She was an orphan from the slums who knew neither her parents’ faces nor their names. Had she not met him that day, she would still be barely surviving each day on the 30 cents earned by helping at the orphanage.

Spring of her seventh year. The day light first seeped into a child’s daily life where even scattered flower petals seemed too luxurious. It was a day no different from any other.

“Get lost. I told you an important person is personally visiting today. This is no place for someone like you.”

“…”

The child simply needed to help with chores at the Imperial Orphanage as usual and receive 30 cents in return, the price of a potato. For a child born and raised on the streets, 30 cents was just enough food money to barely survive the day.

“Can’t you hear me telling you to leave?”

Kevin, an orphanage employee who usually paid her, seemed particularly irritable that day.

“Give me. 30 cents.”

“I’ll give you double next time.”

“You said you’d give me double last time too, but you still haven’t.”

“Why you little!!”

Whether Kevin was irritable or not, the child boldly demanded her payment. Initially trying to coax the child into leaving, Kevin raised his hand high, about to strike. Just before his hand could hit the child’s head, Karlien appeared, like a miracle.

“What’s the commotion here?”

“This… My sincerest apologies. I’ve shown something unseemly to your esteemed presence. I’ll accept any punishment. Please punish me.”

Kevin, who had been so domineering moments ago, was now bowing his head deeply.

“A girl?”

“This child isn’t worthy of young master’s attention. She’s merely a child who comes to help with chores… If you’re looking for a girl, over there—”

The director, who had belatedly followed Karlien, seemed to be answering his question obediently. However, he anxiously tried to hide the child.

“I’ll take that child.”

Karlien couldn’t possibly miss the director’s transparent scheme. Moreover, Karlien had recently heard an interesting story about Princess Leonora, the Emperor’s sister who had married into the Antes Kingdom, returning after losing her child during turmoil.

From what he’d heard, silver hair was the distinctive trait of the Antes royal family, and Princess Leonora’s eyes were lilac-colored, resembling the dawn. 

Coincidentally, the child before him had silver hair said to appear in the Antes royal family and lilac eyes strikingly similar to Princess Leonora’s. There was no reason not to take her. 

When Karlien offered to sponsor the child, the director hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

“Not that child!”

“Didn’t you say she was just a child helping with chores? Then why not?”

“I’m afraid to even speak of it… She grew up on streets that until a few years ago were known as criminals’ dens. Her origins are unclear…”

When Karlien inquired with confusion, the hesitant director fumbled with his words.

“Since when has silver hair been common in the Empire? If you’re certain this child is the offspring of criminals, why haven’t you reported it yet?”

Despite the director’s vague answers, Karlien continued questioning with determination to uncover the truth.

“Ah, perhaps you were all in on it?”

“Absolutely not. How could I dare, having received the Empire’s grace…”

Only when the irreverent question finally left Karlien’s lips did the director strongly deny it. Then, seemingly with no choice, he confessed the situation.

“The child knows numbers. More precisely, she has an exceptional ability to remember figures. Since hiring a professional for bookkeeping would be financially burdensome, we’ve been receiving her help.”

Satisfied with the sincere answer, Karlien smiled and pointed to the child.

“Then all the more reason to choose her. If that child doesn’t belong here, there would be no reason for House Borde to continue sponsoring this place.”

“Ah! Come to think of it, she might have been one of our children after all. Hey, Kevin. Wasn’t she under your care?”

“Ah, yes… With all the recent work…”

Quickly realizing they were at risk of losing sponsorship, the director changed his tune, and Kevin beside him hurried to agree. It was a scene so ridiculous one could hardly watch without tears. Ignoring whatever Kevin and the director were saying, Karlien shifted his gaze to the child and asked:

“Name?”

“Well…”

The director was about to make up a name, but the child was quicker.

“30 cents.”

“This child, how dare—”

Kevin tried to scold the child as usual but couldn’t quite do so in front of Karlien. Taking advantage of the moment, the child drove the point home.

“That’s my name. Everyone calls me that.”

“30 cents…”

After hearing the child’s words and contemplating “30 cents” for a moment, Karlien pronounced a single word in an elegant tone.

“Veloena.”

And that became the first real name of the child who had been called merely “30 cents.”

“From now on, your name is Veloena. I am Karlien Borde, the person who will sponsor you from today.”

Karlien extended his hand toward Veloena, his golden eyes sparkling like spring sunshine as he smiled brightly.

“Veloena. I look forward to our future together.”

Seemingly enchanted by his radiant smile, Veloena carefully took his hand. From that moment, Veloena’s world began to revolve around Karlien. It was her first love.

* * *

After that day, Veloena’s daily life underwent a major change. Under Karlien’s orders, she began living in an annex of the Marquis’s residence, gaining warm meals and a comfortable bed. The 30 cents, potatoes, and the cold floor of a crumbling house gradually faded from Veloena’s memory.

Though the environment was certainly unfamiliar, Veloena endured because of Karlien. Because Karlien visited her regularly. When with Veloena, Karlien talked about ordinary daily life:

“Veloena. Have you been well? Lately, I’ve been learning about imperial affairs by following my father.”

He also showed vulnerability that was rarely seen before others:

“Should I just give it all up and farm in the countryside with you?”

When Karlien buried his face in Veloena’s shoulder, she would freeze, not knowing how to react. Finding this endearing, Karlien would always chuckle softly before pulling away from her.

On days when Karlien didn’t visit, she learned the imperial language and history from the tutor he had assigned. 

Perhaps due to her exceptional learning ability, Veloena passed the Oscuro Imperial Academy entrance exam with top honors at a young age. Upon hearing the news, Karlien immediately visited Veloena, personally placing a hastily prepared sapphire necklace around her neck, saying:

“Veloena. Congratulations on placing first in the Oscuro Imperial Academy entrance exam.”

It was only natural that she developed feelings for Karlien who treated her so preciously, but at that time, his partner had already been designated as Lady Litension, so she never dared to consider that position for herself.

She would have been content just remaining his friend. With this mindset, Veloena quietly smiled, cherishing only the necklace as she headed to the academy. 

However, the sudden news of Lady Litension’s departure to the Kingdom of Fortin and the contents of Karlien’s letter were enough to shake Veloena.

‘If you graduate from Oscuro Imperial Academy with top honors, I’ll grant you one wish. As long as it’s not treason. I promise.’

Thus, Veloena returned with the letter and her top honors diploma, boldly telling Karlien:

“My wish is to become your partner.”

Karlien readily accepted Veloena’s request. He thought that even Princess Leonora, who rarely showed her face in social circles, would attend his wedding. 

But Princess Leonora never appeared until the end of the ceremony. That’s when it began—when Karlien stopped looking Veloena directly in the eye. It was the beginning of misfortune.