Chapter 1) The First Encounter

 

The Royal Palace of Escariel was unusually lively that morning.

 

From the first blush of dawn, as pale golden light spilled across the palace's sapphire rooftops, maids and servants hurried through the endless corridors without pause. Gardeners brushed the night's dew from carefully tended flowerbeds, while the palace kitchens bustled with preparations for the evening banquet.

 

Crystal-clear water shimmered beneath the morning sun as it cascaded from the newly restored ivory fountain. Hydrangeas blooming throughout the gardens glowed with the soft colors of early summer, and every corner of the palace seemed to pulse with quiet anticipation.

 

Today was the day Princess Astina, the beloved youngest daughter of Escariel, would meet her fiancé for the very first time. For a princess who had only recently come of age, such an early engagement was uncommon. Yet for Escariel—a kingdom renowned more for its beauty than its military strength—it was a necessary sacrifice. A political marriage was the surest way to preserve the fragile peace the kingdom had fought so hard to protect.

 

Astina had barely survived the morning.

Trying on one exquisite gown after another—each crafted by the finest dressmakers in the kingdom—had been exciting at first. After hours of fittings, however, even she had reached her limit.

 

"Oh, honestly... Astina, would you please stand still for once?"

Bellona let out a long, weary sigh.

"Sister, I can't do this anymore!" Astina groaned, sounding every bit like a spoiled younger sibling. "This is the tenth hairpiece you've made me try on! And we haven't even picked my shoes yet!"

She finally gave up and pouted without the slightest concern for royal dignity.

 

"Today's a special day, Astina. You're the star of the celebration, so naturally you have to look your absolute best."

Unfazed by her complaints, Princess Luena, the third eldest, continued sorting through an assortment of sparkling jewelry. Her fingers moved from one piece to the next with unmistakable excitement, as though she were enjoying the preparations even more than the bride-to-be herself.

 

"Our precious little sister would look beautiful in anything," Diena said with a gentle smile. "But today... I want you to be more beautiful than you've ever been."

The eldest princess offered Astina a warm, reassuring smile as she continued helping with her preparations.

 

Ever since the Empress's sudden passing four years ago, Diena had quietly stepped into the role their mother had left behind, caring for both the royal household and her younger sisters. With her own wedding to Sir Edwin, Commander of the Royal Knights, only two months away, Astina's engagement was the one responsibility she was determined to see through before leaving the palace.

 

Standing before the mirror, Astina studied her reflection in silence.

She should have been excited.

This was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life.

So why did an inexplicable uneasiness keep tugging at her heart?

 

"Don't worry so much," Diena said softly, smoothing a loose strand of Astina's golden hair behind her ear. "I've heard Prince Theodore is kind, honorable, and thoughtful. He's still young, but I'm certain he'll grow into a wonderful husband."

Astina puffed out her cheeks.

 

"This isn't fair... I wanted a once-in-a-lifetime, destined romance!"

Bellona clicked her tongue.

"There you go again, acting like a child."

She folded her arms and looked at her youngest sister with amused disbelief.

"Do you really think princesses marry for love? We were born into the royal family, Astina. Our lives were decided long before we were old enough to dream."

A teasing smile tugged at her lips.

"So be a good little princess and think about the future of the kingdom before your own fairy tale."

 

 

From Bellona's perspective, Astina's dreamy talk of true love was almost laughable.

Negotiations were already underway for Bellona herself to marry the King of Lusbekia—a widower with a young prince to inherit the throne. It was far from the future she had imagined, but as a princess, duty had always outweighed desire.

Diena, who had been fortunate enough to choose love over political convenience, fell awkwardly silent at Bellona's pointed remark. She busied herself smoothing Astina's hair, pretending not to notice the uncomfortable tension.

 

Bellona paid her little mind.

She didn't resent her eldest sister.

But the words had been sitting in her heart for years, waiting to be spoken.

 

"Astina likes the dangerous, cold-and-handsome type!" Luena suddenly declared with a grin. "You know—just like Rustien, the hero of The Grand Duke of the North Never Sleeps!"

Her cheerful outburst shattered the tense silence, and laughter immediately filled the room.

Bellona laughed so hard that tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

 

"Oh, Astina." She shook her head, still smiling. "Brooding northern grand dukes only seem romantic in novels."

She leaned closer with a teasing grin.

"If you met one in real life, you'd be far too terrified to even look him in the eye."

 

"But he's still incredibly handsome," Astina protested with a pout. "The dangerous kind is the most attractive."

Bellona stared at her for a long moment before letting out an exasperated sigh.

 

"No. Absolutely not."

She crossed her arms.

"And you two seriously need to stop reading all those romance novels."

Her gaze shifted between Luena and Astina.

 

"I'd like to see you say the same thing if you ever came face-to-face with the Emperor's Mad Hound."

"The Emperor's... Mad Hound?"

Astina blinked, her blue eyes widening.

 

"That's right." Bellona's playful smile faded. "Kallis Das Valerion."

The moment his name left her lips, a heavy silence settled over the room.

"I heard..." Diena murmured quietly, a chill running down her spine, "...that he wiped out the Kingdom of Krochen in the north just last month."

 

"The Kingdom of Krochen?" Astina exclaimed in disbelief. "But I heard they had one of the strongest armies on the continent—and weapons advanced enough that even the Empire hesitated to challenge them."

The name stirred memories from her history lessons. Krochen.

A kingdom of ice and snow that lay in the far north, blessed with abundant mineral resources and a formidable military. It had long been regarded as one of the few nations capable of standing against the Empire.

 

"Not anymore."

Luena's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Krochen was erased from history after that battle. They say... wherever the Mad Hound marches, not a single soul is left alive."

Fear flickered in her eyes as she spoke.

 

"I've also heard he's one of the Dragonkin," Bellona added, her voice noticeably quieter than before. "A being whose strength surpasses anything human. And with the Empire's Grand Witch standing beside him..."

She lowered her gaze.

"What kingdom could possibly stand against them? All we can do is pray they never decide to march this far."

Silence settled over the room once again.

 

Yet Astina found it difficult to imagine.

Kallis Das Valerion.

To her, he was nothing more than a monster from distant rumors—a name that belonged in frightening stories told far beyond Escariel's borders.

 

"Well, that's enough of that."

Diena clapped her hands lightly, breaking the uneasy silence.

"Today's supposed to be a happy day. Our little sister is the star of the celebration, remember? We've all exhausted ourselves enough. Let's finish getting her ready."

 

Astina's smile quickly returned.

Diena was right.

Today wasn't a day for tales of monsters and war.

It was a day meant for butterflies, new beginnings... and meeting the man who would become her fiancé.

 

Knock. Knock.

The door flew open before anyone could answer.

Before anyone could grant permission, the door burst open.

A young maid hurried inside, breathless from running. Realizing what she'd done, she quickly lowered her head.

"My deepest apologies for entering without permission, Your Highnesses."

She barely paused to catch her breath.

"Princess Astina—the Prince of Cartesion has arrived. His Majesty requests your presence in the reception chamber at once."

 

The room instantly erupted into commotion.

"Already?"

"W-Wait... I'm not ready yet!"

"You'll have to be, Your Highness!"

The maid's urgent reply left no room for protest.

Before Astina knew it, her sisters were straightening her dress, adjusting the last few strands of her hair, and gently ushering her toward the door.

She drew a small, steadying breath.

This is it.

With her heart pounding against her chest, Astina took her very first step toward the future that awaited her.

 

 

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

Sunlight streamed through the reception chamber's towering arched windows, spilling across the pristine white marble floor. A delicate floral fragrance lingered in the air, while the crystal chandelier suspended overhead scattered shimmering rays of light throughout the room.

 

King Escariel and the ambassador from Cartesion chatted warmly as though they were old friends. Across from them, however, Astina and Prince Theodore sat in uneasy silence, each painfully aware of the other.

 

Taking a quiet breath to steady her nerves, Astina slowly lifted her eyes and studied the young prince before her.

She had seen his portrait countless times.

Still, the real Theodore was... different.

 

Soft golden hair framed a handsome face, and his clear emerald eyes carried a warmth that naturally put others at ease. His bright, sincere smile was undeniably charming.

Yet...

His slender build, his still-growing frame, and the unmistakable air of youth surrounding him—

None of it stirred her heart in the way she had secretly hoped it would.

 

If I marry him...

We'll probably have blond children with rosy cheeks that look like us, grow old together... and live a peaceful life.

The thought drifted quietly through Astina's mind as she continued to study Theodore.

 

Theodore, on the other hand, seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.

He had been nervous ever since leaving Cartesion. Formal diplomatic visits were still unfamiliar to him, and meeting his future fiancée had only made him more anxious.

 

But the moment he saw Astina in person...

Everything else disappeared.

He had looked at her portrait dozens of times during the journey.

It hadn't even captured a fraction of her beauty.

Her golden hair shimmered as though woven from sunlight itself.

Eyes as brilliantly blue as a cloudless summer sky.

Soft peach-colored cheeks that stood out against flawless ivory skin.

And a smile so bright and genuine that anyone who saw it would find themselves smiling back.

 

Then, quite suddenly—

Their eyes met.

Theodore felt his heartbeat stumble.

Was it simply nerves?

Or was it because of the breathtaking girl sitting before him?

He couldn't tell.

Only one thing was certain.

Before long, she would grow into a woman capable of stealing the heart of every man who laid eyes on her.

 

"Thank you for welcoming us so graciously, Your Majesty."

"Haha! There's no need for thanks," the King of Escariel replied with a warm laugh. "Even without this engagement, Cartesion will always be a cherished friend of our kingdom."

His smile remained gentle, though concern lingered beneath it.

At first, he had been reluctant to arrange an engagement so soon for his beloved youngest daughter. But with unrest spreading across the continent, an alliance with Cartesion—a kingdom renowned for its formidable military—was an opportunity Escariel simply couldn't afford to refuse.

 

"Please set your mind at ease, Your Majesty."

The ambassador from Cartesion spoke with calm confidence.

"Her Highness will soon become the Crown Princess of Cartesion. From that day forward, the peace of Escariel will be our concern as well."

Theodore straightened in his seat.

"As long as Princess Astina stands beside me," he said earnestly, "Escariel will always be precious to me. I swear I'll do everything in my power to protect it."

Only then did the king's expression finally soften.

"I'm relieved to hear such sincere words. It comforts me to know my daughter will be surrounded by such kindness."

 

Theodore turned toward Astina and offered her a smile as warm and gentle as the morning sun.

Without realizing it, the tension in her shoulders melted away.

 

Everything felt peaceful.

Everything felt beautiful.

As if sorrow could never find its way into this kingdom.

Astina silently scolded herself for worrying over something so trivial.

 

If only she had known...

That this would be the last peaceful morning Escariel would ever see.