To think her lifelong wish would be ruined like this. Gritting her teeth, April, who had resolved to do everything she could to block that man’s path, spoke to him.

She glared fiercely, but the man’s expression didn’t so much as twitch, making her bite her lip. With her eyes narrowed into triangles, she snorted and forced herself to lift her reluctant feet, moving away.

As she disappeared from the alley, the man, Calsion, gestured into the air.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Make sure she goes into the Duke’s residence.”

“Understood.”

Calsion, who had given orders to the knight hidden nearby, couldn’t take his eyes off April’s retreating figure.

The marriage partner offered by the Bright Duchy was unexpectedly attractive. She seemed to have a strong character and the ability to handle dangerous situations.

He didn’t think she would annoy him by whining in front of him. Calsion absolutely hated women who demanded things from him.

The Bright Duchy was one of only two duchies in the entire Isper Empire. If the daughter of such a house became the consort of the second prince, it would be symbolic. Her status was good, and she could represent him in high society.

‘She really was quite pretty.’

Even as she trembled in fear, her eyes burned with the desire to find a way out, which he rather liked. She looked scared, but the look she gave him when she asked for help was blazing with determination.

She seemed perceptive, and would likely make a decent partner. Since the marriage would be forced on him anyway, it was better to choose a woman who would be an asset in every way.

‘But the fact that she’s from the Bright Duchy bothers me.’

The Duke of Bright was not a loyalist. He was someone who went whichever way the wind blew.

If it benefitted him, he might even commit treason. Could he achieve his goals with such a person behind him? What if April was swayed by her family and ruined his plans?

“Well, then I’ll just have to kill her.”

Calsion muttered as if it were nothing. The words were cruel coming from lips as beautiful as a woman’s, but he didn’t care. No one who had ever gotten in his way had survived.

He had just stopped by his secret information guild, disguised as a pawnshop, to investigate his marriage partner April.

He had already planned to sneak into the duke’s residence to see her for himself before making an official visit, but by chance, he’d run into her in the back alley. At first, he didn’t recognize her, but when her handkerchief fell off her head, he realized who she was. There were rumors everywhere that April Bright was the only one with such dazzling golden hair.

Calsion picked up April’s handkerchief from the ground. Embroidered at the edge was “April Snow,” shaped like a rose. As he tucked the handkerchief into his pocket, the bodyguard knelt in front of him.

“I’ve confirmed she went into the duke’s residence.”

“How’s the situation at the duchy?”

“It seems they haven’t noticed the young lady is missing.”

“Fools.”

Or maybe they just don’t care that much.

Either way, it didn’t matter. Since the emperor had ordered it, as long as April didn’t die, this marriage had to happen.

Remembering April dressed as a maid, a faint smile appeared on Calsion’s lips.

‘She’s a bold young lady.’

Trying to escape from a marriage ordered by the emperor of this country. In some ways, she was better than him—she tried to resist, while he simply accepted it.

Thinking of April’s daring actions, Calsion recalled a recent private audience with the emperor in the imperial palace.

***

In front of the emperor’s office, located at the center of the first floor of the imperial palace.

Today, a very important conversation was taking place inside, so the chief attendant, who served the emperor closely, guarded the door with a sharp gaze.

Not long ago, the second prince, having returned from many years abroad, entered the palace. Since his teens, he had wandered the borders, conquering parts of neighboring empires and adding them to Isper’s territory. He even fought the kingdom right next to the border, seized their land, and brought back the king’s head.

That wasn’t all. He relentlessly pursued the barbarians who had repeatedly invaded the border and enslaved Isper’s people, killing their chieftain.

With such achievements, people began to question why the second prince was kept at the border for so long. As the rumors grew, they reached not only the aristocracy but also the imperial palace, and the emperor had no choice but to summon Calsion.

Unable to openly show his displeasure, the emperor, Vehirus Isper, pretended to welcome Calsion.

“How does it feel to return as a war hero?”

“I feel absolutely wonderful.”

“Haha. I suppose that was a silly question.”

Calsion replied indifferently to the emperor’s question and took a sip of tea.

“Get married.”

At the emperor’s sudden words, the clatter of Calsion setting down his teacup rang out, but neither paid it any mind. Both were too busy trying to read each other’s intentions.

“Marriage, you say?”

“That’s right. Marriage.”

Calsion tried not to show his discomfort at the emperor’s mention of marriage. To gauge the emperor’s intentions, he blinked slowly and delayed his answer. Seeing this, the emperor smiled and spoke in a roundabout way.

“You’ve just returned from years on the battlefield. Don’t you need a princess consort to support you? You’re of marriageable age.”

“A princess consort?”

“You’re the only member of the imperial family who hasn’t arranged a marriage. Even your younger brother is looking for a fiancée. What do you think people will say if the third prince marries before the second?”

“If they gossip carelessly, they’ll pay the price. Will there really be rumors?”

Though he answered lightly, there was a sharp edge to Calsion’s words—a warning that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone speaking carelessly about him. The emperor snorted.

“That’s something only someone unfamiliar with high society would say.”

“If I get married, Her Majesty the Empress won’t take it quietly.”

“That’s not your concern.”

Whatever means he had used, the emperor seemed to have already persuaded the empress. Seeing his expression, Calsion realized he had no choice in the matter.

As a child, Calsion had fled to the battlefield to escape the empress, who tried to kill him. He had gained a reputation as a war hero, but that was all.

Upon returning to the capital, Calsion didn’t go straight to the palace, but instead visited the information guild to quickly gather rumors about himself.

He heard that noble families with daughters were being cautious, fearing the return of the war hero prince who was rumored to be ruthless and merciless, even killing those who begged for their lives.

‘And yet, there’s a noble willing to give me his daughter?’

Impossible. Even if someone did, she would surely be an odd woman who didn’t meet his standards.

He also heard that the mood in the capital was uneasy. Some nobles questioned why he had been kept at the border despite his many achievements. It turned out that not only the emperor, but also the empress, feeling threatened, had called him back.

Calsion gave a bitter laugh. As the child of the former empress, he and the current empress were mortal enemies.

The current empress, Helena Isper, had been a friend of the late empress but had deceived her for years while having an affair with the emperor. She gave birth to a child first, and when Calsion’s mother found out, she lost her first child.

After a difficult pregnancy, she gave birth to Calsion but sadly died. Meanwhile, Helena had another child, and rumors spread that she had killed Calsion’s mother, but there was no proof.

To escape the constant threats, Calsion had left for the battlefield. After many achievements, he was finally officially summoned by the emperor.

And now, the price for a place in the palace was marriage.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

Calsion couldn’t let his guard down, unable to guess the emperor’s intentions. This was the same man who hadn’t lifted a finger to support him when he was forced to leave the palace.

‘Didn’t he decide to wash his hands of me?’

There was definitely something behind this. Calsion suspected the emperor wanted to use him somehow, and quietly pondered.

“Your partner will be April Bright, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Bright.”

As he was lost in thought, the emperor spoke softly.

That was the reason Calsion headed to the duke’s residence in search of April.