YWDBH 01

Chapter 1 — It Was You

“Do you dare come here?!”

At the loud shout of Duke Castiel, everyone who had been enjoying the party turned their attention to one place.

A man appeared.

He was tall—taller than most people present—with broad shoulders, sharp features, and a perfectly sculpted nose and jawline. His silver hair shone, and beneath it, his fierce red eyes glowed as he walked straight into the hall.

“W-What? That man is—!”
“Why would he come to a party he wasn’t invited to?”

Today was Lady Elodie Castiel’s 25th birthday.

Rather than a simple birthday party, it was more like a gathering to choose her future husband.

Elodie was the only child of the powerful Duke Castiel family. Whoever married her would gain great status and wealth, so many noblemen desired the position.

But even without her background, Elodie herself was known as the most beautiful rose of the empire.

Her soft golden hair carried a hint of pink like cotton candy, her large shining blue eyes sparkled, and her cherry-colored lips always held a gentle smile. Anyone who saw her could not help but fall for her charm.

“I’ve never seen such a lovely lady.”
“Not only is she beautiful, but her personality is so innocent and sweet. That pure, unaware nature of hers makes her the perfect bride.”

Duke Castiel, proud of such a daughter, gathered suitors every year on her birthday to receive gifts and proposals.

“The marriage partner will be chosen by Elodie herself on her twenty-fifth birthday.”

And that long-awaited day had finally arrived.

“Isn’t the answer already decided? It will be the Denverin Duke family, second only to Castiel.”
“Well, you never know. It won’t hurt to make a good impression. Let’s prepare our gifts well.”

As expected, the party was grand, and all eligible noblemen were invited.

All except one.

“That man is Leonis Rihart!”
“Oh my, he really is as handsome as the rumors say.”

Tension filled the hall at the appearance of this unexpected guest.

Noble ladies peeked at him from behind their fans, blushing.

The Rihart family guarded the harsh northern borders of the empire. Thanks to Leonis, who became the head of the family at a young age, the empire was safer than ever.

But his presence here made people uneasy.

Because it was Duke Castiel who had killed Leonis’s father, Karl Rihart.

There was also a legend passed down in the Rihart family:

[The heart of the Rihart head has the power to revive the dead. If one stabs their own heart while enduring all pain for a loved one, that person will return to life. But in exchange, ten years of their lifespan will be lost.]

Whether it was true or not, Duke Castiel believed it.

He stabbed Karl Rihart’s heart by force to use that power for himself—and even after committing such a terrible act, he avoided punishment through his authority.

“I heard Leonis curses Duke Castiel every night and drinks the blood of monsters in the forest.”
“Really? Is that why his eyes are such a terrifying, beautiful red?”

As whispers spread, Leonis walked forward without hesitation.

“Lady Castiel.”

Finally reaching his destination, he spoke to the birthday girl and took something out from inside his jacket.

“What is that? Is he trying to kill her?”
“Lady! Be careful!”
“Aaaah!”

His intense presence made even a weak noblewoman faint in fear.

The knights of the Castiel family rushed in and pointed their swords at him.

At that moment—

“Happy birthday, my lady. A pot of lily of the valley.”

Everyone froze in shock.

In his large hands, he carefully held a small flower pot. Inside it, delicate white lily of the valley flowers quietly bloomed.

“Thank you, Sir Leonis Rihart.”

Even more surprising was Elodie’s reaction.

She always treated everyone kindly, but—

She smiled brightly at a man who might be her enemy, without even a hint of doubt.

Her calmness was so natural that it almost seemed like she had known he would come.

“Then, goodbye.”

Elodie smiled and greeted him again, as many others were still waiting to give their gifts.

“Wait.”

But Leonis did not leave.

Fear appeared on people’s faces.

As expected… He wouldn’t just give a gift and leave.

But the words that came out of his mouth were unexpected.

“Do you know the meaning of lily of the valley?”

Elodie blinked in confusion as she looked at him.

Leonis’s face grew even more serious.

Then, in a firm voice that didn’t match his expression, he said—

“You will surely be happy.”

“…Pardon?”

“You will surely be happy.”

He repeated it once more, as if leaving behind a message, then bowed his head and turned away.

“What was that? Is he really just leaving?”
“That small, poor thing is his gift?”
“Isn’t that rude, even if they are enemies?”
“Well… maybe letting her live is the greatest gift. Or… was that a declaration of war?”

While everyone whispered in confusion—

Elodie, who had been silently staring at the flower pot, suddenly stood up.

“Wait!”

Leonis, who was about to leave the hall, stopped in his tracks.

“It was you.”

Elodie walked up to him and looked straight at him.

“What… do you mean?”

Leonis’s red eyes trembled slightly.

It was a very small movement—but Elodie noticed.

“It was you. Yes… it was.”

Her voice was filled with certainty, and her bright eyes shone.

“This time, you brought lily of the valley.”

At her strange words, Leonis suddenly lifted his head.

Before anyone could understand what she meant—

He turned and ran out of the hall as if escaping.

“Stop right there!”

Holding up her dress, Elodie chased after him, but he didn’t seem to hear.

Leonis rushed into an empty reception room and quickly unbuttoned his shirt.

He pulled out his sword—

and was about to stab his heart.

“Stop!”

Elodie shouted as she entered the room.

Leonis hurriedly fixed his shirt and slipped the sword back into its sheath.

As he quickly buttoned up, Elodie walked toward him.

Then—

Rip—

Without hesitation, she grabbed his shirt—

and tore it open.