Chapter 1
—With a heart full of concern, I leave a seed within your soul, my lady. Just as a tiny seed takes root and blooms into a beautiful flower, may your flower blossom in full. I wish to walk beside you through all your days. Though I am far away, I eagerly await the moment we meet again, my heart fluttering with anticipation. My precious, my dearest violet—
“My precious, my dearest violet.”
As she read the letter, she truly resembled a violet herself. Though her frailty was plain to see, the contrast of her porcelain skin and the cascade of lilac hair brought out the brilliance of her clear, emerald eyes, which shimmered with a mysterious clarity. Amelia smiled gently, her eyes fixed on the violet that had come with the letter. The familiar closing line, always included in the nanny’s letters, gave her the courage to believe that perhaps she could live just a little longer—that she was allowed to.
“Nanny Rosa is doing well, I see.”
“Was that a letter from Nanny Rosa?”
At Mami’s voice, Amelia nodded.
“She sends one from time to time.”
“She never sends any to me. That’s a little hurtful.”
“I’ll mention you in my reply. Then she’ll send one your way.”
Several years ago, Nanny Rosa had left the Count’s estate and returned to her hometown. Even so, she never failed to send her heartfelt letters, always including a single violet—Amelia’s favorite flower. It was as though she wished for her frail heart to shine as vividly as that vibrant bloom. Strangely, even though Rosa lived far away in the Northern Territories, the violet never once arrived wilted. Almost as if it were enchanted. But then again, she had never heard of a spell that could preserve a flower’s bloom.
‘Maybe you’re simply a miracle. If only such a miracle would come to me too. Then I wouldn’t have to make him sad.’
As Amelia set the letter aside, her expression darkened. Next to Rosa’s letter lay another—its envelope adorned with an opulent golden seal. It was a proposal from her beloved, His Grace Edzov Riot Bastien, Duke of Bastien. Yet instead of joy, a cloud of sorrow crossed her face. She could not accept his proposal. Her heart, frail since birth, could cease to beat at any moment. She had always lived with that looming end.
‘Someone like me can’t possibly marry him.’
Yet she couldn’t simply refuse him either.
“My lady, are you unwell? You suddenly look pale…”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Amelia quickly hid the proposal letter from Mami’s view.
“Still, I didn’t expect you to come all the way to the Count’s estate. Thank you.”
Mami was a maid of House Fiore, the duchy of Amelia’s maternal family—and her only friend.
“His Grace, the Duke, was concerned for your health and kindly allowed me to come. And I missed you so much! I never imagined you’d be able to attend the banquet. It’s surprising that Count Chezaret gave you permission to go out.”
Amelia responded with a faint, bitter smile. Despite her poor health, she was headed to a banquet hosted by her maternal family, House Fiore—by her father’s command.
‘At this banquet, you will accept the proposal of Duke Bastien. You’ve been useless so far; it’s time you became a useful daughter. Be grateful I’m not marrying you off to that monstrous duke. It’s a miracle someone like Duke Bastien would even propose to a girl like you.’
She wanted to be a daughter who could help her father, if only a little—but she couldn’t accept the proposal.
‘Still, I’m glad I get to see him again. It’s been so long since I’ve gone out; I’m excited.’
With her usual optimism, Amelia smiled as she looked out of the carriage window. The mountain road was bumpy, causing the carriage to jolt constantly. But more than that, the carriage itself was far too humble for a noble lady of the Count’s house. The number of knights assigned to escort her was shamefully insufficient. No one cared about a sickly lady who might die at any moment. Mami had been shocked by the state of the carriage and the lack of guards but held her tongue. Count Chezaret despised Amelia, and her stepmother did as well. Yet Amelia still tried to be a daughter worthy of love.
‘I can’t accept the proposal, but I must show my best self at the banquet. I won’t bring shame to the House of Chezaret.’
This banquet was no ordinary gathering. It was a special occasion—an official presentation of candidates to succeed House Fiore, her maternal family. House Fiore, known for their elite musketeers, was the only ducal house that did not pass down titles purely by bloodline. Those with exceptional talent in magical marksmanship could earn a recommendation letter and take the succession test. Unable to wield magic, Amelia had recommended her stepsister, Meysarina, a gifted sorceress and an exceptional markswoman. Amelia was proud of her. Meysarina was the only family member who ever asked about her well-being, and Amelia cherished her deeply. She planned to give Meysarina everything she could before she died.
“Meysarina departed ahead of us, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she had some pressing matters. I wish we could’ve traveled together. The three of us could’ve had a long-overdue chat.”
“Well, to be honest… I find Lady Meysarina a little intimidating.”
Mami’s expression soured. She had always kept her distance from Meysarina and wasn’t pleased when Amelia gave her the recommendation for House Fiore.
“Don’t be like that. Meysarina is kind and good-hearted. I hope you two can become close.”
Mami sighed and gave a reluctant nod.
“I’ll try.”
“Still, I’m so happy. I’ll get to see Grandfather again, and…”
Bang!
“Ah!”
“Mami!”
Mami’s voice broke into a scream as the carriage suddenly lurched, then halted with a thunderous explosion.
“Wh-What’s happening?”
Mami trembled. Amelia was frightened too, but she forced herself to stay composed and opened the carriage door.
“What on earth… Gasp!”
Before she could finish her sentence, the head of one of her escorting knights rolled to her feet. Blood splattered everywhere. Bandits had ambushed the carriage.
“That’s her, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s her.”
The bandits approached Amelia as if they knew her. Her legs shook, but she stood tall, lifting her chin defiantly.
“What insolence is this… Urgh!”
A bandit roughly seized her hair, forcing her to kneel.
“My lady!”
“Stay back!”
Despite Amelia’s warning, Mami rushed out to protect her—but the bandits seized Mami and dragged her away.
“Ahh!”
“Mami! What are you doing?! Let her go at once!”
At Amelia’s sharp cry, one of the bandits sneered.
“Look at this—so the noble lady’s got quite a temper, huh?”
“Cease this at once!”
“Sorry, but your life is worth too much for me to stop now.”
The ominous words scraped at her ears like a cold blade.
‘My life… is worth something?’
“Let’s take care of her first—”
“No! You want a life, don’t you? Then take mine. Just mine.”
The firmness in her voice caught the bandit off guard. Amelia, with deliberate composure, continued.
“Let that girl go. I will give you my life willingly in exchange.”
The bandit stared at Amelia, intrigued by her refusal to shed even a single tear in such a dire situation.
“A noble choosing to save her maid over herself? And not even afraid of dying. Or maybe this kind of thing is familiar to you?”
“……”
“What a pitiful life. Well, I won’t complain if you’re going to die quietly without putting up a fight.”
As the bandit raised his bloodstained, blackened sword toward her, Amelia’s mind went blank, and she shut her eyes tightly.
“What the hell?!”
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently, echoing with deep rumbles from all directions.
“An earthquake? Argh!”
The mountain, unable to withstand the tremors, erupted into a landslide. Earth and debris cascaded down, sweeping over the bandits.
“Save me! Please, I’m begging you! Argh!”
But something was strange. The tremors and debris passed right by Amelia, striking only the bandits. Wide-eyed, Amelia breathed in trembling shock.
‘What… what is happening?’
The bandits were completely buried, and only then did the tremors cease. Dust and debris covered everything, yet Amelia stood unharmed.
“Haa… haa…”
She collapsed where she stood, unable to rise. Just then, Mami rushed toward her, having escaped the bandits’ grasp.
“My lady! Are you alright? What on earth just happened?”
“I… I don’t know. I don’t…”
At that moment, a man appeared. When Amelia saw him, she flinched more than she had at the bandits. In the bright southern sunlight, the man wore heavy beast pelts. His unruly black hair and the dark scarf that covered half his face left only his vivid blue eyes visible—they gleamed sharply. His strange presence seized her attention.
The man studied Amelia silently and stepped closer. Instinctively, she shrank back, and at that, he stopped. Mami stepped protectively in front of Amelia and shouted at him.
“D-Don’t come any closer! Do you even know who she is?!”
The man hesitated briefly, then spoke.
“…Are you alright?”
Amelia was startled by his gentle tone, so at odds with his rough appearance.
“Ah… yes. I’m fine.”
She realized then that he meant to help her.
‘He doesn’t seem like a bad person.’
Though his appearance was suspicious, she somehow felt at ease. Steadying herself, Amelia spoke to Mami.
“Mami, check the carriage. See if it’s still usable.”
“What? But…”
Mami glanced uneasily at the man. Amelia gently reassured her.
“It’s alright. Go on. We can’t stay here like this.”
“Y-Yes, my lady.”
As Mami moved toward the carriage, Amelia tried to take a step.
“Ugh!”
Pain shot through her chest, and she clutched at her heart. The man’s gaze hardened, and in an instant, he closed the distance between them.
“Pardon me.”
“What?”
He slipped a hand behind her knees, another to her back, and gently lifted her into his arms. Startled, Amelia flailed in surprise.
“N-No, I’m fine! I can walk on my own!”
But the man tightened his grip and replied coldly.
“If we delay, night will fall, and that would be trouble for us both.”
Nightfall in the mountains was dangerous. He didn’t seem the type to leave her behind, and she didn’t want to trouble him further.
