Chapter 12
She looked around once more, but Sienna was the only one left in the library.
Dandelion was gone—and so was the book he had been reading.
“Where did he go?”
He hadn’t vanished into the ground, and he had never left without saying anything before, so she calmly headed to the back garden.
“Dan?”
Dandelion was there, practicing alone behind the library.
With that ridiculous book.
He looked awkward, like someone who had been caught doing something embarrassing.
He even seemed a little shy.
Sienna slowly walked up to him and took the book from his hand.
“There are things you have to learn outside of books too, you know.”
“……”
“Trust me.”
She placed the book on the ground and held out her hand.
After hesitating, he slowly reached out and took it.
Through her thin lace gloves, she could clearly feel his warmth—and his trembling.
When Sienna placed one of his hands on her waist, Dandelion flinched and slightly pulled away.
“You need to hold me if you want to dance.”
At her words, he quietly returned his hand to its place.
Sienna held his other hand and lifted her head to look at him.
“Ah……”
Once again, she forgot how to speak—and how to breathe.
“Is something wrong?”
He bent down slightly, looking straight at her with concern.
Don’t come closer. Don’t come closer. Don’t—actually, come closer. That’s fine. Totally fine.
Her thoughts were shouting nonsense all at once.
She thought she had gotten used to this by now, but when he was this close……
“Hoo.”
Sienna hardened her resolve and finally began the lesson.
But his skills were worse than she had expected.
On top of that, because he was so worried about stepping on her, his posture kept becoming stiff and awkward.
“Dan. Don’t think so much—just look at me.”
To be honest, Sienna’s own body wasn’t cooperating either.
It wasn’t even her original body, and her condition was poor because of the hangover.
Still, dancing was one of the things she loved—and was good at.
“Focus on me. Which foot I move, which way my body leans, when I breathe.”
“What if I step on you?”
That seemed to be the only thing he was worried about.
“Then let’s do this.”
Sienna suddenly had a good idea.
“Every time you step on my foot, you answer one of my questions.”
“Anything.”
“Then I really need to dance well.”
“I don’t mind being stepped on.”
At her words, he smiled brightly and took off his heavy shoes.
“Dan?”
“I’d feel better this way.”
“Then I should take mine off too.”
Without hesitation, Sienna removed her high heels and neatly placed them beside his shoes.
“You don’t have to!”
“I like this better too.”
The bare ground was damp, cool, and a little ticklish—but it wasn’t bad.
“Shall we start?”
Just as she was about to take the first step, she saw Arthur running toward them from afar.
Without even catching his breath, he searched for Sienna.
“M-My— no, miss!”
“What is it?”
“May I have a word?”
Arthur glanced at Dandelion and whispered into her ear.
“The king is urgently looking for you.”
Why now of all times?!
Sienna resented the king for stealing away this rare chance.
“Dan. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.”
“Let’s meet here again tomorrow at lunch. You have to come. You will, right?”
Seeing her almost in tears, Dandelion smiled softly.
“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”
Sienna forced herself to turn away, even though she didn’t want to.
So today was that day.
In the original story, the king summoned Sienna only twice.
One of those times was around now.
He had invited Marquis Theo Valencia and his son, Jad Valencia, for tea.
Officially, it was to praise them for defeating monsters near the border and stabilizing it.
But the real purpose was to push forward Sienna and Jad’s marriage.
Jad will definitely lose his temper, so I probably won’t need to do anything…
Still, she had a bad feeling about it.
Honey-colored blond hair like Pierre’s, and golden-brown eyes like Sienna’s.
But the king’s hair had faded with age, and the light in his eyes had grown dim.
Standing beside him was a man with silver hair and a slightly fierce face.
Scars marked by time remained across his body, yet he was still powerfully built.
King Aden of Stern and Marquis Theo Valencia were not only king and subject, but also old friends who had graduated from the academy together.
“Theo.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I told you to relax when we’re alone.”
“I appreciate it, but habits lead to mistakes.”
“You’re as stiff as ever.”
“More importantly, why did you summon me here?”
They were standing in a hidden chamber inside the king’s office, where the royal jewel known as the Bell of Stern was kept.
Only royalty were allowed to enter this room.
The Bell of Stern was revealed to the public only once every ten years during the founding festival.
Aden and Theo stood straight, gazing at the royal treasure.
It was rough and dim—hardly what one would call a jewel.
If no one told you, you would never guess it was the Bell of Stern.
“Theo.”
The king spoke while still looking at the jewel.
“That child is the sun.
The sun that will light Stern.”
“If you mean that child…”
“Sienna.”
“The princess?”
Only then did Theo realize his question had been rude.
“My apologies.”
“No. Anyone would ask the same.”
Though they had little interaction, Sienna was still his only daughter.
He knew the rumors surrounding her—and who was behind them.
“But Theo, I can never forget Sienna’s eighth birthday. The moment this jewel shone and rang so clearly.”
“Is that truly so?”
The calm marquis’s eyes widened.
The Bell of Stern was named so because, on rare occasions, it rang with a clear sound.
It was said to be only a legend—but Aden had definitely heard it.
“I’ve never experienced a moment so beautiful in my life.”
It had happened when Sienna casually touched the jewel.
Both he and Pierre had witnessed it clearly.
Aden, who had been reminiscing with a dreamlike expression, soon looked sad.
“I was never a good father—to Pierre, or to Sienna.”
“Your Majesty…”
“So I wanted to at least be a king worthy of respect. But even that seems impossible now.”
“Please don’t say that.”
Emotion welled up, and Aden quickly changed the subject.
“Your son distinguished himself in the recent battle, didn’t he?”
“He’s still inexperienced.”
“In time, he’ll grow into a fine man like his father. Of course—whose son is he?”
“You praise him too much. It’s overwhelming.”
“No. He’s the man I chose as my daughter’s husband. This is hardly excessive. And really—Sienna has excellent taste.”
At the king’s true intention, Theo lowered his head.
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Everyone knew Jad was unhappy about the marriage.
There were even rumors that he was chasing after a duke’s daughter.
It was an awkward situation in many ways.
“Sienna may lack many things, but she’s pure and warm. She’s starting to resemble Illina more and more.”
“Do you miss the queen?”
“Do I even deserve to?”
They silently looked at the darkened Bell of Stern.
Then, Sienna arrived.
A familiar attendant led her into the hidden chamber.
“Why are we here?”
“The king and Marquis Valencia are waiting.”
That was all he said before opening the door.
Arthur had to wait outside, so Sienna entered alone.
After walking through the narrow corridor, a square room appeared.
She remembered coming here once—long ago, as a child.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“You’ve come.”
She lifted her dress slightly and curtsied properly.
When she raised her head, Theo greeted her.
“It’s been a while, Princess.”
“It has been a while, Marquis Valencia.”
She responded with a graceful, restrained smile—and then her eyes landed on the Bell of Stern.
The room, and the bell, looked exactly the same.
A memory of Sienna that never appeared in the original story.
That’s right. That bell sound.
That cursed sound was the beginning of her misery.
Her relationship with Pierre hadn’t been this bad from the start.
The day he truly began tormenting her was the day the three of them entered this room.
The jewel hadn’t reacted when Pierre touched it.
But when Sienna did, it glowed warmly—
Along with the clear ringing sound from legend.
The king was too happy to notice anything.
But Sienna saw it clearly.
She saw how Pierre’s face twisted.
At first, he tripped her or knocked snacks onto the floor so she couldn’t eat them.
As they grew older, his methods became crueler.
Knowing she was afraid of confined spaces, he locked her in a wardrobe.
She was only ten years old.
She cried and pounded on the door for a long time—but no one came.
She eventually fell asleep from exhaustion.
She was locked inside for an entire day.
What was worse—no one even knew it had happened.
Pierre told the servants that Sienna had fallen asleep while playing in his room.
And the one who let her out the next day was Pierre himself.
Terrified and angry, Sienna lashed out at him.
He quietly threatened her.
“If you tell anyone about this, I won’t let you live.”
