“Have you heard? Lady Leda Weiss is to become the crown princess of Greitz!”

“So the rumors were true?”

“I saw it myself—the carriages kept rolling into the castle without end!”

Word spread like wildfire. The crown prince of Greitz had proposed to Count Weiss’s daughter of Edelin, and she had accepted. The story began in the capital, Ren, and in no time reached even the remote borderlands of Edelin. For days now, the entire territory had been abuzz.

“Leda, this is absurd.”

Darius rubbed his palms together, agitated.

“The crown prince of all people? How does that make any sense?”

“Darius, enough, that’s quite enough. Leda has given her consent.”

At their mother’s quiet rebuke, Darius had no choice but to fall silent. Still, his expression was dark with unease.

“I know what troubles you.” 

Leda said softly, rising from the piano bench. 

“But please—stop now.”

Though she had braced herself, her heart had been pounding for nights, leaving her sleepless. This morning she had sat before the piano, unable to play even a single song, needing the quiet to calm her nerves.

The memory of Jupiter lingered like a dream. He had come to Edelin secretly the previous autumn, with Angelo at his side, only to vanish without a word. Not once had she heard from him since. Hurt though she had been, she told herself he had returned to Greitz and forgotten her.

But then, a month ago, everything changed—when her father returned from the capital.

***

“Leda, what on earth is the meaning of this? How do you know the crown prince of Greitz?”

Count Testion had wasted no time. The moment he stepped down from his carriage, he summoned her to his study, his voice grave.

“The crown prince? Father, I… I don’t even know who he is.”

Leda faltered, her words hesitant.

“How could a stranger send you a proposal?”

From his coat, the count withdrew a thick envelope and placed it before her.

“It concerns your marriage to His Highness, Crown Prince Jupiter Schwarz.”

“Ju… Jupiter?”

That name. She had thought it only a noble affectation, borrowed from the gods. Her heart lurched as realization dawned.

“So you do remember.” 

“Y-yes.”

“Explain yourself at once.”

His stern gaze left her no room to waver. Her voice shrank, almost to a whisper.

“On the night of the debutante ball… we met by chance. I was lost, and he helped me. Later, we danced together. And then…”

“And then?”

“…He was with Lord Angelo Meyer when he came to Edelin.”

The count pressed a hand to his brow.

“Why did you not tell me this?”

“I’m sorry, Father. Lord Angelo said he was someone whose identity must remain hidden…”

Testion looked hard at his daughter. Her cheeks, flushed with color, betrayed more than her words.

“And what of your own feelings?”

“My… feelings?” 

She twisted her fingers nervously. 

“I… don’t know.”

“You don’t say no.”

Her cheeks burned hotter. 

“He seemed… kind.”

The count caught the softness in her tone at once, so like her mother when she tried to hide her happiness.

“Do you understand what it means, to become crown princess?”

“…”

“You are of Hanover. Even Lady Meyer, with all her rank, struggled greatly when she became crown princess. You, a count’s daughter from the borderlands… do you truly believe you could endure life in the imperial court?”

His words struck her like cold water. She had not known he was a crown prince. She had not expected a marriage proposal, much less one delivered this way.

“There is also this letter, sealed, I did not open it. The crest suggests it is from the crown prince himself. Read it, and give the matter careful thought.”

Leda accepted the envelope with bowed head, kissed her father’s hand, and left the study.

As she departed, the countess entered, eyes wide with wonder. Testion forced a strained smile, concealing his own dismay.

***

「To Lady Leda Weiss,

Forgive me for the suddenness of this proposal. Much has happened, but I will not trouble you with every detail.

At last, I have persuaded His Majesty the Emperor to grant his blessing for our marriage. Though I have never made you a formal proposal, I would stake even my future throne on the belief that your heart is the same as mine. 

(Please—do not tell me otherwise.)

Be my wife. If you will come to the Empire, I will lay the finest treasures of the world at your feet and make my proposal properly. Only grant me your consent.

From Crown Prince Jupiter Schwarz of Greitz.」

Reading the letter through to the end, Leda finally let herself weep freely. All this time, she had believed she was the only one who longed for the other, but she had been wrong. Every moment she had walked the shore alone, trying to quiet her heart, was suddenly repaid in full. She felt utterly, profoundly happy.

“My ladyyyyy!”

Her nurse had already caught wind of the news, it seemed.

“My lady, is it true? Are you really going to marry into the Empire?”

“What do you think, Nurse?” 

Leda sniffled, smiling faintly.

“Without question!”

Her reply came without hesitation.

“You mean I shouldn’t?”

“You must!”

Their voices overlapped in chorus.

“Are you serious, Nurse?” 

Leda blinked, surprised. She had expected her to beg her not to go, if only out of attachment.

“Of course I am. Didn’t I tell you? At the debutante ball you’d meet the finest husband in the kingdom. But this—this isn’t even the kingdom. It’s the Empire. And not just a prince, the crown prince.”

“Still…”

“And do you know the most important reason?”

“What’s that?”

“They say His Majesty himself told our lord, that the crown prince is extraordinarily handsome.”

“…”

“Well, then that’s settled! Men are all the same trouble in the end, but at least if he’s handsome, life will be sweeter. No matter how furious you get, one look at a beautiful face and your anger melts away. A husband who’s handsome makes the hardships easier to bear.”

“…Is that really so?”

“Of course! Handsome is everything!”

“Then I’ll go.”

As Leda nodded, the nurse’s expression crumpled into tears.

“Truly?”

“Yes. You told me to marry him, didn’t you?”

“No! My lady, you can’t go—what will I do without you?”

Throwing her arms around Leda, she burst into sobs. Startled, Leda patted her back gently.

“Don’t go, my lady!”

Moved by her devotion, Leda’s eyes filled as well. But the touching moment ended abruptly as Darius burst through the door. Exhausted, Leda closed her eyes against the storm of his shouting.

Only one line from the letter echoed in her ears:

Be my wife.

***

“I’m so happy to finally have a sister!”

Princess Hestia came bounding toward her. Unlike her brother, the young princess, a few years Leda’s junior, was utterly unreserved in her emotions.

“Hestia, mind your composure.” 

The empress chided softly, but the girl paid no heed.

“Honestly, when I heard someone younger than me was to be crown princess, I wasn’t thrilled. But then my brother made such a fuss, insisting he wouldn’t marry at all—”

“Hestia! Child!”

The empress hastily tried to stop her, but Hestia clapped her hand over her mouth and giggled.

“Forgive me, sister. I’ve gone and revealed your husband’s past.”

Leda couldn’t help but smile. She had always been spirited herself, but Jupiter’s little sister was even more audacious. She had heard the princess, born much later, was deeply cherished by both emperor and empress. It was said she wielded more influence in the palace than anyone.

“I’m sorry, Lady Weiss. Our daughter still lacks restraint.” 

“Please, Your Majesty, speak as you like.” 

Leda replied, bowing her head.

The empress smiled warmly and offered her tea.

“It is especially a joy to meet you, since you too are from Hanover. When the crown prince first spoke of you, I was astonished.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But seeing you now, I understand. It is wondrous, really—that this is the kind of young lady who is my son’s ideal.”

Leda blushed at the empress’s gentle laughter.

“Don’t even ask, sister, at first he wrote reports as if he were submitting a petition, then tried to negotiate with Father, and later—oh, later he abandoned all his studies and duties, sulking like some lovesick boy. He even refused to eat—”

“Hestia.”

The even, steady rhythm of footsteps entered the room, along with a low voice.