In my room inside the royal palace, I was currently sprawled atop of my bed. Tilma was at the side quietly preparing tea and sweets.

Two weeks had passed since my little excursion outside the palace, but I still couldn't help but think about the events that had transpired.

[Just who was that man?]

Since that meeting, I had spent my free time looking through the royal records for any clues or signs as to whose noble house that man belonged to, but I came out empty handed. No matter how much I looked or asked around, I couldn't find any house that had his very conspicuous black hair.

"My lady"

Tlma's call pulled me from my deep thought.

"Ah, yes? What is it, Tilma?"

I looked at her as I sat myself up on the side of bed. Having been too immersed in my thoughts, I hadn't notice that she had finished setting up the table.

"Your tea is ready, my lady. Please drink it now, as we have a long day ahead of us."

"Ahh, yes, you're right, Tilma. Thank you"

I slowly walked towards the table and sat down. The royal palace was currently overtaken by festive mood. With elder brother's birthday being so near and his engagement with the daughter of house Carmine having been finalized, everyone was overly excited.

"I haven't had the chance to meet with the daughter of House Carmine. I believe she wasn't too keen on attending tea parties nor balls? and that she would spend her time just around their estate. What does she look like?"

I turned to Tilma as I drank my tea. She looked at me then cupped her chin as she thought.

"Mhmm.. if my memories serve me correctly, my lady. Lady Juliette is a year older than you, she has the trademark silver blonde hair and blue eyes of house Carmine. It also seems that she's quite the beauty, earning her the nickname rose of house Carmine."

It was strange that I hadn't met her even once. From what I've heard from the tea parties I attended, that person was an eccentric. Young girls would often gossip about how lady Juliette would regularly decline invites and would instead choose to spend time with her family's servants.

[If she is to be my sister in law, I think it would only be right for me to properly get to know her.]

As I sat there pondering about inconsequential things, Tilma suddenly spoke up.

"But my lady, I believe that you're more beautiful and more intelligent than her! Frankly speaking, I believe that you are the better over all lady!"

Tilma being panicky as she tried to reassure me that I was prettier was pretty amusing to watch.

"Oh Tilma, that wasn't what I was thinking about"

I gave her a wry smile as I answered. In response, Tilma only looked more worried.

"But you have been daydreaming an awful lot more lately, My lady. Are you sure you're okay?"

I was taken back by my maid's frank remark.

I put down my tea cup and took a biscuit from the neatly designed porcelain bowl and put it my mouth.

"Have I really? I hadn't noticed. I'm fine though, Tilma. No need to worry about me, it's just that I have a lot of things going through my mind right now."

Having finished my biscuit, I tried explaining myself to Tilma.

".. Is it the black haired man?"

That was the truth, the identity of the young man had been bugging me so much lately, and it's starting to take it's toll on me.

[Haa, I want to meet him.]

[...]

[Wait, no!]

Realizing my thoughts, I could feel my ears turning red and my heartbeat getting faster.

[Why do I even want to meet that man again?!]

I thought to myself as I tried to disperse my thoughts. But despite my efforts, I vividly recalled the figure of that man. His black hair, his almond eyes, his compassionate yet steadfast demeanor, His back that felt as though it was the safest place in the world.

*Doki*

My heartbeat raises at the mere thought of him. Just what is this feeling?

[I'll have to meet him again to figure it out.] I concluded.

Attempting to pull myself together, I slap both of my cheeks.

The sound slap reverberated throughout the room, it seems that the force I used was a little stronger than I had intended. I could clearly feel the stinging pain as my cheeks turned red.

"My lady?!? What happened?!"

Tilma rushed to me in a panic, Ccearly flustered by my sudden outburst.

Massaging my cheeks, I reassured her.

"I'm fine, Tilma. I just wanted to wake myself up."

"My lady your cheeks are red! What are we gonna do if that persist until later!"

"Oh you worry too much, Tilma. I can just cover it up with make up you know?"

I made a wry smile as I tried to reassure my half crying hand maiden. Her figure as she desperately tried to look for something to ease the pain on my cheeks was too amusing.

"I'm glad you decided to join us today, Juliette"

"Juliette, are you really sure you're okay now? We can send a message to his majesty that you can't attend the Prince's debut, if you're still not feeling well you know?"

She was genuinely concerned for her daughter's well being. Juliette had holed her self up in her room for two weeks, barely eating anything, so it was only natural that she would be in a bad state.

But contrary to their expectations, Juliette looked fine. Her beautiful silver blonde hair that she got from her father had regained it's dazzling luster, her skin that had turned pale had once again regained it's normal complexion. Frankly speaking, she looked the same way she looked before.

In response to this Juliette once again showed her smile, her smile that her parents had already seen through.

"I'm really fine, Mama. I'm looking forward to meeting with his Highness"

Hearing his daughter's answer, Duke Carmine only looked at her with sadness in his eyes.

"Juliette.." He called out to her in a timid voice,

"Yes, Papa?"

"I----"

He had something he wanted to say, but thinking about the circumstances, he chose not to.

"Just, don't push yourself too much, okay? And try to get along with his Highness."

".. Yes Papa, by your will."

Juliette answered with a smile devoid of any joy. In response to this, the Duke only clutched his hands and looked down.

[I'm sorry, Juliette. But there's really nothing I can do. I know just how much you love that boy, but I can't think of any way for the two of you to have a future, I think that it's better to just forget about him now and move on, for your sake.]

The Duke thought to himself. Unbeknownst to him, his two children had already started a scheme of their own.

"My lady, you look very beautiful tonight. I'm sure that everyone at the venue would certainly agree so."

"Oh stop it, Milin. I am not at all happy with this."

In response to her gleeful attitude, the young lady showed an indifferent attitude. Milin looked at her with a sad expression before speaking.

"Apologies, my lady. I'm just happy that you're finally giving the prince a chanc--"

"I'm not giving anyone anything."

Before Milin could finish her words, Juliette firmly rebuked her with a low tone. Seeing this for the first time sent shivers down Milin's spine. This was different from the usual tantrums that the young lady occasionally threw.

"Make no mistake, Milin. I'm only going through with this because of Jorgé-nii. I just have to endure until then. But the Prince mean nothing to me."

The cold words of lady Juliette sent Milin to a panic.

"My lady! Please do not speak of such things! If anyone were to hear you!"

"What? The words I spoke were true. The Prince is nothing to me, and so does being the future queen. And if by chance Jorgé-nii's plan don't work, I'd rather die than let any man defile me."

Milin broke into a cold sweat. The young lady was quite serious with this, she could clearly feel the dangerous aura that was surrounding Juliette, it was like a shadow of darkness slowly enveloping her.

Fortunately, a knock from the door broke the rising tension in the room.

"My lady, Larc here. Permission to enter?"

At the sound of Larc's voice the dangerous aura that was slowly enveloping the young lady vanished as if never even being there. Her face that was visibly dark suddenly lit up as she brandished a dazzling smile.

"Come in, Larc! I've been waiting for you"

She hurriedly got up and ran to the door, eagerly opening it.

What welcomed her was the figure of a young man in an exquisite suit with a golden dove pin on the left side. His hair that was as black as the night felt as if it was pulling you in. His almond colored eyes looked at Juliette longingly.

"My lady, you look very lovely tonight. Anyone who would say otherwise is a fool in my eyes."

"Uwuu.. Larc, t-thank you.."

Seeing lady Juliette act like her usual flustered self infront of Larc, Milin finally calmed down.

[..thank god lady Juliette is her usual self again.. the atmosphere was turning grim, thank you, Larc.]

She shot a look at Larc as she stood behind lady Juliette. Larc saw this and immediately understood. He offered a slight nod to Tilma as he faced Juliette.

"Umm.. Larc.."

The young lady timidly called Larc.

"W-would you.. accompany me to the party? Please? I want you to stay by my side."

She suddenly held Larc's hand firmly.

The sudden actions of the young lady greatly surprised him. Larc could only smile softly as he held back Juliette's hands and kneeled in front of her, much to the displeasure of Milin.

"Of course, my lady. I'll always be by your side."

Hearing him pledge himself to her again, Juliette's face once again lit up. The smile she wore this time clearly showed her overflowing happiness, she looked down at Larc with moist eyes.

"Then, it's a promise. Okay, Larc?"

"Yes, my lady. I promise."

Today's party was a particularly special event, for not only was the Prince making his societal debut, it was also the venue to formally announce the engagement between him and the only daughter of house Carmine.

"... she's a bit late, isn't she?"

Sitting at the king's table, prince Claude impatiently tapped his finger as his other hand rested on his chin.

Being a member of the royal family, his hair and eyes were a deep shade of crimson red. He wore an extravagant white coat that bore a golden sun, over his silver and blue tunic. He had a black trouser and brown leather boots that perfectly described his status.

"Be patient, little brother. I heard from Jorgé that lady Juliette had been sick for a couple of weeks prior to this."

The one who spoke was his elder sister, and the fiancé of Jorgé, princess Camilla.

"Yeah, I guess it's understandable."

"Onii-sama is just excited to meet with his fiancé, Onee-sama. I can't really fault him with this, for I too am excited to meet with the one they call rose of house Carmine."

Claudia said so as she looked around the venue. She wore a stunning green dress that perfectly complimented her crimson hair, lined with beautiful fur. Her neck and ears were adorned with beautiful jewelry made from the finest rubies in the capital, frankly speaking, she was truly a beauty worthy of being called a royal.

Seeing her sister look around, Camilla gave her a mischievous grin.

"Is it really the lady of house Carmine you're looking for, Claudia? Or the black haired man from the town square?"

Claudia's eyes widened at her sister's whisper, she felt her heart suddenly beat fast and her ears turned a deep shade of red much like their hair.

"Ww-what are you talking about Onee-sama?? A, mm-man??"

The king, hearing the commotion, turned to them in curiosity.

"Hoho? What's this? Has a nobleman finally caught your eye, Claudia? Tell me, tell me, who is he?"

Under her father's questioning, Claudia became even more embarrassed.

"Aa-a.. father, bear it no mind! Onee-sama has only lost her mind, Onee-sama shush! Where did you even hear that???"

She tried denying her father's question as she interrogated her sister in a hushed tone. Seeing her like this, the mischievous smile on Camilla's face only grew bigger. She drew near her and whispered,

"Why, from your handmaiden, of course"

[Tilmaaaaa!!]

She glared at the direction of her handmaiden, only to find her slowly backing away,

[I'll get you later, Tilma!!]

[I'm sorry mistress!! But your sister is very persuasive!]

It seems that they understood each other even without the help of words.

"Oh come on, why won't you tell your father these things. Claudia finally taking a liking to a boy is a joyous occasion, you know?? Maybe we can finally settle your engagement"

Hearing her father's remark, Claudia became even more flustered.

"Being e-engaged to that man?! Ss-such a t-thing!!.. is.. not bad.. I think.."

The last part of her sentence was a mumbled composition of words.

"Please, father. Don't be too hasty, Claudia here doesn't even know who that man was."

"Ohh? A mysterious man? I wonder which house he's fro--"

"Aaaaaaah!! That's enough! It's too embarrassing!!"

Before the king could finish his sentence, Claudia cried out in embarrassment as she ran towards the palace.

"Now look at what you guys have done. Claudia will be sulking now thanks to your teasing of her."

The cold voice of the Queen reprimanded her Husband and daughter.

" Oh, Cecilia dear, I was just overjoyed that she has finally taken a liking to someone, you know?"

"Yes, mother. I too was just overjoyed to learn that my sister will finally know the joy of being in love with a man."

"Oh we both know that's not entirely true, Camilla. You know that you're mask doesn't work on me, and you should know better, dear husband, this is not the place to be teasing your daughter."

In response to her mother seeing through her, Camilla could only smile wryly. While the king, only hung his head down.

"Ahh! This was supposed to be my day, you know?? And yet, the conversation became about my sister and my fiancé is still nowhere to be seen!!--"

"Announcing the arrival of Duke Carmine"

The sound of the horns as well as the bellow of the court announcer cut off the Prince's rantings.

"Finally! Took them long enough"

"Claude, please, don't do anything unbecoming. And Tilma, please go after Claudia"

"Yes, your majesty"

The Queen rebuked Claude as she sent Tilma to go after Claudia.

The royal family looked towards the group that was entering the courtyard. In front of the group was the Ducal couple, Duke Jules and Duchess Julia, followed by the rose of house carmine lady Juliette. Behind her followed her personal servants, a maid and a young man.

Camilla's eyes that was looking for Jorgé suddenly came upon the visage of the young man. Something about him caught her attention.

[Black hair?.. don't tell me..]

Amongst all of the nobles she had greeted today, this young man was the only one with black hair. Realizing this, the mischievous smile of the princess once again returned.

[Hoho, this should be interesting.]