On a warm spring afternoon, flower petals stirred by the breeze gently floated on Lake Sokanto.

Every year, an event heralding spring was held at this largest lake in the capital of Arkan, where nobles mainly enjoyed merriment and entertainment.

Under the pretext of strengthening friendships, heads of noble houses exchanged information they possessed and cautiously gauged each other’s positions.

Noble ladies and young ladies continued their social activities, while young nobles competed in marksmanship.

‘It’s just as boring now as it was before.’

Today, Biare had to attend the official event together as the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

She had visited before, and this event was no different from an extension of the social world.

“Princess, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

Next to her stood a tall man, raising an eyebrow and looking at Biare curiously.

“It feels like true spring has finally arrived.”

Composing her expression and feigning innocence, she smiled at Ivan and answered.

It wasn’t entirely untrue, as fully bloomed flowers surrounded the edges of the lake.

Ivan nodded slightly at this, his arm linked with hers, and lifted the corners of his mouth as if in a good mood.

“You’re right. It does feel like true spring has come.”

Biare swallowed a shallow sigh, as it seemed his mind was imagining a wedding that would never happen.

Just then, noticing a sculpted boat set up near the lakeshore, she opened her mouth to divert Ivan’s attention.

“It seems there are more elaborately crafted boats this year.”

Boating was the highlight of the event held at Lake Sokanto, and she wanted to board quickly to finish the event.

“I didn’t know the Princess had a taste for such amusements.”

Ivan looked at her as if surprised, to which Biare smiled faintly and thought.

‘If I don’t board that boat, you won’t let me go until the very end.’

There was no way he wouldn’t enjoy the event’s highlight, boating, with his fiancée at an official gathering.

Since their engagement, Ivan seemed eager to show off being close to her to other nobles, even if just a little.

“Yes, I couldn’t ride before because there were too many people.”

In the past, when Biare had visited here with Dension, there weren’t many sculpted boats, so she hadn’t even considered riding.

“Then you can ride with me this time.”

With that, Ivan nonchalantly offered his hand to her. As if it were the most natural thing.

Quietly looking at that hand, Biare hid her unsettled expression and took his hand.

As they approached the lakeshore, a quarreling couple came clearly into view.

Though she didn’t know the reason, Gaizen and his fiancée were glaring at each other while bickering.

They usually pretended to get along well in front of others, but occasionally revealed their true feelings.

As Biare quietly observed them, she momentarily met her brother’s eyes, but deliberately pretended not to see and turned her gaze away.

Ivan, who had boarded the sculpted boat first, extended his hand to Biare, and as she grasped his hand to climb aboard, it happened.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have something urgent to report.”

Ivan’s aide hurriedly approached him, and Biare, whose eyes met with the follower behind, quickly lowered her gaze.

The aide, with an unpleasant expression, whispered secretly into Ivan’s ear, just loudly enough for him to hear.

At this, he frowned as if annoyed, and then looked at Biare with an awkward expression and said.

“Princess, it seems I must return to the palace first.”

“If it’s for state affairs, of course you must.”

“As expected, my fiancée is so understanding. But wasn’t this the boat ride you wanted?”

Ivan stroked his chin thoughtfully, then looked at the young nobles standing nearby with a dubious expression.

“The Viscount Ruschef will be with his fiancée…”

Biare was about to say it was fine, as she planned to return to the mansion quickly if he left first.

“Your Highness, I really don’t…”

“Ah, there’s Marquis Verdeum.”

“…”

“You remember him, don’t you, Princess? My confidant. How about taking the boat ride with him?”

At Ivan’s words, which ended with saying he was the most trustworthy, turmoil colored Biare’s blue-green eyes.

“No, I can’t trouble the Marquis.”

“Oh my, trouble? What do you think, Marquis?”

“…It’s fine, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“The Marquis says it’s fine. Take this opportunity to enjoy the boat ride.”

At the Crown Prince’s attitude of showing great generosity, saying if not today, it would only be possible next year, Biare bit her lip before answering.

“I understand, Your Highness.”

At this, Ivan looked at Dension, saying he entrusted her to him, and then headed to the palace with his aide.

Biare, who had been standing blankly, only came to her senses when Dension boarded the sculpted boat first and followed him onto the boat.

She felt complicated, thinking she might be the only one concerned about that day’s events, yet also feeling embarrassed.

Dension was simply silently rowing the boat, and only silence lay dormant between the gentle breeze and rippling waves.

Biare, who had been looking at the lake scenery the whole time, glanced at his face.

For a moment, their eyes met – his cold blue eyes – and he finally burst into a sneer.

“Ha―.”

“…”

Seeing him with a sneer on his lips, Biare felt her heart sink.

The man sitting in front of her clearly wanted to get off the boat as soon as possible.

After all, that day, she had cowardly failed to give him any explanation.

Dension’s sharp blue eyes were filled only with contempt and hostility.

‘I had resolved so many times…’

She had anticipated that she would have many occasions to face Dension, the Crown Prince’s confidant, in the future.

Therefore, she had planned to face him calmly, pretending nothing was wrong, even if she saw him.

No matter how much he despised her, that was the best she could do.

However, despite her mental preparation, Biare still lacked the confidence to face him.

More precisely, it was difficult to fully withstand his gaze of loathing towards her.

‘I know. That I’m unconscionable like this.’

Just looking at the man sitting in front of her made her chest feel like it would collapse, so she composed her voice and said.

“You must be busy too, Marquis. We should end the boat ride now.”

“Is that truly said out of consideration for me?”

“…”

At Dension’s words, which seemed to be sneering, Biare just sat still like a doll, unable to say anything.

“Are you going to say nothing again, like that time?”

“…”

When no answer came from his counterpart, Dension let out a laugh and loosened the cravat he was wearing, then exhaled a shallow sigh.

“Is there perhaps something you can’t tell me?”

At those words, Biare slightly furrowed her brow, but soon looked at him as if nothing was wrong and said.

“No, there’s nothing like that.”

“You… are cruel to the end.”

“…”

She had a strong conviction that this might be the last time he would speak to her personally.

Thus, the sculpted boat they were on floated on the water, but was sunk in silence.

When he stopped the sculpted boat, Biare took the hand of the waiting guard knight and looked at Dension with indifferent eyes.

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Now she would never look back. Because she wanted to make the method she chose the best choice.

Despite her calm expression, Biare’s fingertips trembled slightly, and Tonio, noticing this, carefully looked at her.

“My lady, are you alright?”

“I’m a little seasick, that’s all.”

Her loyal knight nodded and didn’t ask anything more, then noticing two people approaching her, he stepped aside.

“Sister, nothing happened with that guy, right?”

Gaizen, who had naturally thought his sister would be on the boat with the Crown Prince, looked quite bewildered when she finished the boat ride with his confidant.

At Gaizen’s question, Biare, without showing any reaction, turned her gaze to his fiancée and asked.

“What do you mean, nothing could have happened. Young lady, did you have a good time with Gaizen?”

At this, Rosalyn smiled ambiguously, then suddenly turned her head and glanced at Gaizen, saying.

“Well, I didn’t know the Viscount had a fear of water too.”

“Wait, young lady. What are you saying?”

As Gaizen looked at her with an incredulous expression, Rosalyn spoke in a quiet voice, enunciating each word.

“Oh, was that not the case? I was very anxious on the sculpted boat…!”

“Haha. You mean you had fun, right, young lady?”

At those words, Rosalyn, watching Biare’s reaction, nodded and played along with his clumsy words.

“Yes, of course. The Viscount had a better time than expected, right?”

At this, Gaizen, twitching his thick eyebrows, reluctantly lifted the corners of his mouth and answered.

“…It was an enjoyable time beyond compare.”

Biare looked at them with a faint smile, and as she draped the shawl she was wearing over Rosalyn, she said.

“It will be cold if you stay by the lake until evening.”

“Princess…”

“Then we’ll be going first, young lady.”

Gaizen added that they would leave first as his sister looked tired, to which Biare looked at him quizzically.

“Gaizen, where are you going? Take the young lady home when the event is over.”

“What? What do you mean, sister?”

“Princess, I’m really fine!”

At this, Biare shook her head firmly and smiled at those left behind, saying.

“Then I’ll be going first.”

Unable to stay any longer in the place where Dension was, Biare chose to quickly leave that place.

At the event venue, already infiltrated by the Crown Prince’s spies, her every move would be closely watched.

If their conversation couldn’t be heard on the lake due to the wide gaps between boats, this was a different realm.

Though there would be no more conversations with Dension, it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

Hoping that the perceptive Ivan wouldn’t notice her weakness, Biare quietly left the place.

No matter how much Dension hated her, she was determined to protect him.

‘It’s okay if you despise me. Just stay alive, Sion.’