Until Grand Duke Persia appeared in the capital, Emperor Devrica had never once considered him a potential match for the princess. Political marriages were common among the Imperial Family, but no father would willingly send his young daughter to a monster who had lived for 300 years.
However, after meeting Grand Duke Persia in person, those concerns immediately vanished.
His looks were one thing, but it was his overwhelming presence that really stood out. The way he effortlessly commanded a room full of nobles, along with his many other talents, made it hard not to see him as the perfect match for Princess Nailia.
“But...”
The trouble was that neither of them seemed remotely interested.
“Haha.”
Watching the spot where the two had disappeared, Emperor Devrica could only laugh helplessly.
***
“Where’s Ceres?”
As soon as Kainel returned to the banquet hall, he turned to his aide, Del. Ceres was nowhere in sight.
“Um...”
“...?”
A slight crease formed between Kainel’s brows at Del’s hesitant response. Did something happen while he was gone?
“Miss Ceres got a little drunk.”
“...Drunk?”
“Yes. Quite a bit...”
“She drank alcohol?”
A smile briefly tugged at Del’s lips.
“Can you really call it drinking? She only took a single sip of wine...”
And then she toppled over.
Watching from a distance, Del had been so startled that he’d nearly called the guards, thinking her drink might have been poisoned.
“It turned out she was just asleep. She got drunk from a single sip.”
“.....”
A silent sigh escaped Kainel.
“Some things never change.”
“Pardon?”
“So, where is Ceres now?”
Assuming she was resting in one of the lounges, Kainel was about to head off when Del hurriedly stopped him.
“Lord Cheion took her.”
“Cheion?”
“Yes. He said he’d escort her back to Baron Drow’s residence himself, so they left together.”
Kainel’s frown deepened.
“You don’t need to worry. Lord Cheion promised he’d get her home safely.”
“.....”
“They left in an imperial carriage as well. She should be perfectly comfortable.”
Kainel stopped.
The furrow between his brows had been deepening with every answer, but at Del’s final remark, he suddenly went still.
“...An imperial carriage?”
***
“Haa... That gave me a scare.”
An imperial carriage bearing the golden lion crest rolled smoothly through the streets.
Cheion glanced at the sleeping Ceres, unable to hide his amusement. She was sleeping so soundly that someone could carry her off and she wouldn’t notice.
“I had no idea you were this bad with alcohol.”
Was that why she’d hesitated for so long with the wine glass in her hand? Who would have thought she’d pass out after a single sip? If he’d known, he never would have let her drink it.
Well, I can’t say I’m complaining.
A smile tugged at Cheion’s lips. He was so used to seeing her perfectly composed and unshakable. Seeing this side of her felt strangely refreshing.
Cheion glanced out the window. The carriage continued on at a steady pace.
Using a teleportation scroll on someone who was drunk would be reckless. Ceres already wasn’t in the best condition, and forcing a magical transfer on her could upset her stomach. Rather than risk it, Cheion had simply arranged for a carriage.
“Mm...”
“Are you awake?”
A soft groan escaped Ceres as she slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing her press a hand to her forehead, as if trying to ease a pounding headache, Cheion chuckled.
“We’re on our way to Baron Drow’s residence. You can rest a little longer. How are you feeling?”
“.....”
“Ceres?”
His smile faded.
“What is it? Are you feeling sick?”
Something wasn’t right. When her gaze swept across the carriage, the color drained from her face. It happened so suddenly that Cheion almost missed it.
Shock. Fear. The terror in her eyes deepened by the second.
“Ceres?”
“Hhk...!”
“Ceres!”
She grabbed at her throat. Her breaths came short and uneven, like she couldn’t get enough air.
“St... stop...”
Her legs gave out beneath her. She barely managed to force the words out.
“Ceres! Look at me. What’s wrong?”
“St... stop...!”
Cheion tried to steady her, but Ceres only dragged herself toward the carriage door.
The sight sent panic shooting through him. What was happening? What was he supposed to do?
CRASH!
“—!”
The carriage door exploded. Startled, Cheion immediately moved in front of Ceres and turned toward the doorway.
Then he froze.
“...Why are you here?”
Standing amid the splintered remains of the door was Kainel. His expression was grim.
“.....”
As soon as his eyes fell on Ceres, slumped on the floor and struggling to breathe, he let out a long sigh.
“Come here.”
He held out his hand.
“.....”
Maybe it was because fresh air was finally pouring into the carriage. Or maybe it was because Kainel was there.
Still breathing hard, Ceres slowly lifted her head. When Kainel saw how pale she was, another quiet sigh escaped him.
“It’s all right. Nothing happened.”
Nothing’s going to happen.
Little by little, the rigid tension in her body began to ease.
Cheion tried to stop her, telling her she shouldn’t move, but Ceres brushed past him and staggered forward.
The instant her hand slipped into Kainel’s, her remaining strength vanished. She collapsed against him.
Kai...
It had been the same back then when she was young. Back when she’d given up on everything and waited for death.
Wrapped in the familiar warmth of his embrace, Ceres drifted into a sleep.
.
.
.
Side Story: Grace, Age Seven
“M-Mom... Dad...”
It was their first family trip.
Her father was always busy learning the responsibilities of the family head from her grandfather, so Grace had begged and pleaded until he finally agreed. For the first time since she was born, she was leaving the capital.
But then—
“M-Mom...”
The carriage overturned.
When they traveled through a forest road, an animal suddenly darted out onto the road. The horses bolted in fright. Before anyone could do anything, the carriage tumbled down a nearby cliff.
Her parents had immediately wrapped themselves around her without letting go. As she woke up after losing consciousness in their arms, all she heard was silence. Neither her mother nor her father...
She called for them until her throat burned, but no answer ever came. Their bodies still held her tightly, but all she could feel from them was cold.
One day passed. Then another... at some point, she stopped keeping track of the days.
Grace simply stared at her parents in a daze, watching their bodies slowly decay. Maybe her arm was broken. She couldn’t push them away even if she wanted to.
Curled up in her mother’s arms, who barely recognizable anymore, she waited for someone to save her.
Is this how I’m going to die?
It hurts. I’m scared. I can’t breathe.
I want to get out of here. I want to leave.
Mom, I’m sorry. Dad, I’m sorry. I don’t want to stay here with you anymore.
“Hic...”
She’d thought she had no tears left to cry... yet they kept coming.
Because she felt guilty. Because she hated herself for feeling repulsed whenever she looked at them.
A few more days passed.
By now, she didn’t have the strength to open her eyes. She couldn’t smell anything anymore, nor could she feel that dreadful softness beneath her.
In a way, that was a relief.
But...
How much longer...?
How much longer did she have to stay like this? How much longer was she supposed to endure it? Was enduring it really the right thing to do?
Maybe...
Maybe it would’ve been better if she’d died with them. If she just fell asleep like this, everything would all be over.
But why...?
Why was she still drinking rainwater? Why did she keep trying to move her body when it barely responded? Why did her eyes keep looking outside the carriage?
Why...?
Her strength continued to slip away. It felt as though her body were drifting somewhere far away. She couldn’t even feel the weight of her mother’s arms around her anymore.
Everything was hazy. She couldn’t feel anything.
“...ace!”
A voice reached her through the fog. Was she imagining it?
“Grace!”
“Grace! Are you okay? Open your eyes!”
“.....”
She couldn’t open them, but she knew those voices immediately.
Kai. Arti.
“Waaah! Grace!”
“Stop crying! This isn’t the time for that!”
“You’re crying too! Waaah!”
So it wasn’t a dream. Familiar arms wrapped around her while someone cried.
“Ah...”
A sob escaped her lips. It was so weak that it barely made a sound, but tears streamed down her cheeks. Something welled up from deep inside her.
It was a relief.
She was alive.
I... I wanted to live.
That was why she’d drunk rainwater. Why she’d kept struggling to survive.
“Hic... hic...”
The tears wouldn’t stop.
“Grace...”
“It’s okay now. You’re safe.”
Warm hands clasped hers tightly. Somehow, that only made her cry harder.
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