“I vowed that I would protect you from all those who try to hurt you and your heart… a very long time ago, my lady. And now you are a target of many, ever since you became the king’s fiancée by the queen mother’s decree, when you were just a baron’s daughter,” he said.

I froze for a moment.

I was a baron’s daughter… and I was made Alexander’s fiancée by the queen mother?

Wasn’t the storyline supposed to be that the hero and heroine fell in love naturally?

I turned toward Alan, ready to ask him the questions swirling in my mind—

“Alan…” I began, but the words died in my throat.

Alexander was standing opposite the balcony door.

I froze.

In this world, I had never feared anyone… yet whenever those emotionless blue eyes looked straight into mine, I felt as if he could see right into my soul.

“Alex…?” I whispered.

I hurried to the door before either man could speak. Alexander must have already seen Alan behind me. I rushed forward and linked my arm with his.

“Alex, how are you here?” I asked quickly.

Alan bowed. “Your Majesty.”

“Oh? It seems Sir Alan has learned his lesson very well… he cannot even allow my future wife a moment of fresh air?” Alexander smiled, but I knew he was seething underneath that controlled expression.

“No—no, Alex, I brought him inside,” I lied, trying to protect the one person who had always protected me. “You were not here, and if I stood alone… I might have been attacked. Alan was the only knight nearby, so I asked him to stay.”

“Is that so? Then let us go. The queen mother and king father are waiting to see you,” he said, tugging me gently forward. But halfway down the hall he turned back.

“Oh, and Sir Alan—since we are meeting the queen mother and king father, the place is safe. I do not think you need to follow.”

“As you command, Your Majesty,” Alan bowed once more.

As Alexander and I walked through the long, empty corridors, our footsteps echoed—his steady, mine trembling. Then he suddenly stopped.

“I know you did not bring him in,” he whispered. “Rumors have already begun to spread. I heard it personally from the person I was speaking to.”

A chill shot down my spine.

My heart raced painfully fast, my face turning cold.

“I—I am sorry…” I whispered immediately, but he said nothing. His silence crushed me more than any scolding could.

Finally, we reached a guarded room. Someone important was inside.

The guards opened the doors, and I saw a beautiful woman and man—both with the same heavenly features. Alexander truly inherited all of their beauty: the queen mother’s golden hair and blue eyes, the king father’s noble presence.

“Greetings, Your Majesties,” I said and bowed as perfectly as I could.

“Oh, no, my dear!” The queen mother immediately lifted me up with her soft hands. “No more formalities— not between family.”

“Yes,” the king father laughed warmly. “We are going to be family now.”

A warm, unfamiliar joy spread through my chest. Their gentle smiles washed away my fear. It felt… like a real family gathering.

“You know,” the queen mother began, pouring wine, “your mother and I were dear friends. We arranged your marriage to Alexander long ago—since you two played together as children. So close and inseparable.”

“And we are glad that you both accepted the marriage once you grew up,” the king father added. “It will be grand when you turn twenty.”

So this marriage… was arranged through a friendship between our mothers?

Not fate… not romance… but an old promise.

“I am glad I said yes,” I smiled softly. “So I could meet such a caring family.”

Then a woman entered, bowing politely. She looked familiar—

The woman who tried to ruin my dress earlier.

“Greetings, the sun and the moon of Sylarion,” she said sweetly.

“Oh, come in! Join us, my dear Stella,” the queen mother said warmly. “You look confused, my child. She is Stella, Alexander’s childhood friend. Very close— but only as friends.”

“Oh…” I smiled politely despite the twist in my stomach. “That is fine.”

Stella began pouring wine into everyone’s glasses.

When she reached mine… she gave a strange smile.

My instincts sharpened instantly.

“To the future queen of Sylarion!” the queen mother announced proudly.

Everyone lifted their glasses—even Alexander.

“To the future queen!”

They all drank. I only took a sip, uneasy about Stella’s smile.

“Oh? The cheer was for you, my lady. And yet you drink so little?” Stella said mockingly. “Are you ignoring the cheers?”

“Go ahead and drink it all. Without saying anything,” Alexander whispered beside me—quiet, but firm.

I had no choice. I could not disappoint the queen mother and king father.

“Of course not. I will drink it,” I said, and finished the entire glass in one go.

We spoke for a while longer about royal duties and the future.

Eventually the queen mother and king father retired to their chambers for the night.

Now it was only me and Alexander in the room.

Silence swelled between us—heavy, suffocating.

“Um… Alex, are you alright?” I asked softly.

No answer.

His silence was starting to hurt me. He had not replied since before we entered the room.

“Alex… I know you must have felt upset seeing me with Alan. And if anyone must be punished, let it be me,” I said, unable to hold it in any longer.

A long pause.

Then he placed his wine glass down and crossed his legs.

“That man… what does he have, that makes you so worried about him?” he asked quietly.

“He is my guard,” I said firmly. “And I cannot let him be harmed when he did nothing wrong.”

“Hm. We will speak about this tomorrow. And as for punishment—it will always be him, even if you are the one who made the mistake,” he said and stood to leave.

My patience snapped.

“You are not going to do anything to him,” I said sharply.

He turned, his eyes narrowing. “And what makes you think so?”

“Because a real king does not punish his citizens without fault!”

“No fault?” His voice rose. “Do you know what people said about you both? When you were on that balcony—do you know the vile things I heard? I was ashamed!”

He was right. The rumors were terrible.

But punishing a man who had done nothing—

“Why do you not listen—!”

Suddenly—

A sharp pain exploded in my chest and throat.

My breath caught.

My vision blurred.

Something was terribly, terribly wrong.