Three days later, Caleb departed Cliff, leading his knights and leaving Astrid behind. Though she ached for him every night, she never shed a tear. There were too many responsibilities resting on her shoulders. As the Grand Duchess of Cliff, Astrid poured her all into filling the void Caleb had left behind.

Though there were days of exhaustion and hardship, she bore it all with grace. The people of Cliff accepted her as one of their own, and she held onto the promise Caleb had made that day.

“If I return safely, we’ll hold the wedding first. The nights in Cliff are long, so grow up well by then.”

She could still feel it—Caleb’s heart beating just as fast as hers during that moment. Strengthened by that memory, Astrid made a decision.

When he returned, she vowed to present herself as a mature and elegant woman and to give him a flourishing estate. Over the next two years, Astrid poured sweat, tears, and all her passion into her work. Looking back, she held no regrets.

Though it was tiring, it was a time filled with anticipation and hope.

***

Two years later.

Another spring had arrived in Cliff, following the season of Caleb’s departure.

Winters in Cliff were notoriously long, but even in its barren lands, the seasons changed. The people of Cliff awaited spring with eager anticipation, as every season except winter was fleeting. The longing for spring was a shared sentiment.

Just as spring’s fresh vitality grew stronger with each passing day, Astrid stood with the factory foreman, who offered her a glass of something new.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”

Astrid smiled warmly as she carefully accepted the glass.

“Thank you.”

As she raised the glass to her lips, the foreman and the villagers fixed their eyes on her.

Gulp.

The icy, perfectly chilled “Cliff’s Tears,” kept at an optimal temperature through magical refrigeration, slid smoothly down her throat.

Gulp, gulp. She drank it all in one go, savoring the last drop before lowering the glass. Her cherry-red lips, now moist, parted as she let out a genuine exclamation of delight.

“Everyone, it’s a success!”

Her radiant smile and words brought a collective cheer from the crowd.

“We’ve completely eliminated the harsh taste! All that remains is to find export routes. This is all thanks to the hard work you’ve put in over these two years. You’ve all done so well. So tonight, let’s celebrate! It’s a festival!”

With that declaration, Astrid turned the glass upside down over her head to show it was empty. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

Musicians she had arranged beforehand entered, filling the air with lively melodies as impromptu dancing broke out among the villagers.

Just two years prior, the town had been partially destroyed by fire. Now, it had been fully restored. The factory producing “Cliff’s Tears,” which Astrid had built, provided jobs for the townspeople.

The village square, once a temporary shelter, had transformed into the heart of a vibrant festival.

With an abundance of drinks, fresh fruits, desserts, and even barbecue pits being prepared, the air was filled with joy and celebration.

While Astrid reveled in the lively atmosphere of the festival…

“Your Grace, are you all right? You spent the night in the laboratory again, and now you’ve had alcohol on top of that. I’m worried. Please, let the villagers enjoy themselves while you return to the castle…”

“Matilda.”

“…Yes?”

The beautiful Grand Duchess smiled brightly, her ocean-blue eyes disappearing behind her lids. In their place appeared her gentle crescent-shaped eyes, radiating warmth.

Matilda let out an involuntary sigh. Whenever the Grand Duchess smiled like that, nothing could change her mind. Matilda knew this from experience.

In the two years she had known her, Grand Duchess Astrid Lionel had proven to be the epitome of strength beneath gentleness. Once she set her mind to something, she achieved it no matter what, and she never backed down from a decision.

“Matilda, let’s dance! You and me!”

“Your Grace…?”

With Astrid clasping her hands and beginning to move to the rhythm, a smile crept onto Matilda’s lips, despite herself. Astrid’s clear, joyful laughter rang out.

At the tender age of twenty, Astrid shone brighter than the freshness of early summer—a radiant figure of beauty and wisdom, the pride of Cliff.

She had become a beloved Grand Duchess to everyone.

***

The festival was reaching its peak.

As Astrid danced to the increasingly lively beat, someone approached her and whispered in her ear.

“Your Grace, you must return immediately.”

“…Sir Cradoc?”

Startled by his sudden appearance, Astrid paused mid-step as Cradoc carefully led her out of the crowd. Matilda hurried to follow.

“What’s wrong, Sir Cradoc? Has something happened at the castle?” Astrid asked, her face flushed from dancing, still catching her breath.

Cradoc, his face unusually serious, retrieved a letter from his coat.

“…This is…”

The golden seal on the envelope caught Astrid’s eye, causing her delicate brow to furrow slightly. It bore the unmistakable crest of the royal family.

⌜To Her Grace, the Grand Duchess of Cliff,

Her Majesty the Queen invites you to attend her inauguration ceremony.

Due to the monster invasions that have unsettled the nation, Her Majesty has chosen to forego both a wedding and a coronation to set an example.

Instead, a modest event will be held with the royal family at its center. Please join us and represent the absent Grand Duke.

We eagerly await your presence in the near future.

Lady MacDowell, Loyal Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty the Queen.⌟

Matilda, observing Astrid’s expression closely, spoke cautiously.

“What’s the matter, Your Grace? Is it news of the Grand Duke…?”

“No. It’s an invitation to Her Majesty the new Queen’s inauguration,” Astrid replied.

“…What?”

Matilda’s startled exclamation escaped her lips. It was understandable—barely a year had passed since the late Queen’s death.

The mourning period for the deceased Queen wasn’t even over, yet a new Queen had been enthroned, and the royal wedding seemed hastily conducted in secrecy.

It was hard to believe.

“An inauguration for the new Queen…? Can national matters of such importance really be handled this way? Honestly, I don’t understand,” Astrid said, shaking her head with a perplexed expression.

‘Is it simply a cultural difference between Hestian and Croatan?’

Even after mulling it over again, it still made no sense.

‘And to top it off, the royal wedding took place while Caleb was away… This doesn’t add up.’

As Astrid’s face grew more serious, Matilda stepped in.

“It’s probably nothing major, Your Grace. In Croatan, it’s traditional to simplify or skip grand ceremonies during monster invasions. It’s the same reason your wedding with the Grand Duke was delayed, isn’t it? Perhaps His Majesty had other intentions?”

“Other intentions? What kind of…”

“Oops!” Cradoc, who had inadvertently spoken his mind, quickly shut his mouth. Matilda’s sharp pinch to his side had come just in time.

Matilda understood the gravity of the situation, but her main concern was to ease the young Grand Duchess’s worries, even if only a little.

Despite Matilda’s efforts, Astrid couldn’t shake her doubts.

‘Still, this doesn’t make sense.’

While it might be excusable for nobles, ignoring the grand duchy—a royal bloodline—entirely in such a critical national affair was beyond explanation.

It was then that Cradoc, who had been watching Astrid silently, spoke with an air of solemnity.

“Her Grace is right! Even though Cliff is far from the capital, the grand duchy being kept completely in the dark about something of this magnitude can only mean it was done deliberately!”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Ignoring Matilda’s attempts to signal him to stop, Cradoc couldn’t hold back any longer.

“To be frank! This reeks of disrespect toward Grand Duke Caleb! I’ve discreetly sent inquiries to the capital, and…”

He trailed off, uncharacteristically hesitant, drawing Astrid’s and Matilda’s full attention.

“Well, it seems the new Queen is only twenty years old. His Majesty is apparently in very poor health…”

Cradoc nearly voiced outright treason but bit his tongue just in time to avoid committing lèse-majesté. His words, however, left Astrid and Matilda staring at each other in shock.