**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 a neighborhood lined with the residences of various aristocrats. Its white exterior and blue roof were complemented by a garden bursting with seasonal flowers. The mansion exuded luxury, yet curiously, it did not come off as ostentatious; instead, it radiated an air of elegance. This was a testament to the character of its owner, who possessed not only wealth and power but also the dignity and grace befitting such a status.
This was the residence of the House of Crocus. Velios Crocus, the head of the family and the foremost noble of the Aiwood Kingdom, held the position of Chancellor. He was endowed with lineage, status, authority, and wealth—everything one could desire. He was a noble of the highest order, second only to the royal family in both name and reality.
Within this duke’s mansion, a young woman peered out from a window on the second floor, her expression clouded with worry.
“…The entrance to the Academy is approaching soon, isn’t it?”
“……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 the Duke of Crocus and the fiancée of Rodel Aiwood, the Third Prince. Recently, she had excelled in the entrance examination 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, possessing every conceivable quality. Born into the prestigious House of Crocus, which traced its lineage back to the royal family, she was gifted in magic, academics, and athletics—every talent one could imagine. To top it all off, she was blessed with a 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 a large pearl. Her nose was elegantly straight, her lips as red as 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 being the perfect lady, Celestine’s expression was dark. The source of her distress was singular: the presence of her fiancé, Rodel Aiwood, the Third Prince.
“Once I enter the Academy, I’ll be spending my days cleaning up after His Highness Rodel… I’m sure it will be a time of constant unrest…”
She let out a sigh, one of many she had released.
Rodel Aiwood was renowned for his exceptional magical talent, with many believing he could one day become a Sage. Unfortunately, aside from his magical prowess, he had no other qualities worthy of respect.
His personality was nothing short of arrogant. From a young age, he had hurled insults at Celestine every time they met. Recently, he seemed to have developed a taste for womanizing, causing trouble by attempting to seduce maids working in the castle and trying to lure noble ladies into private rooms. Celestine herself had faced Rodel’s advances. When she firmly rejected his inappropriate overtures, 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’m certain he will cause trouble.)
When Celestine was selected as the top student, Rodel had raged, “How dare you, a mere woman, surpass me!” and had destroyed furniture in a fit of anger. She was convinced that once they were at the Academy, he would undoubtedly create new problems. And who would be left to clean up after him but his fiancée, Celestine? Even if he was a prince, there was no one else who could admonish him given his status.
(I truly… resent you, Grandfather.)
Celestine’s engagement to Rodel had been orchestrated by her grandfather, the late Duke of Crocus. He had been a kind-hearted man who admired Rodel’s grandmother, the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager doted on Rodel, who bore a striking resemblance to her, and as her health declined, she worried about his future. To secure Rodel’s future, she had implored the late Duke to arrange an engagement with the young Celestine.
The engagement had left many in the House of Crocus astonished, as it had been arranged without the consent of either Celestine or her father, the current duke. By that time, Rodel was already infamous as the “Spoiled Prince,” and it was evident that being his fiancée would bring more hardship than benefit. To make matters worse, the engagement was bound by a magical contract that prevented the Crocus family from dissolving it, leaving Celestine trapped.
The current duke had been so disappointed in his father that he had banished him to a small estate on the outskirts of their territory. However, even with the late duke gone, the engagement remained intact. Celestine found herself at the mercy of her arrogant fiancé, who had not changed one bit 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 replied, echoing Celestine’s sigh.
Unfortunately, no matter how many insults Rodel hurled at Celestine, he showed no signs of wanting to end their engagement. He likely understood how important it was for his future. If that was the case, then everyone in the House of Crocus believed he should treat Celestine with more care.
(If I could break off the engagement with him, I wouldn’t care who my next fiancé was… whether a commoner or a low-ranking noble, I wouldn’t mind if he had another woman…!)
Celestine was cornered by such thoughts.
Only two weeks remained until her entrance to the Academy. Once she enrolled, she would have to face Rodel almost every day.
“Hah…”
With the feelings of a condemned criminal awaiting execution, Celestine let out yet another sigh, one of many.