Chapter 1
She was a peculiar woman.
Johann looked at the woman who was fluttering her eyelashes in the middle of the ballroom and thought so.
Although the woman arrived last to attract everyone’s attention, she seemed afraid of actually receiving attention.
He shifted his gaze to the man next to the woman.
Samuel Denege.
The famous prince. ‘That woman’ was the prince’s partner.
It was only natural. The prince’s fiancée would be his partner. Johann tilted his head as if bored.
The woman was somewhat beautiful and had a certain dignity, but there was nothing special about her.
Yes, she was truly an unremarkable woman.
Johann berated himself. The woman was somewhat beautiful and had a certain dignity, but there was nothing special about her.
Yes, she was truly an unremarkable woman.
Johann finally averted his gaze from the two.
“Countess Sokong. Are you enjoying the party?”
Seizing the opportunity, the host of the party approached him and asked.
Countess Talipse, the wife of the prime minister.
It was because she was the emperor’s concubine that she managed to get the prince and Johann to attend the party.
Instead of showing his contempt for her, Johann offered a polite smile.
“Thanks to you, I am enjoying it.”
“Really? I heard you haven’t asked any lady to dance tonight.”
So that was the purpose.
Johann lightlySeemingly feeling pressured, she pointed her chin at some women.
“Don’t be too affectionate with them.”
Affectionate.
“Well, I don’t know.”
Johann lowered his eyes as he saw those who quickly turned their heads when his gaze met theirs.
“Surely you’re not concerned about the morning newspaper article today? It’s just a momentary gossip.”
At the word “gossip,” Johann’s lips hinted that his attention was elsewhere.
His gaze was directed at a woman.
A woman holding the prince’s hand and dancing.
“Anyway, really, that gossip article, there’s no need to worry-”
“I don’t care at all, so you don’t need to mention it again, Madame Talips.”
Johann silenced the chattering woman and refocused.
She was about four steps away from Johann.
The sound of her shoes proved how close she was to him.
She was a subtle dancer. Perfect steps, yet somehow showing a passive side… Since you’ve been so kind as to dance with me, I should listen to your answer, Miss Talips. Is that article true?”
At Talips’s voice, Johann’s gaze returned, but there was no response. Mrs. Talips hurriedly added.
“Don’t misunderstand. Even if it’s true, it doesn’t matter. Who cares about such gossip?”
Everyone cares.
Johann slightly pushed away the hand he was holding. It was just part of the dance, but a clear chill was felt.
Thanks to that, Talips had to face him directly.
When they were close, she didn’t notice, but now that they were briefly apart, it was more noticeable.
It was a face that bewildered people.
As the wife of the emperor’s minister, she was confident in her appearance.
That’s probably why those distinguished young ladies were embarrassed and asked me for a favor.
“Is that so.”
There was no inflection in Johann’s voice.
Instead, the inflection was on Talips’s side.
She quickly denied it.
“It’s just the lingering attachment of a young lady who’s ahead of her heart.”
“Is that so.”
John’s voice was devoid of any inflection.
If anything, it was Talips who seemed to have some inflection.
She quickly denied,
“It was just the foolishness of a young lady who let her emotions get ahead of her. Where would a young lady who wants to hang herself be all alone with you?”
Even with her contemptuous words, John had no response.
He simply pulled Talips back and spun her around.
Talips, thinking she might have made a mistake, tried to correct herself.
“Um, Your Grace-” but the mood of the music changed.
It was time to change partners.
After lightly greeting Talips, John reached out to the next partner.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Morata.”
The mysterious woman, Anel Morata.
He was a mysterious man.
Anel felt the persistent gaze following her.
At first, she thought it was a mistake.
That it was her excessive self-consciousness bothering her.
Surely that man wouldn’t be looking at her.
But after a few eye contacts, her suspicion turned into certainty.
‘…But really, would he….’
…But really, is that possible…?”
It was incomprehensible.
To persistently scrutinize a woman who wasn’t even his partner, Johannes Magne.
Anel wondered if it was a mistake, then looked back at the man. But it wasn’t a mistake. He was looking at her. He didn’t even bring his partner today.
“Oh my god, I didn’t know Magnum Duke would come out.”
“Rumors and such mean that we don’t dare touch him.”’
“It’s a great feeling of confidence.”
From a few feet away, I could hear noble ladies chatting.
It was natural. If he had the slightest sense of shame, he should have restrained himself, at least for today. Anyone who reads an article in the morning newspaper early in the morning would naturally think so. Johannes Magnum. He was a man who was talked about every day.
Aside from his status as the sole successor to the Magnum family, he was a famous man in and of himself.
First of all, he was most famous for his outstanding beauty, but there was more to him than that. This means that he did not get the nickname “The Pride of Stein” just because of his beautiful features.
He couldn’t quite pinpoint and explain it. At least Anel couldn’t do that. Because she had never met him properly. It was natural. Because she was the crown prince’s fiancée. From the moment my memories began until now. It was impossible for her to be interested in another man.
“Anel, you can breathe.”
It was her fiancé, Samu, who consoled her panicked
Anel actually stopped breathing at those words. Was I not breathing right now.
Was I resting wrong? “It looks a bit stuffy. are you okay?
“I think I actually surprised you.”
“… No, Your Majesty. “It’s a little hot in here.”
“Then should I get some air?”
Samus asked with a worried face. The voice was full of affection and kindness. When I heard that voice, my briefly tense nerves began to relax.
He left someone like this to care about another man. She said it was her fault. Anel smiled again and shook her head. I didn’t want to make Samu anxious. “are you okay.’
’ “It’s been a while since I’ve been to a party.”
It was true. Because she rarely attends parties or gatherings like this. Because of that, the nicknames she got for herself were not very nice ones. Certainly, it was not a nickname worthy of the future empress.
‘Glass doll of the Grand Duchy of Morata.’
That was her. She was so precious that it was often used as a joke that the Archduke would not let her out. Anel Morata was the daughter of Grand Duke Morata, the emperor’s most loyal right-hand man and a noble among nobles. She was all aware of his almost obsessive affection for her daughter.
‘… Actually, that’s not the case.’ Anel bit the flesh inside her mouth lightly. It was a habit she had whenever she was nervous. But she soon blamed herself. what her father told her not.
I did it again.
“I’m sorry today.”
Samus must have been really upset, so she lowered her voice. “no.”
She shook her head hastily. It wasn’t his fault he came here. It was because the Archduke urged him to go. “It’s not your fault. “Don’t apologize.”
“It was what His Majesty wanted, so it was also my fault.”
He laughed bitterly. It was a self-mocking laugh mixed with shame. No matter how long it had been since the late Empress passed away, the emperor’s actions were shameful. Even if the existence of a government itself was common, it was wrong to give it power so blatantly.
“I know you don’t like places like this.
” Even with Samus’ kind words, Anel’s heart did not ease. Yes, he was right. Agnel didn’t like parties. However, he was not in a position where he could only do what he liked. He and she too. “I’m really fine, Your Highness.
“Don’t worry too much.” “How can you not care?
“You are my fiancé.” Samus said,
she glared at Madame Thalips. It was a gaze that was uncharacteristically revealing of contempt and disgust. Anel felt strange in his eyes, but she understood.
“I will never… ‘’
“I won’t let you.” “But you still have to have an empress.”
Anel spat out habitually. This was something her archduke had repeatedly urged her to do. ‘The crown prince is very generous and values you too much. So I’m worried. You must take hold of his heart. We must have as many empresses as possible to ensure a generous succession for her, and to appease the hearts of the nobles.’ It was also a statement that did not take into account Anel’s feelings at all. Those words didn’t take Samus’ feelings into consideration either.
“Do you really want me to do that, Arnel?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.” “That doesn’t make sense.” Samus spoke in a slightly sharp voice. However, she quickly apologized shortly afterwards.
“I’m sorry, Anel.” “No, Your Highness.” “I feel like I’m only making mistakes for you today.”
That doesn’t even fall into the real number axis. Anel gently shook his head. And she quietly took his hand. “Would you like to dance?” Samus’ complexion brightened at her words. He nodded his head willingly. “whenever.”
As the two people stepped into the center of the banquet hall, the attention that was already focused began to focus even more.
It was something I should have done at least once. It was ridiculous for Crown Prince Samus not to dance at least once. He may have done it out of consideration for Anel, but Anel was rather embarrassed by his consideration. Sometimes she acted as if she were glass that broke very easily. No, she always was like that. ‘
Maybe it’s because my father treated me like that.’ Even the tips of Samus’ fingers that held Anelle’s hand were extremely careful. “What is the temperature in the banquet hall? “Is it cold or not hot?” ‘’… “I think it’s very appropriate.”
“thank god. “Grand Duke Morata asked me to be careful.” “By any chance, did you tell Mrs. Thalips-” “Anyway, it’s my aide’s job to convey the message. “You don’t have to worry.” There’s no way I don’t care. Grand Duke Morata considered Anel very precious.
She bought Anel anything he wanted, and she threw a party for him so grand that people told her to go away to the royal family’s party. Externally, it was like that. But Anel was not glass, but a person.
“… From next time, you don’t have to do that because of me.” “I would do anything for you.”
The two danced smoothly while talking.
Anel was confident that she would not make a mistake. Because he had to practice tens of thousands of times for moments like this. The intention of the gazes directed at the two people was clear. She pretended that everyone wasn’t there, but they were waiting for her to make a mistake.
“Don’t be nervous, Anel. “You can step on my feet.”
“… “That can never happen.” Arnel knew it too. It was clear that the moment she made a mistake, the headline on the front page of the gossip magazine would be ‘The Crown Prince’s Fiancee, or the Crown Prince’s Doll?’ “I don’t know why everyone is so worried about my feet.”
“These are the most precious feet in the empire.” Samus was a man loved by the empire. It wasn’t just because he was the crown prince. He was the perfect crown prince throughout the history of the empire. Samus was a beautiful young man who stood out wherever he went. He has kind eyes, a gentle smile, a friendly manner, and even always leads by example.
“That’s your foot. “Anel.” “Not at all… .”
Samus worked every weekend on relief work for the people of the empire, without causing any scandal. There was no citizen of the empire who did not love him. If he appeared in the newspaper, the only reasons were good deeds and his fiancee. So Anel always had to be perfect. For the perfect fiance.
“Ah, the music has changed. “It’s a shame, but I have to hand over my partner.’’
As the flow of her music changed, Agnel’s hand naturally moved to the man next to her. She is obsessed with not making mistakes, Aneltook his hand without even checking who the other person was. And he absentmindedly took steps. Until I heard an unfamiliar and cold voice. “Nice to meet you, princess.”
