Johann, descending the central staircase, stopped and slowly turned around. The empty white wall caught his eye.

His ashen eyes deepened as he stared at the place where his and Olivia’s portraits used to hang.

Regardless of who he used to recover the substantial investment poured into securing the Dublin Stadium when Edgar took over, it had nothing to do with him.

Just like when he pulled in Princess Annblin to the Lontos Kingdom.

But.

If the target was Olivia.

A gentle ripple spread in the emotionless and silent pupils.

The flags representing various nations fluttered in the breeze.

The platform and station square were bustling with crowds welcoming Princess Krantz’s official visit to the Lontos Kingdom.

Morris was quite surprised, even more than when the princess visited to get engaged to Prince Christian.
It seemed to be the result of the commotion caused by Olivia Blanchett.

“There, there she comes.”

The luxury train, adorned with golden decorations on a turquoise exterior, was gradually slowing down as it entered Leiden Central Station.

The gazes of the onlookers gathered to see the princess converged on one spot, and a murmur of excitement began.

“Oh, this is just too much. To reclaim your seat at such a young age.”

Someone grumbled while clicking their tongue.

“What’s wrong with it? It’s not like our duke, who was caught by a widow. Now that he’s finally found his match. Instead of congratulations, he can’t even say that. If someone hears, it’s like an old man over fifty marrying.”

“Stop it. Everyone can hear.”

The woman who stared at Johann on the crimson carpet lowered her voice and spoke.

“Don’t worry about those high-ranking folks in the old sayings. They don’t lose anything marrying and divorcing. Who cares about others.”

We can hear everything. We hear it all.

Maurice observed Johann’s reaction.

There was no way to block his ears, so he couldn’t help but hear what was being said amidst the noise created by the multitude. Strangely, among the numerous sounds produced by the crowd, the cursing words stood out, penetrating his ears.

Maurice looked at Johann with an admiring gaze. How could someone be so peaceful after hearing rumors about themselves?

He stood there with no change in expression, maintaining a straight posture.

With sharp and arrogant eyes and a serene face, Johann stared straight ahead.

Johann lightly shook his wrist and lifted the cuff with his fingertips. The silver wristwatch pointed to 4:10.

In his idleness, Johann closed his eyes for a moment.

“…Did you say you would marry me?”
“Why. Are you disappointed because I’m not a crown prince?”

Crazy bastard.

Johann, recalling the day he first met Olivia, opened his eyes and spat out a curse.

At the same time as the door of the private compartment adorned with the Krantz ducal crest opened.

Beyond the window of the carriage turning around the central fountain in the square, sparkling particles scattered in various colors.

Johann gazed at the cityscape from the swaying carriage with a sense of indulgence.

The princess, who had been smiling elegantly on the platform of Leiden Central Station, remained silent where the spectators and journalists had disappeared.

Neither of them treated each other as an engagement partner.

For Johann, who wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict, he liked this silence.

The woman in a glossy silver silk dress exuded the grace befitting a princess of a country.

The violet ribbon decoration crossing her chest emitted a golden radiance in the sunlight streaming through the carriage window.

Satisfaction arising from a sense of kinship as royals. A relationship where they understood each other’s obligations and knew how to uphold their respective duties.

In that sense, the woman’s status was perfect, and her attitude was seasoned, making her perfectly suitable for the role of a wife.
Leaning his elbows on the windowsill, Johann, who had been pinching the pulse on his wrist with long fingers, lowered his forearm slightly.

Johann, with a cold watch on his thick-boned wrist, cast his gaze back through the window.

The carriage had now left the upscale shopping district and hotel-dense area, traversing the leg of the goddess famous for delicate ornate decorations.

As the sun began to set, the walkways on both sides of the bridge, crowded with pedestrians, were bustling with people looking to see the Daphne River tinged with twilight.

Among them, the central railing of the bridge, standing tall in front of the golden statue of the goddess, formed a bustling crowd of couples waiting in line for a kiss.

They were worshippers of the goddess Arche, who bestowed eternal love.

“I have something I want to do.”
“Tell me.”

Johann remembered Olivia, who, at the age of nineteen, shyly held hands that had touched each other. Johann gave in to resistance and slowly closed his eyes.

“…I want to kiss.”
“…….”

Inside the carriage passing over the bridge, his wife, who had remembered Olivia’s face, lowered her graceful face and reached out with slender fingers.

“Over there.”

The moment he sighed at her looking at him with a resentful expression was around the time they were returning to Greathill after the wedding.

“It’s all nonsense. Olivia. Say something else.”

Tedious.

As if pushing away the unpleasant memories, Johann opened his eyes.

The gaze of Johann, who lightly traced the eye area with gloved fingertips due to fatigue from the pathetic reminiscence, suddenly narrowed.