Together with their allies, they had investigated the curse and searched for the caster tirelessly. But no substantial information had been uncovered. The only certainty was that while there might be other ways to break the curse, it would be nearly impossible to accomplish within a year.
“You seem to have more admirers than I thought, Lorenz. It makes me a bit jealous.”
“You? Jealous of me? That’s a joke if I’ve ever heard one.”
Lorenz snorted and sipped his tea. Soft pink flower petals floated in the air, carried by the wind from a tree in full bloom. One of the petals landed in Sophie’s teacup and floated atop the liquid. She took a sip regardless, then gazed up at the flowering tree.
“It’s beautiful. Will this be the last time I see it?”
“Hey, don’t give up!”
Amidst the dancing petals, Sophie turned her steady gaze to Lorenz and smiled gently.
“Lorenz, please annul our engagement.”
“What?”
“I have less than a year left to live. I’m not suited to be a queen, am I?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Lorenz glared at Sophie as if to say he had never even considered such a thing.
“Oh my, when did you fall in love with me, Lorenz?”
“Wha—!?”
“Fufu, just kidding. I know you admire Lady Juliana. Well, while Juliana might be a bit out of reach, once our engagement is annulled, you’ll be free to find someone more suitable.”
Juliana was the same age as Sophie and Lorenz—17 years old. She was the daughter of a duke from a different faction and the fiancée of Lorenz’s older brother, Crown Prince Marius.
Juliana was a woman so gifted it seemed as though the heavens had granted her everything. She was stunningly beautiful, yet charming, kind to everyone, graceful, and possessed all the qualities of a perfect queen. Simply walking through a room, she would capture the gaze of everyone, regardless of gender.
Sophie and Juliana often took lessons together to prepare for their roles as future queens. Juliana was exceptionally quick-witted, and Sophie never felt she could compete. Yet, Juliana never looked down on Sophie. On the contrary, she patiently explained things to Sophie until she understood, despite her own busy schedule.
“I don’t have any special feelings for Lady Juliana,” Lorenz said.
“There’s no need to hide it. Juliana is a wonderful person, even from a woman’s perspective.”
Lorenz, a prince, and Sophie, born into a duke’s family, had known each other since childhood. They were close, comfortable in each other’s presence, but their bond had never evolved into romantic feelings. Their engagement had been arranged for political reasons. Since Crown Prince Marius was engaged to Juliana, the daughter of a duke, Sophie had been chosen as Lorenz’s fiancée to balance the political power among the noble factions.
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