The Sigrasal Castle looked colder than I remembered.

Looking out the window from inside the carriage, Ophelia felt slightly relieved to see that those standing in front of the castle gate were the same as she remembered. Salode and Risana were waiting for them.

However, that relief faded by the time she got out of the carriage. Come to think of it, Idren should have been among them. If he wasn’t coming to pick her up, he should at least be waiting, shouldn’t he?

Holding Penrel’s hand as she had done throughout the journey, Ophelia stepped out of the carriage and walked towards the castle gate where her husband – or fiancé – was absent.

“This is Her Highness, the Princess from Leden.”

When Penrel introduced her like that, Ophelia felt a bit burdened by those words. Having lived as a princess for over twenty years, it felt strange to be addressed by title.

Salode, who looked half the size he was when she last saw him, kissed her hand.

In her past life, he was a man who had been at odds with her since Starlet’s execution, but Ophelia could face him calmly now.

On her way north to Edegrun, she had heard that the captain of the Black Foam was still alive and well. Though she hadn’t looked into it closely, it seemed he still enjoyed flaunting his handsome face here and there as a hobby.

In this life, Ophelia intended to keep her distance from him. Not just because he was a pirate.

If they were to be in a relationship where knowing each other would become a weakness, wouldn’t it be better to remain strangers?

Still, she was quite glad to hear he was doing well. Even though she knew Starlet was a pirate who frequently plundered the southern islands. After all, she wasn’t someone who prioritized morality above all else, and anyone would be pleased to hear that someone they cared about was safe.

But the one whose news she was most curious about was, without a doubt, Idren.

Judging by the matters he had handled, his body seemed to be in good condition, but… still.

She thought she would be able to see Idren once they entered the castle.

Until then, Ophelia had thought he had simply not come out to greet her.

In other words, she hadn’t anticipated the situation where he had left the castle entirely.

Penrel’s expression had hardened after a brief conversation with Salode.

Still, given that Idren had committed more than one or two deeds, it wouldn’t be strange to assume it was because of that. After all, when those at the top stirred up trouble, those below were bound to be caught up in it too.

Isn’t it natural for people to worry about their future?

However, even after letting her into the castle, the knight didn’t leave to confer with his colleague. Instead, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Actually, His Majesty has left his post.”

Only then did Ophelia realize why the knight had been so tense all along. It seemed he had been embarrassed to say that the master was absent when his betrothed had arrived.

“That’s alright. Did they say when he would return?”

She asked, thinking he had probably just gone out for an inspection at most.

But Penrel’s expression became even more awkward at her words.

“Well… we can’t predict when he’ll return.”

And the knight explained the situation using the gentlest and most polite words possible.

However, no matter how verbose the explanation became, the main point couldn’t be obscured.

Ophelia, who had been listening to Penrel’s words for a while, raised an eyebrow.

“So, you’re saying that the king left for the battlefield as soon as he arrived in the capital?”

“…If we look at just the conclusion, that’s correct.”

“And nobody knows when he’ll return?”

“Well, given the nature of war…”

“Okay, putting all that aside, he didn’t leave even a single word for me?”

Unable to sugarcoat that part, Penrel closed his mouth. The knight, who had been rolling his eyes in silence, made an excuse in a smaller voice.

“But he did leave behind some assets. If you manage those for now, probably…”

“Will he be back before the wedding?”

The words came out sharper than she intended.

Even if someone had a misunderstanding or was upset, there was a reasonable limit.

Ophelia wanted to believe that the man she liked wasn’t so narrow-minded as to send a proxy to their wedding.

And the wedding was scheduled for summer.

Ophelia didn’t think the war with Brinwell – which Idren had provoked – would be resolved by that summer, which was only a few months away.

“No, that can’t be possible. Is he postponing the wedding?”

The knight seemed a bit taken aback by her suddenly prickly attitude, but he answered without losing his composure.

“According to the financial advisor, he said he would return by then.”

“…If that’s true, he must be quite the military genius.”

Penrel bowed his head to her sarcastic remark.

“I apologize.”

“No, it’s not your fault.”

Yes, all the responsibility lay with Idren Sigrasal. If this knight was at fault for anything, it was only for not being able to foresee the future.

And who in the world can see the future?

Ophelia sighed and tried to view the situation positively.

“We did arrive in Edegrun earlier than our scheduled itinerary, so it’s understandable that we missed each other… Wait, didn’t you write a letter?”

When they were crossing the canal, the knight had sent a letter to inform his master of the changed schedule.

At this, Penrel’s expression became even more apologetic.

“Judging by the fact that the messenger who went after him hasn’t returned… the news may not have reached him yet.”

“…I see.”

What good would it do to get angrier at this point?

Ophelia didn’t want to badger the knight who was already troubled enough.

She also thought that regardless of what Idren was thinking, he was actively trashing his own reputation in real-time, so she should at least try to show a better image.

After all, even though they were strangers now, once married, they would be of the same status.

First, she needed to understand exactly what the situation was.

Ophelia sighed and rubbed her face once.

“What did you mean earlier by the assets the king left behind?”

Siana trembled, curled up on the bed in the room prepared for her inside the royal castle.

It had been over a month since she started staying in the royal castle.

About a month ago, Siana’s small and certain world was turned upside down overnight.

The cause was the royal knights who suddenly invaded the castle.

Led by the red-haired commander, the knights rushed in with swords and spears and took her father away.

At that time, Siana was locked in the punishment room, so she didn’t know exactly what the situation was.

While she was trembling in fear at the ominous sounds from outside, suddenly the door of the punishment room opened. Elbet, who usually ignored her at every turn as her father’s assistant, was standing there, completely disheveled.

“Young lady, don’t dawdle in there, come out quickly!”

And Elbet tried to grab her arm and pull her out. Not yet having grasped the situation, Siana stood up as he told her to, not yet adjusted to the sudden flood of light.

It was then that something hot splattered on her face.

The rough grip on her arm loosened.

With a “Kuk, kkuluk” strange sound, Elbet collapsed.

After blinking a few times, Siana realized what had happened.

A blade had pierced Elbet’s back.

The man lying face down on the floor writhed. Siana opened her mouth to scream at the grotesque sight. But her voice wouldn’t come out properly.

Just as she thought she was not only stumbling over words but even her breath, Siana realized someone was standing in front of her. A long shadow was cast over the fallen Elbet.

Raising her head to confirm the owner of that shadow, she met the red-haired knight looking down at her.

“Are you Miss Siana Nevel?”

The knight, with blood speckled on his face, asked her.

As her voice still wouldn’t come out properly, Siana moved her stiff neck. Until just moments ago, her whole body had been aching from the punishment, but now she could barely feel the pain.

The knight looked down at her, hiccupping with fear, for a moment before extending his hand.

“The king is looking for you.”

Siana tried to take that hand and stand up, but her legs wouldn’t support her.

The red-haired knight looked down at her and bent his waist.

In the blink of an eye, the knight who had lifted her up said with a still inscrutable face,

“You don’t need to be afraid. The king said he won’t harm Miss Nevel.”

And after a moment’s hesitation, the knight said in a low voice. “My name is Hazel Chesa.” That monotone introduction must have been meant to reassure her.

However, as there was a squelching sound with each step the knight took, Siana just couldn’t feel at ease.

Ultimately, the knight’s words were correct.

The king did not harm her.

Looking down at the numerous people who had been captured, including her, in the audience chamber, the king pointed at her and said,

“Take her to Risana.”

Hazel, the knight who had brought Siana to the royal castle, followed that order and took her to the head maid.

The head maid gave her a room.

Though it wasn’t much different from the room she had used in Nevel Castle, Siana cried all night without being able to sleep. Not because her father had been captured, but because she didn’t know what would happen from now on.

Before long, Siana learned that the king had not only confined her in the royal castle, but also a young boy. A commoner boy named Dahel was said to have been captured from the south.

“There was a similar incident in our territory as well.”

Fortunately, the young master wasn’t captured like me… And the boy added with a face full of worry,

“I don’t know if the young master is doing well.”

But they were in no position to worry about others.

Since being captured and brought to the royal castle, Siana felt like she was walking on thin ice every day. She was scared of everything because she didn’t know what would happen next.

In the end, she decided to stay in her assigned room as much as possible. That seemed the safest option.

Counting the days like that, over a month had passed before she knew it. Siana, who had roughly wiped her sore eyes from crying so much, hugged her knees.

It was then that she heard a knock on the door from outside.

“Miss Siana, you have a visitor.”

“A, visitor?”

Is there a visitor who would come to see me?

As she usually had no friends, let alone acquaintances she kept in touch with, Siana couldn’t immediately understand those words.

However, the door opened before she could grasp the situation.

Just like in the punishment room before, bright light poured into the dark room. As it was dazzling, Siana instinctively furrowed her brow.

Only after blinking a few times could she recognize the person standing in the doorway.

“Hello?”

A silver-haired woman she had never seen before in her life was looking at her with a gentle expression.