‘If I had known she would become another man’s wife, I never would have done it.’
Recently, I heard she divorced Marquis Rata.
Their relationship was so poor that her ex-husband didn’t even attend the baptism of their only daughter.
“I can’t let her slip away again.”
With a determined look, Aachen picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and began to write a proposal letter.
To Princess Hilane Peztain,
The days are getting colder. In Peztain, spring is just ending, so please take care….
He stopped writing there and put the quill down.
“No, that’s not right.”
This sounded too trivial.
She was a princess of Peztain, after all. How many people must have started their proposals with a mention of the seasons?
He didn’t want to be lumped in with those kinds of people.
He wanted to convey his sincerity, even if briefly, rather than sending a letter filled with extravagant language.
“Especially since last time, she didn’t seem to remember me.”
He wanted to be someone more memorable, no, special to her.
Aachen started a new letter.
To Princess Hilane Peztain,
I wish to walk the same path as you from now on.
I dare to hope that through a shared life, we may come to know each other.
If you allow this proposal, will you become my bride?
– Aachen Requier Belzette.
“This… should do.”
Aachen carefully folded the proposal letter and placed it in a gold-embossed envelope.
A beluga wrapped in a blue rose.
He sealed it with the emblem of the Belzette Grand Duchy.
A few days later, Countess Kin, who was ready to depart, visited Aachen’s office.
“Countess Kin. Were you comfortable last night?”
“I rested well, Your Grace.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
As the countess slightly bowed her head, she caught sight of the letters on his desk.
“Ah, please deliver this reply to Crown Princess Glazé and the proposal letter to Princess Hilane.”
He handed her two envelopes, one with a reply to the letter and the other with the proposal.
“Yes, I understand.”
The countess carefully took the envelopes.
“Are you planning to leave for Peztain right away?”
“I intend to visit the imperial palace briefly to discuss this marriage with Emperor Calliosa.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Aachen stopped her.
“Excuse me? What do you mean…?”
“I will inform the emperor myself.”
Emperor Calliosa was not likely to oppose.
Before Aachen had gone to Peztain, the emperor had insisted he find a spouse, even pressuring him to remarry despite Ruan’s presence.
Knowing it was for Ruan’s sake, Aachen had refused, feeling no need for remarriage.
The emperor, aware of this, was displeased with Ruan.
‘Ruan is the emperor’s own grandson as well….’
Aachen was troubled by the emperor’s animosity towards his nephew.
Though the emperor questioned why Aachen would sacrifice so much for Ruan, Aachen never saw it as a sacrifice.
He had never lost anything by it.
There was a reason behind his situation.
His mother, Emperor Calliosa, and his father, the late Grand Duke Belzette, had twins out of wedlock.
Aachen had the gem-like eyes symbolizing the Requier royal family, but Lechinoa his twin did not.
Because of this, Aachen became the crown prince of Requier while Lechinoa became the young duke of Belzette, and they were separated.
When he told Emperor Calliosa as a child that he missed Lechinoa, he received a cold reply about the terms of the agreement.
Separated since infancy, they knew nothing of each other’s personalities, habits, or lives.
‘I was the last to learn that Lechinoa’s lover was a commoner.’
Ruan’s mother, Roze, fled upon realizing she could never be with Lechinoa.
‘She found out she was pregnant with Ruan only after running away.’
As a result, Lechinoa discovered Ruan’s existence late.
Learning that Roze was raising their child, Lechinoa rushed to bring them back, only to die in a carriage accident en route.
The carriage overturned, and while Lechinoa died, Ruan and Roze miraculously survived.
At Lechinoa’s funeral, Roze explained her situation to Aachen.
‘Your Highness, it was Lechinoa’s dying wish.’
‘…Lechinoa’s dying wish?’
‘He wanted to see Ruan lead the Belzette Duchy. Please, help us.’
‘…….’
‘Please protect Lechinoa’s child. I’m willing to live separately from Ruan if necessary.’
Roze knelt and begged Aachen.
She wanted Ruan to inherit Lechinoa’s position and feared the backlash from retainers due to Ruan’s commoner blood.
Ruan, however, did not want to be separated from Roze.
Thus, Aachen had no choice but to marry Roze in a sham, taking on the mantle of Grand Duke of Belzette.
He publicly declared Ruan as his legitimate son.
Aachen had never felt much attachment to the title of crown prince.
He had no particular affection for Requier nor any strong sense of belonging to the royal family.
He was simply curious about what Lechinoa had built in Belzette.
Perhaps it was because they hadn’t grown up together despite being twins.
Whenever he looked at Ruan, he couldn’t help but wonder if Lechinoa had been like this or that.
Watching Ruan grow wasn’t unpleasant; in fact, it was a comfort.
Roze maintained a proper distance, acting appropriately without drawing attention.
But after Roze’s death due to complications from the carriage accident, Ruan, having lost both parents in succession, had only Aachen left.
Aachen felt responsible for this fact.
Now, Ruan was his son, no matter what anyone said.
He was likely around the same age as Hilane’s daughter.
‘Hoping they grow up as close siblings might be too much to ask.’
Wanting too much often led to losing what you already had.
He felt grateful for the happiness he had now.
Hilane, whom he had met again as if by fate, was a gift from the gods.
Having missed his chance once, Aachen didn’t want to lose Hilane again.
“More than that, I want to welcome Princess Hilane as my duchess before winter comes.”
With only two months left before winter arrived in Belzette, Aachen’s urgency was palpable.
“Isn’t that a bit too soon?”
The Countess Kin’s reaction was understandably one of concern.
National marriages often took over half a year to prepare.
“I know it’s a tight schedule, but there’s no other choice.”
“May I ask if there’s a specific reason?”
Aachen began to explain.
“This winter, it is expected to be particularly long and harsh due to the ‘Snow of Parthenos.’ Once the roads freeze, we won’t know when they’ll thaw.”
The Snow of Parthenos.
This term referred to the period when Parthenos Belzette, the ancestor of the Belzette family, fell asleep and woke up again.
Missing this opportunity would cause multiple difficulties.
“I’ll inform the crown princess as you said.”
It was a relief that Countess Kin understood the circumstances of Belzette.
“I shall take my leave now, Your Grace.”
“Travel safely.”
After seeing off the Countess, Aachen placed the emerald necklace in his palm and muttered to himself.
“Finally, I can return this.”
Would Hilane remember when she saw this?
The night when their breaths intertwined deeply.
♡♡♡
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