Published: February 1, 2026
She averted her eyes, hiding her sadness as she watched her fiancé talking with a friend a little distance away.
They were both born into families that ran reasonably successful businesses in Malcaid, a town where merchants gathered. Their parents had built a friendly relationship, so the two had been close since childhood. This closeness persisted even as they grew old enough to competently help with their family businesses.
The man was good at negotiations but weak in management, while she was strong in management but weak in negotiations. They naturally complemented each other's weaknesses and often worked together in business. Their parents, seeing how well they worked together, even suggested it might be best if they married and merged their shops. She, who secretly admired the man, was pleased, and since he did not refuse, she became his fiancée.
However, she had never received any words of love from her fiancé. It was also common for him to say embarrassing things like she lacked charm.
"(It's true... I don't have any charm, but...)"
Her lowered gaze fell on her own plain figure.
Despite having a decent height, her body was so slender that no matter what she ate, she couldn't gain weight. Her figure was flat and lacked curves. Her friends said she was slim and nice, but from her own perspective, she envied her friends with soft, feminine curves. She knew it was just wanting what she didn't have.
Her fiancé proudly invited her as his partner to the Shipboard Festival when her friend invited her. She happily came all the way to Astarnia, but now she wondered if it would have been better not to come at all. Indeed, as he said, many women in this country had attractive bodies.
"Am I the only one...?"
The words slipped out unintentionally, a feeling she had kept hidden in her heart for years.
She always wondered if she was the only one in love. When she heard he did not reject the engagement, she was happy, but it might have been just to improve their family business.
They had been together since childhood. She thought they were close, and even before the engagement, he teased her for lacking charm and told her to dress up a bit, so it might be too late for that now. But it was also very possible that, to him, they were just old acquaintances without any romantic feelings.
She glanced up briefly and saw her fiancé frowning at her friend who seemed to be admonishing him. She thought it might have been better not to look and was about to lower her face again when someone said,
"Excuse me, may I sit next to you?"
"Huh?"
Startled by the clear, gentle voice, she nodded instinctively.
When she looked carefully, a calm man with a refined demeanor sat down next to her on the bench. He wasn't too close to be overly familiar, nor too distant to seem cold. Combined with his gentleness, the distance was comforting rather than cause for suspicion.
As she absentmindedly stared at this noble-appearing stranger, he smiled softly at her. Embarrassed by staring rudely, she quickly lowered her face again, fidgeting with her slender fingers in her lap.
"Sorry for suddenly surprising you."
"N-no, it's fine..."
"You looked so gloomy on this special night of the Shipboard Festival that I couldn't help but be concerned."
He shook his head slightly and looked at her with a gentle smile.
Despite being in this elegant garden, his quiet and pure smile bore no hint of ulterior motives, even though he was speaking to a woman. It was almost sinful to doubt him. She felt the tension in her body soften unconsciously.
Wondering if she really looked that way, she touched her cheek, but of course, she couldn't tell herself.
"I overheard the reason, actually."
He gave a small, apologetic smile. Considering the place, it was understandable, and she finally smiled faintly, indicating it was okay.
This was not a lavish room on the ship filled with people’s voices and orchestra music. Though faint lively voices could be heard from downstairs, the unique quiet of the night sea enveloped the garden.