Chapter 48
From the place where the carriage stopped to the entrance of the castle, beautiful white canopies were lined up, and the castle’s maids and attendants stood in rows to welcome the queen and princess arriving from afar.
The distinctive white carriage of Altomole came into view, running along the mountain path in the distance.
At the sound of the carriage wheels brushing against the stone road, Floria’s heart pounded.
Why am I so nervous?
They were a family she had lived with until recently, yet it felt unfamiliar and frightening, as if she were meeting strangers for the first time today.
What would Mother say?
Perhaps she came suddenly because she was worried about me.
Maybe that’s why she didn’t write the details in the letter, intending to talk in person.
Aidan, who was standing beside Floria, looked down at her tightly clasped hands.
“Are you nervous?”
“······No.”
It was a lie.
But Floria forced a smile, worried it might seem strange to be nervous about meeting her own mother.
The swiftly approaching carriage gradually slowed down and stopped in front of the castle.
As the head attendant ran to open the carriage door, familiar faces appeared inside.
Two maids, her mother, and her sister Helia.
“Oh my······.”
Mother gracefully fanned herself as she spoke.
Her eyes, momentarily wide with surprise, wandered around the castle.
It was understandable.
When Floria first came to Sieff, she too was astonished by the large castle, seemingly twice the size of Altomole’s royal palace, the developed village, and the well-maintained roads.
For Mother, who had always thought of Sieff as a frightening and creepy place, it must have been a pleasant shock.
Mother’s wandering gaze finally settled on Floria.
“Floria.”
“Mother.”
At her mother’s greeting, Floria bowed.
Following the head attendant’s guidance, her mother and Helia alighted from the carriage.
Under the sunlight, Helia’s blonde hair shone beautifully.
Helia frowned and spoke.
“It’s too far. Why did you have to marry into a place like this?”
Her grumbling voice echoed across the plaza.
Everyone in the castle could hear it.
Cold sweat ran down Floria’s back, but Helia continued her light chatter unabated.
“Well, considering someone like you, Floria, how else could you have gotten married if not to a distant country?”
Helia’s lips, as she spoke, were red.
Whether true or not, the words from the beautiful Helia’s mouth split Floria’s heart.
Before she could compose herself, a man standing behind stepped forward and slightly bowed his head to her mother.
“Queen Dimitra.”
“······.”
At that moment, both Helia’s and Mother’s eyes turned to Aidan.
Today, Aidan looked a bit different from usual.
Though he wore shining armor, as he was soon to depart again, his wavy black hair was neatly tied up, fully revealing his sculpted features.
His sun-kissed skin exuded health. His firmly closed lips suggested a stubborn yet steadfast character.
Even Floria, who saw that perfect face every day, couldn’t help but feel her heart tremble.
Not only Floria, but also her mother and Helia had their eyes fixed on Aidan’s face.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
His voice was smooth and low, like velvet.
At his greeting, her mother forgot to raise her hand and simply stared at him.
Helia, standing beside her, absentmindedly spoke.
“Are you Grand Duke Aidan?”
“Yes. And you are······?”
“I’m······ Helia, Floria’s older sister.”
“Ah.”
He slightly raised his eyes.
As Aidan’s gaze met Helia’s, Floria’s insides twisted strangely.
Just like the epithet ‘Altomole Kingdom’s second princess, the beautiful Helia,’ Helia looked beautiful today as well.
Her skin was fair and smooth, and her voluptuous golden hair was pleasing to the eye.
Even after several months, she was still dazzling.
“Helia.”
Aidan softly called her name.
As Helia extended her hand, Aidan reached out his arm, took her hand, and bowed.
If only······.
If their father, the king, and their mother had cherished Helia more than Floria, and thus, when choosing a daughter to marry the ‘tyrant of the Duchy of Sieff,’ they had sent Helia instead of Floria.
Would Helia and Aidan have married?
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