All jewels and luxury goods entering Lebron first flowed into the Cartien Viscountess’s household through Tatiana’s brothers-in-law and sisters. With eyes and body accustomed to only the finest, nothing ordinary could ever satisfy her. And the generosity the young lady bestowed was not reserved only for her friends.
“Anne, the reason I hired you was because I thought you could devote yourself entirely to me.”
“I-I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to be late, but my younger sibling fell ill and there was no one else to care for them…”
“That’s enough. Just answer what I ask.”
Not even a month had passed since Anne entered the Cartien household, and she’d already been seriously late. She couldn’t even make excuses. Facing the prospect of being dismissed from the coveted position as the queen of society’s personal maid, a spot all the maids envied, Anne looked on the verge of tears, while Tatiana elegantly tapped her fingers.
“How much was your sibling’s hospital bill?”
“Your mother hasn’t returned yet, has she?”
While Anne shivered, recalling the terror of that moment, Tatiana’s face was nothing but serene. Her almond-shaped, fresh eyes were as elegant as if nothing had happened from the start.
“No, my lady. She still has to visit the imperial palace, and she seems very busy these days.”
“That’s a relief.”
It was laughable, but the best thing about her engagement falling through was this, her mother, who would normally interfere in every detail of her life, was now so busy outside that she left Tatiana alone.
Who knew when she’d have this freedom again?
Tatiana gave a wry smile at the thought of her brief liberty, while Anne stood beside her, full of worry.
“My lady, but… will Lady Rebecca be alright? What if she starts another strange rumor about today?”
“She’s as quick-witted as she is jealous.”
Rebecca was surely watching her. Tatiana maintained her poise. She’d given enough warnings, as long as she didn’t waver, nothing would happen. Only two or three minutes remained until the carriage arrived—nothing she couldn’t endure.
‘Let her stare all she wants.’
Tatiana gazed out the window. The lively noise outside was oddly exhilarating, so different from her own heart. She’d rarely gone out alone before, so the world just beyond a single door felt closer than ever. The proud knights on horseback, the grand fanfare, the dazzling parade—her indifferent eyes followed it all until they stopped at one spot.
‘Is he trying to come in here?’
Mercenaries in black robes were nothing new. Years of endless conquest had made it impossible for knights alone to handle the fighting, so mercenaries had long filled the ranks.
But the man she saw now was different, even his shadow. Like the others, his face was hidden, but even among these large men, his head stood a full head taller. Tatiana instinctively narrowed her eyes at the glimpse of black hair beneath the fluttering robe.
‘…What is he?’
A red afterimage, like looking straight at the sun, flickered under her hand as she shielded her eyes.
No way.
Unconsciously drawn, she stepped closer to the door. This fluttering feeling—she’d felt it once before, on that day when her eyes stung from staring so hard…
“There you are!”
“……”
Suddenly, another man’s shadow blocked Tatiana’s view. The man’s presence, covering the red afterimage in her eyes, cast only a hasty and ominous shadow.
So much for letting this pass quietly.
Tatiana swallowed a bitter smile, not even bothering to look up.
“…Your Grace.”
If there was a man who could stand so boldly before her, knowing she was of the Cartien family, there was only one in the entire Freya Empire.
△▲△▲△
“…Um, Captain.”
Major Gerald, who had been leading the way to the coffeehouse, hesitated and glanced back. The man following him was someone you could never mistake for anyone else, even in a noisy street packed with cheering crowds. When red eyes glimmered from within the black robe, taller than anyone else, Major Gerald swallowed hard.
‘Did he see them?’
He glanced sideways at the man and woman inside the glass window. The man, with his luxurious yet slightly crooked sword at his waist, could only be Duke Atlas. As the second son of a Baron himself, Gerald had heard the Atlas family’s name more times than he could count. He’d seen the Duke from afar at various banquets, so he recognized him at a glance today.
And the beautiful lady facing the Duke could only be…
“What are you doing?”
“N-nothing, sir.”
Startled by Kainel’s heavy voice, the Major coughed awkwardly. He wondered if Kainel was reacting to the lady in the window, but under the hood, Kainel’s red eyes were as calm as ever.
“……”
Calm, emotionless, and utterly unshaken.
As someone who had seen the ugliest, most brutal sides of the world on the battlefield for years, he showed not a hint of feeling now. No joy, no anger—not even a sign of whether he’d seen inside or not. Others whispered that he was truly the Grim Reaper of the battlefield, but Major Gerald thought differently.
To his knowledge, the most cruel and devastating world for this man was not the battlefield, but right here.
“Well, I’ll go inside and check if they’ve arrived. If you’ll just wait a moment—”
“No. That’s enough.”
When Kainel pulled his hood down a bit, as if shielding himself from the sun, Gerald’s face filled with confusion. Even though he’d run into someone he’d rather not meet in an unexpected place, he couldn’t just turn back. After all the trouble he’d gone through to bring Kainel here, the Major, burdened with heavy responsibility, hurriedly blocked his way.
“You can’t, Captain! You have to decide today. It’s His Highness the Crown Prince’s order.”
“Order, huh.”
“C-captain…”
Gerald wiped the sweat from his brow at Kainel’s blunt tone. Of course, if he were the type to be swayed by the Crown Prince’s name, he wouldn’t be hiding under a robe in the first place. This man was the hero and protagonist of the war, the one who rode the largest horse at the head of the knights, receiving everyone’s cheers.
At least, more so than that Duke over there, who probably didn’t even know how to wear a sword properly.
“…I’m leaving.”
That was why Gerald couldn’t stop him.
Even if it were not the Crown Prince, but the Emperor himself—who was said to be half-dead—giving the order, this man wouldn’t budge. He’d achieved great feats and even saved the Crown Prince’s life, so you’d think he’d want a prominent place in that glamorous world, but he had no interest at all.
Whether god or reaper, he was a man you couldn’t believe was merely human. But to say he was completely detached from the world… Gerald knew that, once, this man had desired something from it.
Once in his life, he’d longed for the brightest, most dazzling jewel in the world he despised.
‘…No. That’s all in the past.’
Gerald gave a bitter smile as he looked at Kainel’s profile, hidden deep under the hood. That was years ago. If he were the type to dwell on the past, he wouldn’t have been able to wield his sword so coldly in the midst of all that carnage.
And even if it weren’t so, what could anyone do?
No man with eyes could blame the captain. The lady inside the window, once called the flower of society, now shone as a peerless queen.
“…I don’t think I need to check myself. You handle the rest.”
“But, sir, it’s about deciding your residence. How could I—”
As Kainel truly looked ready to turn away, Gerald tried to persuade him. This wasn’t just anything, it was about putting down roots in Lebron. As the head of the Townsent family, as a war hero, he couldn’t let someone else handle this first step.
“Lebron is huge. At least tell me what kind of place you want.”
“……”
“His Highness the Crown Prince suggested somewhere near the palace. Or the Trimagnol district, where the highest nobles live, or even this bustling area—”
“Far away.”
Kainel’s black robe swirled in the wind as he turned, brushing past the major. The red eyes, visible through black hair, swept past the window without a single squint, even in the sunlight’s glare.
“As far from here as possible.”
△▲△▲△
“This is ridiculous. You don’t show your face properly for days, and now I find you in a place like this?”
Duke Atlas, wearing an elaborate coat embroidered with gold thread, looked anxious, making his fine attire seem out of place. His disheveled dirty blonde hair and heaving chest clearly showed he’d been frantically searching for her. Though examining his features one by one would objectively prove him to be undeniably handsome, the somewhat frivolous impression he gave off came from the atmosphere emanating from his expressions and gestures.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, Tiara!”
“…I told you not to call me that.”
When Tatiana instinctively glanced across the room, the ladies who had been staring with wide eyes quickly pretended to look elsewhere. But that wouldn’t last long. There was no need to confirm that all their eyes and ears were focused here.
Especially Rebecca.
‘This has become tiresome.’
Fatigue faintly showed on Tatiana’s face as she slowly blinked her lowered eyes. The matter she had hoped to end quietly on her own terms now seemed destined to be broadcast live. Whether she ran out now or raised her voice in anger, before a day passed, the story would take on a life of its own and spread throughout Lebron with embellishments.
She hadn’t expected him to be so lacking in discretion.
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