Chapter 2
The moment she met his crimson eyes, she couldn’t help but swallow a startled breath.
Ezra, who had been staring at him as if entranced, instantly went pale. How could she dare to meet his gaze? Fearing she might be dragged back and harshly punished, she nervously glanced at the maids.
As he slowly scanned the trembling Ezra from head to toe, his eyes flashed briefly, then curved into a smile as if nothing had happened.
“I am Hippolytus, Crown Prince of the Waster Empire.”
Unsure whether she should respond or not, Ezra hesitated—until she caught sight of a maid’s sharp glare. Startled, she hurriedly parted her dry lips and answered.
“Y-Yes. I am Ezra, the fourth princess.”
She felt as though she might turn and flee at any moment, like a wild beast of the plains. Hippolytus inclined his head slightly, a mocking smile on his lips.
The princesses of Titen, said to possess astonishing abilities. And… one empty-headed princess among them. Wearing a faint, unreadable smile, he stepped closer to Ezra.
“Lord Hieros and the queen have not yet arrived. Nor have the other princesses.”
“Yes, yes.”
The golden table was laden with glossy cuts of meat and vegetables heavy with moisture. Thick slices of freshly baked bread sent up curls of steam, and unfamiliar fruits—ones unseen in the empire—were arranged in abundance. Yet if the royal family delayed much longer, the food would soon grow cold and lose its flavor.
So this was their attempt not to appear weak—simply stalling for time? Wasn’t that a bit trite? Hippolytus, well aware of their scheming, narrowed his eyes and let out a low sigh. Meanwhile, the woman who looked so foolish seemed incapable of reading anyone else’s intentions.
“Thank you for welcoming me.”
He deliberately took the tips of her fingers. Though it was only a light touch, Ezra flinched violently and reflexively lifted her head. As Hippolytus searched her vivid green eyes—fresh like leaves after rain—he pressed his lips to the back of her hand in courtesy.
“Ah, I—”
Ezra quickly pulled her hand back, clasping her fingers together as she bowed deeply again. She knew it was discourteous, but her ears burned hot and she couldn’t bring herself to face him properly. A kiss on the back of her hand—having never had contact with a man before, it was difficult for her to remain composed. And his appearance was far too handsome. Even as she took a steadying breath, she instinctively stole a glance at him.
A body so large and solid it seemed almost threatening. Silver hair like moonlight, shining brighter than the pure gold surrounding them. Features so distinct and refined, as if carved by a god.
A beautiful man, impossible to look away from. And among all his features, what captivated her most were his red eyes, softly glowing with a warmth like embers.
Eyes filled not with contempt, hatred, scorn, or pity—but with pure goodwill. No one had ever looked at her that way before.
They had met eyes only once, yet her pulse raced all the way to her fingertips.
What was this feeling?
Ezra rubbed the back of the hand his lips had touched, idly passing the time.
“There are plenty of seats.”
Just as he was about to personally guide the stiff, pitiful woman, the grand golden doors opened silently. Through them appeared the king and queen.
Their leisurely steps carried them inside, their gaze brushing past the foreign prince standing there, then drifting to Ezra before dispersing. At the sight of the queen, Ezra hurriedly stepped back.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Please, take your seats. Once the princesses arrive, it will grow quite hectic.”
King Hieros passed by Ezra as though she didn’t exist and sat in his place. The queen took her seat beside him with a rigid expression, and Hippolytus turned away from Ezra without hesitation.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. We might have sent a princess to you, but I didn’t expect the Waster Empire to come seeking Titen first.”
“It is an honor for me to set foot in Titen.”
“An honor, you say…”
Hieros lifted his golden goblet and took a drink. The empire’s sole prince, who had arrived without so much as a word of warning. Gazing into those flame-like eyes, the king thought: where fire burns brightly, shadows inevitably fall. His expression hardened imperceptibly.
As conversation began to flow naturally, Ezra quietly took a seat at the very end of the table. Even with her long hair hiding the side of her face, she could feel the queen’s hatred-filled stare, making her heart pound and cold sweat bead on her skin.
“We apologize for being late, Father, Mother.”
At the gentle voice, everyone’s gaze turned as if on cue.
Three princesses crossed the golden threshold, approaching gracefully and offering elegant greetings. When the king nodded briefly, they immediately bowed to Hippolytus and the three knights standing guard beside him. A flawless first meeting between princesses and prince.
Recalling how foolish she herself had looked earlier, Ezra clenched her skirts tightly. If only she could vanish from this place like the wind.
“Now that everyone is gathered, we may proceed to the main matter.”
“Yes. Please go on.”
“You came to Titen to seek marriage with my daughters, did you not?”
Though she had heard this many times before, Ezra lifted her head for the first time and studied everyone’s faces. Thankfully, no one paid any attention to her, tucked away silently in the corner.
“Yes. That is correct. If Your Majesty permits, I wish to take one of the princesses to my side.”
At his unhesitating reply, King Hieros frowned. And understandably so—the prince’s rugged face was ugly enough to inspire revulsion, his manner unspeakably shabby, and his height no taller than a dwarf’s. His frail build looked as though he could barely wield a single sword.
Even if he was the crown prince of Waster… hiring a common street laborer would be better than this. The king did not bother to hide his deep sigh.
And then there was the Waster Empire, said to have swallowed the continent whole. Even if no nation had breached Titen’s walls for hundreds of years, complacency was nothing more than inviting danger inside.
“I hear the current emperor is still in good health. Why, then, have you come to seek marriage?”
“It is merely a matter of moving one step faster to obtain what is most precious. There is no other meaning.”
At his words, the air around them seemed to freeze. Yet the prince continued calmly.
“And, of course, by forming a bond with one of the princesses, I sincerely wish to promote harmony between our two nations.”
Seeing Hieros’s lips set in a firm line, Hippolytus smiled gently. No matter how blessed by the gods Titen might be, it would not wish to make an enemy of the empire. The king would have no choice but to give him one of his daughters.
And no matter how long the king tried to delay, Hippolytus had no intention of withdrawing before taking what he sought.
“…This is not a matter to be taken lightly. Though late, thank you for coming to Titen. Please stay comfortably during your time here. Ah—since you are a distinguished guest, we should host a banquet. We will ensure everything is prepared without lacking, so enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
As expected, King Hieros neither retreated nor acted rashly. After glancing over his daughters, he raised his goblet first.
In the silent hall, only the clinking of tableware echoed.
Perhaps because of her tension, Ezra felt no hunger at all, yet she raised her hand as if to eat anyway. When had he begun watching her? Meeting a gaze that seemed to see through everything, she froze.
Darkness lurked within that fleeting glance. Before she could fully grasp it, he smiled again, as if by habit.
The back of her hand—where his lips had touched—suddenly burned. His gaze had already moved away, but the impact lingered vividly near her ears, the emotion impossible to suppress. She shouldn’t do anything. She shouldn’t feel anything. Yet fate would not let her look away from him.
Ezra gripped her spoon tightly, afraid she might drop it.
She was certain of one thing. Amid all the unfamiliar splendor, that gaze alone had been the most intoxicating of all.
“What do you intend to do now? Frankly, I still cannot understand Your Highness’s obstinacy.”
In the labyrinthine corridor prepared for them, the shadows of two men stretched long. Kacos followed behind Hippolytus as he strode through the dim passage, eventually frowning at his silent lord.
Even winning over Princess Glossa with his handsome appearance would not have been enough—yet why had he chosen to disguise himself in such a ridiculous manner? The lack of explanation was deeply frustrating.
“You met four princesses said to be extraordinary. What did you think?”
“What does my opinion matter? If I had to say one thing, it would be that you won’t even win the heart of the most lowly princess.”
The most lowly princess. Hippolytus immediately knew whom Kacos meant—the frail woman who trembled with a pale face, seemingly unable to take a single step on her own.
“A princess of a kingdom reduced to such a state… it was almost laughable.”
Rarely did he drop his mask and reveal his emotions so openly. His voice, thick with disgust, made Kacos pause. Unaware or unconcerned, Hippolytus continued without hesitation.
“What I despise most is her lack of courage to change her own circumstances. That is what’s truly pathetic.”
“That insignificant princess is not important. More importantly, as I said, given the current situation—!”
“Is that so? Because I can’t hide how pleased I am that my instincts were right.”
“What do you—”
The man walking ahead suddenly turned around, his black cloak whipping in the wind that happened to blow through. Despite his grotesque appearance, an overwhelming aura of authority spilled forth, leaving Kacos momentarily speechless.
Lifting his chin, Hippolytus laughed lightly.
“Everything is going perfectly.”
The moment their eyes met, Hippolytus knew. She was a woman who would place everything into his hands.
Unable to contain his rising thrill, he covered his mouth and chuckled. Watching his shaking shoulders with wary eyes, Kacos stepped back and bowed his head.
Only after some time did Hippolytus compose himself, then whisper with a radiant smile.
“Meeting that woman wasn’t fate… it was luck I created myself.”
