Chapter 1
The first time Elaine Aiola met Dominic Cheshire was on the day of a grand party held at the Aiola mansion. Dozens of carriages arrived one after another, unloading guests at the estate of the prestigious Aiola family—one of the most esteemed in the kingdom.
It was a lavish and extravagant celebration, yet, regrettably, Elaine herself was not entitled to attend. She was not yet of age.
In the Kingdom of Hermanda, there existed a rather dreadful custom forbidding anyone under the age of maturity from attending a ball. Not even royalty was exempt. Elaine often mocked this outdated custom alongside her longtime friend, Crown Prince Turner Herdian Vert.
That evening, the lively hum of the party kept her awake well past midnight.
In the end, she persuaded her older brother, Fernando, to let her make a brief appearance at the event, citing the fact that her twentieth birthday was less than a month away. Though she was not permitted to dance, simply sipping fine champagne and chatting amid unfamiliar gentlemen and elegant ladies brought her immense joy.
It was purely by chance that she encountered Dominic as she stepped out to get some fresh air, weary from the long celebration that had stretched into the early morning.
He offered to keep her company until she finished her walk. He had a voice as deep and still as the midnight sea—remarkably memorable. That night, Elaine was unusually excited, and she found herself more talkative than usual, even in front of a stranger.
“How do you feel about it, Lord Cheshire? Don’t you find it absurd? I’ll be of age in just a month, yet I’m barred from attending the ball just because of that short time.”
“So, you feel wronged… because you cannot dance?”
“Yes, terribly wronged!”
Her clenched fists and indignant tone made him let out a soft, silent laugh.
Realizing belatedly that she had gotten too carried away, Elaine blushed faintly and lowered her hands. At that moment, he turned toward her and whispered in a dangerously quiet voice.
“Hearing you say that, I must say—I feel terribly wronged myself. I’ve met the most beautiful young lady at the most splendid ball in the capital, and yet I am not permitted a single dance.”
“You think I’m beautiful?”
Lovely and beautiful Elaine. The delicate flower carefully nurtured by the Aiola family. The most noble young lady in Sienne, the capital. Her platinum hair shimmered like starlight, her eyes, nose, and lips as if painted in an ancient icon…
Elaine Aiola—the most beautiful young woman in Hermanda.
She had heard the word beautiful from countless admirers before. Yet, strangely, when he said it, it felt different. Special.
“If I have the honor of seeing you again at a ball—once you’ve come of age—may I have the privilege of requesting a dance?”
Suppressing a pure flutter of excitement, she asked. But he responded with an unexpected remark. Elaine looked up at his deep, crescent-shaped eyes and nodded slowly.
“You must. Promise me, Lord Cheshire. When you find me at the ball as a grown woman, you’ll take my hand and dance with me.”
“Cheshire… Lord Cheshire…”
Murmuring the unfamiliar name, Elaine opened her window.
Shwaa—
A cool breeze swept past her silken platinum locks. As she looked up into the dark night sky, she thought of the man whose hair resembled the shade of the heavens.
“What a gentleman he was.”
He had listened patiently as she chattered away and, true to his word, courteously escorted her back once the walk was over.
Vanessa, wife of her brother Fernando and the only princess of Hermanda, had always warned her to be wary of strange men who approached young ladies. But Dominic Cheshire was nothing like the reckless types she had been cautioned against.
Elaine recalled his striking features one by one—his strong, narrow eyes, his high, straight nose, and the lips that occasionally let slip a soft, low chuckle…
And, contrary to his refined manner, those dangerously gleaming eyes… that deep, coarse voice that echoed through the night air… Suddenly, a warmth spread beneath her chest, tickling and heating her from within.
“He felt like a real adult… so different from me.”
Now that she thought of it, he was quite tall. The tallest man she knew was her brother Fernando, but Dominic had to be at least a hand taller.
“Did he think I was too young…?”
The thought left her feeling inexplicably wronged.
“I’ll be of age in no time…”
Just moments ago, her heart was fluttering with excitement, but now her expression had fallen into a sulky pout.
She had never heard of the name Cheshire before. When, she wondered, would she see him again?
Elaine dearly wished to come of age—soon.
Less Than a Month Remained.
A guest had arrived—Turner Herdian Vert, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hermanda and younger brother to Vanessa, the lady of the Aiola estate. He was also a longtime friend of Elaine.
“He was truly remarkable.”
Elaine had already repeated herself several times as she described Dominic Cheshire to Turner—his impressive height, his deep voice, and how he carried himself like a perfect gentleman that night.
The young man, whose reddish-brown hair was similar in shade to Vanessa’s but slightly darker in tone, wore a sullen expression as he half-listened, giving an occasional nod while her words drifted past him.
Regardless of his disinterest, Elaine chattered on, brimming with excitement.
“I want to come of age as soon as possible. I want to become a real adult—just like him.”
Her hands clasped together as if in prayer, her voice full of longing. Turner, who had been watching her with a look of disapproval, let out a short laugh and gently enclosed her hands in his own.
“Are you really that excited to become an adult, Elaine?”
“Of course, I am.”
“In that case, I shall host a ball at the royal palace to celebrate your coming of age.”
“Truly? Are you allowed to do that?”
Elaine beamed with joy, her voice bubbling with disbelief.
“For the coming-of-age celebration of Elaine Aiola, the most noble young lady in Hermanda? That’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you, Turner! You really are the best friend in the whole world!”
Wearing a radiant smile, she threw her arms around him—though he stood a full head taller—and spun in circles, dancing with joy.
“Wait, Elaine. I’m getting dizzy.”
Turner slipped from her grasp, cheeks faintly flushed. Then, suddenly clearing his throat, he extended his hand to her with ceremonious poise.
“Lady Aiola, may I have the honor of the first dance?”
At his overly formal tone, Elaine burst into giggles.
“It would be an honor, Your Highness.”
Her fingertips lightly rested upon his palm. With hands gently clasped, the two began to dance, their steps light despite the absence of music. Having grown up together, their rhythm was near perfect.
As they moved gracefully, Elaine’s thoughts drifted for a moment.
Would he come too?
Surely, anyone invited to the Aiola estate couldn’t be of ordinary birth. And yet, the name Cheshire was entirely unfamiliar.
Perhaps he’s one of the newly rising nobles Her Majesty favors…
Those who, though lacking in deep lineage or vast estates, had quickly risen in power thanks to immense wealth and military strength. Her brother Fernando often voiced strong opposition to the Queen’s favor toward such upstarts.
“Hey, Turner…”
As the dance drew to a close, Elaine let out a breathless sigh, still resting lightly in his arms. Her soft voice made Turner’s face flush with sudden heat.
“Have you ever heard the name Cheshire before?”
“Cheshire?”
Turner echoed the name, clearly puzzled. Then, noticing the dreamy look on her face as she stood in his embrace, he narrowed his eyes, realization dawning.
“Don’t tell me that the handsome man with the deep voice you’ve been gushing about is named Cheshire?”
His tone was sharp, almost accusatory. Elaine giggled and slipped out of his arms, then raised a single finger and firmly pressed it to his forehead—far above her own.
“Don’t be jealous, Turner. Lord Cheshire is a true gentleman—not someone you can even begin to compare yourself to, you little brat.”
“Wha—?”
Turner let out a dry laugh, utterly dumbfounded.
“I don’t know what kind of scoundrel has you under his spell, but Elaine Aiola has clearly gone soft in the head.”
Even as he insulted her, Elaine only laughed, her spirits unshaken.
As promised, a splendid royal ball was held on the day of Elaine’s twentieth birthday to mark her coming of age. Brimming with joy and excitement, Elaine was thrilled to be attending a ball as a full-grown woman at last.
“Oh, my lady, please—if you keep moving, I can’t fix your hair properly!”
“But I can’t help it, Anna. I’m just so happy!”
Anna, two years younger than Elaine and cheerful like her mistress, sighed repeatedly as she struggled to manage Elaine’s platinum locks. Though a maid, she had grown up beside Elaine more like a little sister, and her playful nature often bordered on cheeky.
“At this rate, we won’t make it on time.”
“So what? I’m the star of the ball tonight, anyway.”
Elaine gave a self-satisfied shrug. Her confidence in calling herself the main attraction of a royal ball was unmatched. Shaking her head, Anna continued brushing her mistress’s silken platinum hair with care.
“Oh, Elaine. Everyone in the kingdom knows you’re the star of tonight’s ball, but saying it aloud like that isn’t very wise. Her Majesty might take offense.”
“Brother Fernando!”
At the sound of a familiar and affectionate voice at the doorway, Elaine turned and beamed brightly. Anna grumbled again as her careful work was undone yet again.
“All ready? You look absolutely stunning.”
The man leaning casually by the door—bearing the same platinum hair and green eyes as Elaine—flashed her a soft smile.
