.>

<Me too. Lady Bellotsa, what have you decided?>

So lately, at any gathering, the conversation would inevitably turn to such topics.

It was unavoidable and expected.

Fierra listened attentively to their conversation, naturally recalling Dario’s face.

Last year, she hadn’t come of age yet, so nothing official was discussed……

‘Now that I’ve had my coming-of-age ceremony, it’s time to seriously consider it.’

Even if they got engaged, the custom was to maintain the engagement for about three years before marriage unless there was a special reason.

It was about time to start moving things forward.

<Fierra.>

The lady sitting beside Fierra called her softly.

<Fierra, what about you?>

She didn’t specify what she meant, but Fierra understood instantly.

She stopped the conversation and, looking at the ladies who were now watching her, spoke with a confident smile.

<I can’t say for certain, but I think I’ll soon have good news to share as well.>

She planned to visit Dario this week.

He would surely accept her proposal, so she could announce her engagement next week.

<Oh my! Congratulations, Fierra.>

<I have someone in mind, but I’ll pretend not to know until Fierra says it herself.>

<Thank you. But I’ll accept congratulations only when everything is confirmed.>

Fierra smiled proudly, trying to sound modest.

When she received such early congratulations, Fierra had no idea.

That her proposal would be so mercilessly crushed.

* * *

In noble society, if families got along well, they often discussed engagements without considering the child’s wishes.

Fierra and Dario were such a case.

Their fathers had been close since childhood, and their mothers were so supportive of each other in the harsh social world that they relied on one another.

Moreover, both families were prestigious enough to stand out anywhere.

It was only natural that an engagement would be discussed between two children born two years apart.

Initially, Fierra disliked hearing such talk from adults.

It wasn’t that she disliked Dario, but she was annoyed by adults teasing children with such remarks.

Sometimes, unable to control her temper, she cried quite a bit.

Dario could have been upset by her behavior, but he always smiled and comforted her.

<I don’t plan to marry you either, so don’t worry, Fifi.>

He spoke with a resolve that was almost touching.

But as they grew older, things changed.

Fierra fell in love with Dario, who became more handsome with each passing year.

No, it wasn’t sudden.

She had been giving him her heart little by little for a long time without realizing it.

Dario could be a bit annoying, sometimes irritating, often sly and unpredictable, but he was mostly kind.

Looking into his deep blue eyes, which always watched her carefully, she often found her cheeks growing red without knowing.

Sometimes, she spent sleepless nights because of his playful smile and neat lips.

Dario never directly expressed his feelings, but for some reason, Fierra never doubted their future together.

If she wanted to hold his hand and gently tapped his hand, he would immediately wrap her small hand in his large one.

If her hair got messy while she was focused on something, he would naturally reach out and tidy it.

Especially on her fifteenth birthday, he insisted on being the first to congratulate her, coming to the Wonton mansion the day before, and as soon as the bell rang at midnight, he presented her with a cake.

As she blew out the candle on the lovely strawberry cake, Fierra was certain.

He must like her too.

Even though he once said, ‘I don’t plan to marry you,’ it was just a childhood story.

She believed Dario’s thoughts had changed as hers had.

She thought, as time passed and they got older, they would naturally get engaged and married.

But when she brought up engagement, she never imagined she would hear, ‘Please, even as a joke, don’t say such dreadful things.’

“Fierra, are you still sleeping?”

Startled by the voice calling her from outside the door, Fierra pulled the blanket over her head.

It was her second older brother, Colin.

He should have gone to the Imperial Palace by now.

“Why is he still at the mansion?”

Fierra sniffled and muttered.

Her voice was extremely low, coming from lips swollen by days of nonstop crying.

That day—the day she was fiercely rejected by Dario.

After flipping over the tea table and returning to the mansion, Fierra hadn’t set foot outside her bedroom.

“Fierra?”

Colin called her again.

He had many duties as the captain of the knights, not to mention responsibilities he took over for their father and Klaus, who had gone to the territory, but whenever he could, he visited Fierra’s room.

He worried about his youngest sister, who suddenly locked herself in her room.

It hurt Fierra to ignore her brother every time, but she stubbornly avoided Colin’s visits.

She didn’t want to see anyone yet.

“Fierra.”

Please, just leave me alone!

At his repeated calls, Fierra tossed and turned, screaming silently.

Usually, he would call her a couple of times and then leave, but today he was persistent.

“Fierra. No matter how much I adore you, I can’t tolerate this anymore. If you don’t open the door by the time I count to ten, I’ll just break it down.”

His voice, which had been gentle until just before, was now firm.

Fierra knew well how scary Colin could be when he was determined.

She pressed her lips together.

She wanted to wallow in her sadness, but he wouldn’t give her any chance!

“One.”

No matter how scary Colin was, Fierra had her pride and couldn’t give in so easily.

“Two.”

She decided to hold out as long as she could.

“Three.”

And if it really didn’t work out, then……

“Seven.”

“……!”

Suddenly startled by the jump in the count, Fierra sat up abruptly.

This wasn’t what they agreed on.

Her eyes, like the evening sky, shook relentlessly like a woodpecker’s beak pecking at a tree.

“Nine.”

Fierra hurriedly got out of bed and ran to the door.

Come to think of it, she was someone who had long thrown away troublesome things like pride.

She reached the door and grabbed the handle with all her strength.

“I-I opened it! I opened it before you finished counting!”

“…….”

Colin silently looked down at his sister, who opened the door with messy hair.

Her bruised eyes, chapped lips, nose red like someone drunk, and tangled hair as if she’d weathered a storm.

Overall, she didn’t look very well.

“Brother, how could you cut the count like that? That’s so mean.”

Fierra glared at him, her big eyes brimming with tears.

Perhaps because her heart was fragile, warm tears welled up at even the smallest sadness.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.”

Colin apologized calmly.

Fierra didn’t notice, but after he said ‘nine,’ he stayed silent for quite a while.

He never intended to count all the way to ten.

He just wanted to coax his sister out of her room with a little trick.

“Ha.”

Colin sighed deeply and brushed Fierra’s hair.

She hadn’t washed for days, so her hair was clumped and damp like a sparrow’s wet wings.

“…….”

Colin quietly wiped his fingers on his thigh and called her.

“Fierra.”

“Yes.”

“I know you’re upset about something.”

“……Yes.”

Fierra replied softly to Colin’s words. Her voice was thick with tears she couldn’t control.

“But even if you hide, you should at least tell me what happened before you do. If you just disappear without saying anything, what am I supposed to do?”

“I’m sorry.”

At her simple apology, Colin’s expression softened.