Loud shouting could be heard inside the carriage.

“Hey! If you can’t drive, you shouldn’t leave your house. Why come out and inconvenience others!”

“What are you saying, you Nurua b＊stard. You’re the one who crashed into me!”

“What? Nurua b＊stard? Do you want to die?”

Two men were fighting in the middle of the road, grabbing each other’s collars. Beside them were an overturned carriage and injured horses. The accident had completely blocked the road.

While Vaniel was staring absently out the window, she heard the coachman’s voice.

“Miss. We’ll need to take a detour because of the accident.”

“Please do.”

The path they took to turn around passed through a square where the empire’s execution platform for criminals was located.

In the square, Nurua people were tied to stakes and displayed. They could not leave that place until they died from the stones thrown by people.

It was a cruel and terrible t＊rture.

To the imperial people, the Nurua were objects of hatred. The war that occurred from Imperial Year 690 to 693 left indelible scars on both the Empire and the Nurua tribe.

“The Forest of Lua,” located in the eastern part of the continent and said to be immeasurably vast, was called the land of magical beasts because it was filled with magical beasts and monsters. Due to its dense trees and poisonous plants, no one who entered the forest had ever returned alive, so no one dared to enter.

The Nurua tribe living in “The Forest of Lua” aroused curiosity among the imperial people, and eventually, the Empire trampled on the Nurua, enslaved them, and abused them.

But the imperial people were too complacent. Hasn’t it always been said that strong oppression breeds resistance?

Among the abused Nurua, many still harbored rebellious feelings toward the Empire. They formed a revolutionary group and, watching for an opportunity, launched a surprise attack on the imperial palace.

The revolution succeeded. The Emperor and the imperial family were killed by the revolutionaries, who then fled to “The Forest of Lua.”

The war between the Empire and the Nurua tribe began when the imperial people, shocked by the Emperor’s death, sent an enormous army to “The Forest of Lua.”

But the war waged without an Emperor brought tremendous chaos and economic loss to the Larter Empire. Eventually, civil war broke out in the Larter Empire, and the Empire withdrew from “The Forest of Lua.”

More than 100 years had passed since then. But despite that long time, relations between the Empire and the Nurua tribe remained poor.

Whose fault was it? The Empire that abused the Nurua as slaves? Or the Nurua who killed the Emperor and fled?

Regardless of who was at fault, it was the Nurua people still remaining in the Empire who suffered.

That’s why Vaniel hated this road where she had no choice but to see the execution square. But whenever she was forced to witness execution scenes like today, she always had nightmares.

In her nightmares, Vaniel was tied to a stake, being stoned by people.

After thanking the driver and getting out of the carriage, Vaniel looked up and stared at the massive mansion before her.

The white marble that made up the Count’s residence was brightly illuminated by numerous magical lights. Because of this, it was as bright as day despite being night. The luxury of the Drenarpin family could be felt even from outside the mansion.

It shone the brightest among the mansions on this Noble Street, where high-ranking aristocrats’ residences were concentrated.

So bright that one could tell it was the Drenarpin mansion even from a distance.

As Vaniel stood motionless for a while, a knight patrolling the mansion tilted his head curiously.

“Miss, is something wrong?”

She wanted to turn around and run away. But the moment Vaniel turned, the guards would capture her without a moment’s hesitation.

Even if she miraculously escaped without being caught, Vaniel had nowhere to go. Rather than that, it was best to quietly endure for two weeks and legitimately leave this mansion through marriage.

“It’s nothing. Thank you for your hard work.”

Vaniel expressed her gratitude to the knights with a gentle smile and quietly passed by.

She took steps with her usual well-composed, calm expression.

***

“Lias Istua Returns After 3 Years”

“Why Has the Continent’s Most Handsome Grand Duke Returned After 3 Years?”

“Breaking News! Istua Grand Duke to Marry”

Vaniel picked up one of the newspapers on the table. Her eyes naturally went to his photo in the article.

His hair, darker than darkness itself, was softly brushed up, and his eyes, resembling the deep sea, intensified his unique aura.

Vaniel was certain that everyone who saw this newspaper would have been amazed. But a photo couldn’t capture everything. Comparing the image of Lias she had seen yesterday with the photo, she was once again surprised.

‘To think that I’m marrying this man.’

“Miss!”

A high-pitched voice pierced Vaniel’s ears as she was looking at the newspaper. Vaniel raised her head to see the maid in front of her.

“Lin, speak quietly.”

“Miss, do you know how many times I called you? No matter how handsome he is, aren’t you too infatuated? Of course! With that face, it’s understandable to be smitten. But I called you three times! By the way, Miss, are you really getting married in two weeks?”

Vaniel put down the newspaper she was holding on the table and picked up the teacup beside it. A sweet aroma wafted from the teacup.

“Lin, are you happy because I’m getting married, or because you can see the Grand Duke’s face?”

“Obviously both! I’m happy that our Lady is getting married, and I’m even happier that I can see the Grand Duke in person, that’s what I mean.”

Vaniel savored a sip of tea and elegantly set down her teacup.

“Miss, it’s chaos outside right now. They say there are protests at the central square against the marriage between the Grand Duke and you. Tsk. They must have nothing better to do. They’re just jealous.”

Vaniel’s head started to ache. Even as she raised her hand to press her temples, that mouth kept chattering without rest.

“Miss! Don’t be discouraged. Even though His Grace is the Empire’s hero, you’re also the most beautiful woman in the world. In fact, everyone knows it. Bad people are just being spiteful because His Grace is getting married. There are more people supporting you, you know? So don’t be too disheartened, Miss.”

Lin, the brown-haired maid who was clenching her fists, had grown up with Vaniel since they were seven years old, and they were so close that they didn’t mind their master-servant relationship.

“Lin. Enough. I’m tired and need to sleep more. Please leave now.”

Vaniel rose from the sofa and headed to the bed. Her silk dress fluttered with her elegant movements.

“What? No! Madam said to bring you to the dining room without fail today.”

Lin’s tone carried a subtle complaint.

“There’s still plenty of time left.”

“Only three hours left. You need to start bathing and preparing now. You must look more perfect than Miss Riona and Miss Laura!”

Lin stamped her feet as she looked at Vaniel, who was already lying in bed with the covers pulled up.

“Hah… my head really hurts too much. Let me sleep for just one more hour. Wake me up later.”

Seeing Vaniel’s determined expression, Lin made a sad face.

“Alright… Miss, then I’ll come back in an hour. Rest well.”

With slumped shoulders, Lin turned around, kept looking back as if reluctant to leave, and finally left the room.

It was a very pitiful gesture, but Vaniel firmly turned her gaze away.

She had no luxury to worry about Lin right now.

The most important thing for Vaniel was Helena, the mistress of the Drenarpin Count family and Vaniel’s mother, whom she would soon meet.

Helena must be dying of curiosity by now.

Originally, she should have reported every word of her conversation with the Grand Duke as soon as she entered the mansion yesterday, but Vaniel had returned too late.

Of course, Vaniel was glad not to be held up by Helena for a long time with her exhausted body yesterday, but such luck was only for yesterday. Today, she couldn’t avoid it.

So Helena, unable to contain her impatience, must have called her to the family meal time, which she normally wouldn’t do…

Vaniel wanted to be without any thoughts, even for a moment. She lay in bed, closed her eyes, and forced herself to sleep.

Vaniel quickly fell asleep and dreamed.

A small bird with broken wings trapped in a blue cage.

Flash.

Opening her eyes, Vaniel raised her hands to cover her face. The nightmares continued even after meeting Lias. Vaniel wished she could sleep forever without dreaming. But reality doesn’t change.

Depression engulfed Vaniel.

Wiping her face with her hands to regain her composure, Vaniel sat up on the edge of the bed.

“Hah…”

Vaniel stared at the sky through the window. She envied the dazzlingly bright sky.

The dining room was quite far from Vaniel’s room on the third floor. After taking the elevator down to the first floor, there was a large main banquet hall, and next to it was a small banquet hall that served as the Drenarpin family’s dining room.

Vaniel had rarely visited this dining room in the past five years.

She was not a welcomed presence in the Drenarpin Count’s household. Vaniel’s father, Count Humphrey Drenarpin, had been ill for a long time, and five years ago, he collapsed and never got up again, barely breathing with the help of priests.

After Humphrey, the only family member who loved Vaniel, collapsed like that, Vaniel became thoroughly alone.

“Why is she late? Does she think she’s the main character or something?”

The freckled girl’s face was full of complaints. The pretty girl next to her chimed in.

“Has she forgotten the time because she hasn’t been here often? Doesn’t she know she should arrive 10 minutes before Mother comes? Or does she already think she’s the Grand Duchess? Sister. Be careful. If you behave so rudely when you go to the Grand Duke’s house, you’ll bring shame to the Count’s family.”

The aggressive tone shot sharply.

But Vaniel was unfazed. It was always like this. As usual, she put on a mask and smiled.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Riona, Laura. I was quite tired yesterday.”

“Ha. Are you proud of oversleeping? Who—”

Thud-

Before Laura could finish speaking, the dining room door opened.

Vaniel’s hands, hidden under the table, trembled.