The holy land blessed by the Goddess of Spring, Ashelard—the capital of the Ashelard Empire, Alcain.
Within Royal Street, where grand and magnificent mansions stood in rows, there was one townhouse so old and shabby that it seemed abandoned—the residence of House Enchanto.
Just a day ago, after breaking off her engagement with Crown Prince Adrian, Lady Daniela Lilianne Enchanto returned to this very estate. But now, she stood wide-eyed in shock at the sudden appearance of a man before her.
With naturally tousled short black hair, sharp eyes that were cool—almost chilling—and deep navy-blue irises reminiscent of the night sky, the man had a strong, well-built physique and a strikingly handsome face, complete with a sharply defined nose and a smirk that curled up one side of his lips.
He was none other than Carlyle Ashid Alberic, the Crown Prince’s half-brother and the Duke who ruled over the northern fortress of the empire.
Scrambling to her feet, Daniela stammered.
“Y-Your Grace… What brings you here…?”
“Hm?”
“If you wish to take revenge on Adrian for abandoning you, take my hand.”
“…Excuse me?”
Daniela blinked in disbelief at the Duke’s words, then asked again, utterly dumbfounded. The Duke frowned, as if frustrated, and spoke more clearly while locking eyes with her.
“Don’t you understand? I am proposing to you.”
At that moment, Daniela’s face went blank, as if she had just been struck on the head.
Of all the proposals in the world, who on earth would deliver one like this?
And to a woman who had been his half-brother’s fiancée just days ago, no less! To make matters worse, the two of them had never even spoken before.
It was, without a doubt, a marriage proposal that had every reason to be rejected.
But above all, Daniela knew a reason that no one else did—one that made rejecting this proposal absolutely necessary.
Because this man… He’s the villainous Duke from the original novel!
In just a few years, this man was doomed to be executed. And by that time, everyone who had remained by his side… would share his fate.
