The Imperial Capital, Tesse, was filled with warm sunshine and the sweet scent of spring flowers.

Vaniel straightened her back and reached out to lift her teacup. The graceful, delicate hand that raised the cup. The precise angle at which it tilted. The steady wrist without a single tremor. Everything was perfect.

Lavish decorations and pristine white marble. A cream-colored tablecloth of silk. An elegant table set with gleaming silverware.

The restaurant of the hotel, reserved only for the highest nobility, was praised for its view from the thirty-third floor, directly overlooking the front of the Imperial Palace. This beautiful place was always fully booked, but today was different.

In this spacious hall, Vaniel was the only guest.

‘I should be able to see him today.’

Vaniel had not seen the Grand Duke for three years.

It had been two months since his return to the capital, yet he had avoided meeting her, citing busyness as an excuse.

Finally, the Emperor himself had grown impatient and personally commanded the Grand Duke to arrange an appointment with Vaniel.

Though trembling inside, Vaniel betrayed no sign of nervousness. She was the only guest in the restaurant, yet the staff were watching her from afar. She did not let her guard down for even a moment. With a faint smile on her lips, Vaniel tilted her head slightly.

It truly was the finest view in the capital. Beyond the crystal-clear glass, the orange glow of the setting sun radiated with a majestic presence.

The sun was going down. An hour had already passed since the appointed time. The third cup of tea she had drunk left her stomach uncomfortably heavy.

Since the day this meeting was arranged, she had been plagued with nightmares every night. She wanted to see him, and yet she didn’t. It was a contradiction of emotions. But above all else, she did not wish to marry him while hiding the truth.

Tok— tok— tok—

Steady footsteps drew near, and a strong, sharp fragrance brushed past the tip of her nose. Pulled from her deepening thoughts, Vaniel looked up at the approaching man.

She was dazzled.

As the sun dipped low, casting a breathtaking glow upon them, their eyes met.

Lias glanced at the menu handed to him by the attendant and said calmly,

“Forgive me for being late, Lady Drenarpin.”

There was no explanation for his tardiness. It was a perfunctory apology, yet Vaniel took no offense.

She smiled brightly.

“That’s quite all right. Even the smallest children of the Empire know just how busy Your Grace always is.”

His cold gaze flicked toward the teacup before her, then slid back to the menu. The expression on his face betrayed only boredom.

The large hand holding the menu, the solid physique unhidden even beneath his formal attire, and the broad shoulders that looked nearly twice the width of hers—yet he did not give the impression of being brutish. On the contrary, the contrast between his striking features and his frame created an understated harmony.

His appearance, known throughout the Empire, was undeniably captivating. Jet-black hair and eyes of deep indigo blue that bordered on navy were enough to seize anyone’s attention. His sharply defined eyes only deepened the mysterious quality of that blue gaze. The angular jawline and proud, high nose seemed so sharp they could cut at a touch, earning him the title of a sculpture carved by the gods themselves.

Even in the simple act of reading a menu, his elegance and strength could not be concealed. Vaniel’s chest tightened as she took in the perfection of her fiancé, whom she was seeing again after three long years.

Her secret, furtive glances grew increasingly bold until a cool voice snapped her back to her senses.

“You’ve no doubt had enough tea. I’ll choose the menu.”

“Yes.”

Once Lias finished ordering, the attendant hurried out of sight. The heavy atmosphere pressing down on Vaniel only grew denser.

She struggled with what to say, how to begin. Finally, with effort, she opened her mouth.

“Have you been well?”

It was the first time they had met since their engagement, and she longed to know how he had fared these past three years. She wanted to ask in detail whether he had faced hardships, whether he had been injured or fallen ill.

“Yes.”

His short reply only made Vaniel more anxious.

“I heard there was an accident at the Wall a year ago. Are you well now? You weren’t hurt then?”

A year ago, countless articles had filled the capital’s papers. Reports told of a massive monster assault that had gravely damaged the northern Wall under Grand Duke Istuah’s command.

At the time, Vaniel had desperately wanted to reach out to him but could not. All she could do was wait, hoping each day to hear good news.

“It was nothing serious. Incidents like that are common at the Wall.”

“Even so… all the newspapers in the capital reported that the Wall had been breached. I was so worried about Your Grace’s safety, but I couldn’t bring myself to contact you. I thought it might trouble you, when you were already so occupied.”

“I was not injured. Soldiers were wounded or killed, but every man stationed at the Wall bears the duty of defending it.”

His answer was matter-of-fact, even in the face of his fiancée’s worried gaze.

“Of course. I am always grateful to the soldiers who safeguard the peace of the continent.”

Vaniel placed a hand over her heart, bowing her head in respect and gratitude.

“Thank you for your sacrifice and devotion, Your Grace.”

Lias stared fixedly at her.

But only for a moment. Soon, he turned his head away. The panorama beyond the glass was dazzling, but it seemed to have no effect on him.

His detached voice, as cold as his eyes, slipped between his lips.

“We will hold the wedding as soon as possible. Will two weeks from now suit you?”

‘Two weeks? Does he simply mean to meet again? Surely he doesn’t mean… marriage?’

Startled, she forced a calm smile and asked carefully,

“Do you mean… to hold the wedding in two weeks?”

“I must return to the Grand Duchy then. We’ll depart the day after the wedding. If you wish to remain in the capital afterward, I’ll order the residence here to prepare chambers for the Grand Duchess.”

Vaniel had long known that marriage meant little to him. Still, when confronted with his indifference directly, she couldn’t help but feel a sting of disappointment.

Three years ago, too, she had watched him leave immediately for the Grand Duchy after their betrothal ceremony. She did not want to endure another endless, uncertain wait.

“No, Your Grace. I will go with you to the Grand Duchy. What should I prepare?”

A cold gaze, like the depths of a dark, endless sea, pierced down from his deep, indigo-blue eyes.

“Even if we take the train, we’ll need a carriage to reach the station. The station near the Grand Duchy is far from the capital, so we’ll spend at least one night sleeping in the carriage.”

A chill swept over Vaniel as his eyes swept her up and down.

“Will you be able to endure it?”

To him, she was no different from any other noble lady—pampered from birth, quick to complain at the slightest discomfort.

But Vaniel, who had undergone harsh training since childhood, had confidence in her strength.

“It will be a long journey, but I can manage. I’ve kept up with exercise, after all.”

She hated the thought of being left alone in the capital. At her firm reply, he gave a short, mirthless laugh.

“Hah. The world beyond the city is nothing like within. You wouldn’t know, since there are no monsters around the capital, but the Grand Duchy lies near the Wall. Many accidents occur outside the city because of beasts.”

“I’m aware of that. But since I’ll be going with Your Grace, of course there won’t be any danger.”

At Vaniel’s unconditional faith, Lias shook his head in disbelief.

“Very well. Then we’ll depart immediately after the wedding.”

He ended his words as though burdened with an unwanted task. When he turned his gaze back toward the window, it was clear he had no wish to continue the conversation.

Vaniel bit her lip in regret. That had been unbecoming of a lady. She quickly composed her posture and expression once more into perfection.

Just then, two attendants approached, pushing a cart of food. Trained with precision to serve nobility, they moved without error, following strict protocol. With flawless gestures, they set the dishes on the table and filled the empty wineglasses.

Vaniel watched as the wine poured.

The opaque crimson stream. Vaniel disliked red wine—the bloodlike color unsettled her.

“Do you dislike wine?”

At Lias’s question, Vaniel flinched inwardly.

‘How did he know? I was perfect…’

Since childhood, no one had ever been able to read her expression. People only praised her false smiles, calling them beautiful.

Never realizing they were the desperate result of her struggle to survive.

“I just prefer white wine. But it’s not that I can’t drink red.”

When Lias raised his hand to summon the attendant, Vaniel stopped him.

“Oh, it’s all right. I don’t feel like drinking much right now.”

At her words, he gave a slight nod and lifted the glass before him. The rim touched his crimson lips. The glass tilted, and the dark red liquid slid smoothly between them.

Without realizing it, Vaniel stared in a daze. Her eyes trailed from his sharp jawline downwards. His Adam’s apple shifted, pronounced and commanding attention. His lips deepened to a richer red.

“The taste… is good.”

His unhurried gaze swept over her.

Vaniel’s expression faltered. The strange, heady blend of composure and decadence in his presence made her dizzy.

He was unbearably perfect.