To Help You Understand Chapter 1

Translator: asuramaru
Proofreader: asuramaru

There were only two ways to receive a title in this country: ‘succession’ and ‘marriage’.

Winter Blooming was the illegitimate child of the Duke of Blooming from before his father’s marriage; his mother was a stranger. A stranger who was unrecognised by the state.

He knew he had no chance of succeeding the title.

However, just in time, Larken – which was controlled by the ruling royal family – was left saddled with debt thanks to the failures of an incompetent government. Every day, demonstrations occurred outside the castle with calls to execute the king. All blame fell on the monarchy.

As a result, Winter was promised a marriage to the King’s daughter, Violet Lawrence, in exchange for his family’s assistance in paying off the debt.

That was the reason for their marriage, and it was a satisfactory decision in Violet’s eyes. Although, the wedding was almost omitted entirely…

Her mind, now that she’d finally become 18, was consumed with the desire to speak to her husband.

‘I’ve never seen a man so handsome…’

As rumoured, Winter possessed cool grey eyes, which he’d inherited from his unknown biological mother. She’d heard that he was twenty-four years old, but according to her first impression of him, he was much more mature than anyone could have imagined.

His expressions had remained fine and cool despite the unfamiliar surroundings, which was very good for Violet. No man in her life had ever made her feel so flustered. He was the first.

I didn’t expect to fall in love with someone at first sight.

And that someone could be so lucky to even have him as a husband… it was unthinkable. No, incredibly lucky.

‘Will he like me too?’

At the end of the wedding reception, the curious Violet had closed her eyes and held Winter’s hand.

When my eyes met with his, my heart began to beat faster. It took a great deal of courage to hold the strange, beautiful man’s hand. Violet tugged on his hand, preventing him from avoiding her, and spoke.

“I knew I was lucky to meet you.”

His reaction was worrying… Winter’s blank expression made a second seem like a hundred years. Winter, who was about to respond, turned his head to the side as a new sound echoed around the room.

It was because Ash Lawrence, Violet’s brother and heir to the throne of  Larken, tapped a glass of wine with a spoon to draw attention.

He opened his mouth.

“I’m sure you all know that, thankfully, Lord Winter Blooming has offered 24 million Lakne for this marriage.”

Why did you talk about money all of a sudden?

Ash continued as Violet felt increasingly uncomfortable.

“With this money, I have paid off most of my father’s debts due to the failure of the state. The royal family will not stop here, but will also attempt to apologise for risking the security of the territory. As proof of that, as of today, I am going to dismantle the royal family and delegate all authority to the House [1]. Also, the Lawrence family will give up all titles.”

[1] As in, congress; constitutional government. No more monarchy.

There was silence in the wedding hall following Ash’s words.

Soon, however, one of the guests began to applaud. Gradually, everyone in the room applauded his brave decision.

Winter, on the other hand, got up from his seat, cursing as his face crumpled. The attention of most people fell on him.

It was the moment when his entire fortune, which had risen to that of a millionaire, was blown away. A sense of inferiority had led him to spend his entire life savings solely to buy a title. But when the Lawrence family declared that they would disband the royal family and lay down their titles, his status as the Duke’s son and the Princess’s husband also disappeared. Everything he’d worked for… was gone in a split second.

Winter threw the cup he was holding to the floor, unable to hide his anger.

Violet, who was sitting next to him, opened her eyes wide with astonishment at the sound of a shudder. Winter left in a state of fatigue.

After a while, people gathered again in praise of Ash as if nothing had happened. Everyone knew that he’d sacrificed his sister to pay off the debt and to appease the protesters. But many were relieved at the sacrifice of the two main characters of today’s wedding.

Violet sat idly and glanced towards the angry people of the Blooming family approaching her.

That was three years ago.