Chapter 1) The Betrothal Ceremony

 

At the western edge of the continent lay the small kingdom of Escariel.

Today, however, the kingdom was unusually bustling.

It was the day of Princess Astina's betrothal ceremony—the beloved youngest princess of Escariel.

From the break of dawn, the palace had been consumed with preparations to welcome distinguished guests. Hydrangeas blooming throughout the royal gardens filled the air with the fragrance of early summer, painting the banquet grounds in vibrant colors.

Yet beneath the festive atmosphere lingered an unmistakable tension.

 

"So... even Crochen has fallen."

"Those damned Imperials..."

"If even Crochen couldn't withstand the Empire, what chance does a small kingdom like ours have?"

"At least there's some hope. Once Princess Astina marries into Carthecion, we'll finally have a powerful ally. That should buy us some time."

"Tch... If only Princess Bellona's marriage alliance had gone through, Lusbekia never would've turned its back on us."

"Quiet. Don't speak of such things on a day like this."

 

Unable to stomach the endless whispers of the nobles any longer, the second princess, Bellona, glanced around before muttering under her breath,

"I'm sick of them. I can practically hear the gears turning inside their heads."

Startled by her blunt remark, the eldest princess, Diana, quickly shifted to block the surrounding gazes.

"Bellona, lower your voice. What if someone hears you?"

"So what if they do?"

Bellona shrugged.

"They're not interested in me anyway."

She smiled faintly.

"All they care about is Astina. Thanks to our little sister, Carthecion is finally standing on our side."

 

Escariel possessed little military strength.

Its greatest asset was its beautiful princesses.

The eldest princess, Diana, had fallen in love with the Commander of the Royal Knights.

The second princess, Bellona, had nearly entered a political marriage with the King of Lusbekia, but the engagement collapsed as the international balance of power shifted overnight.

There was also the third princess, Ruena.

But the prince of Carthecion had desired only one bride—

Astina.

And so, the hopes of the entire kingdom rested upon its youngest princess.

 

"Bellona..."

Diana spoke carefully.

"Does it still bother you... that the marriage proposal was called off?"

Bellona blinked in surprise.

"What are you talking about?"

"If anything, I'm relieved."

She let out a dramatic sigh.

"Do you know how cold-hearted the King of Lusbekia is?"

"And on top of that, I would've had to raise another woman's child at my age."

She shuddered.

"Whew... Thank goodness that marriage fell through."

Diana couldn't help smiling at her sister's theatrics.

The King of Lusbekia had lost his wife years ago and was already raising a young son.

It had never been a marriage Bellona welcomed.

 

"Don't worry."

Diana looked at her with gentle eyes.

"I'm sure you'll meet someone who's truly meant for you someday."

Bellona answered with a warm smile of her own.

Here's a natural English localization that preserves the tone of a commercial romantasy novel rather than translating literally.

 

Just then—

“His Highness Prince Theodore of Carthecion and Her Highness Princess Astina of Escariel!”

At the attendant's booming announcement, the great doors of the ballroom swung open.

A breathtaking couple entered at an unhurried pace, bathed in the glow of crystal chandeliers. Their golden hair shimmered brilliantly beneath the light, and together they looked less like ordinary people than exquisitely crafted porcelain dolls brought to life.

 

"Oh my, you look absolutely stunning! See? I told you the white gown was the perfect choice."

Ruena appeared behind them, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Ruena! You're here." Diana greeted her warmly. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better." Ruena smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry I'm late. I can't believe I got sick on a day like this..."

As her voice grew quieter, Bellona deliberately put on an exaggerated expression.

"What are you talking about? Beautiful princesses are supposed to make a grand entrance."

Ruena finally let out a small laugh, and the three sisters gathered around her with gentle smiles, fussing over her until the tension melted away.

 

Unlike her sisters, however, Astina's stomach was beginning to churn.

She was already exhausted from spending the entire morning preparing for the ceremony, and now the attention of countless eyes weighed heavily on her. The discomfort twisting inside her only seemed to worsen.

But she couldn't let it show.

Today's ceremony wasn't simply the union of two young nobles.

It was the union of two kingdoms.

"Congratulations. May prosperity bless both your nations."

"You make a truly splendid couple."

As an endless stream of nobles stepped forward to offer their congratulations, Astina kept her back perfectly straight, forcing herself to endure the growing pain without letting a hint of it appear on her face.

Fortunately, the nobles' attention did not linger on the couple for long.

Before long, their interest drifted away—to power, alliances, and the endless calculations that governed aristocratic society.

 

Astina stole a glance at Theodore beside her.

Soft golden hair.

Clear emerald eyes.

A handsome face paired with a smile that instantly put others at ease.

Yet there was something almost too gentle about him. His warmth made him feel more like a kind older brother than a man who could set her heart racing.

If I marry him...

We'll probably have little golden-haired children who look like both of us.

And live happily ever after.

When their eyes met, Astina offered him a bright smile.

Whatever she truly felt, Theodore was the one person who could save her kingdom from its crisis. He had shown her nothing but kindness, and she owed it to him to do everything she could to make this engagement succeed.

 

Without warning, her thoughts drifted back to the night the engagement had been decided.

It was rare for the King of Escariel to summon her with such gravity.

No matter what childish demands she made, her father had always greeted her with a smile. But that night, the warmth had vanished from his face. The shadow hanging over him felt darker than the midnight sky itself.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Astina... your betrothal to Prince Theodore of Carthecion has been arranged."

For a moment, she couldn't even comprehend what she had heard.

She had only just celebrated her coming-of-age ceremony.

Marriage had been the last thing on her mind.

"Originally, we intended to arrange a match with Ruena..." he continued quietly. "But the prince saw your portrait... and fell in love at first sight. They will accept no bride but you."

His voice faltered.

"I'm sorry... things didn't turn out the way I hoped."

"Father... I'm not ready for this."

Pain clouded the king's eyes.

"Astina... forgive me. But this time..."

"Your kingdom needs you."

It was the first time she had ever heard her father refuse her.

The man who had always indulged every whim now stood before her not as a loving parent, but as a king.

 

That was the day Astina learned there were some things even a princess could not refuse.

Everything afterward passed in a blur.

Before she knew it, she was standing at her own betrothal ceremony, smiling as though nothing had happened.

Another wave of pain twisted in her stomach, and she unconsciously knitted her brows.

 

"Princess... would you like to rest for a while?"

Theodore's voice was barely above a whisper.

The offer came at exactly the right moment, and Astina found herself silently grateful for his thoughtfulness.

 

 

**************************

The moonlight settled gently over the palace gardens, where clusters of blooming hydrangeas transformed the grounds into a dreamlike scene. A cool evening breeze carried their sweet fragrance through the air, slowly easing the tension Astina had been carrying all day.

She found herself listening to the distant melody drifting from the ballroom.

Before she realized it, she was quietly humming along.

 

Theodore watched her in silence for a moment before a gentle smile curved his lips.

"I like that piece as well."

"I'm glad to see you looking more at ease."

Astina froze.

She had spent the entire evening carefully hiding her nerves, only to let her guard down now of all times.

"Oh... I didn't even realize I was humming out loud." She lowered her gaze in embarrassment. "Please forgive me."

The moment she stiffened again, Theodore inwardly reproached himself.

"No... I should be the one apologizing." He smiled awkwardly. "I couldn't help feeling that you seemed uncomfortable around me. When I saw you relax just now, I... spoke without thinking."

"Not at all." Astina shook her head.

"You've been nothing but thoughtful toward me. I'm truly grateful."

Her answer was perfectly courteous.

Too courteous.

 

Theodore couldn't hide his disappointment.

The first time he had seen Astina's portrait—one that had been mixed into the stack of royal portraits by pure chance—he had fallen hopelessly in love.

His father and ministers had voiced their concerns, but he had insisted on this engagement.

"I know this must all have come as a shock to you," he said quietly.

Unsure how to respond, Astina turned her eyes toward the moonlit garden.

"Sometimes..." Theodore hesitated. "I worry that you've been brought here only because of my own selfish wish."

The sadness in his voice caught her off guard.

 

No.

This engagement must not fail.

And Theodore...

He was everything one could hope for in a husband.

There wasn't a single reason for her to reject him.

She repeated those words to herself again and again before finally speaking.

"No... I wanted this as well."

A shy smile touched her lips.

"I'm... happy that I was able to meet someone as kind as you."

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

 

Seeing it, Theodore's heart lifted.

He stepped a little closer.

Standing so near, Astina was even more beautiful than he had imagined. Every instinct urged him to reach for her, but he fought to keep his composure.

"Then..."

His voice was barely more than a whisper.

"May I... come a little closer to you, Princess?"

Astina blinked at him with wide, innocent eyes, not quite understanding what he meant.

Even that guileless expression was enough to make his heart ache.

 

For a brief moment, he hesitated.

What he truly wanted was to kiss her.

But the last thing he wanted was to frighten her.

Letting out a quiet breath, Theodore gently lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it.

"I hope that, one day..."

"I'll become the person closest to you."

"Please... allow me to earn that place, little by little."

The unexpected gesture sent warmth rushing to Astina's face.

Her cheeks bloomed pink as she offered him a shy nod.

Unable to look away from his lovely fiancée, Theodore silently wished the night would never end.

It was the first time in his life that a single evening had felt so heartbreakingly short.

 

 

**************************

As the night wore on, the last of the guests departed, and the lights that had illuminated the royal palace gradually dimmed.

"Ah..." One of the palace guards let out a weary sigh. "Tonight of all nights, I wanted to drink until I couldn't even walk straight."

His companion chuckled.

"Just hang in there a little longer. Once midnight passes and the gates are closed, who's going to know if we sneak off for a drink?"

"Midnight? Why wait?" the first guard grinned. "Let's close them a little early and start celebrating."

The two men exchanged knowing smiles before making their way toward the palace gates.

 

Just as they reached out to shut them—

Black-gloved hands shot out from the darkness.

"...!"

Neither guard had time to scream.

Their necks snapped with a sickening crack.

 

Fweeeeet!

A sharp whistle sliced through the silence of the night.

One by one, figures cloaked in black emerged from the shadows.

At the front stood a man with a long cross-shaped scar slashing across one eye. At the flick of his hand, the others scattered through the palace with practiced precision.

Bombs were planted.

Patrolling guards were eliminated.

Not a single movement betrayed the slightest hesitation.

 

Once he confirmed everything was in place, the scarred man turned around.

A broad-shouldered figure stood waiting behind him, his face hidden beneath the deep hood of a black cloak.

Slowly...

 

He raised his head.

A pair of crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness.

With a subtle signal from him, crimson flares shot into the night sky.

And then—

BOOOOOOM!!

Explosions erupted across the palace in rapid succession.

That night...

The Kingdom of Escariel began its descent into ruin.

 

-The End-