As I dragged myself up the staircase, my head replayed the chaos that was my day.

  I didn't even think of having dinner; what I wanted right now was to lie down, go to bed, and get a long night's sleep.

  But there was just a little dent in that solid plan.

  When I finally got there, I found my once neatly stacked books lying everywhere, weapons and armor were on the floor, and Yvon was sleeping comfortably on my bed, tightly hugging my favorite pillow.

  My dear twin brother forgot that this wasn't his room... again.

  I sighed and cracked my neck before giving him a good shove, sending him crashing to the floor while I plopped down on my bed.

  "Rude!" He exclaimed. "What was that for?!"

  "Keep it down, will you? I'm tired. Go bother me in the morning," I said, turning my back on him and feeling sleep wash over me.

  He pushed me towards the right side of the bed to make room for him, and he lay back down, snatching my pillow.

  "You do remember that you have your own room, right?"

  Hearing irritation in my voice, he sat up and poked my cheeks repeatedly like slime.

  "Dang, you look like a monster."

  "How nice of you to say that," I said sarcastically. "Now get out of my room."

  "What's up with you? You're more vexed than usual."

  "That's because I'm exhausted and want to rest. I sped through wedding preparations the entire day and only had an hour-and-a-half break. So why don't you do me this one favor today: get out of my room."

  "Wait, hold on. Wedding preparations?"

  "Did you miss that part where I said get out?"

  Ignoring me, he asked again, "What do you mean by wedding preparations?"

  "Let's see... How can I make this straightforward enough so that you can understand it clearly? Ah, I got it! I'm getting married."

  "..."

  "I'm sorry, come again?"

  "I'm getting married," I repeated, a little louder this time.

  I could feel myself drifting off to sleep once more, but Yvon grabbed me by the shoulders and sat me up, "One more time, I think I'm hearing things."

  "I said I'm getting married! Now get out of my room and let me get some sleep! It has been quite the day!"

  "I'm sorry, did you just say—wait. No. Say that again one more time. I need to make sure I wasn't hallucinating."

  I let out a heavy sigh, "What should a girl do to get some sleep around here?."

  He paid no attention to my rhetorical question and looked flabbergasted.

  "Yvie..." he called but I wasn't in any mood to answer him."

  "YVIE!" His brows were furrowed as he asked me, "Yvie, what happened today?!"

  I recounted what happened, telling him about the announcement the empress' secretary made at breakfast and how I am contemplating on whether or not to report that man to the intrèpolians since I nearly died after hearing it. That should count as attempted murder.

  Yvon's eyes bulged, and he smacked his forehead. His protectiveness kicked in, and his frustration was at its boiling point.

  "Our parents didn't even bother to consult you about this, and you're just supposed to go with it?! They are treating you like a tool, not as their child! Would they have done this to their golden daughter?! No! They wouldn't! This won't do. I want to talk to them right now!"

  He was about to burst off and confront our parents when I grabbed his shirt and halted him, "Iy, calm down."

  "How am I supposed to calm down?!"

  "Listen to me first, okay? Lev and I... we agreed to get married."

  He froze, "... What?"

  To placate his anger, I recalled what happened right after breakfast, the moment Lev and I made our decision.

  ?

  Earlier today...

  After that astonishing breakfast, our parents told us that we didn't have to worry so much about the wedding because they practically had everything ready except for a few details about the reception, which they wanted us to help with.

  How sweet of them to plan everything for our wedding. They even got us engaged without us knowing. It's touching, really.

  "Since the wedding planners won't be here for another hour or two, why don't you and Yvette stroll through the maze? It's quite lovely in spring, especially in *Gemellia. Go on, enjoy yourselves!" Said the duchess to the two of us.

  We glanced at each other and did as she suggested, not that we had much choice. A theme that I think will become common for us these days.

  As we made our way to the maze, my hand around his arm, we were the center of attention.

  He took me to the northernmost part of the maze. Tall grass brushed against the hem of my dress, wild plants were growing everywhere, and there was a rundown, mos? old fountain.

  He took a blanket hidden in a picnic basket under an old bench, he placed it on the grass and then helped me sit down.

  "This area is the most difficult part of the maze to get to. Even those familiar with the maze's layout have difficulty getting here, so as you can see, it isn't well maintained."

  "It's quiet here," I said, taking in the tranquil mood.

  Lev nodded, "That's one of the reasons why I like it here. It's different from the usual noise at home and work."

  A brief pause between us lasted for a few seconds before I decided I'd rather endure the misery of making small talk than sit in this beautiful scenery surrounded by uncomfortable silence.

  "Being vice-captain for one of the *valorian squadrons must be tough. I heard you even missed your friends' wedding because of work."

  He flinched at the mention of friends. Even without mentioning their names, he knew who I was talking about—my sister and her husband, his first love and his best friend.

  It was true that I heard people say he missed the royal wedding because of work. Many even gossiped that he didn't want to come because it would be hard for him to watch the woman he loved marry someone he was close to, which was partially true—the heartbreaking part, not the part that said he wasn't there.

  "I gave them a huge present to compensate for missing it," he said.

  He had a smile on his face, but I could tell it wasn't genuine. It was just one that masked his true emotions—one that he put on for social purposes.

  "But his radiance gave me an earful for missing it, saying I should've just missed work that day."

  I laughed at his response, "I don't think that's something the future emperor should be saying to his subordinate."

  Lev chuckled at my comment, which caught me off guard.

  If Yvonne was called the Golden Girl because of her talents and capabilities, and Haneul was called the Incandescent Heir because of his fiery personality, Lev also had a nickname.

  Before he was called the Forlorn Suitor, he was known as the Winter *Lyrix.

  Many were attracted to his looks and applauded him for his skills and abilities, but few dared approach him because of his cold demeanor. People said he could see through your bravado, that his eyes were as sharp as the gaze of a lyrix in the night.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  I know it was just a chuckle, but seeing his face light up in delight—even if it was just a little—made him seem more relaxed. It usually seemed to me that he was guarded. His icy disposition was the castle he built around himself, and only those he trusted could see what was inside.

  "It surely isn't something my future boss should say. Which is why I can't help but worry for the future of this empire," he jested.

  The two of us shared a moment of laughter before I mentioned the sensitive topic that had led to this excursion.

  "It's a shame they can't come to our wedding, don't you think?"

  "You're aware that we can't avoid this?" Lev asked, his expression changed back to his usual serious personality.

  I shielded my eyes from the sun's glare and replied, "Mhmm. The empress' letter made that very clear. It was an imperial directive, albeit not an official one. Which means our hands are tied."

  "It's not like I didn't expect something like this. That agreement between our families built so many bridges between our territories that losing it would mean we'd go back to a state of war, and our families can't risk that. Serebro needs Sunglen, and Sunglen also needs Serebro," I added. "Which was why I could see just how uneasy our families were as we watched my sister's love story with the crown prince unfold. She was to be your intended after you both came of age. You two were supposed to be the ones to fulfill the agreement set by our grandparents, but we both know how that turned out. That's why they probably came up with a solution to the problem, and having the imperial family back this decision makes it more decisive, hence our current situation."

  "So, what do you think we should do about this?" I asked.

  Then, another hand covered my eyes from the sun. I turned to Lev, whose face was now closer to mine.

  Determined, he answered, "We get married."

  Our eyes locked, and I found myself captivated by Lev's mesmerizing purple eyes.

  His expression was blank and calm, as usual. I, on the other hand, could feel my face get hotter, a natural reaction when one's face is just inches away from a guy as handsome as this one.

  Lev paused and spoke calmly, "Our lives have been shaped by duty and responsibility. From a young age, we were taught to prioritize our people's well-being and our lands' welfare above our self-interests. However, as much as those two things helped shape us, they don't define us. Duty and responsibility aren't the only things that make us who we are."

  "The choice is ours to make, even if it may not seem like it," Lev continued with his gaze steady. "As you've said, this wasn't entirely unexpected, yet no one can really force it upon us. Let's not kid ourselves. We both have ways of avoiding this."

  "That said, I think we should go through with this. I'm not saying that just because this agreement—our marriage—not only concerns our families, people, and territories but also for our sake," he said.

  "While we aren't exactly friends, you and I are well acquainted enough with each other to have an understanding of what, in my opinion, matters—each other's strengths and core values," he continued. "I'll be frank, though we've know each other for years, I don't really know much about you. And frankly, it doesn't matter to me what kind of person you truly are because I know what is necessary, what truly matters. That's more than what we'd get from the potential matches our families likely have already considered if we choose not to proceed with this arrangement. And given our families' position, their pool of candidates in Vreqiseon is limited and, frankly, unappealing."

  "This arrangement was a strategic decision, and as a tactician, I can see the logic behind it. However, I don't want to tie the rest of my life to someone based on a strategic political choice," Lev said, his voice calm and firm. "I want to get married and spend the rest of my life with a woman who'll be my partner—someone I can count on and know won't falter when things get tricky."

  "And with you, I know what to expect—your competence, capabilities, and the principles you uphold," Lev added. "Should we go through with this I imagine that things aren't going to be perfect. We'll face challenges, have arguments, and make compromises—meeting halfway on decisions—to accommodate each other, but I trust that you will be able to approach them with the same determination and focus you've displayed. Of course, I know marriage takes two people, which is why through it all, good times and bad, I will be beside you, going through it all with you as your lifelong partner, your spouse. This kind of reliability is rare, and I think it gives us a better foundation than most arranged couples around us."

  Whether it was matters of political or personal importance, Lev seemed to approach them all the same way—logically. He explained everything methodically, which made it sound like a business proposal. He wasn't trying to win me over with sweet words but with rationality.

  It was practical, and I appreciated that.

  But did he really have to say all of that when his face was just a few inches away from mine?! I can smell the aroma of the veoren tea he had for breakfast, a tea from the east that is known to help digestion that, little known to westerners, also happens to be a famous fertility booster, and not to mention, it's aphrodisiac properties!

  "So let's get married. That is if you're willing to be my wife," he added.

  I tried to hide my blushing face but he caught on and smirked.

  Was he finding my flustered expression amusing? We are having a serious conversation here! But then again, he looks more handsome when he laughs, so laugh away.

  "You remind me of your sister," he remarked.

  Everything was going so well until he said that.

  I clicked my tongue and wanted to pull away because of a bit of frustration, but I held myself back from doing so. Once again, I was being compared to her, and by no less than the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with.

  Oh right, I have yet to mention it. This arrangement–our engagement and eventual marriage–I'm all for it.

  Why you ask? Well, first of all he's handsome and I am a sucker for handsome men. Yvon says it's a problem but is it though? Second, what he said was accurate. In fact, based on what we know about each other, I agree that we'd make a good couple. And third... Why don't I keep you on your toes for now, keep it a mystery, shall we?

  And don't get me wrong, just because I have an ulterior motive doesn't mean I'm not taking this seriously.

  But, don't get me wrong. I may agree with what he said, share the same point of view as him, am willing to become his lifelong partner, and on top of that have an ulterior motive, but that doesn't automatically mean I'd just go along with this.

  "Marriage isn't like a gust of wind that just blows by. It's not something you can abandon when things get tough or when you simply don't feel like it anymore. It's a bond that weaves two lives together, through triumph and failure, joy and sorrow," I began, "Once you're married your commitment to your spouse is sealed. It's not just a simple partnership nor is it a promise that can be undone by mere whims or fizzling of emotions."

  I stood up and brushed the dirt off the hems of my dress. I felt the last strand of my hair slip free from the ribbon and my hair tumbled down, cascading around me. I wasn't the least bit surprised—I was loosening it bit by bit, it was only a matter of time. My maid always ties it too tightly, pulling up on my scalp and while I can't deny I look polished with it being tied up I'd rather be comfortable than look pretty.

  "I doubt it slipped your mind but let me mention it anyway, here in Vreqiseon remarriage is only possible if a person's spouse dies. So unless some unfortunate circumstance befalls your spouse, you are bound to that person for life. That means that the person you marry will stand beside you, and be there in your greatest moments as well as your lowest."

  "Who you marry affects your life, your future, your stability. It's not something to be taken lightly or decided on pure feelings alone. And yet so many do. We've seen far too many people chase love and marriage without looking past the bliss of the happiness they are feeling not paying mind to matters of practicality. Love conquers all, so they say, but does it really? But on the other end of the spectrum, we have those who care far too little about love and focus only on practicality, as though marriage is nothing more than a well-drafted contract, a ledger that of benefits to be balanced," I continued.

  "I don't know what true love looks like and I don't know what makes a perfect marriage, but I do know that within the two opposite ends of the spectrum of too emotional and too practical exists many twisted versions," I swept my hair back and glanced at him, "I am all too familiar with one of them, a love—an interest—shadow affection, proxy love."

  Confused, he repeated, "Proxy love?"

  "It's when someone doesn't see nor love you but rather what you represent for them. They love the idea of you, or worse, they love through you—using you as a stand-in for someone else. You are not their beloved but merely the reflection of the one they desire," I explained.

  A gentle breeze rustles through the hedges, carrying with it the hair I neatly tucked behind my ear.

  I tilted my head slightly, meeting Lev's gaze as I spoke.

  "You're somewhat aware of my reputation, aren't you?" I let out a soft chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "If my sister is the heroine, I was the minor villainess—not even the main villain, just a fleeting side character whose name is easily forgotten but whose actions are remembered because they differ from hers."

  "I've been called many things: an egotistical brat, a pompous shrew, a conniving child... those are just some of the more colorful labels attached to my name. And yet, despite that all, many have tried to get acquainted with me and even approach me with romantic intentions. Why? Because it usually wasn't because of me."

  There was a brief pause before I continued, "They weren't looking at 'Yvette'. They were just chasing the shadow of the one they truly wanted."

  He wasn't saying anything but I could tell he was listening intently. His gaze piercing, locked onto me, and studying me carefully.

  "Unfortunately for those people," I went on in a more joking-sarcastic tone but my words still held the same gravity as before, "aside from how we look, my sister and I are two very different people."

  "I'm not picky when it domes to men," I admitted. "I do have high standards but I can compromise since my ideal man is a fictional character, after all, and the chances of finding someone like him in real life are slim."

  Now, I looked directly into his eyes, making sure he understood the weight of my next words.

  "But there are three things I won't compromise on."

  I raised a finger, "One" I want my husband to respect me."

  Another, "Two: I want him to cherish me."

  Then another, "And three: I want my husband to see me."

  Letting my hand drop, I continued, "Not as a substitute and not as a shadow of someone else. But see me—Yvette."

  My voice softened, but my gaze remained firm.

  "So tell me, if we do go through with this.... Are you going to marry me for me?"

  He took a step towards me, closing the space between us. His movement was deliberately slow—giving me time to pull away if I wanted to. I remained still. He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The warmth of his touch lingered a little more than necessary and when his touch left my skin, I felt their absence more than I should have.

  "I understand why you asked me that," he said. "You had a front-row seat to everything so you know just how much your older sister meant to me. But what happened in the past doesn't matter anymore. And with me, you won't ever have to worry about being a substitute because you won't ever be one."

  I didn't know how to respond so I didn't. He pulled out a box from his coat and opened it, which revealed a *skar ring in a beautiful shade of magenta—a shade unmistakably the same color as my sister's hair. It was apparent that this was intended for her.

  I stare at it for a moment. How bold of him, proposing to me with a ring he intended for my sister. Well, I should probably cut him some slack since he's obviously under-prepared for this, we did just get engaged half an hour ago.

  He takes my left hand, his long fingers against my skin, and slides the ring onto my ring finger then he lifts my hand to to his lips, pressing a kiss.

  His eyes met mine, "That is... If you would be willing to become my wife."

  If someone were to pass by right now, they'd probably think they were witnessing a romantic proposal something straight our of the pages of a romance novel but in reality, it was far from it. This was more of a practical agreement between two individuals.

  I let out a small sigh and half a laugh at the thought of how we came to a reasonable conclusion in a ridiculous situation.

  "It would be my pleasure to become your wife," I answered.

  Lev smirks, looking amused, "I look forward to our life together."

  ACE IN THE HOLE GLOSSARY FOR THE CHAPTER

  Creatures:

  Lyrix - a powerful creature that strongly resembles a wolf. It has a sleek, muscular build with a dense coat of fur that ranges in color from silvery grey to deep black, providing excellent camouflage in its native environment.

  Miscellanous:

  Authorities:

  Plants:

  Ourelia- a small, shrub-like herb that helps soothe coughs and respiratory ailments while also temporarily altering the tone and timbre of the voice depending on the preparation.