“I cannot accept this.” At her calm reply, the gentle curve of the man’s lips hardened coldly. Beneath his neat black hair, his sharp eyes and chiseled features made him a figure of admiration, but the icy blue of his eyes exuded a chilling aura. Crown Prince Karl of the Diarc Empire gazed down at her, his face stern. Grace, standing before him with shimmering platinum hair and pale, translucent skin, did not avert her eyes from his questioning look.
Her clear green eyes, innocent but resolute, met Karl’s. “Can’t you just leave me alone?” Her voice was soft, but her hands trembled slightly as they clutched her dress. The more her trembling increased, the sharper her green eyes grew. Normally, she would have handled the momentary silence with ease, but now, with the heavy silence hanging over them, Grace felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety, as though a hand were squeezing her throat. She feared he might notice the unease and fear growing inside her.
“This makes it the 98th refusal,” Karl said indifferently, stepping closer. His spotless black shoes echoed through the Imperial Library. With each step, the wrinkles in the fabric of her dress deepened. “At this rate, I won’t be able to keep my promise. Why do you keep refusing?”
Karl asked without changing his expression. He was genuinely curious. They both had something they wanted, and they had made a promise to each other to achieve it. So why was she now rejecting what she once desired? Why was she so willing to let it go?
Grace hadn’t given up. But to achieve what she wanted and to keep her promise with Karl, she had to endure everything—deceiving not only others but also herself. For a day or two, it was bearable. She told herself that it was necessary for survival. But every time she faced Karl, that resolve crumbled. Even if it meant achieving her lifelong goal, she no longer had the will to continue living that way.
Grace steeled herself. “But I still can’t accept it.” As she forced the words out in a calm tone, Karl paused. She could feel his sharp gaze piercing through her. “And there’s no need to keep that promise anymore.” The moment she finished speaking, a crack appeared in Karl’s otherwise emotionless face. He stared at her, his gaze unyielding, while she did not look away. Normally, he would have let her go without a word—Karl was the type who wouldn’t stop someone from leaving. And surely, this time would be the same.
After a long silence, Karl spoke. “Break our promise? That’s a first.” His brows furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head in confusion. “Why are you suddenly saying this?”
Grace shook her head in response, without words. Even though she was responding to the crown prince with a mere shake of her head, Karl didn’t seem offended. He stepped closer to her. As he slowly leaned toward her face, Grace unconsciously bit her lower lip.
“Did you meet with your mother? Or perhaps…”
“I want to break the contract.” At her words, Karl stopped. Grace took a step back, standing even more upright. “Please don’t interfere with me anymore.”
“Grace Blodin,” Karl called her name softly. It must have been her imagination that he sounded hurt.
“I’ve said all I need to. I’ll be leaving now,” Grace said, closing her eyes tightly and turning away. She shouldn’t have taken his hand. She should have pretended not to recognize the crown prince in the first place. A wave of regrets washed over her.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
One morning, just as summer began after the warmth of spring had passed.
“Grace?”
While organizing books, Grace turned at the sound of someone calling her. Her platinum blonde hair shimmered in the morning sunlight, moving softly as she tilted her head.
“Good morning, Lord Aster.”
The man, with his unshaven face and dry appearance, was middle-aged. He was Ivan Aster, a scholar of the empire and a baron who presided over the Imperial Library.
“You’re here early. There’s still 30 minutes until work starts.”
“You’re here early as well, Baron.”
A soft smile graced her face, which was pretty even without trying. Ivan returned her smile slightly. Known for his reclusive and curt nature, Ivan spent most of his time buried in books. Yet, seeing Grace arrive early and work diligently made it hard for him not to appreciate her.
“I came early today to check on a new set of books that arrived.”
“Ah, I see.”
After a brief response, Grace pulled out a ledger from the pile of books beside her.
“I’ve already checked the new arrivals, and I’ve sorted them by category and arranged them alphabetically.”
Ivan glanced at the confident white hand extending the ledger and then back at Grace, letting out a faint chuckle.
“Already?”
“I thought it would be best to have everything organized as soon as possible.”
Despite a response that seemed to question the validity of what she had said, Grace didn’t frown. Instead, she calmly replied and looked at him with a composed expression. There was no hint of arrogance or smugness in her face or eyes. Rather, her tone was cautious. Yet, her attitude did not match that caution, creating an intriguing contrast.
Ivan looked at Grace with a loving and affectionate gaze as he accepted the ledger.
“Thank you.”
As she had said, the ledger was meticulously and neatly recorded.
“It’s been about a week since you started as an apprentice librarian, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, today is the eighth day.”
It was a task that even the previous librarians barely managed to handle after two months. Yet, within a week of becoming an apprentice librarian, she had perfectly organized the books, handled the management, and sorted out the ledger. Even Ivan, who was stingy with praise, couldn’t help but acknowledge her.
“You’ve done well, Grace.”
“Thank you, Lord.”
Grace remained calm. Her soft smile was the same as when they first met; she didn’t seem overly excited or thrilled. Ivan liked her even more for her serene and gentle response. More precisely, he appreciated her competence, her diligent and humble attitude, and the noble, elegant air she carried. It was almost hard to understand why someone like her wasn’t living as a noble lady but had become an apprentice librarian.
“Let’s finish the rest together, then.”
When Ivan closed the ledger and rolled up his sleeves, his thin, frail arms were exposed. Grace waved her hand and, with her slender wrist that seemed as if it might snap with a single touch, pushed him up the stairs toward his office.
“No need. It’s almost done. You have many other matters to attend to, my lord.”
“Even so….”
As Ivan reluctantly climbed the stairs, his words trailed off, his gaze fixed on the library’s main entrance. Grace, noticing Ivan’s stiffening expression, turned her head toward the entrance.
“Coxon, what brings you here so early in the morning?”
A man in a black uniform, buttoned tightly, glanced briefly at Grace before turning his attention back to Ivan.
“I have something to report regarding His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Speak.”
At Ivan’s words, Coxon smiled slightly.
“Shall we go up to your office?”
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Through the large window of the office, Grace could be seen sitting at the librarian’s desk.
“Is that the librarian, Miss Grace Blodin?” Coxon asked, staring intently at Grace’s face as she focused on her work, with several ledgers open in front of her.
“Yes, she’s quick-witted and very smart. A truly talented individual.”
“How unusual. It’s rare for you to offer such high praise.”
“It’s not just that she’s intelligent. I’ve observed her for about a week now, and she handles her tasks excellently. She’s very proper and lovely.”
“Yes, as you said, she is quite beautiful.”
Ivan, about to sit down, paused and raised his head.
“…Aren’t you married?”
Coxon chuckled lightly, as if Ivan had made a boring joke, and turned back to him.
“Have you heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is returning tomorrow?”
“I’m aware.”
The Crown Prince, who had left at the age of twenty, had wandered for four years before suddenly announcing his return. While the news of his return was surprising, Ivan had almost dismissed it as a joke when he heard that the Crown Prince also intended to settle the long-avoided issue of his engagement and marriage.
“A welcoming banquet for His Highness will be held in the afternoon. Since the royal library is directly under His Highness’s jurisdiction, you must attend, Lord Ivan.”
“But I dislike crowds and noise.”
Despite Ivan’s blunt refusal, Coxon nodded as if he had expected it.
“It won’t be a grand event. That was one of the conditions His Highness set.”
“There are other conditions as well?”
Ivan furrowed his brow and gave Coxon a sidelong glance. The question in his gaze was met with silence from Coxon, but it was as good as a confirmation. Ivan let out a short laugh and stroked his chin.
“If His Highness is returning with conditions, he must have some ulterior motive, no?”
“Who knows….”
After a brief hesitation, Coxon forced a smile and changed the subject.
“Her Majesty the Empress is making every effort to resolve His Highness’s engagement and marriage issues as quickly as possible.”
“To settle the Crown Prince?”
“To make him the true next Emperor of Diarch, of course.”
Marriage was the first and most significant task the Crown Prince had to fulfill as the next Emperor of Diarch. Once this issue was resolved, the royal family’s standing would become even more secure than it was now.
“That’s why we need your help.”
“My help?”
“His Highness only kept in contact with you while he was abroad.”
This time, it was Ivan who fell silent.
“So, please encourage His Highness to attend tea parties and social gatherings.”
But the Crown Prince wouldn’t easily comply with such suggestions. Ivan suppressed the words of objection that rose within him and scoffed.
“Please be especially careful to avoid any unfortunate incidents or rumors. Particularly in this library.”
Unfortunate incidents? Rumors? In the library?
Ivan saw right through Coxon’s ulterior motive with his sharp insight.
“Coxon, you’re not referring to Grace, are you?”
“There could be some strange rumors circulating.”
“Well…”
Ivan was well aware of how powerful gossip in high society could be. There were plenty of cases where baseless rumors had spread, and people had been socially ruined because of them. Ivan glanced at Grace. Sure, Grace was quite pretty, but could anyone really dare to start rumors about the Crown Prince of the Diarch Empire?
“Besides, we never know what His Highness might be plotting.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful.”
Thinking there was no harm in being cautious, Ivan nodded.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
A luxurious carriage adorned with the golden emblem of the Diarch Empire rolled into Trion Palace. The attendants who had been adjusting their uniforms at the entrance lined up immediately. Once the carriage came to a full stop at the entrance, its door swung open.
“Welcome, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
The attendants who had come to greet him bowed their heads nervously, and a young man in a white ceremonial outfit stepped out of the carriage. With a tall, elegant frame and perfect posture, Karl casually glanced at the attendants and nodded.
“It’s been a while, Coxon.”
“Please follow me. Let’s head inside.”
As Karl strode into the palace with his long legs, the attendants lifted their heads and followed him. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the palace, and the attendants in the hallway recognized him, quickly bowing and stepping aside.
“The Emperor and Empress have invited a famous singer to celebrate Your Highness’s return.”
“A singer?”
Karl’s steps, which had been gliding smoothly over the elegant red carpet, came to a halt. Coxon, walking behind him, lowered his head as he stood beside him.
“Let’s head to the music room.”
“It seems they’ve developed quite an odd taste for cultural entertainment while I’ve been away.”
Though Karl’s tone was refined, neither slow nor fast, the sharpness of his words cut like a blade.
“Your Highness…”
“I know. It’s been four years, so I’ll humor them.”
Karl’s cutting tone disappeared as he flashed a polite smile, as if it had never been there.
“For the first and last time.”
Underneath his black hair, his striking blue eyes gleamed with a glimmer of anticipation. Those who followed him from behind, however, looked anxious, uncertain of what trouble might unfold next.
