Chapter 2 – To Napolia

『No. 1. The Otranie Royal Family, the first meeting with the Cadis Empire in 300 years! Where will the continent’s situation flow?』

『Special Issue! Amber Sweetheart: “The Actress We Loved”』

『Believe it or not, exclusive. The infamous libertine D missing? Revealed that the Royal Knights have been searching for three months.』

Amber was once again reminded why she never subscribed to the Dustane Weekly.

“Anyway……”

As expected, the newspaper she flipped through was filled only with provocative articles. What’s the point of a flashy headline if the contents are all side dishes, not the main point?

For example, details about how splendid the palace chosen for the first meeting is, or what the King will wear that day. Or recycling the scandal of a princess who attended a meeting 200 years ago and fell for her attendant.

It’s a hundred times better to read a useful thesis than this. Amber clicked her tongue and closed the weekly.

‘When are we going to arrive…….’

Spending time on the train was unbearably tedious. Reading the Dustane Company’s writing provided in the cabin was a mistake.

Dustane Company. Famous for handling vulgar gossip, considered trash media by adults and as entertaining as pulp fiction to students. In fact, even when Amber was at the academy, eight out of ten subscribed to the Dustane weekly.

Even Amber, who was indifferent to such things, had come across it. If picking up something rolling on the floor counts as reading……

Come to think of it, the infamous libertine D, now missing for three months, used to make the headlines back then too. Wasn’t there a story about being caught enjoying a secret rendezvous at a ball? She’d never learned the details, having folded the paper immediately because of a sensational illustration.

Well, it’s something she didn’t need to know.

Whether the Royal Family holds talks with the Empire, Amber Sweetheart gets a special issue, or the infamous libertine D goes missing… none of it was particularly important to Amber right now.

Her current situation was newsworthy enough… If she were as famous as the actress with the same name, she might have made the front page.

If she were to give it a headline,

『Amber Serentano, unable to endure the rumors, finally disappears from the capital?』

Or, before that, this kind of article would have appeared:

『Exclusive! Amber Serentano’s broken engagement, “Plans after graduation ruined.”』

At the time, she hadn’t realized the broken engagement was only the beginning. She never expected to be pushed out of the capital.

‘I was naive.’

Amber’s sigh didn’t stop until her neighbor coughed to get her attention.

Her anxious face only relaxed after three long hours of waiting, when the train finally entered the station. By then, the wind carried a hint of salt. Unfamiliar with the scent, Amber paused her stretch and checked outside the train window.

“Wow……”

Beyond the gray cliffs, the sea unfolded. Gulls soared over the sparkling water, and colorful roofs clustered along the coastline… The seaside village she saw for the first time in her life was peaceful and beautiful.

She suddenly thought that spending days here wouldn’t be so bad. At least for Amber, whose life plan had collapsed overnight, it was the perfect refuge.

‘It really was overnight. I never even dreamed of it.’

She hadn’t imagined it would all turn to dust… The shadow returned to Amber’s face, as memories she should have left behind in the capital resurfaced.

So, everything goes back to three weeks ago.

* * *

Amber.

A name found in one out of every ten households, a remnant of the naming boom sparked by the era’s top actress, Amber Sweetheart, the first love of men and the role model of women.

At the academy, there were always one or two Ambers in each class, so there was an unspoken rule to add two extra syllables to distinguish them. Mischievous kids divided them into “pretty Amber” and “ugly Amber.”

Amber Serentano, among the many Ambers, was called Amber Seren or just ordinary Amber. With an average face, average grades, and a family that was a modest viscount, she was the epitome of ordinary.

Amber wasn’t ashamed or unhappy about that. In fact, she liked her curly hair and freckles, inherited from her late mother.

Everyone has their own preferences. Someone would surely say curly hair is lovely, or freckles are like stardust.

On the other hand, her childhood friend and fiancé, Reynold, thought differently. Reynold would chat with his fellow knight trainees like this:

“Why did I get engaged to Amber? She’s diligent and cute. The freckles are a shame but… well. At least she won’t be a nuisance.”

“She’s fine as a marriage partner. Not extravagant, diligent.”

“See? She’s a good woman.”

Of course, these conversations sometimes reached Amber. She pretended not to hear.

‘It’s not like he said it in front of me. Just joking with friends, that’s all.’

But she knew Reynold, her fiancé for five years, was different inside. More importantly!

‘He says I’m a good woman? He takes my side.’

So, no need to pick a fight or cause trouble. Reynold didn’t do that either. Among men, blending in is more sociable than nitpicking.

Amber agreed because she thought similarly.

It wasn’t about male socializing. Amber didn’t want to lose her future over trivial matters. So, like him, she chose rationalization and silence.

She was going to marry him, who would soon be a Royal Knight.

Of course, that was only “the future Amber dreamed of.” And the future never goes as planned.

On the day of the incident, graduation day.

Amber, looking for her fiancé to attend the prom party in the evening, was called by her advisor.

“Miss Amber, could you see me for a moment?”

“Professor Hesington?”

The man in his late thirties, famous for being knowledgeable and strict, had become a professor at a young age. He was so stern that most students avoided his lectures.

Amber was one of them. If she hadn’t accidentally taken his class, and hadn’t received her only high score, she probably would have avoided him forever.

But surprisingly, his lectures suited her, and she took his class for about a year before graduation.

So, this situation wasn’t too strange.

“I read your graduation research paper. The section on using mandrake sprouts as medicine was impressive. Most see it as a herb for beauty.”

“Thank you for your kind words. I think your lectures helped me a lot.”

A shy smile appeared on Amber’s lips. It was after her first exam that the professor started talking to her.

“Would you like some tea in my office?”

“If you’d like, I can lend you some herbology books. Would you drop by?”

“How did you come up with this result? Explain it to me.”

…It was an approach that carried a certain message.

Anyway, it was clear he hadn’t called her just for the research paper.

“What are your plans after graduation, Miss Amber?”

“M-Me? Uh… I….”

It was a question she expected, but she was flustered. Of course, her answer was “marriage,” but she couldn’t say that to a professor. Fidgeting with her hands, Amber was asked again.

“If you don’t have any plans, how about joining the research lab?”

“The research lab?”

Amber’s eyes widened a bit.

“If it’s you, I’d actively support you. With just four years of investment, you could get into the public pharmaceuticals department.”

“Ah.”

“You like herbology, don’t you?”

“Yes, but…”

A direct mention of the department was practically a promise. It was an amazing opportunity, but it didn’t move Amber’s heart.

“With your diligence and talent, you could shorten it to three years.”

“Uh…”

“If it’s a tuition issue, I could even help with that.”

“That’s not it… Professor, thank you for the offer, but I have other plans.”

It was impossible to balance married life and research, and her fiancé preferred a wife who managed the household, so it was an easy decision.

Someone might call her foolish, but Amber was sincere.

She remembered her mother whispering that she wanted a happy family. She knew her father, who loved his late wife faithfully. From then on, she wanted marriage. She was confident she could build a happy family.

“But if your plans fall through or you change your mind, contact me anytime.”

The professor couldn’t hide his disappointment at her firm refusal.

“My contact information won’t change, so don’t feel pressured.”

“Yes, I’ll be sure to do that. Thank you for everything.”

Of course, at the time, Amber answered out of formality, since she didn’t expect her plans to fall through.

But why… Where did things go wrong?

Was it when she found her fiancé, who hadn’t even shaved, talking nonsense?

“You’d be pretty if you tried. Why did you come out so plain?”

“I did put some effort in…”

Or when all her effort searching for him was wasted as he brushed past her?

“Right, I’m going to the prom party with my friends. We’ll see each other every day once we’re married. You understand, Amber?”

“Uh?”

“Thanks, my generous fiancée.”

She didn’t stop him because she was generous, but because she was flustered. She hadn’t expected him to refuse the party, which couples—especially engaged ones—were supposed to attend together, with such a bothered expression.

When she came to her senses and tried to follow, Reynold had already disappeared into the crowd. Amber bit her lip.

‘Maybe he’s in a bad mood….’

All she did was rationalize and make resolutions to herself.

‘He’s not wrong. We’ll see each other every day after marriage, anyway.’

Would Reynold become more affectionate if she read books on how to attract men like the other girls? Amber, who knew nothing about men and never felt the need to, thought maybe she should learn a little.

But it was all pointless.