Chapter 03
“Cousin?”
Her aunt’s face had gone deathly pale as she cried out.
“Ariel, something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?”
“The imperial knights have broken into the estate!”
“What?”
Imperial… knights?
Ariel’s eyes wavered violently. It had not even been a full day since the funeral.
She was not yet prepared to face the affairs of the family, but it seemed fate—or the gods—had no intention of granting her time.
Still, she could not avoid it. No. She would not be allowed to.
Soon, Ariel hardened her expression and headed toward the manor with her aunt.
In the manor’s foyer stood imperial knights in formation, wearing uniforms embroidered with gold cords. At their forefront stood a knight with the most insignias on his uniform.
With ash-gray hair and blue eyes, he was Storphel Tider, commander of the First Imperial Knight Order—known as the Emperor’s Sword.
As soon as Tider saw Ariel, he approached as if he had been waiting. Without even offering a greeting, he spoke.
“Lady Blante. I have come to deliver the Emperor’s decree.”
“…Yes.”
His expression was rigid, his gaze cold. Ariel had a feeling whatever he was about to say would not be good news.
As tension chilled her fingertips, the knight spoke.
“Although Lord Blante has passed away, evidence has been discovered that proves his crimes. Therefore, the investigation cannot be halted. Given the severity of those crimes, every wrongdoing committed by the late lord shall be thoroughly uncovered and made an example of for the Empire. Accordingly, the Blante estate will be placed under lockdown during the investigation.”
Lockdown. It meant no one could leave this estate.
In other words—it meant they were to wait for death.
Her aunt, who fully understood the meaning, staggered in shock. Ariel caught her arm before she fell.
At that moment, Tider issued orders to the knights.
“Take all documents from the office and locate the hidden vault.”
The knights began ruthlessly ransacking the Blante estate.
Ariel bit her lip as she watched her father’s honor fall to the ground.
She wanted to shout for them to stop immediately—but she could not. The moment she acted, not only she but everyone here would die. She had to endure.
“Lady Blante. As the sole heir of House Blante, you will be detained at Tregard Fortress in place of the late lord. We ask for your cooperation until the investigation concludes.”
“Tregard Fortress!”
Her aunt cried out in shock. That place was called a fortress only in name—it was essentially a prison for nobles who had committed crimes.
“Ariel, what crime could you possibly have committed…? Sir Tider, Ariel is not only the sole heir of House Blante but also the fiancée of Duke Seyard. How can you do this to her!”
Her aunt grasped Ariel’s hand and shouted, but Tider responded indifferently.
“It is the Emperor’s will. Step aside.”
His gaze turned threatening, warning that he would not tolerate further interference.
“Aunt… I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
Ariel tried to smile faintly to calm her aunt before things escalated further—when the sound of horse hooves came from outside the estate.
At first, she thought more imperial knights had arrived. But Tider’s reaction was strange. He frowned as though facing an unexpected situation and turned his gaze outside.
Soon, horses stopped in front of the estate and riders dismounted. Their uniforms were black—those of the northern territory.
The Black Lion Knight Order of the Duke’s house. Knights of Cailrense.
“Kael…?”
Ariel’s eyes widened as she saw the man entering the foyer. But a voice she did not recognize followed, snapping her back to reality.
“Lady Blante.”
The man standing before her was not Kaelrense.
For a moment, she had foolishly thought he had come.
Suppressing her bitterness, Ariel looked at Del Rowse, captain of the ducal knight order, as he bowed in greeting.
“Sir Rowse.”
“Lady, I have a message to deliver urgently.”
“What is it?”
“This must be spoken in private. It is the word of His Grace the Duke.”
She could feel all eyes in the room turn toward her. Then Tider spoke.
“The lady must be taken to Tregard Fortress immediately.”
Del looked straight at Tider.
“His Grace the Duke commands it. Are you saying you cannot spare even a moment?”
Tider stared at him intently, then stepped aside.
“It must not take long.”
“Lady. This way.”
Del ignored Tider and approached Ariel directly. Tider’s gaze sharpened, but Ariel followed Del toward the reception room.
Click. The door closed.
The noise outside was completely cut off. Ariel sat down first.
“Please sit, Sir Del.”
“That won’t be necessary. I will deliver His Grace’s message immediately.”
Del took a sealed letter from inside his uniform and placed it on the table.
“This is… what is it?”
“A notice of annulment.”
“…Annulment papers.”
Ariel let out a hollow, almost laughing breath as she stared at the white envelope bearing the Duke’s seal.
So this is how it ends.
She was not particularly shocked. The moment she had attended her father’s funeral, she had sensed that everything with him was over.
And as always, her worst premonitions were correct.
Though she hadn’t expected it to come this quickly.
Judging by how fast this was prepared, it must have been ready in advance. Cailrense was always meticulous like that.
With lowered emerald eyes, Ariel stared at the annulment papers.
Del, watching her, spoke in a heavy voice.
“His Grace instructed me to relay this: if you quietly agree to the annulment, the blockade of House Blante and your detention at Tregard will be lifted.”
“My detention was already ordered by the Emperor… how—”
Before she could finish, Del pulled out another envelope. It bore the imperial seal.
“A decree from His Majesty ordering the lifting of the Blante estate blockade and your detention. If you sign the annulment agreement, I will hand you this decree.”
Even knowing how prepared he always was, experiencing it firsthand left her with a suffocating sense of helplessness—there was no room to resist.
“…And if I refuse?”
“If you refuse, I was instructed to tell you this: you are in no position to concern yourself with pride. Please make the decision for House Blante.”
Del lowered his head, looking troubled.
It must not have been easy for him. He had once served as her escort when she and Cailrense were still close.
It could not be easy to deliver such words to someone he once served.
Anger surged at Cailrense’s merciless message—but bitterly, he was right.
The Emperor was enraged enough to order an investigation even after her father’s death, and she was the sole heir of House Blante.
If she remained imprisoned without action, the Emperor’s wrath would likely destroy House Blante entirely.
The people of the house… and her father. Her father, who had sacrificed even his life to protect the family’s honor.
For their sake, she could not remain detained helplessly.
But even understanding everything, she could not suppress her emotions.
She was angry at Cailrense for ending things like this. And she was hurt that her love had ended so cruelly and disordered.
Was I so terrible to you that it had to end this way? If only I had acted out, even once—maybe I could have accepted this ending more easily.
She could not understand it. And she did not want to.
But all of it was now meaningless. The annulment papers before her did not change.
Her answer had already been decided.
“…Sir Rowse, do you have a pen?”
Ariel asked calmly.
She did not want to take out her frustration on Del. He had done nothing wrong.
“…Here, my lady.”
Del placed a pen in her hand.
Ariel opened the envelope and took out the agreement.
Then she signed it immediately.
Just like that, the love she had held so desperately ended on a single sheet of paper.
Such a trivial ending for something that had once meant everything.
