If breaking off the engagement meant bringing harm to my family, I was prepared to sever ties with them.

It pained me to think I might never see my parents again, but if I married the Crown Prince, their lives would be at risk.

“…Lou.”

The Crown Prince’s elegant eyes twisted. He looked both frustrated and as if he wanted to say something.

Ignoring that, I pushed against his firm shoulders.

Just a few words of conversation had left me mentally and physically exhausted.

“Now go to His Majesty. The dragon has disappeared. There’s no time to waste here. Use your efforts in dealing with this situation, not in pretending to love me.”

I turned away resolutely.

I heard the Crown Prince calling me from behind, but I didn’t look back.

The sky was already turning blue with the dawn. Today, I was determined to leave the palace, even if I had to do it alone.

Let the two outstanding male leads handle the aftermath.

***

Arcadia was burning. The ground was splitting, and buildings were collapsing. In the distance, Mount Acheron spewed volcanic ash and lava endlessly.

Screams and wails of agony echoed from all directions. The world was ending.

In the end, I had failed.

In my despair, Pinion, Gined, and a hooded stranger appeared before me. Instinctively, I knew the stranger was Iscallion.

Pinion sneered at me.

“This is the result of your inadequacy. If you were Lina, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Gined also coldly criticized me.

“Even if the world perishes, I will not betray my faith.”

“…”

Iscallion remained silent, but I could tell from his disdainful gaze that he was looking down on me.

I felt both wronged and furious.

“This is my fault? Then you should have given me a chance instead of shutting me out from the start! Do you think I wanted this? Huh?”

As I screamed at the three men, a loud noise erupted, and the sky was filled with falling flames.

“Fine, let’s all perish together!”

Just as I laughed like a madwoman, someone shook my shoulder vigorously.

“…Miss, Miss!”

I opened my eyes wide.

I was lying in my room, on my bed.

‘Another dream.’

“Are you alright? It’s time to take your medicine.”

Seren helped me sit up.

After confiding in Gined about Enril’s disappearance and having a non-argument with the Crown Prince, I had been bedridden for a while.

It was just a simple cold, but the fever was severe enough that I was barely conscious except for when I ate and took my medicine.

And every time I slept, I dreamt of the world ending.

The manner of destruction varied each time, but the content was generally the same.

The male leads would come and criticize me for not being attractive, and I would get angry at them.

‘No matter how many times I dream it, it’s really a terrible dream.’

I chuckled at the absurdity of the dream but also felt anxious that it might become a reality.

Misunderstanding my hesitation, Seren spoke gently, as if soothing a child, and handed me the medicine.

“You have to take it, even if you don’t want to. It’s bitter, but it’s effective.”

As I swallowed the bitter medicine and grimaced, a sudden loud noise filled the air, and the sky lit up. Just like in the dream I had moments before, colorful fireworks decorated the sky.

Startled, I clung to the window.

“What is that?”

Seren replied in a tone that suggested she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Are you still half-asleep? The summer solstice is just a few days away. And suddenly, His Majesty declared that this year’s festival would be more grandiose than usual. Because of that, travelers have flocked here, and it’s already quite lively.”

“Is it already the summer solstice?”

I had been so preoccupied with meeting the male leads that I hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

In a country founded by the children of the sun god, the winter solstice and the summer solstice were the biggest holidays in the empire. As these days approached, people would take a break from work and celebrate with a week-long festival.

The Emperor likely intended to use the festival period to calm the public, which had become unsettled by the sudden appearance of the monsters.

“Are you really okay? The pre-festival event is the day after tomorrow. Will you be able to attend the banquet?”

Seren asked worriedly.

“Even if I’m not okay, I have to go. What choice do I have?”

Since the Emperor himself had declared that the festival would be grand, as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, I couldn’t be absent. Fortunately, since I wasn’t an official member of the imperial family, it was enough to just make an appearance.

Two days later, I headed to the palace with my parents.

This year’s pre-festival event was a masquerade ball. Because of that, our family wore specially made, splendid masks.

The main gate of the palace was already bustling with carriages from nobles arriving from all over.

“There are so many people.”

“That’s right. I heard that this banquet has attracted not only nobles from the empire but also royals and nobles from foreign countries.”

I nodded at my father’s words and looked out the window.

Indeed, there were quite a few unfamiliar family crests that caught my eye.

“Even though it’s a palace banquet, don’t push yourself too hard. If you get tired, call for the coachman immediately.”

My father himself looked unwell, with dark circles under his eyes. It seemed my parents had also learned about Enril’s disappearance.

Unlike my father, my mother was better at hiding her feelings.

She comforted me with a face that looked no different from usual.

“Yes, no matter how enjoyable the banquet is, health comes first. There are plenty of banquets all the time.”

Pretending not to know my parents’ worries made me feel uneasy, but I answered brightly.

“I’m fine. I’m excited to be out for the first time in a while.”

As we got out of the carriage and walked a bit, we saw a young attendant checking invitations.

My father took out the invitation from his pocket. But before he could show it, the attendant, who had recognized us, spoke politely.

“Your Grace the Duke and your family may enter directly.”

I was a bit taken aback.

I didn’t expect a mere mask to completely hide our identities, but I hadn’t thought we’d be recognized so openly.

“What’s the point of the masks, then?”

Since minors couldn’t attend masquerade balls, this was my first experience.

“People who know each other can usually recognize each other. The masks are just an added amusement. Look over there.”

My mother giggled like a mischievous girl and pointed at someone.

A nobleman was strutting around wearing a golden mask. It was a very flashy mask, adorned with large jewels, making it stand out even among many masks.

But what stood out even more was his bald forehead and the crown of his head.

“Anyone can tell it’s Count Heston.”

I laughed with her and looked around.

Perhaps Gined had also attended the ball tonight. Although he led a very disciplined life, today was, after all, a festival.

I was confident I could spot Gined from a distance. Anyone who had seen him even once would be able to.

My parents, who were unmistakably the Duke and Duchess of Dronay, were soon surrounded by others.

I left my parents’ side and wandered around the grand ballroom.

The atmosphere was lively, as if everyone was trying to shake off their fears and anxieties.

The faces of the nobles, dressed more splendidly than usual, were filled with joy and excitement. The servants moved lightly.

I listened to the conversations around me.

No one was talking about the dragon.

Of course, it seemed the imperial family had decided to keep Enril’s disappearance a secret. If people learned that the capital’s future was uncertain, it would cause great chaos.

I heard praises for the bravery of the Sephiroth Holy Knights from various parts of the ballroom. Many women were also smitten with Gined’s handsome appearance.

Especially among the young ladies my age, there was a fierce battle between those who supported the Crown Prince and those who supported Gined.

In my heart, I cast my vote for Gined. Unfortunately, it seemed the Holy Knights were not attending the banquet this time.

“The Sephiroth Holy Knight Order is still stationed at Mount Acheron today.”

“How can that be, is today also a waste of time?”

“They say his beauty rivals that of the Crown Prince. How handsome must he be?”

The passing noble ladies were genuinely disappointed.

I was just as disappointed as they were. Without Gined, there was no point in attending the banquet.

Then I saw the Crown Prince surrounded by people in the distance.

He was wearing a white mask adorned with feathers. The mask covered his eyes and nose, making his delicate and sharp lower face stand out even more.

Soon, our eyes met.

I spread my dress and curtsied.

The Crown Prince seemed to be making his way through the crowd towards me.

“Gasp.”

I quickly turned my back and walked briskly towards the exit.

I already know what kind of conversation we’ll have. He would probably say no to breaking off the engagement.

I didn’t want to be the subject of gossip by arguing with him at the banquet.

Before stepping outside, I glanced back and was relieved to see that the Crown Prince was struggling to make his way through the crowd.

I smirked at him and headed straight to the garden. Since the banquet was just beginning, the garden was almost empty.

I plopped down on a bench. Having shown my face, I planned to rest here and return to the ballroom later.

While enjoying the solitude, I heard a strange sound coming from somewhere.

Looking around, I spotted a man slumped between the trees. His ghostly appearance almost made me scream.