Chapter 1

The moment I finished speaking, my younger half-brother finally woke up from his unconscious state.

"Jonathan, no!"

He stumbled toward me and dropped to his knees. His handsome, refined face, the kind that belonged to a gentle scholar, was filled with panic.

"Your marriage to General Smith was arranged when we were children. How can you break it off because of me? I've always had a miserable fate. To be chosen to accompany the eldest princess in death is a blessing I could never have dreamed of."

He clenched his fists and looked at Christine.

"General Smith, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not someone who would cling to life out of fear of death."

Seeing my cold reaction, Christine had still been somewhat hesitant. But after hearing Nathan's determined words, every trace of hesitation disappeared. She immediately helped him back to his feet.

"There's no need to say anything else. Right now, you're the only one who can marry me and save both your lives."

She turned back to me, her sharp, heroic features tightening with frustration.

"Jonathan, we've known each other since we were children. Don't you understand how I feel about you? Do you really want to watch Nathan walk to his death with your own eyes?"

As soon as she finished speaking, an invisible pressure filled the room.

Christine was a woman, but years ago, she had proven herself on the battlefield. Through her achievements in war, she broke the rule that women could not serve in the government. The king personally granted her the title of a female general.

I laughed coldly and looked away from the woman's fake expression.

"Whether Nathan lives or dies has nothing to do with me. I don't even care, yet you're the one who's suddenly worried."

Christine's words caught in her throat. Her expression darkened.

When my father, Edward Carter, saw this, his cold voice cut through the room.

"General Smith, are you certain about this? You truly want to marry my younger son?"

Christine’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly dropped to her knees again.

"Please grant me your approval, sir."

Edward’s face remained stern as he turned toward me.

"Jonathan, if you don't want to do it, I’ll force her to go through with today’s wedding if I have to. I’ll make sure you’re the one she marries."

At those words, Nathan’s face turned pale again.

Christine noticed immediately. She grabbed his hand and was about to speak to me, but my voice stopped her.

"No need, Father."

I looked at Christine calmly.

"Christine and I are no longer meant to be. You can go to the palace and report that I've accepted the eldest princess’s marriage request."

The entire room fell silent.

Christine and I had been betrothed since we were ten years old. Everyone knew the eldest son of the Carter family had no interest in poetry, literature, or the elegant pursuits of scholars. Instead, I had always been fascinated by military strategy and martial arts.

From that moment on, I had started preparing for our future together.

To have something to talk about with her, I stayed up countless nights studying military texts that felt impossible to understand. To keep her from seeing me as nothing more than a weak scholar, I trained my body every day, standing in a horse stance for four hours.

But no matter how much I did, none of it could compare to Nathan’s performance today.

His fake devotion was enough to make her choose him.

Edward changed into his formal attire and left. Soon after, the wedding attendant’s voice rang out.

"General Smith, since the marriage has already been decided, we shouldn’t delay the wedding ceremony any longer."