Chapter 1 (Part 5)

<Our engagement has been annulled.>

The engagement that lasted 9 years crumbled along with the trust that once existed. The more it crumbled, the more her heart shattered.

She wished the tears that kept coming would dry up like desert sand.

<Lady Yuliana Loengrin, I want to marry you soon.>

Beonar’s words swirled chaotically in her head.

<There is no future Marchioness Fedeurus other than our Yuliana. Haha.>

“I believed it all… His kind words to me, the affectionate looks he gave me… His heart that said he would only look at me…”

Yuliana curled up under the blanket, not moving.

It felt like an indescribable vague sensation was pressing down on her body. Heavy, unwanted anguish filled her from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Yuliana got up and sat in front of the dressing table. She looked at herself in the mirror.

The first thing she saw was her disheveled blonde hair and puffy red eyes swollen from crying.

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but if she didn’t leave the room soon, her family would undoubtedly worry.

Resolute, Yuliana summoned the water spirit Undine to treat her swollen eyes. Then, as she shook the bell on the dressing table, her door burst open.

“My lady!”

“Luda.”

“Would killing all those trash make you feel even a little better, my lady?”

“Luda, don’t.”

“I’m just so upset.”

“Thank you for being angry on my behalf. But…”

Luda was only worried about Yuliana who had locked herself in her room all day without eating.

“I don’t want to see you get arrested for noble murder. It was a political marriage anyway, so breaking it off was also possible. I’m not angry about such a trivial matter. What made me angry was…”

Yuliana bit her lower lip.

“I was just furious that they blamed the breakup on the Loengrin family.”

“I thought… you were deeply shocked by the breakup with Young Lord Beonar…”

“The breakup with Beonar doesn’t hurt me.”

Luda’s expression softened at Yuliana’s words.

“Not at all.”

Even though it was a forced engagement, she tried to maintain it. She comforted her father, Matthias, who was upset, and did her best to be loved by the Marquis of Fedeurus and Beonar.

And on the day of the annulment after 9 years, all her efforts seemed to mean nothing.

Reality didn’t turn out the way she wished.

“I did my best for them, and they decided to break the engagement with me to gain something better. Yes… That’s how political marriages work.”

But the best comes with its own price and responsibility.

“Luda, I’m hungry.”

Yuliana smiled brightly.

“I’ll prepare a meal, my lady.”

Her family was more worried about Yuliana than she thought. And they subtly celebrated the breakup.

“Would you like to go down to Nadal Territory for a while?”

“Yes, since the war is over… Let’s go down, Father.”

However, Matthias’s rosy future plans were completely shattered by a single letter from Duke Rockbellion that arrived at the Loengrin estate.

Matthias was furious. Every time Duke Rockbellion sent a letter, Yuliana would leave the Earl’s estate. And Matthias’s prediction was correct.

“How could this be! An expedition! An investigation into new monsters!”

“Father, let’s go down to Nadal Territory after I return.”

Matthias pounded his chest, sighing repeatedly in frustration.

“With Duke Rockbellion, the Sword Master, there won’t be much danger. And I have a teleport scroll, so if anything happens, I’ll escape alone. Don’t worry.”

“His Majesty the Emperor is too much! He said there would be no more expeditions!”

Matthias and Louis rushed to the Imperial Palace to oppose Yuliana’s expedition. But Cloud said he entrusted full authority of the investigation team to Duke Rockbellion.

Naturally, the Rockbellion family didn’t grant Matthias’s wish. The reason was that reconnaissance needed to be done with the wind spirit.

Yuliana comforted Matthias, telling him not to worry. Matthias and Louis stopped eating in protest.

* * *

The day of departure for the village of Luteons arrived. Early in the morning, Anthus arrived at the Loengrin estate with the carriage Yuliana would ride.

“Hello, Duke Rockbellion!”

“It’s been a while. Lady Loengrin, have you been well?”

Wearing black riding pants, riding boots, a white shirt, and a red robe, Yuliana smiled and greeted Anthus as their eyes met.

“Riding for a long time might be too much for your body, so we prepared a carriage from the Rockbellion family.”

“Do I have to take the carriage?”

She always used teleportation to easily arrive when going on expeditions.

“I don’t intend to use teleportation. I plan to investigate the monsters on the way to Luteons Village.”

“I’m okay with riding… but thank you for preparing the carriage. I appreciate your consideration, Duke.”

“Consideration for a lady is one of a knight’s manners. Please, get in the carriage.”

Yuliana dismounted and handed the reins to another servant.

“Duke Rockbellion, I am Matthias of the Loengrin family.”

Matthias, who had followed, wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed to Anthus.

“Have you been well, Earl?”

At Anthus’s question, Matthias replied weakly, looking like he was about to cry.

“I was well when my daughter was at the estate…But now… I don’t think I can manage without her.”

Matthias’s words implied his displeasure with Yuliana’s expedition.

“Don’t worry, Earl. It’s just a light investigation. I will stay by her side and protect her with my life.”

“Yes…”

Given the Emperor’s command, Matthias could only sigh and accept the situation.

“Duke, aren’t there others coming?”

“They’re scheduled to join us on the outskirts of the capital.”

Anthus naturally extended his hand to Yuliana.

“I will escort you inside the carriage.”

“Yes.”

Holding his hand, Yuliana boarded the carriage and opened the window, smiling and waving at Matthias, whose face was full of worry, to assure him not to worry.

Closing the carriage window, Yuliana looked at Anthus sitting across from her and said,

“The cushions are very soft and warm, Duke.”

“It’s good to know my efforts paid off.”

Since it was the carriage Yuliana would be riding, Anthus had put a lot of thought into it before departure.

He had placed a magical artifact that absorbed shocks to prevent shaking even if they hit a stone. Additionally, he installed a heat-emitting magic stone under the seat, topped with a soft cushion.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

They arrived at the entrance outside the capital. Anthus opened the carriage window and observed the knights’ expressions. They were filled with enthusiasm, believing they were playing cupid to unite Anthus and Yuliana. Unaware of this, Yuliana spoke to Anthus.

“I can sense a strong determination from the knights.”

“Yes, since it’s an investigation of a serious incident, everyone has steeled themselves.”

“I will also prepare myself like the knights and do my best to assist with the investigation.”

Yuliana clenched her fists as she spoke. Anthus smiled and addressed the knights outside the window.

“Let’s depart.”

Anthus gave the order, and they set off.

Yuliana couldn’t shake off the unfamiliar feeling of being alone with Anthus in the carriage for the first time.

Moreover, Anthus was looking at her with sparkling eyes, making Yuliana feel somewhat embarrassed.

“Do you have something to say, Duke Rockbellion?”

“Lady, I’ve felt for a while that we connect well, don’t you think?”

“What exactly do we connect on?”

“The fact that our gazes meet when we look at each other, like now.”

“I’ve been looking at you too much. My apologies.”

“No, it’s fine. You can be as impolite and make as many mistakes with me as you want.”

“Duke, you’re joking too much.”

Anthus smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

Then he looked into Yuliana’s eyes. He wished that her golden eyes, tinged slightly with pink, would reflect only him.

“Duke Rockbellion.”

“Yes, Lady Loengrin.”

“Is there something on my face?”

“No.”

Even though she tried not to be conscious of it, Yuliana kept feeling his gaze and looked at Anthus.

“I was wondering why you keep looking at me…”

“I kept looking because I couldn’t help it… Does it bother you that I’m looking?”

Anthus spoke, his eyes drooping, then bit his lower lip anxiously.

“It doesn’t bother me!”

“Then can I take that to mean it’s okay for me to keep looking?”

“You can look, but…”

“Since you said it’s okay, I’ll keep looking.”

Yuliana felt slightly flustered by Anthus’s constant gaze today.

He had never looked at her like this before. It even felt like his gaze was persistently following her.

“Duke.”

“Yes.”

“Is there something important I should focus on during this investigation?”

“We need to confirm if all the residents of the village of Luteons have disappeared… Please use the wind spirit for reconnaissance. And if there are any survivors, rescuing them is important.”

“Yes.”

“And take this…”

Anthus took out several artifacts from a magical subspace and handed them to Yuliana.

“I prepared a lot of holy water and artifacts imbued with holy power. I thought they might work against the new monsters.”

Monsters are generally weak against holy power.

“Yes. Thank you, Duke. But who could be behind this?”

“It might be a dark sorcerer… but we’ll have to investigate to find out the details.”