# 15
“Princess Betstein?”
This was unexpected. Aachen moved his lips lightly, remembering her.
“Helen Betstein. I attended the costume ball on behalf of Crown Princess Glazee yesterday.”
“Do you know when I left?”
“Before dawn, I left in a hurry for an emergency.”
“…I understand.”
For the first time, Lorelai was cooperative. Thanks to her, his curiosity was easily satisfied.
“Helen, Helen Betstein...”
“Why are you asking about Princess Betstein? Did something happen?”
“No, I was just curious.”
Aachen shook his head.
He didn't want to tell anyone about last night's events.
"Curious? That's weird. You're not usually interested in other people."
Lorelai shrugged, looking curious.
“Among the Betstein royal family, the fourth princess is the most beautiful. She is exactly what I am looking for. I wish she were my fiancée.”
“...”
“Her coming-of-age party was two months ago, so she's exactly my age, which is perfect. What a waste!”
Lorelai, aware of Aachen's indifference, continued talking to herself, unaffected by his silence.
In the Rikuir Empire, contrary to what he had hoped, Aachen did not seek out Helen.
He assumed that confronting her with her true identity might be upsetting to her, given their meeting that night.
“Maybe that's why you ran away before I woke up.”
Instead of revealing her real name, she lied and said what.
He was disturbed by that spontaneous kiss.
Many chapters have passed.
One day, when he saw the emerald necklace in his desk drawer, his calm heartbeat quickened.
As if it happened yesterday.
Aachen acknowledged this.
He fell in love with Helen at first sight, and those feelings never subsided.
He couldn't forget her.
He wanted to see her again, but she was already married.
“If I had known she would marry another man, I would never have done it.”
I recently heard that she divorced Marquis Rata.
Their relationship was so strained that her ex-husband did not even attend the baptism of their only daughter.
“I can't let her get away from me again.”
With a determined look, Aachen picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and began writing a marriage proposal letter.
[To Princess Helen Betstein,
The days are getting colder. In Beitstein, spring is almost over, so please take care of yourself...]
Stop writing there and put the pen aside.
“No, that's not true.”
This seemed so trivial.
She is the Princess of Pitstein, after all. How many people start their marriage proposals by referring to the seasons?
He did not want to be classified with these people.
He wanted to express his sincerity, albeit briefly, rather than sending a letter full of flowery phrases.
“Especially since last time, she didn't seem to remember me.”
He wanted to be someone unforgettable, even special in her heart.
Aachen started a new letter.
[To Princess Helene Bethstein,
I hope we walk together on the same path as you from now on.
I hope we get to know each other through a shared life.
If you accept this offer, will you marry me?
– Aachen asks for Belzeit.]
“That...is enough.”
Aachen carefully folded the offer letter and placed it in a gilded envelope.
Image of a white whale wrapped in a blue rose. Seal it with the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Belzeit.
A few days later, Countess Kane, who was about to leave, visited the Aachen office.
“Countess Qin, were you comfortable last night?”
“I slept well, Your Highness.”
“I'm glad to hear that.”
As the countess bowed slightly, she caught a glimpse of the letters on his desk.
“Ah, please deliver this reply to Crown Princess Gleeze, and the marriage proposal letter to Princess Helen.”
He handed her two envelopes, one containing the response to the letter and the other the marriage proposal.
“Yes, I understand.”
The countess took the two envelopes carefully.
“Do you intend to leave for Beitstein immediately?”
“I intend to visit the Imperial Palace briefly to discuss this marriage with Emperor Caliosa.”
“There's no need for that.”
Aachen stopped her.
“Excuse me? What do you mean..?”
“I will inform the Emperor myself.”
Emperor Kaliosa was unlikely to oppose.
Before Aachen went to Betstein, the Emperor insisted that he find a wife, and even pressured him to marry again despite Luann's presence.
Aachen knew it was for Luan's sake, so he refused, as he did not feel the need to marry again.
The Emperor, aware of this, was upset with Luan.
“Luan is the Emperor’s grandson as well...”
Aachen was disturbed by the emperor's hostility towards his nephew.
Although the Emperor wondered why Aachen would sacrifice so much for Luan, Aachen did not see it as a sacrifice.
He didn't lose anything because of it.
There was a reason behind his situation.
His mother, Empress Kaliosa, and father, the late Grand Duke Belzeit, gave birth to twins out of wedlock.
Aachen had jewel-like eyes, a symbol of the Rikwir royal family, while his twin Lechinoa did not.
For this reason, Aachen became Crown Prince of Ricoeur, while Lechinois became the young Duke of Belzeit,
They had been separated since childhood, and knew nothing about each other's personality, habits, or life.
“I was the last to know that Lechinwa’s mistress was a commoner.”
Rose, Luan's mother, ran away when she realized she could never be with Lechinwa.
“She did not discover that she was pregnant with Blouan until after she escaped.”
As a result, Lechinwa discovered Luan's presence too late.
When he learned that Rose was raising their child, Lechinwa rushed to bring them back, but he died in a carriage accident on the way.
The carriage overturned, and while Lechinwa died, Luann and Rose miraculously survived.
At Lechinwa's funeral, Rose explained her situation to Aachen.
“Your Highness, this was Lechinwa’s last wish.”
“…Lechinoa’s last wish.”
“He wanted to see Luan lead the Duchy of Belzeit. Please, help us.”
“...”
“Please protect the Lechinwa child. I am willing to live separately from Luan if necessary.”
Rose knelt down and begged Aachen.
She wanted Luan to inherit the position of Lichenwa, and feared the reaction of the courtiers due to Luan's commoner origins.
But Luann didn't want to break up with Rose.
Therefore, Aachen had no choice but to marry Rose in a sham marriage, assuming the title of Grand Duke of Belzeit.
Luann was publicly declared his legitimate son.
Aachen never felt much attachment to the title of Crown Prince.
He had no special affection for Ricoeur, nor any strong feeling of belonging to the royal family.
He was simply curious about what Lechinoa had built in Belzeit.
Maybe it was because they didn't grow up together despite being twins.
Whenever he looked at Luan, he couldn't help but wonder if Lechinoa was like this or that.
Watching Luan grow up wasn't unpleasant; Rather, it was a source of comfort.
Rose kept an appropriate distance and behaved appropriately without attracting attention.
But after Rose died as a result of complications from the carriage accident, only Aachen remained for Luan, who lost his parents in turn.
Aachen felt responsible for this.
Now, Luann is his son, no matter what anyone says.
He is probably about the same age as Helen's daughter.
“It can be very difficult to hope that they grow up as close brothers.”
“Excessive desire often leads to losing what you already have.”
Aachen felt grateful for the happiness he now enjoyed.
Helen, whom he met again as if by fate, was a godsend.
Having missed his chance once, Aachen did not want to lose Helen again.
“More than that, I want to welcome Princess Helen, Duchess of Lie before winter comes.”
With winter only two months away in Belzeit, Aachen's anxiety was palpable.
“Isn't it a bit early?”
Countess Qin's reaction was anxious, understandably so.
National marriage ceremonies often take more than six months to prepare.
“I know the schedule is tight, but we have no other choice.”
“May I ask for a specific reason?”
Aachen began to explain.
“This year’s winter is expected to be exceptionally long and harsh due to the . Once the roads freeze, we won’t know when they will thaw.”
Ice of Parthenos.
This term refers to the period when Parthenos Belzeit, the ancestor of the Belzeit family, fell into a deep sleep and then woke up.
Missing this opportunity will cause great difficulties.
“I will inform the Crown Princess as you said.”
It was a relief that Countess Kane understood Belzeit's circumstances.
“I will excuse myself now, Your Highness.”
“Safe trip.”
After bidding farewell to the countess, Aachen placed the emerald necklace in his palm and whispered to himself:
“Finally, I can get him back.”
Will Helen remember him when she sees him?
That night when their breaths intertwined deeply.