"Love is a beautiful thing… but to me, it's nothing more than a few lines written to lead into a life that has already been arranged."
Don't you think so… Miss Rosa Mariel?
---
Not long before that—
I was sitting with my younger sister in the Mariel estate.
Afternoon sunlight poured through the tall windows, stretching in long golden streaks across the red carpet of the drawing room. The air was quiet. The only sound was the faint clink of porcelain as my father's spoon tapped lightly against the side of his teacup at the nearby table.
Everything was perfectly ordinary.
Until—
The door burst open.
The butler hurried in from the hallway. He stopped at the doorway, straightened the front of his coat, then bowed properly. Yet his eyes flicked briefly toward the two of us, as if weighing something.
Then he walked straight to my father.
He bent down.
And whispered a few words into his ear.
I couldn't hear what he said. But my father's reaction was obvious.
His brows immediately drew together.
A deep crease formed on his forehead.
He stayed silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head and let out a weary sigh.
After that, he stood.
The wooden chair creaked softly as it slid back.
My father walked over to us.
His voice lowered.
"Guests will be arriving soon. You two should return to your rooms for a while. I'll call you later."
I tilted my head and looked at him.
"Father, did something upset you?" I asked. "Would you like me to play something to lift your mood?"
He waved his hand at once.
"No need, Rosa. Just go."
The answer came too quickly.
Too firmly.
That only made me more confused.
I studied him for a moment longer, but he had already turned away.
Beside me, my sister raised both hands in mock surrender.
The gesture made me laugh.
But the question in my mind wouldn't go away.
Just who is visiting today… to make Father frown like that?
My sister leaned closer.
And whispered.
"Don't pry too much. If Father gets annoyed, he'll take it out on you."
I shot her a sideways glance.
"If he does that to you, you'll run to Mother and complain."
She replied instantly, her expression full of confidence.
I laughed.
But she wasn't finished.
She leaned even closer, lowering her voice further.
"But… my ears are very sharp."
"Hm?"
"I heard a bit of it… it sounds like the family of Baron Vangell Alasto came here to—"
She stopped halfway.
I frowned.
"To what?"
She scratched her cheek.
"How would I know?"
She pouted.
"I was about to listen more, but the butler gave me a glare."
The family of Baron Vangell Alasto?
That name…
Have I heard it somewhere before?
My younger sister suddenly turned to look at me.
"Ah… could it be…"
"Could it be…"
"Could it be what? I don't understand what you're trying to say."
"What do you think they came here to do at a time like this?"
I looked at her.
"Why are you talking so awkwardly today?"
"I'm not!"
She denied it immediately.
"I just…"
She stopped.
Then suddenly—
She grabbed a broom from a maid standing nearby.
And swung it up into the air.
Her face turned extremely serious.
"I'll beat up anyone who dares bully my sister!"
At that moment—
I honestly wanted to burst out laughing.
But there were maids all around us.
So I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to hold it in, and waved my other hand at her.
"Alright, alright."
"Stop it."
My little sister kept up the fierce act for a few more seconds before finally lowering the broom.
I shook my head.
"That won't happen."
"I don't think our family has any connection with Baron Vangell Alasto's family."
Then I added,
"Besides, Father is a duke."
My sister blinked.
Then she nodded slowly.
"You're right."
She put her hands on her hips.
"Father is a very calculating person."
"There's no way he'd marry you off to a baron's family."
She thought about it for a moment.
"At the very least, it would have to be a marquis family."
I laughed.
But my sister had already turned around.
"Wait here."
"I'll sneak down and listen in."
I called out to her immediately.
"Hey—don't make things difficult for Father."
She waved her hand without looking back.
"Don't worry."
Then she turned to a maid nearby.
"Hey, maid."
The maid bowed.
"Yes, my lady? What do you need?"
"Lend me your clothes for a moment."
The maid froze.
"…What?"
"My lady… please don't joke like that."
My sister narrowed her eyes.
"Joke?"
She pointed at me.
"Then lend me two sets."
"One for her too."
The maid: …
---
A short while later—
The two of us had disguised ourselves as maids.
The fabric of the clothes was far rougher than what we normally wore.
Our hair was tied back simply.
My sister even carried two buckets of water, hanging from both ends of a shoulder pole.
As she walked, she kept making faces.
"So heavy…"
She let out a breath.
"I didn't realize they have to carry water like this every day just to clean… and feed the livestock too."
She shook her wrist.
"Seriously… my nails feel like they're about to break."
I looked at her.
"I told you there was no need to—"
"No."
She cut me off immediately.
"If we're doing this, we do it properly."
She said it with complete seriousness.
"I don't like doing things halfway."
I could only laugh.
"Alright."
"If you say so."
I carried a broom.
Sweeping the path at the entrance of the estate.
At the same time, I secretly observed the carriages parked outside the gate.
All of them bore the crest of Baron Vangell Alasto's family.
On the side of the carriage was the image of a flower in full bloom.
Thin branches curved around it like wings.
Gold trim.
Red background.
A rather eye-catching crest.
I kept sweeping as I watched.
Then I saw Father.
He was speaking with a tall, thin man.
The man wore a round monocle over one eye.
He removed his hat.
And bowed to my father with great politeness.
Then—
The two of them walked into the main hall together.
I watched them go.
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
Father… seems unusually respectful toward that man.
Beside me, my sister was also watching.
She frowned.
"Isn't Father being a bit too polite?"
She whispered.
"He's a duke, after all."
"Why would he show such courtesy to some lowly baron?"
I turned to her.
"Shouldn't you be upstairs wiping the windows?"
"And yet you ran down here again."
She grinned.
"Of course it's to see—"
She glanced toward the hall.
"…who managed to make Father's eyebrows stick together like that."
We looked at each other.
Then both of us burst out laughing.
But not long after—
A maid suddenly ran out in a hurry.
The maid grabbed both of our hands.
And pulled us inside.
Her voice was urgent.
"Quick, go change back into your clothes, my ladies!"
"Old Brom is running in circles because he can't find the two of you anywhere!"
My sister and I exchanged a glance.
"Ah, yes."
My sister answered immediately.
"Then we'd better hurry."
She ran as she spoke.
"I don't want to hear our head butler tearing his hair out again"
She giggled.
"There isn't much hair left anyway."
I couldn't help it.
I burst out laughing.
---
After we finished changing.
And put on a light touch of makeup.
The two of us walked down to the hall.
Where my father—
and that very refined-looking man—
were standing and talking.
---
---
The man carried himself with great politeness.
His voice was gentle. His gestures precise.
But when I looked at my father—
I noticed something in his eyes… something hard to describe.
It wasn't joy.
Nor was it exactly displeasure.
Just a kind of emotion being forced down.
As if he were trying to stay calm in the face of something that couldn't be changed.
The man leaned closer to my father.
And whispered something to him.
My father listened in silence.
After a few seconds, he nodded.
Then he turned and looked at me.
He gestured with his hand.
"Rosa."
I walked over.
"Is something the matter, Father?"
He placed a hand gently on my shoulder.
"Ah… my daughter."
He spoke more slowly than usual.
"This is Baron Vangell of the Alasto family."
The man gave me a slight bow.
Father continued.
"He would like to speak with you privately for a moment."
A small knot immediately formed in my chest.
Why would Father say something like that?
A baron…
wanted to speak with me alone?
But with so many people watching—
I couldn't refuse my father's words.
So I gave a small nod.
"Yes."
----------
---
We left the hall.
And walked along the stone corridor that led to the balcony.
The glass doors opened.
Cool afternoon air immediately rushed in.
Autumn had arrived.
The sky was dyed a pale gold.
In the distance, the evening light stretched across the lakes within the estate grounds.
The surface of the water shimmered like a mirror.
Baron Alasto stepped out first.
He stopped beside the stone railing.
Both hands resting lightly on its edge.
His eyes looked down at the lake.
"Standing here…" he said slowly,
"…one can admire all the beauty this world has to offer, don't you think, Miss Mariel?"
The autumn wind passed through.
His brown hair stirred slightly.
The long coat over his white shirt fluttered faintly.
I watched him for a few seconds.
Then spoke plainly.
"Baron Alasto."
"Is there something you wished to discuss with me?"
I skipped the polite pleasantries.
And went straight to the question on my mind.
Baron Alasto continued looking down at the lake.
He did not answer right away.
A brief silence passed.
Wind brushed against the railing.
Leaves rustled somewhere in the garden.
He looked as if he were simply admiring the evening scenery.
Then finally—
He lifted his head.
His right hand lightly adjusted the round monocle.
He shifted his posture.
Leaning his back against the railing.
His head turned slightly toward me.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Have you ever thought…" he said,
"…that if one could place the most beautiful things in this world inside a glass jar…"
"…and simply look at them every day…"
"…that might not be so bad, would it?"
I frowned.
"Forgive me, Lord Alasto."
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
He looked at me.
Then spoke plainly.
"Your father and the royal family have agreed to our marriage."
He paused for a beat.
"Five days from now."
"Were you aware of that… Miss Rosa?"
---
It felt as if something had clogged my ears.
The sounds around me suddenly grew distant.
My heart… skipped a beat.
A very clear one.
I looked at him.
Baron Alasto had fully turned toward me.
His gaze locked onto mine.
Unwavering.
"I'm only here," he said calmly,
"…to inform you on your father's behalf."
"So that neither of you would be put in an awkward position."
I stood there without moving.
For a moment—
I was almost numb.
But I quickly forced myself to meet the eyes staring back at me.
"Then why would the royal family agree to this?"
I asked.
"Could it be…"
Baron Alasto smiled.
"Why don't you guess?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"The son of a baron…"
"…marrying the daughter of a duke."
"The difference in rank and status is that large."
He looked straight at me.
"So why would the royal family approve it instead of rejecting it?"
Two words surfaced in my mind.
Politics.
The faction loyal to the king…
was probably running short on financial power.
So they needed an alliance.
And this marriage—
was simply a binding thread.
I looked at the man standing before me.
He… is just another piece pulled onto the board.
Baron Alasto seemed to read that thought.
He smiled.
"I'm sure you've already figured it out."
He let out a quiet breath.
"Then let's be frank with each other."
"I have no desire to be dragged into this muddy mess either."
He named a number.
"Three years."
I frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Three years."
He repeated it.
"Three years is enough to settle the royal family's affairs."
He continued, his voice calm.
"That's the limit I'm willing to give them."
"And to make sure they don't betray me…"
He looked at me.
"…they've temporarily handed me a hostage."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You."
A breeze swept across the balcony.
Leaves rustled softly.
He gave a small shrug.
"How amusing."
"Did you ever imagine you'd end up in a marriage like this?"
I stayed silent.
I didn't answer.
So that was it…
The royalist faction had pushed me onto the pyre.
So they could survive.
But because the princesses held too high a status—
My father had no choice but to make a sacrifice.
There was no resentment in my mind.
Not toward my father.
Not toward the royal family.
And yet—
A heavy pressure still rose in my chest.
In just a few days.
This man and I…
would become husband and wife.
No engagement.
No preparations.
No—
love.
I lifted my head.
And looked at the autumn sky.
The distant sun was slowly sinking beyond the horizon.
Golden-orange light stretched across the surface of the lake.
At that moment—
the man beside me spoke again.
"Is there someone you love…"
"…Miss Mariel?"
I answered quietly.
"Not yet."
Baron Alasto shifted his posture as well.
He turned to look toward the setting sun.
After a while, he asked again.
"Do you think…"
"…that in three years, we might develop feelings for each other?"
I didn't answer.
Would that even matter anymore?
After all—
I had already been splashed with filthy water.
Did I still have a choice?
Baron Alasto seemed to understand my silence.
He spoke softly.
"Don't worry."
"I have no desire for the body of someone I do not love."
He paused.
"And besides…"
"I don't believe in love."
He looked toward the sun.
Then said slowly,
"Love is a beautiful thing…"
"…but to me…"
"…it's nothing more than a few lines written down…"
"…to lead into a life that has already been arranged."
He turned to look at me.
The evening light reflected in his monocle.
"Do you think so…"
"…Miss Rosa Mariel?"