It was a clear day without a single cloud.

At the main gate of Letiana Palace, more than 10 carriages and imperial knights escorting them were lined up in order.

Ariel bid farewell to her parents. The queen’s hand that had been stroking her head moved down to her cheek to wipe away Ariel’s tears. Kaius, who had taken shelter from the midday sun under the shade of a tree, silently watched the scene.

When the waiting time seemed to be getting long, King Leon stepped forward. As if it was time to part, Ariel headed towards the carriage of Letiana Palace with Anna.

Kaius also moved towards her. Seeing her eyelids all red from crying, he felt at a loss, not knowing what to do. He didn’t know how to comfort a crying woman. He never needed to know.

“Get in now.”

Kaius’s gaze was indifferent as he opened the carriage door.

As the carriages and horses started to move, the sound shook the ground. The dusty soil kicked up by their departure took a long time to settle.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kaius and Ariel’s party entered the streets of Tris a week after leaving Letiana.

They traveled non-stop on the same schedule every day – riding in carriages, resting adequately, sleeping in hotels or inns. During that boring time, Kaius was indifferent to Ariel.

Thanks to this, Ariel was able to become quite close with Lemon, the assistant, Sir Carsen, the knight commander, and Hearn, the ducal family’s doctor. They welcomed Ariel more than she expected.

Meanwhile, Kaius was attacked by monsters once more, and Ariel silently treated him without asking anything.

“Wow… Lady Ariel, the Empire really is the Empire.”

Anna’s eyes widened as she stretched her neck out the window, busy taking in the sights. The center of Tris, famous as a commercial city, was a surprisingly different world. Hotels and cafes, boutiques, specialized shops, and even sophisticated and lively people to match.

In the past, Ariel had gone out to the city once with Anna. That day, Ariel returned to the duke’s mansion late at night. Kaius, whom she met at the entrance, didn’t get angry, but ordered that all future outings should be reported to him.

After that day, Ariel never went out again. It was also because of that memory that she included a related clause in the contract.

As she emerged from the distant memory of the past, the carriage gradually began to slow down. It was Mofa Street, lined with boutiques and jewelry stores. Peeking out the window, she saw Kaius and Lemon getting out of the carriage in front.

“Um… Lady Ariel, should we get out too?”

Anna asked upon seeing the two, but Ariel shook her head. If they needed to get out, Kaius’s steps would have been towards them, not across the street to the shop.

Kaius, who had entered the jewelry store, didn’t take long as if it was a short errand, and soon came out. Following him, Lemon was holding what looked like a luxurious box.

“It seems he bought some jewelry.”

“It seems so.”

Kaius had personally come to pick up the wedding gifts he had requested in advance before departing from the Kingdom of Letiana. They were ornaments to match the ring passed down to the duchess for generations.

Kaius, who was about to return directly to the carriage, turned his head towards Ariel’s carriage across the street. Only by narrowing his eyes against the afternoon sun could he confirm her appearance. Ariel, who was looking at him with a straight gaze.

He was a little concerned about her, who hadn’t complained once despite what must have been a difficult journey.

Ariel had been more urgent, saying there wasn’t much time to prepare for the upcoming ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ competition. It was perhaps the natural responsibility she should have, given that she was in charge of the steak section. He was somewhat worried if he had put too much pressure on her, but.

When talking about it, Ariel’s eyes sparkled like the surface of a lake under the sunlight.

Kaius, having averted his gaze from her, crossed the street towards his carriage with wide strides.

“Your Grace, the princess and Anna must have been quite surprised, right? This must be their first time seeing such a bustling street.”

“I suppose so.”

“By the way, it’s going to be quite busy for a while. With the competition. The wedding.”

Kaius, who had been nodding slowly, gradually closed his eyes. This morning, when he mentioned that the wedding would be in a week, Ariel carefully offered her opinion.

[Your Grace, I think it would be better to postpone the wedding until after the cooking competition is over.]

Kaius was dumbfounded, even shocked, at Ariel’s suggestion to postpone the wedding as if rescheduling a dinner appointment. Why would the woman who had so desperately wanted to marry him say such a thing? In the empire where she had no one to rely on, becoming the duchess as soon as possible should have been her top priority.

That wasn’t the only incomprehensible thing.

When Kaius said there was no need for that, Ariel replied that she would prepare for the competition herself, surprising him.

A princess and future duchess grilling steaks.

Kaius was at a loss for words for a while as she spoke such unbelievable things so earnestly. To his absolute refusal, Ariel came back with a question that hit the mark.

[Don’t you want to win?]

In the end, they agreed to assign one of the hotel chefs to train Ariel, and only then did they decide to hold the wedding as scheduled.

Who was worrying about whom, exactly?

A helpless sigh escaped Kaius’s lips as he recalled the confusing situation from the morning.

“…Your Grace?”

Kaius slowly opened his eyes at Lemon’s voice.

“Will you send an invitation to His Majesty the Emperor as well?”

“That would be for the best.”

The top graduate of the Knight Academy was Kaius, and the runner-up was Crown Prince Hart. Although Hart’s position was higher on the battlefield, the soldiers trusted and followed Kaius more. Emperor Hart’s jealousy towards Kaius intensified after Kaius’s victory in the war against the demon realm.

That’s why Ariel’s marriage to Kaius was arranged. The pretext was to show respect to the one who led the war to victory, but the marriage itself was Emperor Hart’s scheme to defeat Kaius.

So Emperor Hart will surely attend his wedding.

To mock him ostentatiously.

[This is the timeline separator]

As they entered the road leading to the Elbartan mansion, a forest path dyed in natural colors appeared. It was Tris’s beautiful autumn.

Only as the forest was ending did the main gate of the mansion come into view. Above it, the black wing emblem sparkled in the autumn sunlight. Even after that, they had to drive down the cypress-lined path for quite some time before the red-brown roofed mansion began to appear.

From the moment they passed through the main gate, Ariel couldn’t even turn her head towards the window, only muttering to herself.

This is not the past, I’m well-prepared, and Kaius has definitely changed. So don’t worry.

“Lady Ariel, are you alright? Your face is so pale.”

Anna, seeing Ariel’s face tinged with anxiety, took both her hands.

“Don’t worry. I’m here, aren’t I?”

Anna brought her face close and crossed her eyes. At that sight, Ariel burst into laughter, “Pfft,” and her tension eased.

“Yes… Thank you, Anna. I’m fine now.”

Right. I can never forget the past, nor should I. So remember, but don’t be swayed by it.

Eventually, the carriage began to slow down gradually.

At the entrance, the Elbartan knights who had come out to greet the duke returning after a long time were saluting. Behind them, dozens of servants were bowing in greeting.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

The first to greet was Butler Raymond.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

Following him, his relative Rosalyn greeted. Kaius nodded briefly and immediately moved to the carriage behind.

“I greet you, My Lady.”

As Ariel got out of the carriage, Butler Raymond greeted her. He was the only one who had shown her warmth in the mansion in the past, and this time too, he called her ‘My Lady’ even before the wedding.

“I greet you, Princess. You must have had a hard journey.”

Ah. This woman was here. The beautiful and sensual Rosalyn.

For Kaius, whose mother had passed away early, there was a relative who often took care of him when he was young, and Rosalyn was that lady’s daughter.

“Ah, I am Rosalyn Vianne. My father is Count Vianne, and my mother is a relative of the Duke.”

Rosalyn quickly added as Ariel stared at her blankly. Ariel knew well. The fact that she had been staying here for quite some time under the pretext of helping with the household of the duke’s mansion that had no mistress.

“Let’s go inside.”

As Ariel placed her hand on the arm he offered while looking at Rosalyn, Kaius led her inside. The first thing that caught her eye was the magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The stairs leading to the upper floor were in a straight line facing the entrance.

As the two crossed the lobby and approached the stairs, another carriage arrived.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Your Grace, you’ve finally returned.”

A middle-aged gentleman appeared, wearing glasses and holding a black cane. The first to react to his appearance was Lemon. He let out a small scream and opened his mouth, looking at the middle-aged gentleman.

“Mr. Devian, you’re being too much. We just arrived.”

His gaze briefly swept over Lemon before turning to Kaius.

“I rushed here in haste. It’s news that Your Grace has succeeded where we failed.”

At Devian’s words, Kaius’s gaze unconsciously turned to Ariel. Watching the scene from behind, Rosalyn stepped forward.

“Your Grace, Mr. Devian, please attend to your business. I’ll guide the princess to her bedroom.”

Rosalyn said, smiling kindly as she moved close to Kaius’s side. As if she were offering to clear away an annoying obstacle for him.

Kaius hesitated for a moment.

Whether it would be alright to leave this woman alone in an unfamiliar place. Or whether he should reveal her double life to Devian and discuss it together. On the other hand, he also found it amusing that he was having such concerns for the first time, and a smirk escaped him.

But the choice was not his to make.

“Ariel, this is Devian Ark, the representative of Kaldenbach. You must be tired, but would you like to meet with me?”

Rosalyn’s eyes widened, having expected to be told to go up first. Not only her, but Devian, Lemon, and Butler Raymond, who were standing around, let out a short gasp of “Huk” between their lips.

My goodness.

This was an unprecedented shock.

A woman at a business meeting? Was the rumor true that he fell in love with the princess at first sight and brought her right away? Devian pondered seriously.

At that moment when everyone was in shock, only Anna looked at Ariel with sparkling eyes, proud of her.