The air in the grand hall felt thick with expectation as Annette stood at the entrance, her heart racing beneath the lace of her gown. Her midnight-black hair was styled to perfection and her forest green eyes were focused.It was her engagement day—a simple, intimate affair for family and prominent guests, yet the weight of it sat heavily on her shoulders. She had long accepted her fate, but now that the moment had come, anticipation had twisted into nervous energy.
And then she saw him.
Shuu Heinz stood across the room, a figure so striking that the breath was stolen from her chest. It was as if the world around them dimmed, leaving only him in focus. His sunset-gold hair, tousled just enough to seem careless, framed a face that could have belonged to an ethereal being. His features were sharp yet delicate, his skin pale and flawless. The half-lidded gaze of his impossibly blue eyes radiated a kind of aloofness that bordered on arrogance, and the way he carried himself—so effortless, so disinterested—only heightened his allure.
Annette's hands tightened around the fabric of her gown. Was it even possible for a man to be this beautiful? She had been praised all her life for her own appearance, admired as a "white lotus" of society, but standing here now, she felt a strange and unfamiliar insecurity creeping in. For the first time, she wondered if she truly lived up to those compliments. Next to Shuu, her beauty seemed almost ordinary, diminished by the sheer magnetism of his presence.
She had seen his portraits but always thought that it was the skill of artists hiding his imperfections like in all portraits of Nobles.
And yet, despite the nervous flutter in her chest, she was glad. So glad that this was the man she would marry. Her life could have been tied to anyone—but to marry someone gorgeous like Shuu Heinz? That was a fortune few could hope for. The thought sent a thrill through her, one that both excited and unnerved her.
The engagement was formal, almost transactional, but Annette paid little attention to the details of the event. Her focus remained on Shuu, standing beside her as they exchanged rings. His fingers brushed hers—cold, yet delicate—and a strange chill ran up her arm. She glanced up at him, hoping to catch something in his expression. A smile, perhaps? Some flicker of emotion?
But there was none.
Shuu's face was a mask of indifference, his sapphire eyes half-lidded as if the ceremony was nothing more than an inconvenience. Even as the ring slid onto his finger, he barely reacted, his gaze drifting lazily across the room, unfocused and detached.
Annette's heart sank just a little. His beauty, his presence—it was all so overwhelming, yet... he was completely removed. Unbothered. She had hoped for some recognition between them, but there was nothing. As the crowd began to applaud, the weight of the ring on her finger felt heavier than it should. She managed a small, polite smile, but inside, she felt a growing confusion.
The event carried on, turning into a networking affair as expected. Guests, family members, and influential figures lined up to offer their congratulations. Annette did what she did best—charmed and conversed with grace, ensuring that everyone was pleased. Her social skills were polished to perfection, and tonight was her time to shine.
Yet, even as she navigated the room with elegance, her mind kept drifting back to Shuu. He stood by her side, a perfect statue of disinterest. When people congratulated them, Shuu barely acknowledged their words, offering only a soft "thank you" or a nod. His voice, when he did speak, was low and smooth, but devoid of emotion. His responses were polite, but mechanical, as though his mind was elsewhere.
Annette tried, subtly, to draw him into the conversation, to see if she could coax even a hint of engagement from him. But it was futile. Shuu was not awkward, nor was he shy—he simply did not care. He existed in a realm entirely his own, beyond the reach of the lively chatter that surrounded them.
The more he withdrew, the more intrigued Annette became. She found herself watching him out of the corner of her eye, searching for any sign of vulnerability beneath his aloof exterior. But Shuu remained an enigma—unmoved by the attention, unaffected by the significance of the moment.
By the time the evening began to wind down, Annette was left with more questions than answers. Her initial awe of Shuu had shifted into something deeper, more complicated. His beauty had bewitched her, yes, but it was his utter detachment that now consumed her thoughts. Who was he, really? What lay beneath those cold, disinterested eyes? And why was he so unaffected by everything?
As the final guest bid their farewell, Annette stole one last glance at Shuu. His gaze, as distant as ever, was fixed somewhere far beyond the room they stood in. He was there beside her, but in truth, he might as well have been a million miles away.
And yet, she couldn't look away. She had never been more confused, or more intrigued by a person in her life. There was something about Shuu Heinz—something untouchable, something beyond her understanding—that made her heart race in a way she didn't fully comprehend.
As they walked side by side out of the hall, Annette found herself both excited and unnerved by the prospect of their future together. She was no longer just marrying a man of stature or beauty—she was marrying a mystery.
—
The engagement ceremony was winding down, but Annette's mind was still buzzing. Shuu's distant manner lingered in her thoughts, and now, as they walked toward a curious cluster of young men, she felt another ripple of anticipation.
As they approached, Annette was momentarily taken aback. Each one of them, standing together yet so distinct, was just as impossibly handsome as Shuu. However, despite their shared beauty, they each radiated different energies, almost as if they belonged to entirely different worlds.
Annette's gaze shifted from one to the next, trying to absorb the overwhelming differences.
Shuu's voice broke through her thoughts. "These are my brothers," he said, his tone still as indifferent as ever.
How could they all be siblings? It seemed unbelievable that a family could produce such perfect-looking individuals. The only things that made them look related were the sharp features and piercing eyes that seemed to run through the bloodline.
With tousled pinkish-red hair and a mischievous smirk, one of them stepped forward. His cat-like green almost predatory eyes flicked over Annette as though appraising her. "So, you're the one marrying Shuu, huh?" he drawled. "Good luck with that. Name's Ayato, by the way. Just remember, no matter what, I'm number one around here." He winked, his grin widening as if daring her to challenge him.
Annette blinked at his brazenness, caught off guard by the sharp arrogance in his voice.
Before she could respond, the second brother stepped forward—this one tall and lean, with crimson eyes that glinted with cold intellect, framed by a pair of glasses. He regarded Annette with mild interest but kept his distance. "Reiji," he introduced himself, his voice clipped and formal. "I trust you will adapt quickly to our... family's ways. I don't tolerate incompetence, so I hope you don't fall short." His gaze was sharp, cutting through her like a knife, and Annette felt a chill at his words. There was no warmth in his eyes—only precision.
The third brother was lounging against a nearby pillar, looking utterly bored with the proceedings. His rusty-red hair was slightly disheveled, and he barely glanced up as Shuu gestured toward him. "That's Laito," Shuu muttered, not bothering with a proper introduction.
Laito lazily pushed himself off the pillar and flashed Annette a playful grin. "A pleasure, Annette," he purred, his voice dripping with a flirtatious charm that immediately put her on edge. "I hope you'll find your time with us... thrilling." His eyes lingered a bit too long on hers, and she couldn't help but feel a bit unnerved by his casual, almost creepy demeanor.
Then, from behind Laito, a smaller figure emerged—Kanato. His wispy purple hair framed a delicate face, and he held a teddy bear possessively in his arms, as though it were a shield. His gaze was piercing and a little wild, filled with an intensity that both intrigued and unnerved her. "You're the new toy, aren't you?" he said, his tone playful yet unsettling. "You can call me Kanato." There was a hint of a smile on his lips, but it felt more like a challenge than an invitation.
Annette felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. "I—"
The fourth brother stepped forward, seemingly indifferent to the rest. His fluffy platinum hair fell into his rosy-red eyes, casting a shadow over his sharp features. He looked at her briefly before averting his gaze, as if her presence barely registered. "Subaru," he muttered in a low, rough voice, before retreating back into the shadows of the room, clearly uninterested in conversation.
Annette stood there, trying to gather her thoughts after meeting each of the brothers. Each one had left a striking impression that it made her head spin. She barely introduced herself properly but blanked out the very idea of making a small talk. As if noticing her unease, Shuu led them away.
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she turned to Shuu and asked quietly, "How is it that all of you are so different? You barely look like siblings beyond the surface."
Shuu didn't seem surprised by the question. His eyes remained distant as he answered with a bored sigh, "Different mothers."
Annette's eyes widened at the nonchalant reply. Different mothers? The idea of it appalled her. The implication of Karlheinz having children with multiple women struck her as unsettling, and she suddenly felt the weight of the complexity that came with marrying into this family.
Before she could respond, a soft voice interrupted them.
"Shuu."
Annette turned to see a woman approaching—a lady who moved with grace and quiet elegance. Her features bore a striking resemblance to Shuu's—those same pale, delicate features, the same golden hair. But unlike Shuu, there was a warmth to her presence, a gentleness that immediately put Annette at ease.
Shuu's expression softened slightly as the woman neared. "This is Beatrix," he said, his voice just a little less detached. "My mother."
Annette felt her heart lighten at the introduction. She smiled warmly and curtsied slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Beatrix."
Beatrix's eyes sparkled kindly as she extended her hand. "And you as well, dear. I've heard much about you."
As Annette took her hand, she felt a wave of comfort wash over her. Beatrix's touch was gentle, and her gaze held none of the coldness or aloofness that had come from Shuu and his brothers. There was an understanding there, a softness that Annette had not expected. The conversation flowed easily from there, and Annette found herself growing more relaxed with every word exchanged.
They spoke of the ceremony, of the future, and even of trivial things like Annette's upbringing. Beatrix listened with care, responding with a warmth that made Annette feel as though she were speaking to a close confidante rather than the mother of her fiancé. For the first time that evening, Annette felt truly at ease. There was something about Beatrix that soothed the unease she had felt since the beginning of the ceremony.
It wasn't until much later that Annette realized Shuu had quietly left the conversation. She glanced around, searching for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Beatrix noticed her distraction and gave a knowing smile.
"Shuu is often like that," she said softly. "He prefers solitude when he can find it."
Annette nodded, though her thoughts remained on Shuu. He was an enigma, much like the rest of his family. Each of the brothers had left her with more questions than answers, and now, even with the kindness of Beatrix, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was still only scratching the surface of the Heinz family's many secrets.