Chapter 5

That morning, Roxanne walked slowly through the garden behind the main palace. The air was still fresh, a thin layer of dew clinging to the leaves, and the sunlight had yet to fully rise.

Ever since the marriage discussions began, she had been staying in the main palace rather than her own residence. Because of that, encountering others had become unavoidable.

Ahead of her, two figures were already standing.

Prince Leon and his younger sister, Princess Liora.

Leon was her half-brother, the son of the empress who now stood beside the emperor. Many believed he was the most suitable candidate for crown prince. Nevertheless, the emperor could not betray the late empress any further.

No matter what, Rion remained the rightful heir.

“Good morning, Second Prince and Second Princess,” Roxanne greeted politely.

“Good morning to you as well, First Princess,” Leon replied calmly.

Liora merely gave a brief nod, saying nothing.

“Brother, let’s leave,” Liora said suddenly, her tone clearly displeased.

Leon glanced at her. “You wish to return now?”

Liora nodded.

Leon fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Go ahead. I would like to speak with the First Princess.”

Roxanne paused slightly, lifting her gaze.

In her previous life, she had hardly ever spoken to Leon. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say they had almost no relationship at all.

And now… what was this? What did he actually want?

“First Princess, you don’t mind, do you?” Leon asked.

Roxanne shook her head gently. “No, I do not mind.”

Liora let out a soft scoff, clearly dissatisfied. Still, she gave a brief bow before turning and leaving.

Once Liora was gone, Roxanne spoke again.

“It seems the Second Princess does not quite like me being near you.”

Leon gave a faint smile. “We are siblings. Liora is simply not used to socializing.”

Roxanne looked at him for a moment.

Not used to it?

No.

She knew that was not the real reason.

Liora was simply playing her role well keeping her distance, avoiding involvement, especially with Roxanne and Rion.

“Please,” Leon said.

Roxanne nodded.

The two of them began walking side by side along the quiet garden path, their steps slow, as if each of them carried something left unsaid.

“I heard Father plans to marry you to Killian.”

Leon’s voice broke the calm of the morning. Their steps remained slow along the garden path, yet his words felt heavier than the air around them.

Roxanne turned her head slightly, glancing at him from the side.

In her previous life, she had barely spoken to this man. Not even simple greetings were exchanged often. They were like strangers who merely shared the same blood.

So… she did not know how to respond.

“My apologies,” Leon continued, as if realizing something, “I mean… Duke Lunnart.”

Roxanne looked at him for a moment before shifting her gaze forward again. It seemed Leon had misunderstood, thinking her silence was a reprimand for calling Killian by name.

“It seems the news has already spread,” Roxanne finally replied, her voice calm.

Leon gave a faint smile. “Father—I mean, His Majesty the Emperor, was the one who said it.”

Roxanne said nothing.

She understood their relationship. To Rion, the emperor was a strict and distant father. But to Leon… he was more like a companion, closer, more open.

It was nothing unfamiliar.

And yet… it still felt different.

“If you don’t wish to marry,” Leon said again, his tone casual, “you can call it off.”

Roxanne stopped walking at once. She turned to face him properly this time, her gaze steady and unwavering.

“You must understand the situation,” she said softly, yet firmly. “And I will not call it off.”

The morning breeze brushed past, stirring the ends of her hair.

Leon watched her for a moment, then smiled faintly as if he had expected that answer from the start.

“It seems you’ve misunderstood,” he said lightly. “I didn’t say that without reason.”

Roxanne remained silent.

“Duke Lunnart… is not interested in women.” The words were spoken casually, yet they subtly shifted the atmosphere between them.

Roxanne let out a quiet breath.

She looked at Leon again, her expression now colder.

“Whether he is interested or not is none of your concern,” she replied. “Besides, Father wants this marriage.”

Leon did not respond immediately. Instead, his gaze lingered on her a little longer, observing her in silence.

Among all the emperor’s children, only Roxanne had the soft pink hair of her mother a rare color, almost never seen within the imperial family. While the others inherited the emperor’s golden hair and blue eyes, Roxanne stood as the exception.

The only one who was different.

“Marrying a man you do not love is already difficult,” he continued, “especially when it is Killian Lunnart… a man who prefers the battlefield over anything else.”

Roxanne drew in a slow breath.

“It seems this is enough,” she said at last, her voice returning to its flat calm. “I will take my leave now, Second Prince.”

She bowed her head politely.

Leon returned the gesture.

But before she truly left, Roxanne paused for a moment. Without turning back, she spoke quietly—

“It would be better… if you remained silent, as you usually do.”