As most of the guests had arrived, the doors of the banquet hall closed. The music played by the musicians shifted. The guests, who had been discussing the decorations, the quality of the wine, and the food, turned their attention to the closed doors. The music stopped, and a silence enveloped the room.

“The princess of Rowen, one of the lights of Vican, Dana Rowen is entering!”

The voice of the knight announcing the princess’s entrance echoed through the hall as the doors opened. From beyond the threshold, the princess, who had just come of age, appeared. All eyes turned to her.

The princess’s platinum hair seemed to shine as if illuminated from within, even in the darkness. Dressed in a gown the color of a clear sky, she slowly made her way into the banquet hall. Only the gentle rustling of her dress filled the air.

With her radiant sky-blue eyes, the princess smiled at the guests who had come to celebrate her. Wearing a smile that was perfectly balanced, Princess Dana walked forward, followed by her lady-in-waiting, Hilda Haiman, and her fiancé, Bitern Vicar.

As she moved among the guests, Dana wondered if the person she sought might be among them. She had never seen Kaiden Leonas before; she had only heard rumors about his striking appearance, the color of his hair, and his eyes.

‘Somewhere…’

Could he be watching me from somewhere here?

If he truly possessed the remarkable looks that the rumors suggested, wouldn’t he stand out even in this crowd?

Just as she contemplated this, Dana caught sight of a tall man standing in the distance. He appeared to have the black hair and deep blue eyes she had heard about. However, there was no time to examine him closely. The man was too far away, and she quickly passed by in that direction.

‘Is it him? Or not?’

She couldn’t be certain, but it wasn’t something to dwell on now.

Crossing the center of the banquet hall, Dana walked toward the instrument prepared at the place of honor. She climbed the steps and stood before it. The black instrument seemed to match the hair color of the man she had glimpsed earlier.

A knight approached and pulled back the chair for her to sit comfortably. Dana took her seat. While her lady-in-waiting, Hilda, adjusted her dress, Dana removed the aquamarine bracelet from her arm and placed it on one side of the instrument.

Clink. The sound confirmed the presence of the sky-blue jewel on the hard surface of the black instrument, where it lay shining like a delicate gemstone against a dark backdrop.

Her fingers, appearing as fragile and porcelain-like as a doll’s, rested on the black keys. The princess began her performance.

* * *

The princess’s performance resonated gracefully throughout the banquet hall. Although the sound of the instrument was subtle, the knight’s keen ears captured the delicate melody.

With the music accompanying him, Kaiden moved forward, step by step. With each step, he passed those who obstructed his view, and with another step, he maneuvered past the pillars that blocked his sight. He positioned himself where he could clearly see the princess playing the instrument, just as he had done in the past.

The princess sat with her hair, which seemed to glow naturally, neatly arranged, wearing a dress that flowed gracefully. Her arms moved as if dancing with the swaying hem of her gown, her hands fluttering over the keys.

The princess appeared to be seated in a safe and cozy castle, adorned entirely with delicate flowers, where she would hear only gentle melodies and feel the warm sunlight. She didn’t seem fragile enough to crumble at any moment; rather, she seemed like someone who would remain as she was forever.

Something surged from deep within him. A rush of passion, a burning impulse—emotions so intense they choked him. He wanted to run toward what he was witnessing. Or perhaps, if it meant disrupting this peace, he wanted to flee.

But in reality, he could do nothing. He was always someone distant from the princess’s existence, powerless and incapable. He was unable to accomplish what needed to be done, unable to protect what needed to be safeguarded.

Watching her hands move over the keys, Kaiden wondered what it would feel like to hold them. How those slender fingers would fit precariously in his rough hands, how her white skin would feel against his. It was something he could only imagine, as it could never happen, yet mere imagination couldn’t suffice.

The princess’s movements came to a halt. The performance, which seemed like it would never end, reached its conclusion. The princess stood up, and the people in the banquet hall erupted in applause. She placed the bracelet she had set on the instrument back on her wrist, and her smile, as she acknowledged their applause, was dazzling.

A small dimple appeared beside her broadly smiling lips. It seemed as if the divine creator, realizing at the last moment that too much effort had been invested in this little woman, decided to leave a flaw by adding dimples on both sides. Yet, even that only enhanced the princess’s charm.

A light brighter than any found in the clear night sky radiated from where the princess stood. She slowly descended the stairs and took a seat in a prepared chair at one side of the hall. Nobles began to step forward to greet the princess seated there.

The first in line was, of course, the Vicar family. The butler of Eluan Castle, standing beside the princess, called out the names of Count and Countess Vicar, their son, and his fiancée.

The princess received the greetings from the count and countess with a smile. They presented her with a gift, which a servant standing beside her accepted and placed on a nearby table.

Following the count and countess, Bitern Vicar and his fiancée, Hilda Haiman, stepped forward to greet her. Their gifts also piled up on the table. As they stepped back, the name of the next noble to offer their greeting was announced. In turn, the nobles approached the princess, extended their congratulations, and presented their gifts.

Kaiden held a gift in his hand to present to the princess. It was a hair ornament he had purchased based on a recommendation from a shop. He couldn’t quite envision how the princess would look with it adorning her hair.

More importantly, the true gift he wished to give the princess was tucked away elsewhere. Kaiden placed an empty hand over his chest, concealed by his cloak. The gift box hidden there was the real present he wanted to offer the princess.

The box he held would become just one of the many gifts accumulating beside the princess, much like his own presence in her life.

However, the gift hidden in his cloak was something he hoped wouldn’t be neglected. Whether he could actually give the true gift to the princess was uncertain. Perhaps it felt as impossible as imagining the princess wearing his ornament in her hair.

Kaiden stood by a pillar, waiting for his name to be called. Thump. Thump. With each name announced and each person stepping forward, his heart pounded louder. His mouth grew dry.

Kaiden felt anxious. The princess continued to receive and respond to the endless congratulations with a smile. There seemed to be an overwhelming number of nobles. He feared that the delicate princess might tire of the greetings before it was his turn, leading her to end the reception prematurely and robbing him of his chance to greet her. He waited nervously.

The names of barons were called in succession. Kaiden moved forward to stand closer to the princess. He worried about being too late when his name was announced, potentially making the princess wait or missing his turn altogether. Though unlikely, he feared such a mishap.

And finally.

“Baron Kaiden Leonas.”

Ah.

Kaiden tightly closed his eyes and then opened them. With his nerves on edge, he tucked the gloves he was holding into his coat and, holding the gift for the princess, walked forward.

All eyes focused on the man approaching the princess. In the now quiet atmosphere, Kaiden froze. The nobles, usually so loud and boisterous, were silent. Was it due to his nerves? Or perhaps it was because his eyes and ears were entirely fixated on the princess seated at the end.

Facing the princess directly, Kaiden walked forward step by step. He navigated through his own tension and the tension of those watching him.

He was a man who drew attention with his name, earned respect through his abilities, and admiration for his appearance. Walking steadily along the open path, he seemed like the protagonist of the day. He was a man who became the center of attention even when he wasn’t meant to be.

As Kaiden walked, receiving all those gazes, he felt nothing. He watched as the princess grew closer with each step he took.

Thump. Thump. With each step on the floor, his heart sank. The once unreachable, distant star that was the princess seemed to draw nearer with each stride. The closer he got to her, the more it felt as though his heart might stop. Or perhaps it felt as though it would come alive and race wildly.

It was the first time he had seen the princess from such a close distance. Although he maintained a respectful space for the greeting, it already felt intimate. Closer than ever before, especially since the princess was looking at him.

Her hair was even brighter than he had imagined, her eyes larger, her nose smaller, and her closed lips seemed more determined. Kaiden bowed deeply, offering his greeting to the princess.

He had practiced countless times for this day, which had seemed like it would never arrive. He had rehearsed presenting himself without any shortcomings. His efforts paid off, and his greeting was poised and polished, making him appear as a noble born with innate grace. His striking appearance contributed to this aura.

“Congratulations on coming of age.”

Kaiden spoke to the princess, relieved that his voice didn’t tremble pathetically. The princess, seated like a doll receiving his greeting, lifted the corners of her lips into a smile and replied.

“Thank you.”