A lady who is known in the empire as the duke's wife. A daughter of Duke Engelsen, Shyneth Engelsen. The couple was known for their forced marriage. Though political and arranged marriages are not uncommon, their union overshadowed the other political and arranged marriages.
Shyneth Engelsen was known to be in love with the other duke's son, Denarius Sonnevelt. Their relationship was not private or hidden. It was open and publicly known in the empire, since the two were childhood sweethearts and grew up together. Everyone was expecting them to have their marriage soon.
However, news shocked the entire empire. People gasped and became confused. Belleina Everliegh was about to marry, but not to her lover, but to her current husband, a duke's son and childhood friend.
The people in the empire know how close the ducal houses and the Duke are to the royal family. It can be seen in their children's and parents' close bond. Aside from their friendship, the three houses are believed to have founded the empire.
Shyneth Engelsen, Duke Engelsen's only daughter, is said to be descended from a commoner knight and to have risen to nobility by helping to establish the empire.
Denarius Sonnevelt is the second son of Duke Vernon, a branch of a royal family. They received the ducal title after lending support in building the empire and being a brother of the previous emperor.
Ruan Ledoux is the only son of Duke Sacheverell, a mysterious family. It was said that they carried demon blood because one of their ancestors was a demon. The reason why they have the unique trait of having sparkling ruby-like eyes. According to rumors, if they look directly into your eyes, they may be enchanted by them, and you may already be vulnerable to their charm and mercy without realizing it.
Arystan Romilius, the crown prince and the first son of the emperor. He is famous for his capability as the next emperor of the empire. The two-years-older brother of the second prince, Heinz.
Heinz Romilius, the second prince of the empire. A full-blooded younger brother of the crown prince. He is known for his being mischievous and a womanizer, for he was always surrounded by the rumor of having fun with the ladies of the empire.
These five people were closely watched and well-known throughout the empire as a result of their strong bond as children. They believed that they would be the next generation to lead the empire one day. They always visited the imperial palace, as their parents every now and then visited the emperor for work or for personal matters.
However, this alters everything. When the Duke and Duke died, the five children's once-promising future faded away. When the empire found out that Duke Engelsen had been killed while protecting the emperor, it was devastated, perplexed, and felt betrayed. Duke Ledroux was accused of killing the Duke and attempting to kill the emperor. However, the duke was not punished for treason because he was assassinated by the Duke during a sword fight in the palace.
The empire couldn't understand why the Duke and Duke were fighting. Why the duke planned to assassinate the emperor when they were known to have a brotherly relationship. The empire suspected a misunderstanding between them, but the emperor, who did not want the details revealed, kept the palace quiet about the matter. The emperor was the only one who knew everything, but he kept it quiet.
However, the empire received more shocking news. Upon Duke Engelsen's death, his daughter was bound to marry the son of Duke Ledroux, the one who killed her father. This is how the lady's life took a dramatic turn. She not only lost her father and became an orphan, but she was also forced to marry the killer's son.
Thus, their arranged marriage rendered the others' fixed marriage insignificant. Nobody in their right mind would marry their father's murderer, but the lady was powerless to stop it because it was written in her father's will. With biting lips, she wore the bridal gown and walked down the aisle. Saying her vows and accepting the ceremony that will bind her and the son's killer. For the last time in her mind, she will listen to her father's words without questioning why. Despite the confusion she had fallen into.
But the rumors about the couple did not end there. Every time a banquet or gathering was held, Duchess Ledroux would look around for her ex-lover. She would quietly stand and wait on the corner with a doll expression. When she sighted Duke Sonnevelt's second son, her expressionless face and dead eyes seemed to come into light and life. As if to convey to the world that she is suffering in her husband's arms and would only be alive in her tragic first love.
**************
"Denary!" Shyneth called out upon spotting Denarius walking in the hall. She dashed towards him, ignoring the people's stares at them.
Denarius would usually flinch upon hearing a voice calling out his name. However, Shyneth had grown accustomed to this while searching for her.
"Shyneth," he sighed.
"Denary, I missed you," looking at him with longing.
Denarius brushed his hair, feeling frustrated. "You should not be doing this, Shyneth."
"Why are you saying that?" asked Shyneth, feeling hurt.
"You are already married. You are a duchess now, Shyneth," trying to explain to her calmly.
"Who cares about it? It was a forced marriage after all!" Shyneth raised her voice.
Denarius sighed. "If that's all you have to say, Duchess Ledroux, I'm leaving; it appears that this party would be uncomfortable if I stayed."
He walked past her in the middle of everyone. Shyneth was stunned at how, for the first time, Denarius treated her coldly. She turned around to call him, but he had already left.
Since that day, Denarius has always treated Shyneth coldly and distanced himself from her by addressing her as the duchess of Ledroux. Shyneth didn't give up and was constantly reaching out to him.
A news spread that Duchess Ledroux is carrying a child. People gasped and were perplexed, seeing how their couple relationship was strained and they conceived a child. There was speculation that it wasn't the duke's child, or that the duke coerced the duchess. Despite this, the duchess remained affectionate towards her ex-lover.
"Denary!" Shyneth smiles brightly while rushing towards him.
"Let's talk about this on the balcony, shall we?" Denarius cut her.
"Oh! Of course!" Shyneth feels elated.
The two of them walked onto the balcony to have some privacy. However, the people's gaze followed them, and they started to be suspicious.
Denarius froze when Shyneth stepped forward and kissed him on the lips.