Published: September 6, 2025
It was in spring when Hildebrandt, still tense, finished his debut at the lords' council. The presentation of the royal family who had completed their baptism ceremony took place in the lecture hall of the noble academy, lined with the Aub couple and their close aides from various regions. Standing on the stage, flanked by his father and mother, he delivered the lengthy greeting he had been forced to memorize, then offered a musical dedication to the gods.
“Hildebrandt, please begin the musical dedication.”
“Yes, Father.”
He quietly exhaled, slightly releasing the tension after successfully performing on the Fischpiel. Although he had heard that all noble children performed on such occasions, playing in front of so many scrutinizing eyes was unexpectedly nerve-wracking.
“Now, we have an important announcement.”
As he breathed a sigh of relief, the engagement to Leticia, a lord candidate from Arensbach whom he had neither met nor heard of, was announced. Though he had been told about it beforehand by his mother, Hildebrandt had to suppress his true feelings to smile and nod in front of the surprised Aub family.
...If I am to be the spouse of Aub, then I will no longer be considered royal family.
Hildebrandt understood that he was being groomed to become a vassal. However, he had thought that he would welcome his wife as a member of the royal family in the capital and be useful as a royal, like his half-brother Prince Anastasius. The thought of moving to an unfamiliar land as a spouse of Aub had never crossed his mind.
He could not imagine what it meant to completely lose his royal status upon adulthood, and for his surroundings to become entirely different. Because he didn’t understand, it felt even more eerie and frightening.
“Congratulations on your engagement.”
“With this, Arensbach will also be secure.”
The Aubs offered their congratulations in unison, but Hildebrandt couldn’t understand what was so celebratory about it. He had been told not to break his smile on this occasion, so he kept his dissatisfaction locked inside, accepting their words with a smile.
...I wish I could have chosen my own marriage partner.
At that moment, in the capital, the passionate courtship of Anastasius and Eglantine was being sung alongside music dedicated to the goddess of light. Every time he saw the couple’s affectionate behavior or heard the royal musicians singing their love story, he thought it must be wonderful to be united with the one you loved.
Listening to the many new songs based on Anastasius and Eglantine’s love story, Hildebrandt’s mother amusingly recounted how she had fought to get the marriage she wanted. Hearing such stories, he couldn’t help but think that if only he had a little choice in the matter, rather than having his life partner decided unilaterally by his father.
...If only I could choose...
When he thought that, in his mind appeared Rosemine, the lord candidate of Ehrenfest, master of the magic tools Schwarz and Weiss in the library, and a passionate lover of books—the long eyelashes lowered to follow the words on the page beneath her night-sky hair, her white fingertips slowly turning pages. But she already had a fiancé: Wilfried, also a lord candidate of Ehrenfest.
...Rosemine, whose engagement was decided by her parents, must surely feel the same way.
Hildebrandt understood that he could not defy a royal decree. Besides, he had not been raised to rebel. Still, he could do nothing about the sinking feeling in his heart.
Once he arrived at his chamber keeping his smile on, changing from the lavish dress to everyday clothes eased his tension. But the smile faded, replaced by a dissatisfied expression.
“You seem rather down, Prince Hildebrandt. But it is a royal decree, after all.”
He didn’t want to hear such obvious words. Hildebrandt glared at his attendant Arthur with eyes full of displeasure. He had been told repeatedly to behave like royalty and had smiled to accept everyone’s congratulations, so he wanted to be left alone now.