Chapter 0

A well-done dinner, an elegant string quartet played by professional musicians on the side, and an empty upper-class restaurant except for us.

It was a really stereotypical counteroffensive.

There’s a man laughing in front of me. He looks so simple and ordinary. But my mother said, “An ordinary man is perfect for marriage.”

– Lady Waldenbiston, you said this was your first time doing this?

– Yes.

– In fact, for me too.

– …..

I laughed out of politeness and averted my eyes from that man.

It wasn’t funny at all. But I can’t help it. I know that very well.

Isn’t that how it should be?

A meeting between houses, with no room for curiosity between individuals.

Anyway, I think he’s here because he’s not insensitive to his family.

We know very well that we are not attracted to each other. The important thing here is the benefits we would gain from combining our families.

– If we get married, we will have to discuss the division of property and the capital we will own.

Men always talk about the same thing and the first thing they mention is property stories. However, I didn’t expect to discuss this kind of topic at our first meeting, but it really is unavoidable.

– I’m…

My lips are dry, I think I can hear my heart beating wildly, so much so that I want a glass of water to calm my nerves and cool down a bit.

It was then, when I regained my composure and opened my mouth willing to engage in conversation, that the doors of the restaurant burst open.

What?

We both turned simultaneously, directing all our attention to the entrance.

The door had been opened, but no one was there.

– What the…?

– I asked, looking at my companion with a very confused face.

– I am just as perplexed.

This cannot be true, this place was reserved in advance, only for us, in order to reach an agreement.

What kind of person would dare enter a place where the famous Duke of Walden is?

And I’m sure this place was very well guarded by reliable people…

Suddenly, a red carpet rolled up to the front of our table from the door. At the same time, a line of knights entered at a steady pace, so much so that it looked like a parade of knights on a national holiday.

Wait, the emperor’s knights?

I was surprised for a moment.

The fact that the Emperor’s Order is here means that… so is he.

Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty?

The Knights carefully moved left and right on the carpet, and all lifted their left foot to hit the ground.

As if the sound was a sign, someone slowly entered the door.

The first thing I saw was a clean, shiny black boot nose. I followed it with my fingertips until I reached its shoulders, where I stopped, afraid to look up.

– Ira Waldenbiston

When I heard my name, I froze completely, and when he leaned over me vertically, I could see those black eyes screaming my name.

I opened my mouth without realizing it.

An incomprehensible scene was happening before my eyes.

Your Majesty… Why… why are you here?

– Am I dreaming?

Yes, it may be a dream. I have had many like this.

I, Ira Waldenbiston, really loved the present King Rubellus. It was an unrequited love.

Of course, it was… very deep and unrequited.

I had been following the emperor for 12 years until I was sixteen.

It was a one-sided love that gave me life.

I loved it, I followed it relentlessly, so much so that it was useless to give me any idea of the mistakes I was making.

I felt that I would die if I did not see His Majesty every day. I followed him wherever he went. In my diary I wrote that I would be the future Crown Princess and Empress, I dreamt of him every day.

But that was three years ago…

I looked at the Emperor, who was in front of me with his wavering eyes.

Without wanting to, I pinched my cheek with my right hand.

Oh!

“It’s not a dream”

Rubellus gave me a smile. What does the Emperor want?

I jumped from my seat. Unable to take his gaze from his intense black eyes, that handsome man is the Emperor of the current Jahud Empire and he is looking at me with an intensity that terrified me beyond measure.

What was happening?

The emperor’s gaze scrupulously scanned the face of the man sitting in front of me.

– I don’t know what to say, but… you are quite normal.

– Your Majesty?

As if I had only just understood the situation, my companion jumped from his seat and tried to kneel down. But Rubellus squeezed his shoulder with one hand and stood him up.

I could see the man shouting “Huck”.

I almost gasped in surprise, he had only put his hand on his shoulder. But the force he applied was so great that it hurt him.

– I’m okay.

Standing there, unable to scream. I felt a little sorry for him.

-Your Majesty!

I was afraid, but I slowly stepped forward until I tried to subtly cover my companion with my body, preventing him from being hurt any further. Then our eyes met.

– Ira.

The Emperor smiled at me.

At that moment, I felt as if everything around me had disappeared.

He looked so handsome with that smile I had never seen before. No, I have never seen you smile at me, you never did in front of me.

And the last time I found you in the Great Yellow Forest…

– Ira…

– Your Majesty.

I don’t know if I know this feeling, but the Emperor smiled even more. His eyes are wide open and the corners of his mouth are raised even higher. His light pink lips are flashing…

In a situation like this, calling my name with such a wonderful smile, it was uncomfortable and I could not bear it.

– What are you doing here, my fiancée?

At that moment, when I managed to process the words that came out of her lips, I forgot how to breathe. His Majesty said, “My fiancée.”

No… this has to be a dream, no matter how much I think about it.

Then, my legs began to shake, I felt everything was spinning and despite my attempts to stay calm… I vanished completely.

What had just happened?

Even in my state, I thought about the coronation a month ago.

No matter how much I think about it, the beginning of all this seems to be a month ago.

That day, His Majesty’s coronation.