“Would you accompany me for horseback riding next time? They say noble ladies gain more freedom after getting engaged.”

“O-Of course!”

Yelodia’s cheeks flushed a rosy pink.

The path to the carriage was far too short.

Unconsciously, Yelodia let out a sigh of regret.

Edward assisted her all the way into the carriage. Afterward, he gazed at her silently, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed his head.

“I shall see you at the engagement ceremony. Until then, I wish you peace.”

“Until then, I wish you peace as well.”

Yelodia responded with heartfelt sincerity.

***

Countess Havel looked as if she had just heard the sky was falling.

“That woman has been granted a title? How can this possibly make sense?”

“Does His Majesty the Emperor even think before he acts? I cannot comprehend this. Granting the title of Viscountcy to a mere peasant woman who worked as a tenant farmer in the countryside? How absurd!”

Marchioness Cheshire raised her voice with uncharacteristic intensity.

Granting a title just below a count to a woman no different from a commoner was unprecedented in the history of the empire. Even among the nobility, titled women were rare, and among them, Selina would be the only one with the rank of Viscountess.

Countess Havel chimed in, questioning whether His Majesty the Emperor had finally lost his sanity, only to suddenly check the empress’s reaction.

“M-My apologies, Your Majesty the Empress. I allowed my emotions to overwhelm me and said something I should not have.”

“Enough. I understand how shocked you must have been to speak such words. But be mindful of your tongue in the future.”

Upon receiving a reprimand from Empress Vivian, Countess Havel exhaled a sigh of relief. Then, Countess Orse voiced her displeasure.

“To think we must bow our heads to that woman is a horrifying thought.”

It was rare for Countess Orse, who was usually reserved and demure, to express herself so candidly. Sensing an opening, Viscountess Ilun joined in with her own grievances.

“Indeed. How can I bow to the wife of a lowly farmer? That rustic woman surely knows nothing of noble etiquette, let alone how to properly dress herself.”

Viscountess Ilun was known for subtly mocking and ostracizing nobles who neglected etiquette or failed to follow trends. To her, anything lacking in refinement was an abomination to be rejected.

“But we cannot ignore the fact that her nephew saved His Majesty’s life during the hunting tournament, can we?”

The empress defended the emperor, though she felt a headache brewing from the ladies’ incessant complaints. The noblewomen fell silent, taking heed of the empress’s expression.

Though she could not show it, the empress herself was seething with anger over the situation, to the point of sleepless frustration. Yet, this was an instance where even she was powerless.

Most of the witnesses to the emperor’s rescue during the hunting tournament were nobles. With over twenty individuals confirming Adrian Baron’s valor, it was impossible to manipulate the narrative from behind the scenes.

‘If only that man could be eliminated, this wouldn’t be so frustrating.’

Lowering her eyes, the empress quelled the sudden surge of murderous intent. The time was not yet ripe.

“I understand your deep dismay. But changing His Majesty’s decision on this matter is impossible, and the elders share his view.”

In the empire, the emperor’s influence was nearly godlike. Granting a title and rewards to someone who saved the emperor’s life was, much to the empress’s displeasure, reasonable even in her eyes.

“I understand your sentiments, but you are well aware that everything in Freia revolves around maintaining legitimacy.”

“Then, is there no other way?”

At Countess Havel’s question, the empress turned her gaze deliberately.

“Marchioness Cheshire, I’ve heard your second son is an exceptionally wise and capable priest. They say he was the one who prevented a sword from being brought into the engagement ceremony of the Duke’s daughter.”

At this, pride flickered across Marchioness Cheshire’s face. She basked in the admiring gazes of the other ladies before speaking.

“That was a minor matter. A blade at a ceremony meant to be pure and sacred? It was simply preposterous.”

The empress nodded in agreement.

“A truly admirable and deserving priest.”

That was all the signal she needed.

Marchioness Cheshire’s eyes lit up with fervent determination.

***

Finally, the day of the engagement ceremony arrived.

Fortunately for Yelodia, the heavens did not fall nor did the earth rise on the day of the event.

Yet ominous signs appeared. Dark clouds began gathering over Freia’s skies from the early morning hours.

“What if it rains?”

“The ceremony will still proceed. Come now.”

Regardless of the brooding clouds, Yelodia was dragged around by the maids from the crack of dawn.

The duchy’s maids bathed her, massaged her body, meticulously trimmed her nails, and applied fragrant oils to her hair.

Elegantly adorned with makeup and dressed in a pristine white frilled gown, Yelodia stood in the garden, holding roses of blue, yellow, pink, and purple, feeling somewhat bewildered.

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived.”

“My, how beautiful.”

It seemed as though all the nobles of Freia had gathered in the rose-filled garden.

Clad in their finest attire, the nobles chatted over champagne or listened to the music being played.

Under a shaded canopy, musicians dressed in formal tailcoats performed a minuet, while servants bustled about, carrying champagne and hors d’oeuvres to the guests.

A white cloth was spread beneath a podium adorned with colorful roses, marking the spot where the engagement ceremony would soon take place.

Edward, holding a champagne glass, was engaged in conversation with Kias. Dressed in a black tuxedo, he was breathtakingly handsome.

His neatly combed black hair, flawless forehead, high nose bridge, and deep blue eyes framed by long lashes exuded harmony and a mysterious allure.

“…Baron.”

Both Edward and Kias turned toward Yelodia. The moment Edward’s gaze met hers, his expression subtly stiffened.

“Yelodia.”

Edward strode toward her with purpose. Yelodia’s chest tightened inexplicably.

“You’ve come. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Edward extended his hand to Yelodia. Taking it, she murmured almost unconsciously,

“Th-There seem to be so many people here.”

“It’s an engagement ceremony. You must have sent out invitations; didn’t you anticipate this?”

“Ah, well, yes, but…”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Edward asked with a worried expression. Yelodia quietly shook her head. She couldn’t even discern whether she felt fine or not.

She glanced toward Duke Xavier, who was entertaining guests near the fountain, then scanned the area for her family members.

Her second brother, enjoying champagne with Rellia, waved at her, while Hester was nowhere to be seen, likely caught in another intense debate.

Meanwhile, Edward continued to gaze at Yelodia.

“You seem a bit nervous.”

“Yes, I think I’m a bit tense too.”

Edward responded with a composure that belied any notion of nerves. Yelodia found herself unconsciously pouting before asking,

“The Archbishop hasn’t arrived yet, has he?”

“He should be here soon. Perhaps the weather has delayed him.”

At this, Yelodia glanced at the sky with concern. Perhaps it was her imagination, but the clouds seemed to hang lower than before, and the wind appeared to be growing stronger, rustling the tree branches.

“Please, come this way.”

Edward gently took her hand and guided her to stand by his left side, shielding her from the gusting wind.

But the wait stretched on endlessly, far beyond what anyone desired.

“Still not here?”

Duke Xavier impatiently questioned a servant.

“I’ll go check.”

The butler, pale-faced, hurried out of the garden.

The Archbishop, scheduled to arrive by 11 a.m., had yet to appear well past noon.

Servants, wary of Duke Xavier’s temper, cautiously began preparing lunch. Any further delay was bound to provoke complaints from the nobles.

During this time, Yelodia remained by Edward’s side, battling an unshakable unease.

Anticipating the Archbishop’s imminent arrival, she hadn’t even properly greeted the other guests.

It was then that Edward’s peculiar voice broke through.

“The wind is picking up.”

His eyes took on a cool, unsettling gleam as if he had detected something ominous in the air. At that moment, Yelodia’s heart pounded violently.

A commotion erupted in the center of the garden where Duke Xavier stood.

“What? The Archbishop collapsed?”

“A messenger from the temple just arrived. The Archbishop fell ill on the way here.”

“What’s the reason?”

“They said it’s due to his chronic condition.”

“What? That’s preposterous…”

Yelodia’s eyes widened as she listened to her father’s shocked voice. Edward, too, wore a grave expression.

In the very next moment, a sudden whistling sound accompanied the sight of the garden canopy soaring into the air.

“Ahh!”