Chapter 01
Prologue
Clatter.
Because it had rained, the road was uneven, and the carriage jolted violently.
Sienna hugged the neatly wrapped box tightly to her chest, afraid it might slip from her grasp.
Anna, who sat across from her, burst into laughter at the sight.
“Your Highness, really. Even if you drop it, it’s not like the thing inside will break.”
“But it’s a gift. All the careful wrapping would be ruined.”
Even after the carriage left the muddy road and entered a properly paved one, Sienna still couldn’t bring herself to put the box down.
She placed it carefully on her lap, then gently rested both hands on top of it, as though guarding something precious.
Today was the birthday of her fiancé, Jade Valencia.
And this was a gift she had prepared for him with her own hands.
Princess Sienna Stern of the Kingdom of Stern and Jade Valencia, heir to the Marquisate of Valencia, had been engaged three years ago.
And at last, this coming spring, the two were scheduled to be married.
The day Sienna’s long, unrequited love would finally bear fruit was not far away.
Yet the expression of the bride-to-be—who should have been floating on clouds—was as dark as the weather outside the carriage.
Sienna turned her head to look out the window.
Rain had been falling steadily since night, and despite it being daytime, the world outside was dim and gloomy.
The closer they drew to the Valencia estate, the more often she fiddled with her nails, the deeper her sighs became.
“Haaah…”
Tracing Jade’s name on the fogged-up window with her finger, Sienna spoke softly, her voice tinged with loneliness.
“Do you think… Jade is really okay with this marriage?”
Unlike Sienna, who had nearly leapt with joy when the wedding date was set, Jade had remained lukewarm the entire time.
Considering it was a political marriage without love on his side, that reaction was perhaps only natural.
Even so, the reason Jade accepted the marriage was simply because he had no reason to oppose it.
There was no other noble lady he cared for, and since he had known Sienna for a long time and felt comfortable around her, he thought she wouldn’t be a bad marriage partner.
And on the day of their engagement, Jade had conveyed those thoughts to Sienna without reservation.
It was a consent devoid of consideration or kindness—but even so, she had been satisfied.
Even if others mocked her for having no pride, she couldn’t help it.
From the start, she knew all too well that the weight of their feelings was unequal.
She would be lying if she said his words hadn’t hurt.
But the future she imagined with Jade—and the fact that she would finally escape the castle—allowed her to endure everything.
Still, as time passed, her anxiety only grew.
Rumors always gathered within the palace.
Among them were whispers that Jade Valencia had fallen deeply in love with the daughter of some ducal family.
‘And now there’s really not much time left…’
Sienna placed a hand over her heart.
“Why do I feel so uneasy?”
Clatter—thud.
Perhaps the wheel had sunk into the muddy road, because the carriage suddenly lurched to a stop.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
The coachman’s voice called out apologetically from outside.
Soon, the carriage began moving again, and Sienna forced a faint smile.
“Yes, I’m fine. Everything will be fine.”
She tried to reassure herself, but even a little rain was enough to make the ground beneath her feet feel unstable.
“Your Highness…”
Seeing how pale Sienna had become, Anna tightly clasped her hand.
“Your hands are cold.”
Perhaps because of the rain, or perhaps because of the season, the cold felt unusually harsh these days.
Anna worried that Sienna, who had always been physically weak, might come down with a fever.
Half resentful, half curious, she asked about Jade.
“What exactly is it that you like so much about Sir Jade?”
“You’re embarrassing me, asking so suddenly.”
Though she said that, Sienna’s lips curved into a smile the moment she thought of him.
“Hmm… because he’s kind?”
“What? I can’t agree with that, of all things.”
Anna was firm.
She knew many young noble ladies in the capital adored Jade, but in Anna’s eyes, he was far from a good man.
“Well, it’s true that Jade can be cold and sharp-tongued…”
Sienna nodded at Anna’s words, yet still defended him.
“But he was the only one who ever saved me.”
It had happened one day when Pierre, through subtle cruelty, was tormenting her as usual.
No one intervened.
That was only natural.
After all, he was the Crown Prince.
That was when Jade grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
Saying this place was boring, that they should leave, he dragged her out of that hellish room.
She remembered that day vividly—every detail.
Her ragged breathing, the refreshing wind, the warmth of the hand holding hers, the bitter tears, and Jade’s endless scolding.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like I helped you.”
“Y-Yes…”
“I just wanted to go outside.”
“Okay…”
When Sienna sniffled and nodded, Jade clutched his chest and exploded.
“Ah, you’re so frustrating! Why are you crying?!”
Whenever Jade shouted, Sienna would tear up.
And whenever Sienna teared up, Jade would shout again.
That strange exchange repeated several times.
“He’s surprisingly consistent, you know.”
Sienna let out a small laugh.
“Well, that was already ten years ago.”
While she was lost in memory, the carriage began to slow.
“It looks like we’re almost there.”
“Yes… everything’s still the same.”
The scenery outside was familiar.
Once you passed the tall trees lining the road, the entrance to the estate would appear.
Soon, the carriage came to a complete stop.
Sienna pulled her cloak tight, took Anna’s hand, and stepped down.
The rain was still falling softly.
Stepping onto the lush grass, Sienna headed toward the mansion.
But her gait was stiff—her tension obvious.
It had been far too long since she’d left the royal palace, and her shy nature only made things worse.
“We’ve been expecting you, Your Highness.”
Gideon, the butler of the House of Valencia, greeted her.
Though Jade didn’t know, Sienna had sent word ahead.
Gideon respectfully guided her inside.
“The young master is currently having a gathering with his friends. It may be rather loud and uncomfortable. Shall I escort you elsewhere?”
As an experienced butler who knew her temperament well, Gideon made the suggestion in advance.
Sienna nodded slightly.
“Yes, please.”
“Then I will take you to the drawing room.”
Seated alone in an empty drawing room, Sienna sipped the tea a maid brought her while waiting for Jade.
Anna had excused herself to give them privacy, leaving the wide room eerily silent.
So quiet that even the sound of setting down her teacup echoed loudly.
When the butler didn’t return for some time, Sienna rose from the sofa.
She couldn’t stay still.
As she wandered around the tastefully decorated room, she heard noises coming from the adjacent room.
“Is someone there?”
The next room was also a drawing room.
A door connected the two, allowing easy passage.
Following the sound without thinking, Sienna grasped the handle.
As she pushed the door open slightly, the creak of warped wood revealed two figures inside.
The curtains were drawn, the lights unlit, leaving the room dark—but it was enough to recognize who they were and what was happening.
On a long sofa lay Greta Winslet, dressed in an ornate gown, her hands held down.
Straddling her—
“Kyaa!”
At Greta’s short scream, Sienna lost her grip on the doorknob.
The door flew wide open, flooding the room with light.
Meanwhile, Jade Valencia, who had only seen the intruder’s silhouette, widened his eyes when the red hair caught the light.
“Sienna?”
At the sound of Jade’s voice, she flinched and stepped back.
‘It must be a misunderstanding. There has to be some reason… there must…’
She tried to steady her heart, but it was useless.
‘How stupid.’
She should have said something—anything—but no words came.
Raking a hand irritably through his hair, Jade shamelessly addressed her frozen figure.
“What is it?”
“……”
“You’re being rude, barging in without knocking.”
“……”
“I’d like you to leave now.”
When Sienna still didn’t respond, Jade gestured toward Greta beneath him.
“Are you planning to keep watching?”
“……”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind that either.”
The moment his eyes met hers—
Bang.
The door slammed shut with a loud crash.
Sienna grabbed the gift she had placed on the table and fled the drawing room.
Afraid she might run into Jade, she sprinted down the hallway, dignity forgotten.
There was no reason to run.
Yet she wanted to hide—anywhere.
With her cloak pulled over her head, she rushed down the stairs, only to trip and fall forward.
Expecting the hard floor, she shut her eyes—
But her falling body stopped midair.
“Are you all right?”
Someone was firmly gripping her shoulders.
At the low voice, all her tension drained away at once, and her legs gave out.
Though she hadn’t been rained on, her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
The box had fallen and was slightly crushed—but it no longer mattered.
“Thank you…”
In a barely audible voice, Sienna bowed to the man who had helped her, picked up the box, and ran away as if fleeing.
But she stopped at the door when she heard him call out.
“Miss! Wait—”
He approached her, holding a shoe that had fallen on the stair landing.
She hadn’t even realized she’d lost one.
“Please excuse me.”
He knelt and carefully placed the shoe back onto her foot.
Normally, she would have recoiled in surprise—but she felt nothing.
Only the warmth of his hands made her tremble slightly.
She opened the door and stepped outside.
Breathing shallowly, she hurried onward.
An afternoon as dark as night.
And still, the rain fell.
She didn’t know how she made it back to the royal palace.
Sienna was soaked to the bone.
Anna, seeing her strange condition, was beside herself with worry.
She asked what had happened—but Sienna gave no answer.
“I want to sleep.”
That was all she said the entire way back.
‘I wish all of this were a dream.’
She wanted to fall asleep while repeating that wish to herself.
But even that small hope was shattered.
“What on earth is that state you’re in?”
The last person she wanted to see—her older brother, Pierre—had come to visit.
Her ruined clothes. Her haggard face. The crushed gift box.
He looked her up and down and sneered openly.
“This is the worst. Absolutely disgraceful.”
“……”
“You hardly look like someone who just went to see her fiancé. Did you have a fight?”
“……”
“Well, I suppose it was a one-sided happy marriage to begin with.”
“……”
“Honestly, I don’t like the man—but for the first time, I almost pity Jade Valencia.”
“……”
“Hm…”
Finding her silence dull, Pierre stepped closer.
Grabbing her chin so she couldn’t avoid him, he forced her to meet his eyes.
With a gentle touch, he brushed her fallen hair behind her ear—and drove the knife in.
“It’s always you who’s the problem.”
“……”
“If only you weren’t here.”
Even though Sienna was already in tatters, Pierre showed no mercy.
Resting a hand on her shoulder, he whispered a curse into her ear.
“Someone like you would have been better off never being born.”
