“Brother Ern, don’t worry. Once I’m in Laxion, I’ll do my best as the princess of Callithea.”

“But Anita, it may be far more difficult than you think. Since that tragedy, Cedric has shown open hostility not only toward the Goddess but toward Callithea itself. He may treat you the same way….”

“It’s all right. That’s exactly why I must marry him. And more than anything, it’s what I’ve always wanted. Trust me. I’ll manage. I’ll do my best.”

Before coming to Laxion, Anita had thoroughly researched Cedric, the empire and its political factions.

The empress and Cedric himself were political rivals within Laxion. Their rivalry was intense; it was a battle that could end only when one secured absolute control of the throne.

Unfortunately for Anita, it was not her husband, but his enemy, the empress, who favored Callithea and the Asteria faith.

She was a devout follower of the Asteria faith and openly advocated for peace with Callithea within her court.

Cedric, on the other hand, despised the faith, bordering on hatred. He dismissed the Goddess as a mere formality, arguing that it was outdated traditions that had undermined the authority of the crown and caused the empire to crumble.

In Cedric’s eyes, Callithea, the heart of the Asteria faith, was an enemy to be despised.

“I didn’t come here ignorant of that. So, about yesterday…”

She could guess why Cedric hated Callithea and the Goddess so much. She forced a faint smile and tried to speak lightly, but the words caught in her throat.

She couldn’t say that she would simply forget what had happened. The memory of that shattered wedding night was far too painful and raw.

“You know this too, Renee. I can’t trouble my brother. If word of this causes conflict between our nations, it would only bring harm to Callithea.”

Anita’s lips curved into a small, weary smile as she ran her fingers over the locket hanging around her neck. A gift from her brother, it was one of her most treasured possessions. Inside was a tiny portrait of the two of them as children.

For her brother’s sake, for Callithea’s sake, she had to put her pain to one side. Only by doing so could she help her struggling homeland and her weary brother, who was bearing its burdens alone.

“So we’ll do as His Majesty asked, It’s for the best for everyone.”

“……”

“Yesterday, Cedric was… too drunk to find his way back to the chamber, and I, exhausted from the journey, simply…”

“……”

“…fell asleep. That’s all.”

“……”

“Understood?”

A light breeze blew through, lifting the strands of hair that framed her face. Renee opened her mouth to protest, but the bittersweet smile on her mistress’s lips stopped her. She held her words behind clenched teeth, biting down on them.

After a moment, she spoke again, hesitantly.

“But not even telling Count Yuz…? The Emperor of Callithea himself instructed you to inform the count if anything should happen.”

“No. If Rihen finds out, my brother will too.”

Before Renee had finished speaking, Anita shook her head. Count Yuz, who had accompanied her from Callithea, was both a close relative and a loyal confidant. Steady and thoughtful, he had looked after her devotedly throughout their journey to Laxion.

Above all, however, he was her brother’s trusted aide and the man closest to the Emperor of Callithea.

If she told him anything, it would inevitably reach her brother’s ears.

“This is for your safety as well, Renee.”

Since her wedding, Anita had become both the Crown Princess of Laxion and the Princess of Callithea. Although her duty now lay partly with Laxion, her heart still belonged to the land of her birth. She loved Callithea and wanted to protect her brother, his family, and everyone she held dear.

“I can’t protect you completely here. So promise me that, whatever happens, you’ll put your own safety first.”

To do so, she would have to navigate the dangerous currents of this foreign court carefully, fulfil her role as crown princess, and establish herself as a true bridge of peace between Laxion and Callithea.

‘If I try hard enough, perhaps one day, Cedric will…’

Renee met Anita’s gaze. Her eyes were the colour of a clear lake, but now they burned with hope and determination. Her hand, still clasped in Anita’s, slowly loosened its grip. Caught in that steady, luminous gaze, Renee lowered herself to one knee and bowed deeply.

The emperor’s attendant, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at them briefly. But Renee did not care. Keeping her head bowed, she responded with quiet devotion.

“Yes, Your Highness. I will do as you command.”

··· ✦ ···

“You must be busy please, return to your duties. Thank you for guiding us this far.”

In response to the attendant’s hesitant expression, Anita offered him an awkward smile. Bowing low, he murmured an apology and glanced around uneasily, as though looking for an alternative. Finding none, he bowed deeply again and left.

Anita watched him go before looking forward again.

Tap.

At that sound, the soldiers standing guard at the entrance to the garden stepped aside in perfect unison. Only after the emperor’s attendant had departed did the gate open to reveal a knight who appeared to be commanding the guards.

“My name is Hagen of House Yurdik, guardian of the Palace of Light.”

Anita regarded him steadily, and only then did the knight incline his head in a formal bow. Yet beneath the courtesy, there was a faint trace of hostility.

He clearly knew who she was, but she had never seen him before. This alone made his forwardness inappropriate. In the presence of the Crown Princess, he should have waited to be addressed first.

Furthermore, his bow was shallow; suitable for a visiting noble, but not for the consort of the Crown Prince. A knight owed deeper respect: knees to the ground and head lowered in full homage. Yet Hagen deliberately stopped short and never once used her proper title.

“This is one of the gates leading into the palace. I trust Your Highness will understand that I cannot permit just anyone to pass.”

There it was: the hostility showing through the thin veneer of politeness.

Anita had expected life in Laxion to be difficult, but she hadn’t imagined the disdain would be so overt.

“What insolence!”

Renee burst out, unable to restrain herself any longer. The idea that a mere knight would dare show such disrespect towards her mistress was unthinkable; it would never have been tolerated in Callithea.

“The man who escorted Her Highness was sent directly by His Majesty himself! How dare you call him anyone when his station is beyond question?”

“My apologies, but the man carried nothing to verify his identity.”

“What nonsense is that? Are your eyes merely for show?”

The emperor’s attendant was dressed in the distinctive uniform of his rank; no one in the imperial palace could have mistaken it. For a palace knight to claim otherwise was absurd.

Renee’s voice rose with indignation.

“And he was the one escorting Her Highness! To doubt him is to insult Her Highness directly!”

“My apologies if you were offended. I regret the discourtesy. Your Highness, please forgive me.”

Without so much as blinking, he offered another shallow bow then straightened before Anita could respond.

“You—!”

“Renee.”

The trembling maid took a step forward, but Anita stopped her by reaching out a hand. With her hands folded calmly in front of her, she looked at the knight and spoke in a steady voice.

“Sir Hagen Yurdik.”

The knight did not move. His head remained stiffly lowered, his silence heavy with insolence.

“Sir Hagen, do you intend to disgrace your fellow knights by acting in this way?”

Before he could answer, a new voice cut through the tension.

“To show such insolence to the crown princess… you hardly seem worthy of the title imperial knight.”

The tone was calm yet carried effortless authority.

Anita turned towards the sound and saw a young man standing under the pale morning light. His hair gleamed like molten gold, the same shade as the empress’. His eyes were a distinctive silver color — a trait exclusive to the royal bloodline of Laxion — and they met hers warmly.

“Your Highness the Second Prince.”

Hagen murmured and quickly dropped to one knee. The movement was so swift and precise that Renee couldn’t help but let out an incredulous breath.

“So, will you refuse me entry as well, since my identity is also uncertain?”

“…N-no, Your Highness.”

The knight bowed his head even lower, his embarrassment plain to see.

The young man gave him a cool glance, then, realizing how tense the atmosphere had become, turned back towards Anita and smiled relaxed. His crescent-shaped eyes curved like the moon and he looked at her with a gentle, bright expression.

He stepped forward, and before she could fully grasp what was happening, he was standing before her, bowing gracefully.

“Good morning, Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

··· ✦ ···

The reception room was modest in size yet dazzling in its splendor, adorned with lapis lazuli and crystal. Sunlight streaming through the highest of the layered windows struck the crystals and scattered into myriad fragments, creating luminous patterns on the walls. This display was an art form in itself, unmatched anywhere else in the palace.

Designed for the Crown Princess’s private guests, this chamber was one of the most beautiful rooms in the Palace of Light.

Even Anita, the room’s mistress, paused for a moment at the threshold, blinking in awe before stepping inside.

“I doubt I could have entered this place on my own. Thanks to you, I’ve had the rare pleasure of seeing something so splendid.”

As Gerard observed her, Anita hastily composed herself, hiding her awkwardness with a polite smile. She then instructed Renee to bring tea.

Moments later, Renee returned with a delicate, lavender-coloured tea that had been brought all the way from Callithea.

“The fragrance is exquisite.”

Gerard said, lifting his cup with a look of genuine admiration.

“I’m no expert on tea, but I think this must be from Callithea. Am I right?”

“Yes, It’s a blend I used to enjoy back home. I hope it suits Your Highness’s taste.”

“It’s marvelous, Callithean tea is renowned for both its aroma and flavor, and now I understand why.”

Anita looked at him curiously. Compared to the other royals she had met in Laxion, he was strikingly different in his manner: so open and pleasant.

‘I thought as much when we first met. He’s a clever guy.’

Although Emperor Charles was kind, his sense of dignity made him appear intimidating. The empress was outwardly courteous, but her cold elegance kept others at a distance.

Her husband, Crown Prince Cedric, was no different.

At the thought of him, Anita’s expression dimmed.

Sensing this, Gérard deliberately set his teacup down; the soft clink of it broke her trance. When she looked up, he smiled. His eyes were like crescents, and his voice was light and reassuring as he continued to speak.