“I don’t want to think about it.”

No matter what expression Queen Renezielle made.

“Kyla, a woman who has the king for a husband, is bound to be unhappy. I wonder how many things I’ve had to endure just to survive.”

‘That’s not it.’

Kyla knew the reason Renezielle was unhappy wasn’t because her husband was the king—but because he didn’t love her.

She scattered the torn pieces of the duke’s schedule into the fireplace. The fragmented paper sizzled as the fire blackened and consumed it.

The ashes overlapping with the image of his black hair fading into the fire left a strange impression.

“I agreed to marry him. I never once asked to be loved. Just because a man and woman get married, doesn’t mean they have to be in love, right?”

“Is that so? Is that what you think, young lady?”

That’s what she believed at the time.

No, more truthfully—she said those words carelessly because she thought there was at least a small space in his heart.

She thought they could grow closer.

If he truly was the same Haiden from the past.

“The duke is using you.”

But that was all just a dream. The fairytale had ended long ago, and yet she kept dreaming the same old dream.

A dream where someone truly loved her and stood by her side.

A dream that one day she wouldn’t have to face lonely evenings anymore.

‘But that’s impossible for someone like Bailey.’

The moment she opened her heart just a little, she was used.

Late at night, with only the chirping of crickets filling the silence, Kyla walked down the corridor and opened Cabil’s door.

Familiar darkness.

Dust rose and stung her nose.

She quietly closed her eyes and lay down on the cold, empty bed that had no owner.

Her life had always been one of loss. She didn’t want to waste the last remnants of her heart.

So she would never love anyone again. She would build her walls even higher and become an even worse person.

‘Because that’s the only way I can protect myself.’

***

That afternoon, after finishing his late schedule, Haiden returned to find a jacket draped over the chair in his office.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a jacket,” replied Robert, the vice-captain of the White Lion Knights, with a shrug.

“One of the maids found it while cleaning the room connected to the banquet hall around lunchtime. It had the Knight’s insignia on it, so she brought it here.”

What he really wanted to ask was—why had that jacket been there in the first place?

He distinctly remembered giving that jacket to Kyla Bailey last week.

But the jacket was just an excuse. An excuse to see her again.

Yet thinking about how she hadn’t returned it in person left him feeling oddly downcast.

“The schedule for this week—”

“Oh, right. The aide confirmed that it was definitely submitted to you yesterday.”

And yet she didn’t show up?

Haiden had told her he would help—but he hadn’t said how he would help.

‘So then why hasn’t she shown her face at all?’

It was strange.

Unable to resist his curiosity, Haiden blurted out a question about Kyla Bailey.

“That woman hasn’t been around lately.”

“Oh, Lady Bailey?”

Robert, as if he had been waiting for this, smugly rubbed his nose.

“Looks like my training with the aides paid off this time—no information leaks.”

It sounded like he was fishing for praise, but it irritated Haiden for some reason.

“So you didn’t train them properly before, is that it?”

“Haha…”

Robert scratched his head.

“You’ve had enough trouble over that woman these past few weeks. I’m sure you won’t need to worry anymore.”

“Because you’re going to train them better from now on?”

“Well, that too, but—she’s getting married soon.”

“What? Who is?”

“Who else? Kyla Bailey.”

He hadn’t heard anything about that.

‘Did I really leave my post for that long?’

Though Haiden had been away from the capital for a few days, visiting another region, this wasn’t the kind of major news he should have completely missed.

“They probably kept it quiet on purpose. You’re already busy enough as it is, Commander. No one wanted to trouble you with something so trivial.”

“How is this a trivial matter?”

“…Pardon?”

When Haiden furrowed his brow slightly, Robert looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Then… is it a happy occasion? Should we have told you earlier and thrown a party…?”

He mumbled to himself, then added an awkward apology for being so tactless.

He even said they hadn’t prepared a cake yet, but promised to organize a celebration tomorrow. At that, Haiden turned away, face blank.

‘A party? Give me a break.’

Inside, he was seething. And even he didn’t understand why he felt this way.

Hadn’t he made up his mind over and over again through countless days? That he would never let her get entangled in his affairs again.

So, to cover up how odd his reaction must seem, Haiden quickly made up a plausible excuse for Robert.

“A prince getting married without my knowing—it doesn’t make sense.”

“Ah, of course.”

Robert nodded as if he understood.

“It’s not official yet. I only heard it yesterday when I attended the meeting at your place. Strange rumors are going around, so both sides are trying to speed up the marriage to avoid any complications.”

“And the count just let that happen?”

“He set a bold condition—if the marriage goes ahead, he wants the couple to stay at the count’s estate to ensure his daughter’s safety.”

And apparently, the king agreed to that condition. Under normal circumstances, things wouldn’t have progressed this quickly.

But it seemed the prince’s side was trying to rush the marriage due to the rumors.

Haiden tried his best to remain calm as he thought it through.

Two days until the national holiday celebration. He would meet her before then, explain the situation, and fulfill the contract.

“Did Lady Bailey say she was helping with the festival preparations?”

“Yes. I heard she’s mostly been to the shopping district where the event is being held.”

He began formulating a detailed plan to assist Kyla Bailey.

Helping her would get him the necklace—and protect his own vulnerability.

But he didn’t know then that the thorough plan he was crafting would completely fall apart the very next day…

***

The Henchester Blanc, the main shopping district of Blanverque, was bustling with preparations for the festival.

Having been given royal authority over outside-the-palace festival matters by Queen Renezielle, Kyla was throwing herself into the work more passionately than ever.

“I think it’d be fun to invite the astrologers again!”

The time she had her fortune read with Everett had been fun. It seemed like astrology could actually predict the future to some degree.

‘Maryville’s back now, too.’

Maryville, who had severely injured her shoulder, was still recuperating at the estate, but Kyla had heard she’d be fully recovered soon.

Her second-oldest brother, who was at the temple, had come out to heal her with divine power. In a few more days, they’d be able to meet again.

“Let’s fill this whole street with food. People love food.”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

Havalde, nominally a jewelry store manager but in truth the one managing Lullaby’s funds, was always by her side.

Despite his busy business schedule, he was practically attached to Kyla, helping with all aspects of the festival.

“Havalde! Look, don’t you think a big stage would be perfect here?”

“Yes, that does seem nice. But there are only two days left…”

“Then let’s build it.”

“I’m not a magician.”

He said flatly, holding a notebook and pen.

“Then should I summon one?”

“You really never give up, do you? I truly admire that about you.”

His tone didn’t sound sincere at all. Kyla let out a small laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

“I mean it! If we call a magician, it’ll get done.”

“Even if you pay them a fortune, they’re hard to get these days.”

Havalde tended to be negative about everything.

But as he stood watching Kyla smile calmly, he seemed to sense something odd and quickly turned around.

Standing behind him wasn’t a magician—but a priest from the temple.

“You’ve gotten so much prettier since I last saw you.”

A man dressed from head to toe in a pristine white uniform walked over with a warm smile.

His fluttering pink hair and gently curved eyes made him strikingly handsome.

“Hello, Kyla.”

He passed by Havalde and extended a hand to her.

But as soon as Kyla saw him, she jumped up and threw herself around his neck.

“Brother!”

“…Brother?”

Havalde tilted his head in confusion.

And he wasn’t the only one left puzzled by the sight.

“….”

Haiden, who had come on horseback during his busy schedule just to see her—even if only briefly—stood there, watching.

He had rearranged his schedule multiple times just to come here, but all day he’d been anxious about something going wrong and the plan falling apart.

He had finally arrived, ready to offer his help and speak to her.

But instead, he witnessed her suddenly leaping into the arms of some unknown man, calling him “brother.”

Haiden froze in place.

“Your Grace?”

Havalde recognized the robed figure first, and Kyla, noticing, stepped away slightly from the man and smiled.

“Oh, Your Grace, you’re here too?”

She looked as if everything had worked out perfectly.

“Let me introduce you.”

Haiden stared down at her with a serious expression, clearly not understanding what was going on.

He was expecting an explanation.

‘If he wants one, I’ll give it to him.’

Kyla boldly clasped the two men’s hands together and announced cheerfully:

“This is Roberic Yoker, a priest from the Temple of Teracanis. I’ll be marrying him today.”