PROLOGUE
“How beautiful.”
When Rision first saw the tutor of the Grand Duchy of Ervinzel, that was his simple impression.
That she was a very beautiful woman.
It wasn’t the kind of beauty that shone with jewels or was carefully sculpted like the flowers adorning imperial banquets.
The day dress she wore was modest, and her thick brown hair was simply braided down her back.
Her face bore no trace of makeup, and she wore no jewelry.
Yet, her quiet simplicity couldn’t hide her natural vitality.
Her graceful figure radiated health and youthful energy with every movement, and her intelligent eyes sparkled like midsummer sunlight.
Just walking across the lawn, her light steps looked like she was dancing.
It wouldn’t have been strange if she kicked off her shoes and ran barefoot through the breeze.
They say some people make you feel better just by looking at them — Rision felt the constant ache in his head ease for the first time in a while.
Across the tea table, Grand Duchess Ellaris of Ervinzel followed Rision’s gaze with her eyes.
She clearly knew where he was looking, but she feigned ignorance.
“Our gardener is quite diligent,” she said. “And it is the season when flowers are at their most beautiful.”
“You tease me, Aunt.”
Ellaris ignored Rision’s dry tone.
She took his cold teacup and poured a fresh one herself.
“That young lady is Miss Dianne Hortensa, the one I mentioned. Do you like her?”
“What’s there to like or dislike?”
Though he said that, Rision instinctively searched through the mental list of noble families he knew.
He had never heard of a family named Hortensa.
If she was employed as the Grand Duchy’s tutor, she must belong to the gentry, though likely from a modest background.
As Rision’s eyes lingered on the tutor, Ellaris spoke sharply.
“Even if you do find her appealing, Miss Dianne is off limits.”
“What do you mean, ‘off limits’?”
“I mean you mustn’t think of making her your lover. You have plenty of playthings in the palace already, don’t you?”
Rision frowned.
It was easy to find satisfaction if he wanted it.
Not doing so was far more difficult.
Since before his coming of age, he had been the target of countless advances — from men who’d sell their wives for power to ambitious noble ladies aiming high.
He found it all deeply repulsive.
Even at twenty-six, he remained unmarried because duty could not overcome his instinctive aversion.
He knew his temperament didn’t suit his position, which was why he always pretended that work mattered more than women.
But such pretense never worked on his aunt.
Her gaze, sharp even across the teacup, pricked at him.
“I have no intention,” he said firmly, “of forming immoral relations with those who see me as nothing more than a carcass at the butcher’s table.”
“Then all the more reason Miss Dianne is off limits,” Ellaris replied. “Her family may be humble, but she’s wise and respectable. I intend to find her a good match when the time comes.”
At that, Rision looked genuinely troubled.
“Aunt, all I said was that she’s beautiful.”
“As far as I remember, Your Majesty has never complimented anyone’s looks but the princess’s.”
“…Please, leave Lira out of this. It worsens my headache.”
Rision’s sister, Princess Elpenlira, was in a dire state lately.
She refused attendants, guards, and even royal ceremonies.
The excuse of illness was wearing thin, and few believed that the once-healthy princess was bedridden.
Ellaris, watching her son stroll through the garden with the tutor, smiled fondly.
“I believe Miss Dianne can help the princess recover her spirit.”
“You have remarkable faith.”
“It took her six months to get Erin to speak again. Can you imagine? Tending to a child who wouldn’t utter a word, from morning to night.”
Her only son, Erin Ervinzel, had developed mutism after losing his cat in a fire.
It was Miss Dianne Hortensa who had restored him to his old self.
It was no wonder Ellaris had such near-religious faith in her.
But Rision remained doubtful.
“I haven’t spoken face-to-face with Lira for months. Do you really think a stranger can reach her?”
“Considering how strained things are between you and the princess, a stranger might actually do better.”
“…I can’t deny that.”
As he muttered, Rision suddenly froze.
Dianne Hortensa was looking straight at him from afar.
After whispering something to young Erin, she began walking toward them.
Rision sighed and put back on the mask he had set aside on the table.
It wasn’t that he feared being recognized — he simply didn’t want to deal with formal greetings.
Thankfully, Dianne proved to be as composed as Ellaris had said.
She didn’t flinch or look puzzled at the sight of a masked stranger.
Instead, she curtsied politely to the Grand Duchess.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
Ellaris smiled warmly and returned the greeting.
“Good afternoon, Miss Dianne. I came out thinking it was Erin’s walk time — and to show our guest the garden.”
Dianne gave a small curtsy.
Rision responded with a nod.
Up close, her cheeks were flushed pink.
Her face looked so fresh that Rision couldn’t help but stare.
Dianne avoided his eyes with practiced ease and turned to Ellaris.
“Shall I prepare dinner for the young master this evening?”
“It’ll just be family tonight,” Ellaris said. “You should join us.”
That was her polite way of saying Rision wouldn’t be staying for dinner.
And he didn’t argue — surprising servants with an unexpected imperial guest would be unkind.
The tutor bowed gracefully and left the garden the way she came.
As Rision absently followed her light steps with his eyes, Ellaris gave him a pointed look.
“I told you, Miss Dianne is off limits.”
Rision sighed.
“I assure you, my thoughts are pure.”
“A young man’s fondness for a lovely lady isn’t impure,” Ellaris said. “But I won’t allow her honor to be harmed.”
“Aunt,” Rision said coldly, “I am not my father.”
At that, Ellaris nodded.
“That’s a relief.”
The late emperor had loved the empress, yet kept many mistresses and illegitimate children.
It was within his power, and he lacked the restraint not to abuse it.
Rision still supported those children — a part of his father’s legacy he despised the most.
“Oh, and thank you for the gift,” Ellaris added. “Erin was delighted.”
“He’s still young. I thought he’d prefer a puppy to a horse. I’m glad he likes it.”
Rision had given Erin a puppy from his favorite hunting dog’s litter.
The boy, who had once rejected all animals, couldn’t resist the puppy’s charm.
Watching Erin chatter beside the tutor, Rision rose to his feet.
His guard approached and draped his coat over his shoulders.
“I’ll follow your advice,” Rision said. “Let’s hope Miss Dianne Hortensa proves as capable as you say.”
“She’ll exceed your expectations.”
Ellaris stood and bowed deeply.
“Glory to the Sun of Catalos.”
Rision and his guard left the garden and headed toward the carriage waiting at the main gate.
Just as they were about to depart, a quick voice called out.
“Please, wait a moment!”
It was the tutor.
Her cheeks were flushed from running all the way from the garden.
Both Rision and his guard looked at her in surprise.
Catching her breath, Dianne held something out to him.
The guard stepped forward to stop her, but Rision signaled him to stand down.
In her hands were several freshly cut roses.
They looked exactly like the ones blooming in the garden.
When Rision didn’t take them right away, Dianne hastily explained.
“I heard it was you who gifted the young master the puppy. It’s nothing much, but would you accept this as a token of thanks?”
“……”
“The young master was so happy. He wanted to give something in return, so… I thought this might do.”
Her voice trailed off.
Then she reached back, untied the ribbon from her hair, and without hesitation wrapped it around the roses.
Rision found himself watching as her neatly tied hair fell loose, the scent of clean soap and fresh grass wafting toward him.
She tied the ribbon into a bow, turning the flowers into a simple bouquet.
Rision silently accepted it.
It was the first bouquet he had received since his sister’s childhood.
“Will you take it?” she asked softly.
Her clear eyes looked up at him.
This young woman clearly had no idea who he was.
If she did, she would never look at him so freely.
That thought filled him with an odd regret.
Even if things went as planned and he met her again, she would not be the same.
The honest gaze, the calm voice — all of it would vanish once she stood before the Emperor.
He felt as though he had just lost something precious.
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “They’re very beautiful.”
Relieved, Dianne smiled brightly — a smile that pierced straight through his chest.
Unaware of the impression she had left, she bowed politely and turned back toward the garden.
Rision stood watching until she disappeared from sight.
Beside him, his guard murmured, “You look like you’ve been bewitched.”
“……”
“I’ve heard of the famous tutor from the Grand Duchy of Ervinzel, but I didn’t expect someone like her.”
The guard offered to hold the bouquet, but Rision refused.
It was a gift not to the Emperor, but to the man named Rision.
He didn’t want anyone else to touch it.
He left the estate with a complicated heart.
The faint scent of flowers, mixed with something sweet, lingered at his nose.
It felt like catching a glimpse of a future he could never have.
