The New Year’s gathering began. It was a time when the temple offered blessings of fire for a peaceful new year, and the capital held festivals to commemorate peace.

The nobles organized banquets or held special salons to ensure safety and well-being.

The imperial family also hosted a banquet. Veronica and Cassian gathered to attend this New Year’s meeting.

They entered together. This too was by the emperor’s order.

As soon as they entered, all eyes turned to them. The pressure that was once burdensome had now become somewhat familiar. They could now enjoy it comfortably and smile with ease.

The emperor’s mouth was split wide, almost reaching his ears, at the sight of the two entering side by side. He seemed quite pleased to see the desired picture from their entrance.

The emperor conspicuously called the two to stand beside him.

Those who came to pay respects to the emperor and empress naturally had to take interest in the two.

“Oh! Beside you are His Highness Theron and the rumored Princess, are they not?”

“Have you heard the news as well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Congratulations.”

“Ahaha!”

In fact, the engagement of the two was already known to those who should know, and it had been publicized to the point that they had experienced such situations several times.

However, the emperor, seemingly never tiring of it, set up the two like statues every time and boasted about them.

People also pretended not to know and played along with the emperor’s mood. And the emperor would grin widely and be pleased.

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you.”

And Veronica also played along appropriately with this amusing farce. As the emperor wished, she clung to Cassian’s arm and showed an affectionate appearance.

A small whisper was heard from beside her.

“Don’t cling too much.”

Veronica turned her head and made eye contact. What now?

“…I’ll be watching.”

She didn’t ask who. There was only one person he truly kept an eye on.

Veronica’s lips twisted. She pressed her body even closer to Cassian. Immediately, a gaze flew her way.

She didn’t check, but he was probably making an expression that asked if she was listening to him now. Veronica pretended not to notice. While doing so, she glanced at the man standing down below.

After some time had passed, the emperor granted the two their freedom. His true intention seemed to be hoping they would spend time alone and grow closer.

The two gladly accepted the emperor’s favor. They wanted to quickly go somewhere without people.

However, their path was soon blocked, surrounded by people.

“Prince Cassian Theron.”

“Miss Veronica Hardness.”

The surroundings quickly became crowded. People whose faces they didn’t even know mentioned connections they couldn’t remember and tried to act familiar.

If they didn’t know who someone was, they would even introduce themselves directly.

Originally, Veronica hadn’t received much positive attention in social circles, but her recent changed behavior had somewhat recovered her image, and Cassian was in a similar position.

The most important point was that they were the two people currently receiving great attention from the emperor.

In the past few months, the look in people’s eyes towards the two had changed. Veronica felt tired again as she smiled at people who were desperate to curry favor somehow.

She wanted to leave this place quickly. Fortunately, Cassian seemed to feel the same way, as he tried to move away while roughly receiving people’s greetings.

But as one group dispersed, another new group would approach, and when that one left, yet another crowd would cling to them.

“Theron.”

At that moment, the crown prince appeared as the crowd in front parted.

The two immediately lowered their bodies. The crown prince smiled and received their greetings.

“You must be tired from having to show your faces so often these days, yet you still came to this event.”

“It’s a place to bless the New Year, after all.”

“It is indeed a meaningful occasion. Come to think of it, there was that incident last time. We shouldn’t have such things happening in the New Year.”

“How could such a thing happen to me again when Your Highness the Crown Prince is in good health?”

“Ahaha, you rascal.”

On the surface, it seemed like an appropriately friendly conversation. But Veronica noticed that the boisterous laughter was strangely off.

This New Year’s banquet was directly hosted by the crown prince on behalf of the emperor.

The crown prince should have been the main character today, but in reality, the two of them ended up receiving most of the attention.

Moreover, the emperor himself had put the two forward as the main characters. He must be dissatisfied and anxious.

The crown prince’s narrowed eyes flashed like a blade. It was a cold gaze trying to see through their true intentions.

Cassian must surely be feeling that too. The crown prince was now expressing his dissatisfaction towards Cassian.

“I wonder if you saw that child who came. Well, you might have been too busy receiving people’s greetings. It’s strange to see you fellows who always stuck together now apart. I suppose you can’t always be together forever.”

The crown prince’s hand patted Cassian’s shoulder. The tendon on Cassian’s tightly clenched jaw protruded. The crown prince smiled with satisfaction.

The chilling aura also hid behind the shadows.

He was now firmly established as the crown prince, and there were also the second and third princes following him. The fourth and fifth princes probably wouldn’t even be within his range of concern.

But the imperial throne is something no one knows about until one sits on it.

‘And it actually happened.’

Did the crown prince ever sense that this insignificant brother before his eyes would one day aid in usurping the throne?

That he would lose the throne, lead a rebellion, fail, and be brutally killed. That future. Was it too late when he sensed it?

Only Veronica knew the ultimate fate of this crown prince.

Soon after, the crown prince’s gaze turned to Veronica. Veronica lowered her eyes.

“Miss Hardness. It’s nice to see you like this.”

“Yes, Your Highness. May God’s grace be with you.”

As she gave the New Year’s blessing, the crown prince took Veronica’s hand. His moist lips touched the back of her hand.

“It’s a pity. I wanted to escort you myself.”

“Your words alone are an honor.”

What nonsense, with the crown princess watching with both eyes open. Veronica laughed it off.

After the crown prince left, people also started to drift away one by one.

Building relationships with those who had gained the emperor’s favor was important, but not as much as the crown prince who was likely to inherit the throne.

They quickly left their seats to form connections with the greatest power. Perhaps this was what the crown prince had wanted.

Veronica stared intently at the departing crown prince. Then, as Cassian started to move, Veronica followed him a beat later.

Cassian, who had roughly responded to passing people, headed towards a secluded space. Veronica came and stood by his side.

The gazes were still upon them, but no one else clung to them anymore.

Veronica relaxed her smiling expression and massaged her stiff shoulders. These kinds of occasions were indeed tiring.

As she sighed and released her tension, her cheek had been tingling for a while. When she turned her head, Cassian was staring down at her.

“What’s the matter?”

“Your leg… seems to be fine.”

“Ahaha.”

Veronica laughed pleasantly. Displeasure clouded Cassian’s face, but she couldn’t help but laugh.

“You ask every time we meet. There’s no problem walking now. The wound has healed well too. See, I’m walking just fine, aren’t I?”

At those words, a hint of relief crossed his stoic face. Noticing this, Veronica leisurely continued.

“The scar is a bit long, so it’s difficult to hide, though.”

It wasn’t entirely untrue. Although the wound wasn’t deep, it left a scar about the size of a palm. Moreover, it was in an ambiguous position to hide.

Father was upset when he saw it too. She’d have to be careful in summer, but it wasn’t a bad story for her.

Worry settled on his face as the relief disappeared. Veronica smiled with satisfaction.

“How about Your Highness?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t Your Highness also injure your arm that day?”

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

Trying to act tough. Veronica gently rubbed the arm he had injured.

“Step away.”

Cassian immediately brushed off her hand. Veronica secretly clenched her fist. She glared at him openly, but this time Cassian pretended not to notice.

“Your Highness still seems too cold.”

“Perhaps what you’ve felt is correct, Miss Veronica.”

Now he’s not even choosing his words.

“Can’t you be affectionate towards me?”

“I’ve felt this before, but you seem quite greedy.”

“Have you ever tried to fulfill that greed?”

“It’s because I’m lacking. You should look for someone who can fulfill that.”

“The only one who can fulfill that is Your Highness Cassian.”

“Don’t be so sure. There are many men in the world.”

“There’s only one Cassian.”

“If you look, there might be someone similar somewhere.”

“I’d rather stay by Your Highness’s side than wait for that.”

“Don’t say such things.”

His tone was as if he was coaxing her, but his distorted face made his intention clear. Don’t say such horrible things. I don’t even want to imagine it.

“The future is uncertain.”

“Are you saying we might find other people?”

“That could happen too.”

“That will absolutely never happen.”

That was truly a needless thought. Veronica coldly rebuked.

“We’ll see.”

“So you’re thinking of seeing it through with me?”

“That mouth of yours-”

Before Cassian could finish his words, a young couple approached. It was the end of their brief respite.

Veronica immediately clung to Cassian’s arm, and Cassian closed his frowning eyelids and opened them again.

From beside them, a voice said, ‘Smile, Your Highness.’

He didn’t feel much like smiling, but he too had been trained by unintended experiences, so he could quickly compose his expression.

It was a rare moment of rest in busy days. Being constantly surrounded by gazes had been tense, leaving the body stiff.

Taking a deep breath and massaging the neck with one hand, eyes looked up at the sky beyond the glass ceiling.

Birds flew across the clear sky. The midday air carried a bit of warmth.

“Cassian.”

Lowering the gaze, a person sitting opposite came into view.

Golden hair brighter than the shining sunlight. Blue eyes with a kind aura. My brother. Asher.