The morning mist clung to the winding road as the carriage rumbled steadily toward the capital. Inside, I sat quietly across from Lady Cornelia, hands folded neatly atop my lap, though my heart raced with nervousness. I was trying my best to behave, not to make it obvious that I'm getting cold feet, but failing miserably. I puffed out a loud sigh, breaking the silence inside the carriage and disturbing Cornelia from her thoughts.

"I won't ask if you're fine because it's clear that you're not. But don't worry, I will try my best to help you adjust." Cornelia reassured me with a smile. That small smile was enough for me to gain some semblance of sanity.

"Thank you, Lady Cornelia. I just pray I don't make a mistake and render all your efforts meaningless."

"Don't worry. It is understandable since it will be your first time attending a banquet. Just be yourself. Sebastian will also be there to assist you."

A month has already passed since our last conversation. After delivering the emperor's will and coming up with an agreement, Sebastian had to leave for the magic tower to do some work and clean up some things that he had left unattended, as he phrased it. We kept in touch by exchanging letters, and from time to time, he would reach out using a communication ball he had crafted especially for us. It functioned much like a smartphone with a video call feature, though I couldn't shake the feeling that I resembled a gypsy every time I used it. Most of our conversations revolved around sharing small details about our lives, slowly uncovering the little quirks and habits that made us who we are.

I was the one who suggested it. Getting to know each other—I mean. Since I'm already determined to put on a show in front of the emperor, I might as well dedicate myself to acting the role of a fiancé perfectly. To do that, we have to get to know each other and be comfortable talking with one another.

As for Lady Cornelia, she took it upon herself to teach me the intricacies of noble etiquette. Under her guidance, I learned everything from the proper way to address the nobles to the art of graceful conversation and the subtleties of courtly manners. There was a lot to learn, and I tried to cram everything, but I don't know if I will be able to pull it off. I will probably just stay quiet after the introduction. If I don't interact much with the other nobles, I will be less likely to make mistakes.

Peeking through the curtained window, I caught fleeting views of lush emerald fields and towering trees, their branches weaving together to form a natural canopy that sheltered us from the sun. It felt like stepping into a world I had only ever encountered in the pages of novels or seen on television screens. It was strange yet familiar. In front of her, Lady Cornelia, poised and serene as ever, offered a reassuring smile, a silent promise that whatever awaited in the capital, they would face it together.

When I thought that I was already getting used to the peaceful ambiance during our travel, the carriage jolted to a sudden halt, the horses neighing in alarm. Looking out of the window, my heart skipped a beat when a group of rugged, armed men emerged from the thick shadows of the forest, blocking the narrow road ahead. Captain Garron appeared in front of the carriage window; his face marred with undeniable concern.

"Madam, stay inside no matter what happens," Captain Garron ordered firmly. Lady Cornelia quietly nodded, but her eyes were full of determination as if she was ready to fight whoever was the people outside.

His gaze turned towards me. "My Lady, please protect the Madam."

"Yes, Captain. Please be careful."

My hand moved on instinct, slipping beneath the folds of my skirt to grasp the hidden dagger I always kept there. The cool metal against my fingers was both reassuring and chilling, a sharp reminder that danger was no longer just a distant threat. My heart pounded in my chest, but my grip was steady.

It was a good idea to borrow a dagger from the armory. Kendrick was against it, but I managed to convince the lady that it's good to be able to defend oneself in the face of unknown threats. To do that, I at least need to have a weapon and learn how to use it, but I didn't realize I would be using it as soon as I stepped out of the mansion. And at all times, it had to happen when Kendrick is not around. Although Kendrick has assigned several guards to escort them, with Captain Garron taking the lead, it still doesn't feel the same without his presence. Somehow, I felt safer with him around, but duty called, and he had to go back to the capital to cater to the whims of the emperor.

I hastily drew the curtain shut and secured the carriage door before moving to sit beside Lady Cornelia. It wasn't until I was close to her that I noticed the slight trembling in her body. Without hesitation, I reached for her hand, gripping it tightly for reassurance, while my other hand remained firmly wrapped around the dagger hidden in my skirt.

"It will be alright, My Lady. I won't let anything happen to you," I reassured her.

"I know, everything will be fine. Captain Garron will protect us," Cornelia replied, tightening the grip on my hand.

I tried to recall the images of the people outside blocking the road. Their tattered cloaks and wicked grins left no doubt about their intentions. They were carrying large weapons strapped across their backs and long, sharp blades ready to strike anyone who came their way.

From inside the carriage, I could only catch flashes of movement through the small gap in the curtain. The clash of steel against steel rang out, sharp and jarring against the stillness of the forest. I held my breath as the horses reared and whinnied, the ground trembling beneath the chaos. Every shout, every grunt of effort, made my heart pound harder, but I stayed pressed against Lady Cornelia, dagger still in hand, praying that the knights would push back the attackers before the battle spilled over to where we hid.

I heard a loud shout, followed by a fist busting through the carriage window. A loud crash tore through the air, and broken glass flew in every direction. Before I knew it, my body moved on its own, shielding my benefactor using my small frame.

Clink – Clink! The sound of broken glasses falling one by one fills the carriage.

When the sound stopped, I looked back at the broken carriage window and came face to face with a dark-haired man wearing a black patch on his right eye. He grinned, exposing a razor-sharp tooth. He must be one of them.

Damn it!

Instinctively, I drew my dagger, ready to hurl it straight at the intruder's face. But before I could even move, an arrow whistled through the air and struck the man cleanly in the head, sending him crumpling to the ground. The sharp clatter of hooves echoed moments later, and a new figure emerged — a man astride a black horse, pulling up just outside the shattered carriage window.

I couldn't make out his features, hidden beneath the shadow of a dark cloak, but what seized my breath were his eyes — a deep ochre hue, like the last light of the setting sun, locked unerringly onto mine. For a heartbeat, or perhaps an eternity, I couldn't tear my gaze away. It was as if the world had stilled, leaving only the frantic pounding of my heart and the silent conversation passing between us. I could feel an intense energy crawling through my body, leaving me breathless and disoriented.

The dagger fell on the ground, and I instinctively clutched my chest in pain, pounding on it hard, thinking it could take away the suffocating pain, but it didn't go away. Instead, the pain worsens. My eyes start to get blurry with tears running down my face.

However, amidst the tears, I could clearly see the man's blank, almost stunned expression as if the world had tilted off its axis. Then, slowly, recognition dawned in his eyes, widening them in quiet realization. His mouth parted slightly as if the weight of the truth had knocked the air from his lungs. His bewildered expression was followed by a sense of panic. Then a flicker of pain, and something far deeper—something like fate—crossed his features all at once, raw and unguarded, before he masked it behind a trembling breath.

As I stared into those burning ochre eyes, a sudden jolt coursed through me, and before I could make sense of it, images flashed across my mind like lightning. The images spun inside my head, and I couldn't wrap my head around them. The visions bled from one into another. When I blinked again, the images were gone—but the feeling lingered, heavy and certain, as if fate itself had already tied us together.

What's going on with me? Who is he?

Before I could even further dwell on those thoughts, my body felt heavier than usual. It was as if all the stress and exhaustion I had been holding back finally caught up to me. My limbs grew weak, and I found myself falling into oblivion. The last thing I heard before slipping into unconsciousness was the sharp, anguished cry of someone calling out.