Chapter 1

A lavish ballroom echoed with soft music.  

The central social season was in full swing.  

And in the middle of it all, dancing beneath the grand chandelier, were the undeniable stars of this season—Duke Aivert Royden and Countess Rodella Syveric.  

Linked arm in arm, smiling warmly at one another, the pair stood out in the noble world where political marriages were the norm.  

“This will likely be the last time we see them like this.”  

“Well, they’ll be wed soon, and the Royden or Syveric houses will host the receptions.”  

“Then they won’t be attending the central social gatherings anymore?”  

No matter where the conversations in the ballroom began, they all seemed to circle back to the same topic: those two.  

Their story had been well-known for quite some time.  

“They’ve been inseparable since their academy days, haven’t they?”  

“Yes, from childhood friends to fiancés—look how sweet they are.”  

“Good heavens, isn’t it romantic?”  

Amid the fluttering of fans, some offered warm glances, while others mixed envy with half-hearted praise.  

“Well… aren’t they dragging things out too long? What if the engagement is broken?”  

“A broken engagement? That might be the best-case scenario. Who would’ve thought such a ‘misfit’ could come from the dignified Royden line?”  

“Exactly. Marrying into a new house that’s hardly better than commoners… unbelievable.”  

Just as a few men stroked their beards and shook their heads, a pair of cool blue eyes—chilling beneath golden hair that gleamed like sunlight—briefly swept over them.  

“…!”  

At that quiet warning, the last speaker flinched and discreetly slipped away into the crowd.  

“What’s wrong?”  

At that moment, Rodella looked up at Aivert and asked.  

“It’s nothing,” Aivert replied, turning his head again toward his lovely fiancée.  

Rodella was staring up at him curiously.  

“Just… heard something noisy, that’s all.”  

With a gentle smile, Aivert placed his hand on Rodella’s waist and spun her gracefully across the floor.

 

* * *

 

The sweet music of the ball was coming to a close.  

As the dancers began to scatter in small groups, looking for tables where they could rest, the evening’s two stars quietly slipped out onto the terrace.  

— Click.  

Aivert opened the large door and led Rodella out to the far end of the terrace.  

Up until that moment, their every movement had been smooth and flawless—so much so that anyone watching would believe them the perfect, loving couple soon to be wed.  

— Swish!

But the moment the door shut behind them and the heavy curtains sealed off the terrace from the ballroom—Rodella’s graceful expression instantly changed.  

“Phew.”  

Shaking off Aivert’s hand, Rodella stretched her arms high overhead with a relieved expression.  

“Ugh, that was exhausting!” 

‘I thought my cheekbones were going to shatter from all that forced smiling!’  

That was the first thing that ran through the mind of the supposedly sweet bride-to-be.  

Moonlight spilled across her face as she rubbed her cheeks in irritation.  

Gone was the bashful, charming young lady from earlier; in her place stood a woman clicking her tongue with dry cynicism.  

And that, Aivert knew, was the real Rodella.  

Without a word, he stepped closer and leaned against the railing beside her.  

Stars sparkled in the night sky above, and through his lover’s eyes shimmered like the Milky Way as she looked up,  

‘“Lover,” huh…’  

Would anyone believe it if he said they weren’t?  

“How much longer now? One year?”  

Rodella asked, her eyes gleaming.  

Aivert gave a small nod.  

Yes—  

Their relationship had an expiration date.  

A romance bound by contract.  

About ten years ago—  

Rodella had already made a name for herself back in their academy days, and soon after, suitors began flooding in.  

The Syveric family she belonged to was a border count house, one that had risen to prominence through merit in the recent war.  

In other words, they had little connection to the capital’s high society.  

So it was only natural that proposals came pouring in, promising political ties in exchange for marriage.  

But Rodella had no interest in climbing the ladder that way.  

“I’m going to rise on my own. Can we stop with the matchmaking already? This is the third one this week alone!”

Using another family’s power? Sure, it would’ve been easy and convenient.  

But if you climb using a power that isn’t your own, what happens when it’s taken away?  

You crumble.  

Rodella refused to let that happen.  

She would build her own unshakable foundation—one that no external force could threaten.  

Without any assistance. 

That’s what she had said back then at the academy, seething with frustration .  

And it was then that Aivert had suddenly asked her:  

“Then what about me?”

“What do you mean?”

“As a marriage partner.”

Rodella looked at him, utterly dumbfounded.  

What kind of nonsense was that? Like hearing the bell toll in the capital square in the middle of a nap.  

She raised an eyebrow, but Aivert continued speaking at his usual unhurried pace.  

“—Or an engagement, at least. That way, you won’t keep getting marriage proposals.”  

He gestured to himself.  

“You and me. Together.”  

“You? Me?? 

The proposal was so absurd it didn’t even make her laugh.  

“You don’t do that kind of thing with a friend,”  she said, waving her hands in dismissal.  

But—  

“Not for real. Just until we get rid of the annoyances.”  

“Huh?”  

“I’ve been getting annoying offers too. Figured it might help both of us.”  

As he explained, the idea was simple:  

They’d act as each other’s shields.  

…It was tempting.  

“That’s… actually not bad.”  

And so, the engagement was formed.  

Naturally, all the matchmaking proposals disappeared, and Rodella was finally free to focus entirely on her own path to promotion.  

The result?  

Rodella Syveric, ace of the Imperial Capital Administration Bureau.  

Aivert Royden, Vice Commander of the Azure Knights.  

They had become two of the Empire’s most promising young figures.  

And now, there was just one year left in their engagement.  

“Exactly one year left!”  

Rodella exclaimed, a carefree smile on her face.  

Just one more year of pushing hard at work, then they could pretend to break up—and that would be the end of all the pressure to marry!  

As for continuing the family line?  

She planned to adopt a daughter or son and raise a proper heir.  

After all, she herself had been brought into the Syveric family as an adopted daughter, so it was hardly an issue.  

Rodella laughed freely, her spirits light.  

But Aivert, watching her, felt differently.  

One year. Just one year left.  

Even as Rodella looked up at the night sky, cheerful and relaxed, Aivert was looking only at her.  

Just as he had for the past decade and more—since the academy days, through everything until now.  

Yes. One year.  

One year to make her look at him.  

His final chance.  

He clenched his hand tightly.

 

* * *

 

And opportunity, as always, comes to those who are prepared.  

And right now, Aivert was holding that opportunity in his hand.  

The one and only key in the world—  

The key that could unlock the magical cuffs around their wrists.  

Due to an unexpected mishap, the two of them had ended up cuffed together—not just once, but twice, and they’d been living together—unintentionally.  

Rodella, of course, had wanted nothing more than to be done with this awkward situation as quickly as possible.  

She assumed Aivert felt the same.  

But—  

“What are you doing?”

Rodella looked at the key with a bright expression, thinking they were finally about to be free.  

But Aivert’s face said otherwise.  

He looked conflicted.  

“Aivert?”

At her voice, he finally spoke.  

“I’m debating.” 

“…What?”

He didn’t seem to expect an answer from her. He continued right away.  

“Whether or not I’ll disappoint you.”

What was that supposed to mean?  

Rodella’s eyes widened as Aivert clenched the hand holding the key.  

“This.”

He closed his fingers tighter.  

“If I destroy it… would you be disappointed?” 

What kind of insane talk was that?  

Rodella instinctively reached for the key.  

But Aivert lifted his arm just out of her reach.  

“You—”

Startled, Rodella tried to pull his arm down.  

— Clink!

The magical cuffs binding their other wrists pulled taut with a flash of light.  

Rodella froze.  

And in that moment, Aivert’s soft voice slipped past her ear.  

“I want to stay like this. With you.”

“We’re always together though?” 

Rodella replied as if he were talking nonsense.  

But Aivert shook his head.  

“No. Not like usual. Not just as friends.”

He turned fully to face her—and took a step closer.  

“Closer than this.”

Another step. Their legs brushed. Their bodies nearly pressed.  

She could feel the heat radiating from him.  

Rodella’s eyes went wide at the sensation.  

“…Yes, like this. I want to create ripples in your life.”

“What?”

Rodella’s voice held a trace of confusion.  

Aivert exhaled slowly.  

“You still don’t get it?”

He tilted his head slightly, bringing his face closer.  

“Even when I come this close… whisper to you like this…”  

His lips landed gently on the crown of her head.  

A kiss.  

“…!”

Rodella’s lips parted slightly, breath caught, as Aivert continued in a whisper.  

“Even now… do I still seem just like a friend to you?”

Ripples spread in her pupils.  

Aivert smiled faintly.  

“You’re the one who said it. That a madman should be kept restrained.” 

— Clink. He raised their joined wrists and gave them a shake.  

“If we unlock this…”

‘If that meant growing distant from you. If it meant losing this chance.’  

“I think I’d lose my mind. What should I do, Rodella?”  

“…Aivert.”

Rodella’s eyes widened.  

Gone was the playful childhood friend she remembered.  

Before her stood someone unfamiliar—but strangely, intimately known.  

His presence drew closer, and his scent surrounded her.  

Without thinking, Rodella squeezed her eyes shut.  

‘How did we even end up like this?’

The beginning of it all was a small—yet monumental—incident.