Chapter 1

A quiet temple with no one around.

Only one couple and a single priest were present there.

“If you sign here, your marriage will be recognized.”

Raon and Kina sat across from each other, wrote their names on the paper, and signed it.

The priest held up the paper with their signatures.

“Duke Raon Graize.”  

“Yes.”

Raon’s voice answered as if responding to a roll call, calm and indifferent.

“Viscount’s daughter, Kina Sennet.”  

“Yes.”

In contrast, Kina’s voice trembled slightly. But it was so subtle that one would have to pay attention to notice.

“I will now sign my name to certify your marriage.”

The priest signed at the very bottom with his name. With that, all the names required for the document were filled in.

“With this, the two of you are now legally recognized as a married couple by the Empire.”

Even the priest’s voice was formal. There was no “live well” or any congratulatory words.  

There were no well-wishers, no passionate kiss between them, no exchanged glances, no ring ceremony.  

Thus, Raon, who had been Bersha’s lover, and Kina, who was Bersha’s friend, became husband and wife.

* * *

A month before their wedding, or rather, at a time when they hadn’t even expected to get married.

An imperial event was held at the orphanage located in the capital.

Since the event was held for the purpose of helping the orphanage children, delicious food, clothes, and toys for the children were donated.

The children, dressed up beautifully for the first time in a while, sparkled their eyes as they watched the much more beautiful and splendid nobles. To their eyes, the nobles appeared as beautiful and wonderful people. Among them, some probably wished to live like those nobles. This wasn’t just true for the children, but for all the commoners watching the event.

That was the purpose of the event.

“We greet the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. I am Kina from the Sennet Viscountcy.”

Kina, who managed the orphanage, greeted Crown Prince Chris and Crown Princess Stella. Raon and Bersha were also there. Normally, Kina couldn’t have mingled among them, but she managed to be included under the pretext of being Bersha’s friend and the actual manager of the orphanage.

“It’s nice to meet you. But Crown Princess? We haven’t had the wedding yet.”

Stella shyly waved her hand.

“It’ll happen soon anyway. That title fits perfectly in my heart.”

Chris pulled her into his arms, flashing a satisfied smile. The embarrassment from his bold display of affection always fell to Stella and those watching.

“The orphanage is managed well compared to other places. You must care a lot for the children.”

Stella gently pushed Chris away and asked. Chris’s face briefly showed a pouty expression before it faded. Kina softly smiled at that and answered, “Yes.”

“I remembered because I could see how much you cherish the children. There’s a lot I could learn from you. Please continue to help me. It’d be even better if we could meet often.”

Stella smiled, holding Kina’s hand. Kina replied shyly, saying it was an honor. After all, befriending the Crown Princess was every lady’s wish.

“No, Lady Sennet should attend balls more than orphanage events.”

Bersha interjected between Stella and Kina.

“She’s so rarely seen at balls that she’s more popular among the children than the noble youths.”

Everyone, including Stella, laughed lightly, but Kina blushed in embarrassment, her face turning red.

Only Bersha pouted seriously.

“I don’t think you’re one to talk, considering you always attract all the men.”

It was a comment directed at Bersha, who always drew men’s attention.

With her striking rose-brown hair and elegantly sharp eyes that curved attractively, she was always the focus of noble youths.

Whenever Bersha appeared at a ball, a scramble ensued to dance with her even just once.

“Thanks to that, Lady Sennet is quite popular at balls too. When else would she get such attention?”

At Chris’s blunt words, Kina’s face turned even redder than before.

In reality, if she attended a ball alone, the noble youths would have left after a simple greeting and exchange of pleasantries. But they treated Kina kindly to impress Bersha, knowing the two were friends despite their different statuses.

But Bersha, who never stayed in one place, always disappeared elsewhere. Then the noble youths, searching for Bersha, eventually came to Kina, waiting for her to return someday.

“That’s…”

“Thanks to Lady Kapris, I’ve had the luck to dance with wonderful gentlemen, so I suppose I’m fortunate.”

Kina gently stopped Bersha, meeting her eyes and smiling to signal she was fine.

Regardless of the circumstances, it was true that the noble youths always sought out Kina. So she was quite popular, and it was thanks to Bersha. Even if she’d never wished for it and found the situation unbearably uncomfortable.

“Knowing your place exactly is a good thing. See, you gain things like this because of it.”

His words weren’t just about the ball. He was also pointing out that being able to be present here was thanks to Bersha. Everyone who understood Chris’s meaning turned their attention to her.

Chris wasn’t wrong, so Kina had no right to be angry. Besides, he wasn’t someone she could be angry with. Still, the embarrassment and shame washed over her.

At that moment, Kina met Raon’s eyes, who stood beside Bersha. Kina tried to maintain a smile as she’d been taught, but her cheeks felt like they were trembling.

Kina was the daughter of a humble family, even among viscounts, with nothing much to boast about. The men who danced with her were at least better off than she was. From her perspective, it was a blessing. Among them was a man she couldn’t even dare to look at—Raon.

Raon Graize, the Duke who had captured Bersha’s restless heart at once. He inherited his title at a young age and was the captain of the Imperial Knights. Moreover, his handsome face was so renowned in the Empire that his name was always mentioned wherever noble ladies gathered. Kina was no exception.

The difference between her and the other ladies was that she fell for Raon at first sight, not knowing he was the Duke Graize. She met him on the day she visited the palace for her debut ball. He was the kind knight who helped her when she got lost. That was Raon. Kina fell for him at their first meeting.

‘I don’t want to show this side of myself…’

She quietly but firmly clasped her hands together.

Even though Raon had become her friend’s lover, or even if he hadn’t, it was obvious nothing could ever happen between them. Still, she didn’t want to show such an embarrassing side of herself.

The surroundings had become quiet. Kina knew well the silence that always came when she was among them. And the gaze directed at her. It was time to leave.

“…I think I should look around to see if anything is lacking. May I excuse myself for a moment?”

“Go ahead.”

Before Chris could answer, Stella quickly replied. Her expression showed she understood Kina’s discomfort.

“Thank you.”

Kina gave a polite but swift bow to Raon and Bersha and left the spot.