Chapter 25

Serene’s lively charm finally made Agnes laugh.

“Anyway, the man who proposed to me today was really something. He’s a performer from a traveling circus, and the bird he brought with him acted just like a person…”

“What’s this story that’s amusing you so much?”

“Oh my, sister. Our noble and adorable crown prince is here too. You must listen to this one.”

When Agnes bowed to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, the Emperor waved a hand casually, as if to say there was no need for such formality.

Standing beside Cali was a young crown prince, barely twelve years old. He still had the innocence of a boy rather than the dignity of royalty.

The Crown Prince greeted Agnes shyly, then hid slightly behind Cali’s back.

But as Serene began to chatter, both the Emperor and the Crown Prince turned their ears toward her.

Stories of a bird dancing with a human or fetching objects on command were fascinating even to Agnes, though she wondered if it was really proper to be so relaxed during a royal engagement ceremony.

As she debated whether to ask Dylan, the High Priest appeared beside him, emerging from a splendid side chamber.

Agnes bowed politely to the High Priest, and he returned the gesture with a deep bow, already recognizing her as part of the royal family.

Startled, Agnes turned toward Dylan, but before she could speak, the High Priest’s solemn voice filled the hall.

“For three people who should serve as the model of this Empire to sit idly and chatter so freely… truly disgraceful.”

Even as the High Priest scolded them, the Emperor and Serene exchanged mischievous grins.

He had always seemed distant and grave to Agnes, yet now, watching him nag the Emperor and princess, he looked almost like an affectionate uncle. It was clear he had watched them grow up.

Even Dylan sighed beside them, rubbing his forehead as though giving up, while the young Crown Prince shifted his eyes around in confusion. Agnes couldn’t help but smile in sympathy.

Because of the Emperor and Serene, the High Priest’s lecture went on for quite some time. It was long enough to make everyone wonder whether this was an engagement or a sermon.

Still, when it finally ended, the High Priest took Dylan and Agnes’s hands in his and offered his blessing.

“When I asked the Goddess about your future, the holy water rippled softly. You will surely live happier lives because of each other.”

Agnes, who had been dazed through most of it, finally managed a calm smile.

It was not a marriage born from love, but that did not matter. She was grateful to Dylan and respected him deeply, and Dylan, in turn, had always treated her with courtesy.

They would make good partners.

When the blessing ended, the Emperor laughed heartily and slung an arm around Dylan’s shoulder.

“Congratulations, little brother. How do you plan to spend your time before the wedding?”

“Your Majesty, even in private, such unrefined behavior is unbecoming of an emperor.”

“What’s unrefined about it? You should have seen what Serene did to your fiancée. Do you even know how she behaved?”

“Her Highness and Your Majesty are very different. She is merely a princess, but you are the Emperor of the Empire.”

The Emperor groaned and covered his ears, exaggerating his reaction.

“Fine, fine, Duke of Vasteron. Congratulations on your beautiful fiancée. You’ll be wed in a few months, so tell me. How do you plan to spend your time until then? If you have leisure, you should come and play with your sister.”

“I’m busy.”

“What? Too busy to spend time with me?”

Dylan cut the complaint short. The Emperor frowned at his bluntness, but Agnes’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew why he was busy.

As she had expected, Dylan gently took her arm and drew her closer.

“I plan to give my fiancée the greatest wedding gift in the world, so I fear I won’t have time to keep Your Majesty company.”

“The greatest in the world?”

The Emperor narrowed her eyes, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. It didn’t take long for realization to dawn.

“Ah, that must be it.”

For once, she smiled softly, her expression kind as she reached out to ruffle the young Crown Prince’s hair.

“Yes. That truly would be the greatest gift in the world.”

The Crown Prince blushed at the sudden attention, embarrassed yet pleased.

“If that’s the case, then I won’t stand in your way. Do it properly, though. If you fail, people will mock the Imperial Family for chasing after a mere count’s son.”

“Yes, I will see it through.”

With that, the Emperor took the Crown Prince by the hand and walked toward the High Priest.

To think that she, who adored her brother so dearly, would encourage him to bring another man’s child into their house instead of opposing it. Agnes hadn’t expected that at all.

With unease clouding her face, she looked up at Dylan and whispered near his ear.

“Did Your Majesty already know about our… arrangement?”

Dylan exhaled heavily, a faint smile crossing his lips. That single breath carried a tangle of affection, resignation, self-mockery, and quiet disappointment.

“My sister wouldn’t object even if I told her I intended to take Noah as my adopted son. So you need not worry.”

His answer left Agnes even more confused, but when he turned his head away, guarded and distant, she said nothing more.

Just like always, the man who had seemed so close only moments ago had suddenly drawn away without warning.

Agnes straightened her posture and steadied her breathing, forcing herself to appear calm. It was a habit formed long ago, back when composure was her only shield.

* * *

Despite the emotional distance Agnes had felt from Dylan that day, for the nobles, a royal celebration was a matter of envy.

The engagement had been held quietly and privately, so everyone now desperately wanted an invitation to the wedding.

Even so, Dylan remained a figure of fear among them.

No one dared get too close. What if he called them into a private meeting, and the rumors turned out true, that he might really devour someone alive? No such thing had ever happened, of course, but the unease lingered.

So they turned their attention to Agnes instead.

Gathering around her like a flock of birds, the nobles hung on her every word, her every gesture, even the sound of her breath.

One bold noble finally spoke up.

“Is there a more beautiful couple in all the world than His Grace and Lady Everchen? If it’s not too presumptuous, may I offer you a wedding gift?”

“A gift? Your kind wishes are more than enough for me.”

Agnes declined gently, her tone polite yet firm. The other nobles, who had been hoping to use gifts as an excuse to build connections, quickly gave up that thought as well.

‘If only I could present something grand, I might have an excuse to ask for an invitation to the wedding… What a pity.’

Still, they tried to keep the conversation going.

“I heard His Grace cherishes you dearly, my lady. Surely there’s nothing more you could wish for. If you desire anything, he’d surely make it happen.”

“Indeed, indeed!”

As they agreed too eagerly, Agnes lowered her voice softly.

“If there’s something I wish for…”

Agnes was a gentle beauty. When her eyebrows drooped and her lips trembled faintly, there was an air of fragility that drew everyone’s eyes.

Far from being unpleasant, her expression had the delicate beauty of a painting.

The noblewomen began to understand why Dylan had chosen her.

“Why do you ask? Is something troubling you?”

“Well… actually…”

Agnes hesitated, touching her cheek as if embarrassed. She had little experience asking for anything for her own sake, so her voice wavered. But this was something she had to say.

She took a quiet breath, closed her eyes tightly, and spoke in a trembling whisper.

“Before I marry, I just want to see my son once more…”

A soft murmur rippled through the noblewomen.

Her wish was an impossible one.

Her son was not dead, nor was he far away. Yet she had no right to see him.

Everyone here knew it. Agnes had been a woman cast out by her former husband.

She had not cheated, nor squandered money, nor shamed her family at a banquet. She had simply disagreed with her husband over how to raise their child and had been expelled overnight.

She was a woman who had lived every noblewoman’s nightmare.

None of them said it aloud, but each one pitied her. And some secretly felt relief that it hadn’t been them.

Yet seeing her eyes glisten with tears brought the story painfully close to heart.

“I’m sorry. I seem to have ruined the mood. I’ll just… step outside for a moment.”

Forcing an awkward smile, Agnes rose and left the room. The noblewomen immediately began whispering among themselves in hushed voices.