Chapter 114

“What is it? What came out of there?”

The Duchess, clearly impatient, pressed us for an answer. At her words, Armin reached into the fish’s belly and pulled the object out.

He didn’t say anything, but everyone’s eyes followed his hand, curiosity written all over their faces.

“What is that?”

“A ring?”

It was a ring—the ring. The one that had cost three whole pouches of gold per piece. The one that had nearly been stolen and ended up tumbling into the sewer with a splash!

“It’s already been over a year since I lost that ring…”

I looked up at Armin from within his arms. Remembering how we’d discovered that the ring could record voices… and now standing here at his side, with the title of fiancée, it all felt strangely surreal.

Armin looked down at me and murmured softly,

“Looks like we’ve found our wedding rings.”

Seeing that meaningful ring again, he must’ve had the same thought I did. Our wedding rings had finally been decided.

I leaned into him gently and whispered,

“Let’s make mine a new one, and you can wear the fish ring.”

Because I still hated the smell of fish. Armin didn’t seem to mind it as much, so it only made sense, right?

Even at my selfish suggestion, Armin just smiled without saying a word.

* * *

With the fish-cutting ceremony, the engagement party had finally come to an end. Once all the guests had left, we were finally able to enjoy some quiet time with just the family.

Technically, we weren’t truly family yet since the marriage hadn’t happened, but seeing the Duke and Duchess chatting warmly with my parents filled me with a gentle warmth.

A new family. I loved Armin—and I loved them too. Unlike the depressing in-law horror stories you often see in romance novels, which are unfortunately realistic across both Eastern and Western cultures, I had no such worries.

“Vivi!”

The Duchess waved at me, and I waved back. At the table where the younger crowd was gathered sat Armin, Sasha, and Princess Florin.

“Huh? Where’s Michelle?”

“Andre took her outside.”

“Andre? I had something to ask him! Sasha, did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That Andre proposed to Michelle.”

“What?!”

Sasha stared at me in disbelief.

“Andre proposed to Michelle?”

“You didn’t know?”

“How could I have? That’s a total shock.”

“Listen to this—just a few days ago, he asked me what color Michelle liked. And then three days ago, she said he proposed to her!”

At my words, Sasha let out a stunned laugh.

“Did he prep rings in every color or something?”

“Right? Ugh… that sly fox, Andre.”

I had planned to hold a full-blown interrogation, but Andre clearly knew me too well and seemed to be avoiding me for the time being.

“But Michelle looked really happy, didn’t she?”

“She did. Oh! Princess, when you get home tonight, should we ask Michelle to show us the ring?”

“I’d love that. A proposal…how romantic. I’m honestly so jealous.”

At Princess Florin’s wistful sigh, Sasha’s expression grew complicated.

Blood is thicker than water. I’d never openly discussed the Princess with my brother, but the uncharacteristic unease on his face the first time he met her had said it all.

Pretending not to notice, I turned to the Princess and asked,

“Your Highness, what kind of proposal would you like to receive?”

“Me? A… proposal?”

As she spoke, her eyes naturally drifted toward Sasha.

“Well… I think I’d be happy with something simple. Just something ordinary.”

“What kind of ordinary? Like a public proposal at a ball or something?”

Knowing full well she’d reject the idea, I teased her anyway. Predictably, her face flushed bright red as she frantically shook her head.

“No, no! Nothing like that… Just something quiet, just the two of us.”

“Ah, I see.”

I nodded in exaggerated understanding.

“Princess Florin would like to receive a proposal in private, in a simple, heartfelt way.”

When I met Armin’s eyes, he gave me a look that said go easy on her.

But Sasha’s expression, when I glanced at him, was deadly serious. Just as he seemed about to say something, someone came running toward us from afar.

Breathless and flushed, the person arriving carried a golden banner on their back—the royal courier of the imperial family.

“Pant… pant! I bring word… for Her Highness, Princess Florin of Gellang.”

“What is it?”

“Prince Garbo of Gellang has just arrived. You are summoned to the palace immediately.”

The wine glass slipped from Princess Florin’s hand. With a shattering crash, golden champagne splashed across the floor, leaving a messy stain as it seeped in.

“But we only just received word that he’d departed…”

“The weather was favorable, so his arrival was greatly accelerated. There’s no time to waste—you must proceed to the palace at once.”

“But my belongings are still at the Viscount’s estate…”

“We will retrieve them for you. Please, Your Highness, you must leave for the palace now.”

And just like that—without even having the chance to change clothes—Princess Florin was forced to return to the imperial palace.

* * *

Inside the carriage, Princess Florin sat with a face full of unease. Biting the inside of her cheek, she nervously fidgeted with her nails—one of her long-standing habits whenever she felt unsettled.

Today was a memorable day for Florin. Vivian and Armin’s engagement ceremony. For Florin, who had no one she could truly call a friend, Vivian was someone who meant a great deal. She’d genuinely enjoyed being asked to stand as a bridesmaid, a role often reserved for one’s closest friend.

Vivian, Armin, Michelle…they were all good people. As Princess Florin recalled each person she had grown steadily close to over the past month, her gaze grew distant.

Sasha. Alessandro Roha.

The last face that came to mind refused to fade. Her expression crumpled as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

She had never felt this way before. She’d always believed that holding someone dear was a feeling unrelated to her life. But from the moment she met Alessandro, she had to admit how hollow that assumption had been.

She remembered the flustered look on Alessandro’s face when he mistook her for his younger sister. The memory made her lips twist into a strange expression—half crying, half laughing.

Since that day, everything had been so joyful that time seemed to fly by without her realizing it.

The royal family of Gellang were devout believers. They revered divine prophecies and refused to go against them, even for the most trivial matters in daily life.

Ever since she met Alessandro, Florin had prayed every night facing the western window. She begged the heavens to understand her heart, to let her brother receive a prophecy bearing Sasha’s name.

Until that prophecy came, her feelings for Sasha could only be temporary—destined to end.

Sasha’s affection was sincere—so sincere that even someone as oblivious as her couldn’t fail to notice it. She didn’t know how he treated other women, but just looking at Vivian’s reaction, it was clear that Sasha held her in special regard.

The old her would have distanced herself from Sasha. She would’ve kept her behavior strictly measured, avoiding any impulsive actions in case the prophecy named someone else and sparked unsavory gossip.

But even knowing all that, even being aware… she hadn’t been able to do it.

Once again, Florin pressed down hard on her fingernails. A sharp pain flared in her thumb, but she ignored it.

What was he going to say?

Just before the royal messenger had arrived, Sasha had been about to say something. Florin felt she might regret never hearing those words for the rest of her life.

With that anxious thought weighing on her heart, the golden carriage rolled tirelessly onward.

“Florin!”

It had already been a month since he’d last seen his younger sister, who was known for being painfully shy. She had always been wary of strangers, so he could only imagine how uncomfortable she must have been staying at the Viscount’s estate for a whole month.

But contrary to Prince Garbo’s worries, Florin appeared healthy. Seeing that she wasn’t even wearing her usual veil caught him slightly off guard.

“Brother!”

“I’m so relieved to see you looking well. You have no idea how worried I was.”

Prince Garbo had pushed the sailors hard enough to significantly advance their schedule. Now, escorting Princess Florin, he entered the palace to have an audience with the Emperor.

As before, the Emperor greeted Prince Garbo warmly. The Prince expressed his gratitude for the Emperor’s hospitality, which had allowed Florin to be well taken care of during her stay.

“There’s a young lady of similar age at the Viscount Roha’s estate, where Princess Florin stayed, isn’t there? I heard they became fast friends.”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. Thanks to Lady Roha, I had a joyful month.”

Florin nodded politely in agreement with the Emperor’s words.

It had truly been a joyful time. But now, it was time to wake from that dream.

Florin’s life wasn’t one in which she had much say. From birth to death, it felt as if her path had already been decided. In such a life, where her opinions hardly mattered, the first thing she learned was resignation.

Even as she desperately wished that Sasha’s name would appear in the divine prophecy, Florin had been preparing herself for the worst, comforting her heart in quiet anticipation.

It had been a joyful time. A precious memory she will cherish until the end of her days.

Perhaps touched by Florin’s composed reply, the Emperor let out a laugh.

“It’s a shame I only have one prince. You and Zeta would’ve made a fine match.”

“Your Majesty, regarding Florin’s marriage…”

“Yes, yes, I know. It’s determined by the prophecy. Right, have you confirmed the prophecy yet?”

“The prophecy is right here.”

Garbo pulled a letter from his inner coat and held it out to the Emperor.

“So, whose name is written there—the lucky one?”

“Since it’s a marriage prophecy, only the person concerned may break the seal. No one knows what it says yet.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Emperor nodded, intrigued.

“Then, Princess, when do you plan to open it?”

“The time to read a prophecy,” Garbo answered in her stead, “is when the moon is at its highest each night.”

He handed the sealed letter to Florin.

“I see,” the Emperor replied with a chuckle.

“Then by tomorrow, we’ll know who the lucky man destined to marry our beautiful princess is.”

Prince Garbo gave a polite smile, echoing the Emperor’s expression.