“—I, Ruben Effenberg, swear to my liege, Helia Bailey, to stay by her side until the world’s end.”

It was an imperfect pledge, lacking in both formality and exactitude. The pledge sword was merely a tiny, practical weapon suited to his young height, a clumsy oath stitched together from bits of knowledge picked up here and there. Yet, it was enough.

‘You swore to me, and I accepted your vow. The kiss on my hand was the seal of that promise.’

Yes, there was a time like that, fleeting as it was. A time when he shone just for me, like a gift from the heavens, my precious boy. Those days when his promise was my treasured gem, before the light faded, when he, my knight, left me. His promise was broken, the vow lost its meaning, and my tearful pleas to his retreating back held no power. He walked away, proud and resolute, and I left behind, cursed myself as though trapped in hell.

And now? A new promise for someone else? Helia let out a hollow laugh.

‘You, who were so heartless to me, are now swearing to protect someone?’

She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it.

“What sort of vow did you make? An oath to stay by her side for life?”

“…”

“Tell me. Before I drag that girl here and make her kneel before me.”

Helia threatened viciously, a sneer playing on her lips. She was ready to follow through if she said it, which exhausted Ruben.

Fixing his gaze on a distant point, Ruben spoke slowly.

“I made no vow.”

“What?“

“The only person I’ve ever sworn to is you, Princess.”

Because he was staring out the window, Ruben didn’t see how her expression crumbled before him.

Helia’s face was blank as if she couldn’t believe her luck. Frozen, her lips struggled to form words, an almost foolish mix of joy and disbelief.

“Liar.“

“It’s the truth.”

Having said this much, Ruben turned his head. Sunlight poured in through the carriage window, erasing any trace of expression from Helia’s face. Ruben spoke very slowly.

“Because I regret it.”

The words hit Helia like a dagger, slicing through her heart. It happened so quickly that she couldn’t even scream from the pain. She could only stand there, stupidly watching herself be savagely wounded.

“That’s why I’ll never make such a vow again to anyone.”

His green eyes were as cold as they could be. He meant it. For the first time, Helia wished she could close her eyes in the face of that beautiful, icy gaze. His chilling look sliced toward her, full of regret. He was declaring, “I will cut you down.”

As the sunlight spilling through the carriage window began to fade, Helia turned her head, keeping her gaze fixed stubbornly outside as if to hide her face. Ruben looked at her indifferent profile.

“You still know how to plunge someone into ruin in an instant,“ she muttered in a voice weary and drained.

‘What?‘ Ruben wanted to ask, though he held himself back. Since when had he tried to understand her words or actions? It was a foolish thought.

‘Let it go.’

Ruben closed his eyes, figuring that his irritation was likely due to her lingering presence. Once they reached the duchy, she would stay in the annex, and they would rarely cross paths. This would allow him to easily ignore her, or so he hoped.

But for now, the faint warmth of her knee brushing against his and her steady breathing annoyed him. The rustling of her clothes was another unwanted distraction.

He leaned back, resting his body against the carriage seat. The carriage felt as if it were moving too slowly.

—

The duchy was situated just outside the heart of the capital, sprawling over a space comparable to the royal palace itself. After passing through the main gate, they traveled further down a path lined with cedar trees until the coachman finally announced their arrival.

The coachman opened the carriage door. Ruben stepped out first and extended a hand as he had when they boarded. This time, Helia took it without hesitation, exiting the carriage with practiced ease.

“Is this where I’ll be staying?“ she asked.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

They had arrived at the duchy’s annex, an ivory-colored mansion with a soft golden hue bestowed by the late Duke to his daughter. It was a three-story building, spacious and grand enough to accommodate royalty. Helia glanced around slowly and nodded approvingly.

“Welcome, Princess,“ said Will, who had been waiting with the other attendants after receiving the signal from the messenger. Following his bow, the different servants also bowed. Helia returned the greeting with a slight nod.

“Where is your residence?“ she inquired.

“My residence is about ten minutes away. If you need anything, just call for a carriage,“ Ruben responded.

“Quite the thoughtful choice, putting my quarters at a horse ride’s distance from yours,“ she remarked, covering her mouth with her fan as she smiled slyly. Though expected, it was a pointed jab, and Ruben responded without missing a beat.

“This annex has the most beautiful garden in the duchy. Since I’ve heard you enjoy tea outdoors, I prepared it especially for you. If it does not suit you, I can arrange a different residence.“

“It’s fine,“ she replied, fluttering her fan. “It’s your selection, after all—I suppose I should be satisfied with it.”

Perhaps finding his explanation acceptable or without much thought, Helia did not push further. Ruben saw appeasing her whims as tedious and likely even more so for the staff. He made a mental note to increase their bonuses in the coming days. With a subtle signal, he instructed Will, who brought forward a middle-aged brown-haired woman.

“This is Della, the head maid of the annex,“ Will introduced.

“It is an honor to serve you, Your Highness,“ Della said with a bow. Helia glanced at her briefly, nodding in acknowledgment. Waiting for a response that never came, Della hid her slight surprise and asked politely,

“Would you like a tour of the mansion?“

“No. I’m tired,“ Helia said bluntly, her irritation from the long journey barely concealed. Della caught off guard, bowed apologetically.

“I shall prepare your bath immediately,“ Della replied, quickly organizing the maids and leaving. With the head maid gone, the area felt slightly less tense. As the attendants dispersed, Ruben turned to bid Helia farewell.

“Then, please rest well,“ he said.

“You’re leaving?“

“Yes.“

“Why not stay a little while and rest?“ Helia said oddly affectionately, though Ruben had no intention of lingering. He wanted nothing more than to leave her presence.

“There is much work awaiting me.“

“I see if that’s the case…“ Helia replied, surprisingly allowing him to go without resistance. Ruben felt a sense of relief, though he quickly dismissed it as fortunate.

If only she would always be this easy to deal with. But he knew better; Helia wasn’t the type to let things go so quickly. If she felt slighted, she was the kind of person who would storm into his chambers, demanding answers.

The thought made this peculiar arrangement of cohabitation feel daunting. Although he had resolved to make use of the situation, he knew it would be anything but straightforward with Helia. He was sure of nothing.

Suppressing a sigh, Ruben left her with a final message.

“I will inform my servants to prepare dinner where I’ll be later.“

“For what reason?“ she asked, eyes wide with genuine curiosity that caught him off guard.

“It’s your first day here. I thought it would be proper for us to have dinner together,“ he explained, the words coming out more like an invitation than he had intended.

Helia stared at him intently. She would have demanded to dine together if he hadn’t offered. Ruben knew her well enough to expect that.

But in reality, her amber eyes merely held a surprise, making him feel strangely self-conscious.

“Why are you looking at me like that?“ he asked.

“Oh, I just… wasn’t expecting an invitation…”

“And just what kind of person do you take me for?”

He was a cool-headed man who maintained his composure under any circumstance. Thus, he couldn’t allow himself to be rude enough to skip hosting a dinner for a guest on their first day, even if that guest was his enemy. Realizing this, Helia let out a bitter smile.

“Thoughtful Duke Ruben Effenberg.“

‘But only cruel to me.’

Helia swallowed the words. After all, she had been invited to dinner like any other guest. She focused solely on that, forcing her expression back to neutral.

“Then, I’ll see you at dinner.”

Ruben, however, didn’t spare her a glance as he turned and walked away. Helia stood still, watching his retreating figure. The afternoon breeze drifted around her.