Anna sighed inwardly, barely reaching her knee as she remembered the days when these two troubled individuals were young. The girl was kind to the boy, and the boy was utterly devoted to the girl.

Helia had never been naturally gentle or amiable. She lacked the so-called virtues expected of women, instead possessing a dominant nature that compelled people to follow her or submit. Many noble children chosen as her playmates couldn’t bear this authoritative attitude and drifted away or even left entirely. Watching the young princess grow increasingly isolated, the adults around her grew more worried.

But the young lord of the prestigious Effenberg family, a family of founding contributors, was different. Ruben embraced Helia’s whims as if indulging a child and accepted her demands, almost as if submitting to her. If Helia reached out her hand, Ruben would take it; if she hugged him, he would hug her back. He would match her pace as they ran through the green gardens, and if she were about to stumble, he would lift her up just in time. When Helia acted petulantly, Ruben would grow sullen, and Helia, seeing his expression, would often feel down.

There was no need to explain how beautiful and endearing these two were back then, nor why it was such a tragedy that they had grown so apart.

“Anna.”

Suddenly, Helia’s low and composed voice called Anna out of her thoughts. Anna understood her meaning, nodded, and stepped back, knowing she needed to prepare the tea table where Helia and Ruben would sit. She would make it as lavish as possible, hoping to keep the once-sweet young lord of Effenberg there for even a moment longer.

Anna stepped outside. Today’s tea time was planned for the Rose Palace garden. Though still morning, Anna hurried with the preparations, as Ruben could arrive unannounced at any moment. After all, the Rose Palace was unusually lively today. Maids bustled around, preparing refreshments and tea, while Helia took her seat, awaiting him. All that remained was for Ruben Effenberg to appear.

Time passed. The sun climbed higher, its shadows lengthening and shifting, but the Duke did not show. Helia sat as still as a statue while the maids glanced anxiously around yet dared not break the silence lest they provoke her displeasure.

Helia said nothing. A deathly silence settled over the scene. Time continued to pass until the sun began to sink, marking the end of the day.

“The duke has arrived!”

A maid came running in, breathless and oblivious to the atmosphere, announcing the Duke’s arrival with untimely excitement. Anna knew from this that the maid would soon be reassigned.

“Lead him here directly,” she instructed.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Anna signaled to the maid beside her, who quickly left to fulfill the order.

Helia adjusted her posture, straightening her back and squaring her shoulders. She raised her head as Ruben approached from a distance.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Ruben bowed stiffly, omitting any formal pleasantries. Helia spoke with a leisurely tone.

“Considering your importance, seeing you isn’t easy, Duke.”

“……”

“Won’t you sit?”

“No, thank you.”

Though she invited him to sit, his response was a cold refusal. Helia smiled as if she had expected this.

“I see. I’m not one to offer twice.”

Her faint smile was a chilly, practiced facade that anyone could see right through.

Helia gestured twice toward Anna, signaling her to withdraw. With the poise of an experienced head maid, Anna carefully stepped back with the other servants, leaving only the two at the table, bathed in the colors of the sunset, which cast a somewhat eerie atmosphere.

“May I ask why you called me here?”

“What other reason would I have to invite someone except to share a cup of tea?”

“……”

“Unfortunately, the tea has already gone cold because you arrived so late. There’s no chance for it to be reheated, but since leaving tea unfinished at an invitation is rude, you’ll just have to enjoy it cold, Duke.”

Helia continued to make pointed remarks, striking Ruben with tiny verbal barbs about tea-time etiquette. But Ruben was so accustomed to her barbs by now that they didn’t sting.

Ruben raised the ornate teacup with his rough hands. Decorated with intricate hibiscus patterns and finished with gold trim, it was a beautiful cup that reminded him subconsciously of Helia. He drank the tea, which had long since become iced due to Helia’s earlier command.

After taking a gulp, Ruben glanced at Helia. She, too, held her teacup gracefully and sipped her tea. He wondered if her tea was also cold and then grew annoyed with himself for even caring.

“If there’s no reason, I’ll be on my way.”

“If it’s necessary, I could make up a reason.”

Helia tossed the words casually, dropping formalities as if tired of them.

“Do you have something to say?”

“If I think about it, there are quite a few things. Like, for instance, the mansion I’ll be moving into after the engagement ceremony…”

Ruben thought of the mansion, which would no doubt be lavishly decorated at Helia’s request. It was the apparent outcome, given her preferences up to now. Feeling a chill, he responded without a second thought.

“I’ll take care of the preparations myself.”

“What?”

“I will ensure everything is prepared according to royal standards. Leave it to me without worry.”

Helia looked at Ruben, either not understanding his meaning or understanding it completely.

One thing was sure, though. Helia chuckled and asked, “It seems you don’t want to speak with me.”

“……”

“But what to do? You’ll have to speak with me often and even share a life with me.”

Ruben raised an eyebrow as though he had just heard something unpleasant.

It was a look of contempt, like he was staring at a bug—colder than the expression he might offer an enemy. A look that made one wonder what he could have done to deserve such disdain, even stirring a momentary urge to beg for mercy. And he directed that look at her without hesitation.

“Your words are quite improper.”

“Well, that’s the only way to get a reaction out of you.”

Helia responded nonchalantly as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. And so, Ruben failed to notice the shadow that darkened her face for a fleeting moment.

“Is my reaction amusing to you?”

“Yes. It provides some entertainment.”

Helia replied with a smile, her face a cheerful mask of innocence, which only made her seem more insincere.

Instead of responding, Ruben suddenly felt tired of this exchange and chose to remain silent.

A breeze passed by, ill-suited to the tense moment. In a low voice, Helia asked, “How does it feel?”

“How does what feel?”

“Your thoughts on being engaged to me.”

“……”

When Ruben remained silent, Helia let out a slight huff through her nose, then raised her voice teasingly.

“Shall I call it the honor of marrying the kingdom’s finest lady?”

It was hardly a suitable question for Ruben, who had been practically sold into the engagement. She must have known that. His insides churned with irritation.

“There’s no need for me to ruin your mood by answering, right?”

Ruben looked away slightly as he replied. That was all he needed to say.

“I see. So that’s your answer.”

Helia’s voice carried no particular weight. She didn’t look hurt, either. Her expression was calm, as if she had expected as much, leaving Ruben uneasy.

“Is this the answer you wanted?”

“I was just curious.”

Her tone was slight and filled with curiosity, like the voice of a young girl whispering from long ago.

“…You must have known, though.”

“Still, it’s different hearing it directly.”

Her voice was devoid of emotion, steady and indifferent, like the disinterested sigh of a goddess who cares for nothing. Perhaps that was why Ruben found her indifference so irritating. For some reason, it just bothered him.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll leave.”

“Very well.”

Today, Helia was strangely compliant, even in letting him go. But there was no reason to question that.

As soon as he received her permission, Ruben turned and walked away. He never looked back, so he would never know what expression Helia wore as she watched him leave.