Chapter 1

Unlike the past few days when it had rained constantly, that day was, for the first time in a while, bright and clear. The sky was bright, the clouds were pretty and fluffy, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

“Please get on board.”

On such a day, Nadia had to board a ship to leave her homeland.

Staring at the last sky of her country, she turned her head weakly at the urging voice behind her. It was her stern-faced nanny.

“There’s nothing that will change even if you keep dragging things out like this.”

Cold as it was, the nanny’s words were true.

Nadia nodded helplessly and took another step. With each step she took, it felt as if someone was grabbing her ankles, making it hard to move.

Once she got on this ship and traveled twelve hours away to get married, returning to her homeland, Arbat, would be nothing but a distant dream.

After all, her mother, who would soon become the mother of the Crown Prince, would never call back the daughter she had with her first husband.

“Becoming the Duchess of another country isn’t too bad, right? Farewell.”

Her mother, who had never shown any interest in her throughout her life, gave her a very simple farewell. Nadia was, once again, shocked, but of course she had no right to refuse.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t understand her mother’s feelings.

If her mother became Queen, it was obvious that Nadia, who was not the King’s child, would become a thorn in her side. Since Nadia had come of age this year, sending her far away under the pretext of marriage was convenient.

But that was only from her mother’s perspective.

When Nadia finally stepped onto the deck with heavy, reluctant steps, the sound of multiple horses’ hooves could be heard in the distance. Everyone’s attention turned that way.

“Stop right there!”

The man at the head of the group dismounted and spoke to the flustered nanny.

“His Majesty the King has issued a strict command to bring Lady Nadia Turik.”

“His Majesty the King?”

Both the nanny and Nadia were shocked. King Ivan had shown little interest in Nadia, the daughter of his mistress.

This was because Agnesa, Nadia’s mother, had cautiously kept her hidden, fearing that her daughter might catch the King’s eye.

Despite her renowned beauty, she had never appeared in society, and that was a major reason for her marrying without ever debuting.

“I will escort Lady Nadia to the palace.”

Hearing that it was a royal command, the nanny didn’t know what to do. In the meantime, Nadia saw this situation as an opportunity.

‘Maybe… I might be able to stay here.’

Perhaps the King had learned of his stepdaughter’s pitiful circumstances and was moved by sympathy. Filled with hope, Nadia quickly followed those who had come to fetch her.

However, when she got out of the carriage after several hours of travel, the situation was completely different from what she had imagined.

The palace was in chaos, as if a storm had just passed through. People kept their mouths shut, their heads bowed, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

Feeling uneasy at the strange scene, Nadia kept silent, unable to bring herself to ask questions.

“This way, please. His Majesty the King is waiting.”

In the midst of her confusion, Nadia was led to the central palace. She kept her head bowed, eyes fixed on her feet, so she had to rely on her sense of smell to grasp the situation.

When she had met the King before, all she could smell from him, an avid smoker, was the strong scent of cigars.

But now, even though she was in the King’s room, there was no trace of smoke—only the heavy scent of wood.

Could expensive cigars have such a scent? Nadia wondered.

“Nadia Turik?”

A man’s voice called out. It was much younger, deeper, and more beautiful than the King’s voice she remembered.

Nadia unconsciously raised her head. What she saw was impossible to believe.

Beneath not-too-short, slightly wavy black hair were sharp, dark green eyes.

His features—his keen nose, his firmly set lips—gave him an overall cold and unfeeling impression.

But was it really just his appearance?

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and beyond his, Nadia glimpsed a heart as cold as the northern wind and snow.

Maybe that was why, despite his striking beauty, elegance, and even nobility, Nadia found herself a little afraid of him.

One thing was certain: this man was not the King—her mother’s lover—she remembered. While Nadia stared blankly into his eyes, the man spoke.

“Lady Turik, pay your respects to His Majesty the King.”

Hearing these words out of nowhere, Nadia’s expression went blank. Where was King Ivan, and how dare this man claim to be King?

At that moment, the handsome man, called King, waved his hand as if to say it was unnecessary. Nadia stared at him, dazed.

“Do you know who I am?”

The man asked. Nadia shook her head.

She had hardly attended any social gatherings, and even then, only those for noblewomen, so she was not familiar with any male nobles… No, there was one.

“I see.”

The man nodded once with a strange expression after hearing Nadia’s answer.

“Follow me.”

That was all he said. The man in a reddish jacket took the lead, and, sensing the atmosphere, Nadia hurried after him.

He soon got into a carriage, and after hesitating, Nadia followed. The carriage set off. She had no idea where they were going.

But since the man silently stared out the window without saying a word, Nadia couldn’t bring herself to speak either. So, she remained silent as well.

“Do you know where we are going right now?”

Finally, the man broke the silence. Nadia quickly met his eyes. In the face of his utterly indifferent gaze, Nadia shook her head.

“I do not know.”

“An execution.”

That was all he said. Nadia was struck by a thunderous realization, but unable to believe it, she asked,

“……Who is to die?”

“The deposed king, his mistress, and the son they had together.”

As he answered, the carriage stopped. Nadia stared at the man in shock.

“That’s right.”

The door opened, and the man stood up from his seat. He spoke as if stating a trivial fact.

“We’re going to witness your mother and half-brother’s deaths.”

Nadia gasped and covered her mouth. Right then, there was no way she could not know who this man was.

Ten years ago, exiled to the far north for attempting to k*ll her mother.

“Lev Arbat.”

King Ivan’s only legitimate son. The noble authority that name carried washed over her in waves of fear.

As Nadia trembled and whispered his name with quivering lips, a hint of interest flickered in the man’s eyes.

“You remember me?”

Of course not. She had no memory of ever seeing him. But how could she not know that name?

Lev Arbat gazed intently at Nadia, who shook her head, then spoke.

“Yes, it was a long time ago.”

As if it didn’t matter, he got out of the carriage and gestured for Nadia to hurry out as well.

Nadia managed to stand, but her legs trembled from the shock. Still, she forced herself out of the carriage.

“Ah…!”

Just as Nadia lost her footing and was about to collapse, Lev caught her with composure, as if he had expected it.

Nadia turned her dazed face toward him. Even in this situation, the man’s emotionless eyes did not change.

Should she thank him for catching her? This man who would k*ll her mother and half-brother.

“Steady your legs, Nadia. There’s a long way to go.”

He spoke in a rather gentle tone, but his eyes were still cold. Nadia, feeling her throat tighten, managed to step out of the carriage.

They soon arrived at the execution ground. A huge crowd had gathered to watch, and above them all, the blazing sun shone. It was a terribly beautiful day.

It was the funeral of her mother and half-brother.

“Sit.”

After taking the King’s seat, Lev Arbat ordered Nadia to sit as well.

Nadia awkwardly sat beside him. She could feel the strange looks from those around her.

It was as if they were accusing her—why wasn’t she standing on the scaffold alongside her mother and half-brother? Nadia felt suffocated.

“Begin the execution.”

With a chillingly emotionless voice, the son ordered the execution of his father. Nadia stared, stunned, at the guillotine.

The deposed King Ivan, his mistress Agnesa, and their son, who whimpered in terror.

Nadia felt as if the accusing glares those three shot at the King beside her were directed at her.

One by one, the three were laid on the guillotine. Nadia couldn’t bear to watch what came next and squeezed her eyes shut.

Amidst the commotion of the crowd, the sound of the blade falling rang out three times, followed by three waves of cheers. When Nadia opened her eyes again, only bloodstains covered the ground; the three were gone without a trace.

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

As the people’s chants continued, King Lev Arbat rose from his seat. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the new King’s words.

“I, Lev Arbat…”

With dignity and grace, the King began to speak. Then, suddenly, he turned his gaze to Nadia.

Surprised by the unexpected eye contact, Nadia faltered, while Lev uttered words no one could have anticipated.

“I will take Nadia Turik, daughter of Agnesa Turik, as my Queen.”