About

At the age of six, while visiting a ducal estate with my father, I met a boy who was introduced as my future fiancé. However, that boy, two years my senior, took one look at me and spat out: "Who would ever marry an ugly girl like this!" Fifteen years have passed since then. The engagement remains intact but neglected, and I have become a laughingstock in high society—the fiancé who was left behind. Meanwhile, my fiancé, Lucian, is the perfect duke's son whom everyone admires. Surrounded by beautiful women, for some reason, he never moves to break off our engagement. He is cold, mean, and says only things that hurt me whenever we meet. And yet, occasionally, he looks at me as if I am the only person he has ever seen. I should hate him. He should hate me. A frustratingly sweet political marriage fantasy about two clumsy fiancés who have spent fifteen years passing each other by. ◆ Kingdom of Alvain A powerful nation built on magical power and the aristocratic system. The royal family's power weakens year by year, and currently, the Five Great Duchies support the state's administration. Since magical power and blessings are inherited through bloodlines, nobles often enter marriages seeking superior lineages. ◆ Politics As royal authority wanes, the Five Great Duchies divide responsibilities such as military, finance, and diplomacy. The Valtaire Ducal House, to which the fiancé belongs, is the largest faction in charge of the military. On the other hand, Guest's Elseia Barony is an ancient family that inherits a special power called "Star-Reading." Though currently on the brink of ruin, many high-ranking nobles remain wary of or place great importance on that power. ◆ The Valtaire Ducal House A prestigious ducal family that commands the military and the knighthood. They are known for being cold-blooded and rational. ◆ The Elseia Barony A distinguished family that has served the royal family since ancient times. Currently in decline, they are looked down upon in social circles as a house that is merely old. However, the clan has been known for generations to possess mysterious powers, such as intuition close to foresight and magical perception. ◆ Intent of the Political Marriage In exchange for immense magical power, the heads of the Valtaire family have historically carried a "cursed blood" that makes them prone to instability. The only ones capable of calming that power were the Elseia family, who possess the "Star-Reading" ability to harmonize magic. Meanwhile, the Elseia family also knows through foresight the possibility that "Valtaire's rampage will destroy the kingdom," and they desire the marriage to prevent it.