The short summer of the Northland had come to an end, and the weather was getting colder.

At the end of October, Cyrus, having worked through the night, finally emerged from his office well after the dawn had broken.

Taking in the sight of the corridor, Cyrus felt like he was in a dream.

Luxurious flowers adorned the entire corridor, white carpets laid on the floor, and the air was warm enough to make one sweat.

Due to the colder climate in the Northland, flowers were precious, especially at this time when winter was beginning. Most of the flowers were grown in greenhouses, making them quite expensive.

When the nobles of the Northland decorated their mansions with flowers for parties, it would be an extravagant affair.

And a white carpet, too.

Although most buildings in the Northland were white, and even the Maho Castle itself was as white as snow, its interior was decorated in the distinctive colors of the Northland – black and red. The carpet on the floor was also a deep shade of red, creating an elegant atmosphere.

But now, the Maho Castle seemed like…

‘Like a wedding hall.’

Cyrus walked down the corridor, his face wrinkled in an impression.

Having left Duke Heron in his feelings for losing an old friend for a long time, Cyrus had left him alone. Now, it seemed that Duke Heron was going to tear down the entire Maho Castle. It was time to stop Duke Heron.

As Cyrus walked, intending to find Duke Heron, he bumped into Andrei, who was walking towards him from the opposite direction.

“And…”

“Oh, Cyrus. We meet at the right time.”

Watching Andrei rush towards him with an excited expression, Cyrus observed with a suspicious feeling. Andrei, who stopped in front of Cyrus, spoke.

“Oh, dear. Looks like you pulled an all-nighter. You seem exhausted.”

“Andrei. It seems like your father plans to empty the national treasury for something…?”

“Oh, this? It’s exquisite. Although our father is quite old, doesn’t he have a subtle sense of style?”

Andrei was cheerful even in the face of Duke Heron’s misdeeds.

Something was definitely strange. Something unknown was happening in this Maho Castle.

“Andrei, I’ve been patient, considering Duke Heron’s feelings until now, but I can’t anymore.”

“Yeah, yeah. No more patience. Come this way for now. Everyone is waiting.”

“What are they waiting for?”

“Isaac’s return.”

Cyrus’s handsome face twisted in confusion.

“Isaac’s return…”

“He sent a letter yesterday. He should be arriving soon.”

Cyrus was dumbfounded, unable to come up with a counterargument.

While Isaac had been away from the Northland longer than usual, his return had never been celebrated with such extravagance. When Cyrus returned, there was never a situation where Maho Castle was being torn apart in anticipation.

Guided by Andrei, Cyrus went outside and arrived at the castle gate. There, he was even more speechless.

Knights and courtiers were standing at attention in front of the gate. They were watching outside the gate with determined expressions, as if awaiting the return of a king.

“What on earth is this…”
Cyrus, bewildered, pursed his lips in confusion when someone shouted.

“He’s here!”

Here? Who? Isaac? Did that guy manage to ascend to the throne without my knowledge? Why is everyone so eagerly waiting for Isaac when I, the Northern Crown Prince, am right here? They don’t even acknowledge my presence.

While Cyrus was lost in confusion, Isaac, who was riding a horse, entered through the castle gate. Isaac looked around at the people waiting for him and gracefully raised one hand.

“Oh, oh. I didn’t expect everyone to come out and welcome me like this.”

Of course not. I didn’t expect it either.

Cyrus had suspected that the world had turned upside down while he was stuck in his office.

Strangely, no one reacted to Isaac’s words. The people who had come out in front of the gate were watching behind Isaac.

At that moment, a carriage slowly entered through the castle gate. It was an ordinary carriage with no extravagant decorations.

Until the carriage stopped and the escorting knights opened the carriage door, no one spoke. In the silence of a gathering place that didn’t seem crowded, the carriage door opened, and a woman descended.

With a tawny complexion and bright red hair, she was a face Cyrus had never seen before.

She extended a polite hand towards the inside of the carriage, and a delicate and small hand reached out to hers.

The moment Cyrus saw that hand, his world fell silent.

‘No way…’

Without realizing that his heart was beating slightly faster, Cyrus stared with wide eyes at the person getting off the carriage.

Tiny feet, violet-colored fringe fluttering lightly in the wind, followed by hair resembling the clear sky.

As Ariana finally emerged from the carriage and flashed a bright smile towards the people who came to greet her, they cheered.

“Welcome, Princess!”

“Welcome to the Northland!”

Cyrus held his breath.

‘Surely, I must be dreaming.’