About

My kind and gentle childhood friend, Rasiel, has changed. ___________________________ There are only four Ducal houses in the Empire. Among them, the Luzen Ducal family is undeniably ranked first. The Luzen family guards the northernmost reaches of the Empire and has been a family directly under the Imperial family, loyal for generations. They have also produced Chancellors for several generations. Because of this, the Emperor cherished and trusted the Luzen family the most. Members of the Luzen family could enter and leave the Imperial Palace freely, and an audience with the Emperor was easily granted. 'Rasiel de Luzen' was the second son of that Ducal family. I was the third child and youngest daughter of the Rubiella Imperial family. Rasiel often came to the Imperial Palace with the Duke to play, and every time, he played with me. That's how we became close, becoming each other's one and only childhood friend. However, I was the only daughter of the Imperial family, and my marriage was essential for the stabilization of the Imperial family. Therefore, I became engaged to 'Kyle de Luzen', the eldest son of the Luzen family, who was unconditionally obedient to the Imperial family. ____________________________ At first, I didn't like him very much. An engagement to someone I hadn't even met once. And that was when I was only 11 years old. When I first met Kyle, I felt strange. It was because of his cold impression. However, we talked once, then twice. Kyle was blunt, but he didn't treat me, who was three years younger than him, carelessly. Rather, I could see him being kind and trying his best to treat me well. I quite liked the engagement with Kyle. However, Kyle, the eldest son, was busy with successor training even at the young age of 14. Every time I went to the Duke's residence to meet him, I only heard apologies. Every time that happened, Rasiel stayed by my side. He would smile and respond to my trivial stories, and he even gave me good solutions when I consulted him about my worries regarding Kyle. __________________________ Six long years passed like that. The Luzen Ducal family was away from the Empire for a long time to subjugate the monsters that appeared on the northern front. Because of that, I couldn't meet Rasiel or Kyle. And then, I went to see Rasiel after a long time, and something seemed to have changed. The brightly smiling Rasiel was nowhere to be found. His profile, looking out the window and thinking about something, was so cold it felt unfamiliar. Soon, Rasiel, sensing my presence, turned his head. He was definitely smiling, but it was an strangely chilly smile. I tried to force a smile. "It's about time Kyle and I got married. When would be a good time?" In the Empire, one was an adult from the age of 18, and I would be an adult next year. But strangely, Rasiel didn't seem to have any energy to focus on my words at all. It was as if he hated the idea of marriage. Something had changed. And another year passed before I knew it. It had been nearly seven years since I last saw Kyle. Even if I'm his fiancée, is it right to turn me away at the door like this? Eventually, I went to the Duke's residence. I knocked on the office door and entered. Rasiel was there. I saw his face and clothes splattered with blood. My eyes slowly moved down. Kyle and the Duke were lying in a pool of blood. I could see blood leaking from between the swords that hadn't been pulled out. My eyes slowly moved up again. Rasiel was smiling brightly. "Bibi, you're here?"