Chapter 56: Celestine Crocus in Distress
In the noble district of the Royal Capital, a particularly grand and spacious building stood at the center of an area lined with the mansions of various aristocrats. Its white exterior and blue roof were complemented by a garden bursting with seasonal flowers. The estate exuded luxury, yet curiously, it did not come across as ostentatious; rather, it conveyed an air of elegance. This was a testament to the owner’s refinement and dignity, qualities that matched his wealth and power.
This was the residence of the Crocus Duke House. Velios Crocus, the head of the house and the foremost noble of the Aiwood Kingdom, held the esteemed position of Chancellor. He possessed a lineage, status, authority, and wealth that made him the second most powerful noble after the Royal Family.
Within this duke’s mansion, a woman peered out from a window on the second floor, her expression one of deep contemplation.
“…Soon, I will be entering the academy.”
“……Yes, my lady,” replied the maid standing in the corner of the room, her face reflecting concern.
The woman’s name was Celestine Crocus. She was the only daughter of Duke Crocus and the fiancée of Prince Rodel Aiwood, the Third Prince. Recently, she had taken the entrance exam for the Royal Academy, achieving a perfect score and being selected as the top student in the Magic Department.
Celestine was the epitome of a perfect lady. Born into the prestigious Crocus Duke House, which had ties to the Royal Family, she possessed innate talents in magic, academics, and athletics. On top of that, she was blessed with beauty akin to that of a diamond. Her platinum hair flowed like a beautiful waterfall, reflecting the morning sun, while her skin was as translucent as large pearls. Her nose was elegantly shaped, her lips the color of red roses, and her eyes sparkled with a vivid hue reminiscent of deep purple amethyst. Had she not been chosen as the Third Prince’s fiancée in her childhood, proposals from royalty and nobility from neighboring countries would have surely flooded in.
However, despite her perfection, Celestine’s expression was clouded with worry. The source of her distress was none other than her fiancée, Prince Rodel Aiwood.
“Once I enter the academy, I will be spending my days cleaning up after His Highness Rodel… Surely, it will be a time of unending turmoil…”
She let out a sigh, one of many she had released that day.
Rodel Aiwood was known for his exceptional magical talent, with many believing he could one day become a sage. Unfortunately, aside from his magical prowess, there was nothing commendable about him.
His personality was nothing short of arrogant. Since childhood, he had hurled insults at Celestine every time they met. Recently, he had taken to indulging in the pleasures of womanizing, attempting to seduce maids working in the castle and dragging noble ladies into private rooms, causing quite a stir. Celestine had also faced his advances, and when she firmly rejected him, insisting that premarital relations were out of the question, he had nearly resorted to violence. The thought that someone nearby had intervened still sent shivers down her spine.
(Why must I marry such a man…? Once I enter the Royal Academy, I am certain he will cause trouble.)
When Celestine was chosen as the top student, Rodel had raged, “How dare you, a woman, take my place!” and had destroyed furniture in a fit of fury. She was convinced that entering the academy would only lead to more chaos, and the one left to clean up after him would inevitably be her, his fiancée. Despite his shortcomings, he was still a prince, and no one but Celestine could admonish him due to their respective statuses.
(I truly… resent you, Grandfather.)
Celestine’s engagement to Rodel was the result of her grandfather, the former Duke Crocus. He was a kind-hearted man who had a fondness for Rodel’s grandmother, the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager, who adored Rodel for his resemblance to her, had grown concerned for his future as age and illness loomed over her. In her worry, she had implored the former duke to arrange an engagement between young Celestine and Rodel.
The engagement, made without the consent of Celestine or her father, the current duke, left most members of the Crocus Duke House in shock. By that time, Rodel was already notorious as the “Spoiled Prince,” and it was clear that being his fiancée would bring more hardship than benefit. Moreover, the engagement was bound by a magical contract, preventing the Crocus Duke House from dissolving it.
This led to the current duke’s disappointment in his father, resulting in the former duke being exiled to a small estate on the edge of their territory. However, even with the former duke gone, the engagement remained intact. Celestine found herself at the mercy of her arrogant fiancée, who showed no signs of change as she reached the age to enter the Royal Academy.
“If only he would break off the engagement himself…”
“……I can only imagine your feelings, my lady,” the maid sighed in unison with Celestine.
Unfortunately, no matter how much Rodel insulted Celestine, he showed no intention of breaking their engagement. He likely understood its importance for his future. If that were the case, then nearly everyone in the Crocus Duke House believed he should treat her with more care.
(If I could break off this engagement, I wouldn’t mind who my next fiancé was… be it a commoner or a lower noble, I wouldn’t even care if he had another woman…)
Such thoughts consumed Celestine, pushing her further into despair.
Only two weeks remained until her entrance into the academy. Once there, she would be forced to see Rodel almost every day.
“Hah…”
With a sigh that felt like the last breath of a condemned criminal, Celestine released yet another exhale, her heart heavy with the weight of her impending fate.