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Chapter 2
After the Emperor’s herald left, Duke Petra said he must go see His Imperial Majesty and immediately departed for the palace.
Back in the room with Aella, Media held the hand of Aella, who was dazed with shock, and offered comfort.
“Aella, don’t worry too much. It will work out. And even if it doesn’t, you’re becoming the Crown Princess. That’s something to be happy about.”
“I’m not happy at all, Media. You know how much I like Ther.”
Tears welled up in Aella’s eyes.
She couldn’t believe the Imperial family had sent a proposal. She was terrified of being separated from Ther like this.
Media looked at Aella with an expression of pity.
*Here’s a chance to have something better, so why is she whining like this? I can’t have it even though I want it.*
Hiding her true feelings, Media hugged Aella.
“Oh, Aella. I want you to be happy.”
*No, I want you to be unhappy.*
One corner of Media’s mouth curled up as she patted Aella’s back.
—
**\*\*\***
“I refuse.”
Ther’s reddish-brown eyes blazed with anger.
“Grand Duke Motita, I know this is an excessive request. However, the Crown Prince is being so stubborn, I have no choice.”
The Emperor spoke with a tired expression.
“That’s not even worth hearing.”
Ther rose from his seat.
The Emperor looked up at the standing Ther and spoke.
“If you react like this, I have no choice but to use it.”
“You would use *that* for something so trivial?”
Ther’s face hardened.
“I didn’t think the Grand Duke would accept it readily.”
Looking into Ther’s deeply troubled eyes, the Emperor recalled his conversation with Seamus.
—
*”I will break off the engagement with House Dioudis and marry Lady Petra.”*
*”What did you say?”*
*”I will break the engagement and marry Aella Petra.”*
*”Seamus! Are you in your right mind? Don’t you know whose fiancée she is?”*
*”Ther Motita’s, that bastard’s fiancée. What is it about him that makes you so afraid?”*
*”Seamus. The Grand Duke Motita is the representative of God. Even if you aren’t afraid of him, you should still treat him with respect. You cannot become enemies with him.”*
*”He’s not God’s representative, he’s a slave dedicated to the Imperial family. Motita is Miden’s slave. Motita must unconditionally obey Miden until his brand disappears. Am I wrong?”*
—
The brand.
The Emperor knew well how pathetic it was to bring up the brand over something like this. Just as Ther said, it was over something so ‘trivial.’
Even now, undefeated monsters still emerged in the north, threatening the Empire’s peace. Plagues, natural disasters, or wars could break out.
Compared to those things, this was trivial. But the Emperor valued his son Seamus more than those things.
“Don’t do something foolish.”
Ther met the Emperor’s eyes, spoke in a clear tone, and left the Emperor’s office.
Left alone, the Emperor let out a deep sigh.
Ther Motita was not an easy person to handle. The young Grand Duke had possessed an extraordinary spirit since childhood.
So, as Seamus said, he thought it might not be bad to put him in his place just once.
Since the day Seamus would be dealing with Ther Motita would be far longer than the day he himself did. For Seamus’s sake, it seemed like it wouldn’t hurt to clearly establish who was superior.
“Cough.”
Lost in thought, the Emperor coughed and covered his mouth with his hand. Removing his hand, he blankly stared at his blood-stained palm.
Death was approaching.
—
**\*\*\***
Passing through a forest, Aella arrived at a lake shrouded in darkness. She dismounted from her horse and gazed at the lake castle.
Located in the middle of a wide, deep lake, the lake castle went by several names: The Grand Duchy of Motita, Iphe’s Stronghold, and the Castle of Fire.
True to its name, the castle floated alone on the lake. With the bell tower at its center, watchtowers stood in the four cardinal directions, and the castle walls were impossibly high.
There was no bridge connecting to the castle, so anyone wishing to enter the lake castle had to use a ferry.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
The ferryman, recognizing Aella, came out of his hut and guided her to the ferry. Aella took the ferry toward the lake castle.
—
*’Your father will definitely take care of it, so don’t worry, my plain little lemon.’*
Her father had said that after returning from the palace, but Aella’s anxiety did not fade. That anxiety eventually led her to seek out Ther this night.
Before she knew it, the ferry arrived at the main gate of the lake castle, and Aella disembarked.
As Aella climbed the stone steps, the massive gate slowly opened. Aella headed into the world of fire upon the lake.
Most of the people living in this lake castle could perform fire magic. Including the master of this castle, Ther Motita.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess?”
Ther’s aide, Kalas, recognized Aella entering the lake castle and took her to Ther’s office.
Kalas knocked, and Ther’s voice from inside told them to enter.
Kalas opened the door, and Aella went inside. Ther was sitting at his desk, examining documents.
“Grand Duke.”
Aella called out to him in a tearful voice.
Ther looked up, his brow furrowing.
“Aella.”
Ther put down his quill, rose from his seat, and approached Aella with a worried expression. Tears streamed down Aella’s face as she looked at him.
Ther took out a handkerchief embroidered with lavender and carefully wiped away Aella’s tears.
“I came because I was anxious.”
Aella’s chin trembled. She was afraid that there might be no way to escape this unwanted fate.
“I’m scared. I hate the Crown Prince.”
Aella hated the way the Crown Prince looked at her. That look as if she were his possession.
“I will never send you to the Imperial family.”
Ther hugged Aella and spoke firmly.
“Really?”
Aella rested her head on Ther’s shoulder. This was what she wanted to hear.
“I promise. I will let you live as Aella Motita, not as the Crown Princess.”
Aella breathed in Ther’s scent deeply. Her pounding heart felt like it was calming down.
*Yes, this promise is enough. Because Ther always keeps his promises.*
—
**\*\*\***
House Petra and House Motita decided to hasten the wedding. They judged that once they were married, even the Imperial family wouldn’t be able to do anything.
Gifts and rare fabrics sent by Ther piled up at House Petra every day. Ther was more proactive about this wedding than anyone else, to the point where the Duchess of Petra said there was nothing left for them to prepare separately.
Then one day, Duke Petra entered the family room with a pale face. His hand, holding a piece of paper, trembled slightly.
“Father?”
Aella blinked, looking at the ashen-faced Duke Petra.
“The Grand Duke Motita has sent a letter of annulment.”
“…What? A letter of annulment?”
At her father’s words, Aella’s mind went blank. *Ther is breaking off the engagement with me?*
“A letter of annulment?”
The Duchess of Petra snatched the annulment letter her husband was holding and confirmed it, her face looking as if she would faint at any moment.
“There’s no way Ther would do that. He made me a promise.”
Tears streamed down from Aella’s green eyes. She couldn’t believe it.
He had clearly promised to let her live as Aella Motita…
“The Grand Duke Motita is too adamant. I couldn’t change his mind.”
Duke Petra looked at Aella with a pained expression.
“Is the Imperial family’s pressure that severe? So much that even Grand Duke Motita cannot withstand it?”
“He didn’t go into details, but the reason must be significant. House Motita’s loyalty to the Imperial family is so strong they wouldn’t hesitate to give their very lives.”
Duke Petra’s face was wretched as he answered his wife’s question.
Leaving her worried parents behind, a dazed Aella headed to her room. Curling up on her bed, Aella’s tears fell.
“Aella, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
Just then, Media sat on the edge of the bed and asked.
Aella sat up and answered Media.
“The Grand Duke says he wants to break off the engagement with me.”
“Oh, Aella.”
Media made a sympathetic face.
“What do I do? What should I do, Media?”
“Aella, I have a good idea. Do you want to hear it?”
“What is it?”
Aella’s eyes lit up with hope. It seemed Media would tell her a good way.
“But it’s something difficult for you to do. It will tarnish your honor as a noble lady.”
“I don’t care. Just tell me quickly.”
“Beg the Grand Duke. Ask him to hold you. Ask to spend the night together.”
Media whispered in a low voice.
“But without even being married, how could I…”
Flustered, Aella trailed off.
Media shrugged as if there was no other way.
“I told you it was difficult.”
Media twisted one corner of her mouth.
*I knew it. You’re just a spoiled child who can’t do anything.*
Media was quite enjoying Aella’s misfortune.
—
**\*\*\***
In the end, House Petra accepted the changed fate.
The engagement with Grand Duke Motita was broken, and an engagement with the Crown Prince was made. Aella, who had gone from Grand Duchess to Crown Princess, fell asleep crying every day.
Everyone in House Petra was busy preparing for the wedding, but no one was happy. Except for Media, who enjoyed Aella’s misfortune.
Tears streamed down Aella’s face as she looked out the dark window at the world outside.
She didn’t want to become the Crown Princess. She only wanted to live by Ther’s side, sharing the same laughter with him…
—
*’Beg the Grand Duke. Ask him to hold you. Ask to spend the night together.’*
—
Just then, she remembered what Media had said the other day.
Those words, which she had thought nonsense, now felt like the only way to save her.
“I have to go to Ther.”
Before it was too late.
Aella left the room with a gaunt face.
Aella’s green eyes shimmered as she rode in a carriage toward the lake castle.
Before long, the carriage stopped at the ferry landing of the lake castle. Aella got off the carriage and told the ferryman, who came out of his hut, that she had come to see Ther.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot take you.”
But the ferryman refused. He said there were strict orders from the Grand Duke not to let any outsiders in.
Aella was shocked by the fact that she was now considered an outsider. Trying not to show it, Aella spoke.
“Then please convey that Aella Petra requests an audience.”
“Yes, understood.”
The ferryman hesitated, then returned to his hut.
After he disappeared, Aella headed toward the ferry. She knew the answer would be for her to go back. It would be better to distract the ferryman and go herself.
Aella boarded the ferry and began to row. The ferry wobbled unsteadily as it headed toward the lake castle.
About halfway there, the boat shook violently. *Whoa—.* Startled, Aella lost hold of the oar. She reached out to grab it, but lost her balance and fell straight into the lake.
“Ack!”
Aella’s scream spread out.
Her entire body felt like it was freezing in the cold water. No matter how vigorously she kicked her arms and legs, her dress wrapped around her body, pulling her down beneath the surface.
Just as her consciousness was fading, Aella was suddenly pulled out of the water. When she came to, she was on the ferry.
“…Ther.”
Across from her sat Ther, his face flushed and wet from the water. Realizing that Ther was the one who had saved her, Aella’s eyes reddened.
Without a word, Ther rowed toward the landing. A cool wind blew between them, shrouded in silence.
Soon, the boat arrived at the landing. Ther, who had disembarked first, reached out his hand to Aella. Aella took his hand and got off the ferry.
“Grand Duke!”
The ferryman ran toward them.
“Bring a blanket.”
At Ther’s command, the ferryman hurried back to his hut.
Once they were alone, Ther turned his gaze to Aella.
“That was reckless.”
“Am I really going to marry the Crown Prince like this?”
Aella approached Ther and asked.
Ther avoided her gaze.
“You promised to let me live as Aella Motita.”
Seeing Ther turn away from her, Aella broke down in sorrow.
“Why didn’t you keep your promise? Ther, say something.”
“Go back now, Lady Petra.”
Ther’s firm voice cut through Aella’s sobs.
At his cold, resounding words, Aella’s body trembled slightly.
“Wha…?”
“I hope something like this never happens again.”
Ther spoke with an utterly calm face.
Aella looked at him with resentful eyes and slowly opened her mouth.
“Ther, I want to be with you tonight. Hold me.”
