Prologue

 The air on the terrace where the windows were firmly closed was cold. Although the early spring sunshine was mellow, the wind was rather harsh. However, there were no curtains on the terrace, so the wind flowing through the gaps in the windows could not be prevented.

A woman slipped into this cold place.

Even though it was the weather for an average person to wear thick clothes, she was only wearing a thin brown dress. If she caught a cold because of this, her maid would sigh, but she had no choice but to do this.

She wanted to hide her heavy heart though she couldn't, so that was why she was here.

“The cold is perfect when you've got a lot of thoughts in your head.” 

While she spoke as brightly as possible, her expression was not so good. Sitting on a wooden chair, she sighed and opened the front page of the newspaper in her hand.

As her face was tickled by her waist-length brown hair, she lifted her fingers and tucked her hair behind her ear while her eyes were still on the headlines of her newspaper. Originally, the first page of a newspaper usually had separate content related to politics or social issues. However, today's newspapers were organized into one article without separating politics or social circles. 

⌜ Cassel Jen Roten! The great hero. ⌟

An article about a man filled a newspaper page.

The story from his birth to his childhood, how he got into the war, and the achievements he has made so far were very well laid out.

She smiled bitterly as she ran her hand over his portrait.

“…Stupid.”

She muttered to herself.

'I am going to divorce my husband now.'

…So, why was he still occupying a corner of her heart? Why does he still occupy a corner of her heart?

She cast her eyes at the portrait of Cassel Jen Roten. It was a portrait of him holding a sword and looking into the distance painted from the image captured by reporters. It was one of the most realistic paintings she had ever seen.

Of course, it was not exactly the same.

“He usually laughs a lot.”

The way he smiled with his short silver hair slightly forward and his red eyes narrowed were still vivid in her mind.

“You've become a hero, but…”

Cassel was a magic swordsman — as both magic and swordsmanship could be wielded freely. As a result, he played a great role in the war and led the victory on almost all battlefields he went on. It was only a matter of time before he became a war hero.

“…Because of that, I can no longer be your wife.” 

After folding her newspaper, she changed her clothes and went downstairs to her.

It had already been a week since she was sent divorce papers from the royal family of the Roten Empire, and now, it was time to make a decision.

 ﾟ· : * ✧ * :· ﾟ

A man with pale green eyes and long blue hair neatly tied was clenching his fists tightly in front of his desk. Even though he wanted to be angry, he seemed to be holding back the rage that was rising inside of him, because he was in front of her.

“Leilia, are you really going to get a divorce?”

At the man's words, Leilia gracefully picked up the teacup on the table. She stood upright without leaning her back on the sofa and took a sip of tea before putting it down.

“It's an order from the imperial family.”

At that, the man bit his lip.

Three years ago, Count Eloisa had two daughters. The eldest, Leilia, graduated from the academy with the highest rank, and because of the estate her mother had left her, she was courted by a number of nobles. However, she missed her marriage offers because the Count continued to refuse them. Eventually, there was no longer a suitor who was determined and had an intention to marry Leilia.

Meanwhile, war broke out between the Roten Empire and the neighboring Kingdom of Seitria.

In the Roten Empire, if a war broke out, the prince was required to participate in the war by law. So, according to the law, the current Emperor sent a prince to the war, who was not the heir to the official throne, but Cassel, the Emperor's illegitimate son.

Since the Empire did not recognize him as an adult unless he was married, Cassel married Leilia, the Count of Eloisa's eldest daughter, in order for him to join the war. This was to prevent the people from accusing them of sending a prince who was not even an adult to the battlefield. Since the marriage was ordered by the imperial family, the Count had no choice but to follow it. In other words, it was not because she wanted Cassel. It was, after all, a politically motivated marriage.

“Everyone says I'm the most unhappy woman in the empire.”

They felt sorry for her for having a husband, who might die in the war, and when her husband returned victoriously as a hero, they felt sorry that she was now on the verge of a divorce.

“You know it well.”

“I don't think it would be bad to just pretend to be pitiful like this. Then, the imperial family might give me something. What do you think, Lucis?”

Lucis titled his head at her question.

“Do you have to do such things? Why don't you tell people everything and stay as His Highness Cassel's wife?”

“It's troublesome.”

Her cold voice echoed through her room.

⸝⸝ Nabi's Note: ˚‎ ༘☆

The chapters are going to be split in half, which will also lessen the pressure on the translating staff involved. Splitting into parts like this lessens the pressure me, so I'll update more often compensate for this!

Thank you as always for your constant support and understanding! ♡