A slum near the counties to the east and west of the capital.

Whenever Empress Rebecca and Saint Celestina passed by, the poor fell to their knees, crying as if they had been blessed by God.

"May God's grace be with you."

The beautiful-looking Empress Rebecca was wearing a white monastic robe, and her modest attire further accentuated her splendid appearance.

However, the benevolent Empress Rebecca's expression changed as soon as she returned to the temporary abode of the temple.

She nervously wiped her hands and changed her clothes.

"Dirty, dirty!"

Everything I had touched with the poor felt filthy.

Standing in front of the mirror, Rebecca looked at her face with sensitive eyes and caressed her cheek and neck.

10 years have passed, but her beauty is still there. No, it was more beautiful than before.

After being expelled from the monastery, she spent the past years in tears of blood.

The emperor, his father, and even Antonio, who had made such a decision, were resentful.

When I first arrived at the monastery, I only thought that my life was over.

However, she was lucky enough to meet a priest, and hope was rekindled in her life.

He was like Rebecca's benefactor.

'Thanks to you, I was able to get that medicine again....'

In fact, long ago, Empress Rebecca was able to capture the emperor with a potion she accidentally obtained.

However, as time passed, the effect of the potion faded, and the emperor's affection for her also faded.

It wasn't real love, but an artificial love made with a potion.

However, Rebecca was able to obtain the drug again through the benefactor-like priest.

Although it is still in the hands of Saint Celestina, not her own....

'That fake saint is more cunning than I thought. It seems cheeky....'

Rebecca thought of the saint with an annoyed expression on her face, then shook her head.

Anyway, when I arrived in the capital, the drug was sure to be in my hands.

'In order to obtain the drug, you have to help the fake saint settle down in the capital as the temple demands, but.... That's right, it's not that hard.'

It would be a breeze to tie it up with the prince who will return after the war with the beast is over.

'This time, you must capture the emperor again and seize power.'

And finally....

Rebecca clenched her fists so hard that her nails dig into her skin.

'Viscount Tedler, I will kill you.'

* * *

"What was the empress doing?"

"After a while, he looked in the mirror and seemed to control his mind."

At the priest's report, Saint Celestina twisted the corners of her lips.

The saint with mysterious silver hair and black eyes was very neat and beautiful.

She walked to the window and looked at the full moon brightening the night.

As ordered by her superiors, she had to settle down in the capital, overthrow the current crown prince, and make the second prince of Empress Rebecca the successor.

'Only in that way can His will be accomplished.'

several years ago. As the spirits appeared one after another, people's faith in the temple gradually weakened.

So, the temple introduced a saint to attract people's attention again.

Moreover, it spread the story that it was thanks to the birth of the saint that the rift of the apocalypse was removed.

Saint Celestina had only one purpose.

Our dominion over this vast and vast imperial land according to His will.

'If I go to the capital, I'll be able to meet him again.'

Celestina looked at the moon for a long time with a look of anticipation.

* * *

a few days later.

After returning home from the academy class, Raffine was bewildered by an unexpected guest.

"Hello, Raphine?"

"Well... Uh, hello."

Just a few days ago, it was Clyde Bastienne that Luca and Lois mentioned.

'As soon as I got home, the butler rushed to say that guests had arrived, so someone said....'

Raphine approached Bastien, who was sitting alone in the drawing room, and asked.

"Luca, did you promise to come here with Lois oppa?"

"Yeah, but I think you two are a little late. I just got a call."

"Aha...."

Raphine sat across from Bastien.

Just as the awkward air almost choked me, a maid came out of the car.

Raphine internally criticized Luca and Lois.

'No, why are you late after calling a guest....'

I couldn't afford to leave the guests alone, so I thought I'd have to talk to them until the two of them came.

Perhaps because of what Luka and Lois said a few days ago, Raphine was worried about Clyde for nothing.

He has become a typical knight who gives an honest feeling unlike before when he had a boyish beauty.

Unlike Luka and Lois, who were still naughty, he certainly had a calm and manly appearance.

"Are you ready for graduation?"

"It's just.... Everyone is the same, huh?"

"I saw you at Hwangseong a while ago."

"me? when?"

Raphine asked with her eyes wide open.

"I was talking to Prince Antonio."

"Ah, then."

"yes. Are you acquainted with His Majesty Prince Antonio?"

"... Friendship?"

Raphine frowned involuntarily.

I didn't want to be associated with a guy like Antonio with the friendly word 'friend'.

Clyde apologized for the reaction.

"Sorry, I was presumptuous."

"It's not that, I'm not friendly at all."

"yes?"

Clyde's expression brightened for an instant. Raphine paused for a moment.

'for a moment. no way... Have you thought about it?'

All of a sudden, this place, which was a little uncomfortable, started to become very uncomfortable.

Rafine boasted good friendships at the academy, but didn't get along very well with people who felt like she was of the opposite sex.

It was because, strangely, if the opponent gave a tea that he liked, he would hit a huge iron wall without realizing it.

"I'm sorry, but I'm very busy preparing for graduation. It's not polite to greet guests, but I think we should just get up and see. Sorry."

Raphine jumped up and spoke, and Clyde followed her up with a look of regret.

"The brothers will be here soon."

If you don't come, I won't leave you alone....

After giving her apologies one after another like that, Raphine left the drawing room and headed to her room.

'I thought I was going to die of suffocation.'

As soon as she entered the room and sat down on the armchair, Raphine let out a deep sigh.

In fact, the reason Raphine hits an iron wall at the opposite sex who has a crush on her is also because of Zerkan.

'That's because I don't know what will happen in the future.'

When the three main characters in the original story return, that was the real beginning for Rafine.

We must somehow stop Zerkan and Violet's contract marriage.

'Since I was so committed to it when I was young, I would not have offered Violet a contract marriage....'

Still, it was inconceivable.

Zerkan, who had forgotten all about her childhood, might have asked Violet, who became more comfortable and friendly on the battlefield.

'If that happens....'

He asked if he had forgotten his promise when he was young, and was planning to lie down crying and crying in front of Zerkan.

'I don't know, I'm going with an immature setting.'

If you don't marry me, I'll die. If you fight me, I'll accept it.

But unlike the original, what if Zerkan returns to Violet without any mention?

'If I do, I will propose a contract marriage or....'

Or there was a way to bring in a third party.

In fact, this method was the best for Raphine.

'Then it's the best for Adrian and Violet, me and Zerkan, right?'

Everyone is looking for someone they love.

Anyway, the bottom line was that Raffine could come up with a concrete plan only when the three returned.

'You said you would come back in winter....'

Until then, Raffine was also busy.

To graduate from the academy, a thesis... You must also complete the graduation exam... I have to pay until

Raphine let out a weary sigh and headed to the study.

* * *

When the chilly autumn passes and early winter arrives.

In the northern part of the continent, the subjugation team that led the war against the beasts to victory finally began to return to the capital.

A man wearing a black cloak symbolizing the Supreme Commander drove the horse in the lead.

It was Zerkan.

The soldiers of the subjugation corps advanced while looking at Zerkan's back with a gaze filled with respect and envy.

Returning to the capital after many years, their faces were full of smiles.

So they didn't know.

That the prince with that wide back was not smiling.

"hey."

Zerkan frowned at the voice coming from behind.

'It's a start again....'

It was Violet who drove the horse closer.

She spoke closely to Zerkan's side and asked in a low voice.

"Aren't you really looking forward to it?"

"Stop talking, Violet. I'm tired of taking turns repeating the same thing with Adrian."

Violet didn't mind Zerkan's callous reaction.

"I warn you. Calm down, Zerkan. Of course, even if Raphine grew up cuter and prettier than when she was young."

"...."

"It's saying don't be shy. Girls usually tell everyone they want to get married when they are young."

"...."

"I mean, when I was young, I begged my butler to marry me. Are you that much to Raphine? That's just how it feels."

"after...."

Zerkan closed his eyes and sighed.

After starting to return to the capital, Violet and Adrian suddenly brought up the story of Raphine and began to argue with Zerkan.

I ignored it at first, but....

It could not be helped that Zerkan was also nervous as it was repeated over and over again.