Up until now, what she needed most was money, so being told she would receive it was something she couldn’t dislike.

‘The more, the better.’

The more money she had, the better her chances of surviving on her own in the future. April couldn’t hide her excitement and asked Calsion. Even if it was an enormous sum, she was confident she wouldn’t refuse.

“Do you know how much the duke demanded?”

“No.”

How could she know? Duke Bright never told April anything. Of course, she never asked either. It wasn’t like the money would ever end up in her hands anyway.

Calsion clicked his tongue at April’s quick reply. His eyes seemed to say, “How could you not even check that?” but she couldn’t protest.

After realizing Calsion was the second prince, she’d locked herself in her room, only thinking about what she should do next. She hadn’t set foot outside, and with her mind spinning, she’d just lain down in despair. There was no time to find out such things.

“Three thousand gold coins.”

“What?”

“Three thousand. That’s your price.”

“Wow… I was expensive.”

April muttered in a daze. One marriage. And that was the price for it.

‘He really went all out.’

That amount was equivalent to the income from three small territories. April was left speechless by the absurd sum. Even without the details, that money would be enough for a fresh start.

“Are you really going to give me that money?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… um, thank you?”

“Why don’t you seem that happy?”

“It’s just… it doesn’t seem like you’ll give it to me right away.”

“I’ll give it to you immediately.”

“Your Highness!”

April jumped up from her seat and hugged Calsion. Caught off guard, Calsion awkwardly stretched out his hands as she bounced with excitement, still holding him.

“Thank you so much! You’ll be blessed! What is the goddess even doing, not granting blessings to someone like you! I’ll fulfill my duties as the princess consort! I’ll do my best until the day we divorce!”

Whoever gives money is the best. Smiling brightly, April rubbed her face against Calsion’s broad chest.

“Oh my, I didn’t know you were such a wonderful person!”

“Let go while you talk.”

“Huh?”

April, happily bouncing in his arms, suddenly snapped back to her senses. She froze, her face pressed against his firm chest, unable to move.

She could hear his heartbeat, and it felt as if her own heart was beating in sync. When their heartbeats matched, April felt an odd urge to lean on him.

‘No, that’s not right.’

Suddenly realizing this, April stepped back. Maybe it was because her expression darkened as she retreated. Calsion reached out to her, but she moved away first.

Standing a little distance away, April lifted her head. She forced an awkward smile, hiding her emotions.

“Ha, ha, ha… Sorry.”

“Behave yourself properly.”

At his cold words, April’s face stiffened and her eyes narrowed. It was only for a split second, but Calsion noticed the change.

Just as he was about to say something—

“Then, I’ll take it that the money is mine and excuse myself!”

April moved first. As she turned away, the awkward smile vanished from her face. She no longer looked like someone who’d just received good news.

‘How foolish.’

To think of relying on someone else so easily. Just because he offered money, did she really think she could trust Calsion that much? Even after all this time, she was acting so pathetically.

‘Maybe that’s why I could never escape from that house… Because I kept holding onto hope like this.’

April reproached herself inwardly. When she opened the dining room door and stepped outside, Jarenne, who had been waiting, approached her.

“Where would you like to go?”

“I want to take a walk.”

Seeing April’s subdued expression, Jarenne didn’t say anything more. Sensing her mood, Jarenne simply led the way.

‘A silent knight is better than a noisy maid. Sometimes, you just want to walk in peace.’

Following behind Jarenne, April slowly made her way to the well-kept garden of the second prince’s palace. Sitting on a long bench placed for enjoying the view, April gazed endlessly at the greenery.

‘I mustn’t become weak.’

April kept repeating this to herself. She had to trust only herself and keep moving forward. She mustn’t become weak by leaning on others again. If she did, the only thing waiting for her would be betrayal.

After repeating this to herself for a long time, April let out a sigh of relief and looked at the scenery. Only then did she notice that the garden, which had seemed only green, was full of colorful flowers.

Purple lisianthus, blue hydrangeas, April Snow that shared her name, and even geraniums. The garden of the imperial palace, filled with beautiful flowers, was so magnificent that it was hard to describe.

Jarenne offered her tea as April couldn’t take her eyes off the flowers. When she nodded, Jarenne said she would call a maid and stepped away for a moment. During that brief time, someone in a red dress appeared before her.

“April Bright?”

The uninvited guest addressed her as Bright, despite her recent marriage. April replied,

“Pardon? I’m April Isper now.”

At least the woman didn’t use informal speech. Anyone leading maids around the palace was surely royalty—especially with so many in tow.

The more people someone had following them, the higher their status. April blinked as she waited for the woman’s reaction.

“Oh my, how rude of me.”

April slowly looked over the woman who addressed her with an unapologetic expression. Spotting the dazzling tiara in her hair, April finally realized who stood before her.

Barbara Isper, the only imperial princess of the Isper royal family.

She had married a prince from another empire, but after his affair, she’d received a huge divorce settlement and returned to Isper. The divorced princess, having brought back a fortune, was now under the emperor’s protection. The woman wielding absolute power was right in front of her.

‘My idol!’

She had secretly admired her for so long.

If not for Barbara, April would never have dreamed of marrying, divorcing, and collecting a settlement.

“It’s fine.”

April rose from her seat and gave a small bow.

“Greetings to the little moon of the empire.”

“Oh my, you know me?”

“Of course. Are you not Her Highness Barbara?”

“I didn’t expect my reputation to reach the Bright family.”

“Anyone coming to the palace should know you.”

“We haven’t met at any social gatherings, but you’re quite skilled at etiquette.”

April simply smiled and offered Barbara a seat. As she stood, Barbara quickly sat down. April stood beside her like a maid, but she didn’t mind. Just being near Barbara was enough.

“Shall I have the maids bring tea?”

Seeing April act in place of a maid, Barbara lost her will to show dominance. She’d come to establish authority over the newcomer, but April’s deference left her nothing to do.

Barbara smiled and gestured to her own maid. The maid brought over a chair and set it next to April. As Barbara sat, she gestured again, and a teapot and cups were prepared before them. April’s eyes sparkled at Barbara’s elegant gestures.

‘So cool!’

She’d heard stories of royals commanding people with a flick of their fingers, but this was her first time seeing it. April carefully observed her dignified manner. Anyone wanting to survive in the palace had to watch and learn, and for April, that person was Princess Barbara.

Cups were set before Barbara and April, and a maid poured the tea. The fragrant scent of flowers wafted from the teapot.

April hadn’t tried many kinds of tea, but she could tell that the one Barbara offered was quite expensive. She just stared at the clear tea, unable to pick up her cup.

“Drink.”

“Yes, thank you.”

April obediently drank the tea Barbara offered.

‘I thought the tea I had in the duke’s garden was wonderful… but this is even better.’

She’d only had fine tea a few times, but already the muddy water she used to drink felt like a distant memory.

Barbara, watching April’s behavior, took a sip of her own tea. There was nothing to fault in the way she set down her cup.

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

Barbara spoke first.