Chapter 1

In early summer, the strong wind that blows over the green leaves is called a "blue storm."

"Yurisia Hamilton! I will break off the engagement with your family, the Lake Rich! You insolent vixen, kneel down and apologize to me right now!"

The noisy voice made me stop playing with my silver hair, which I had been twirling idly. When I raised my eyes, I saw the person I had expected.

Under the blue sky, the seasonal flowers were in full bloom, swaying in the finally warm wind. The carefully tended flower trees were beautiful, and the grass at my feet was neatly trimmed. The tables set out were of such good quality that they seemed to wish for worthy users; each marble table had a different intricate design. The navy tablecloths, seen only on sunny days, were embroidered with the national and school crests diagonally, complementing the ivory teacups and tableware beautifully.

It was during lunchtime at the national academy, which only the nobility of this country could attend, in the garden beside the noisy cafeteria. Harold Lake Rich, a blond-haired, blue-eyed young man, declared this to me, glaring.

With a beauty that could be mistaken for a young actor from a theater troupe, and long, slender limbs, this man drew the attention of the crowd even with a simple gesture like running his hand through his hair. He paid no attention to the noble children who were suddenly interested in his loud voice, but only looked down at me with hatred.

Beside the young man were about four lovely-looking girls who seemed to agree with him. They clung to Harold or glared at me, showing no sense of teamwork.

"...What's that?" "I don't know?"

Such voices could be heard. It was understandable, given that the word "engagement break" had suddenly come up in the middle of a normal day. The curiosity in the eyes of the surrounding students, who were enjoying their meals as they pleased, was unmistakable.

I sighed. It would be nice if he could finish the conversation before the tea got cold.

At my indifferent attitude, Harold raised his eyebrows and raised his voice dramatically.

"Didn't you hear me, Yurisia! You're so insolent. But you can only be cocky for now. I'll explain it to you, you fool. The engagement between the Hamilton and Lake Rich families was formed for political reasons. The Hamiltons, who have a shabby mine, bowed their heads to our Lake Rich family, who have excellent ore processing technology. In other words, if this engagement is broken, it will be you who will be in trouble. And!"

I listened to his words casually. The girls' sly voices, overlapping with his, saying "That's right, that's right!" were also heard.

Sitting at a two-seater table, I gazed up at the sky absentmindedly. A beautiful blue sky without a cloud. Six years ago, when I first met Harold, who was two years older than me, it was also such a sunny day.

I closed my eyes as if to shake off the noise and recalled the clear blue eyes in my mind. The engagement between the Hamilton Dukedom and the Lake Rich Earldom was indeed a political one. We met for the sake of profit, but I fell in love with him as we spent time together. If the engagement is to be broken, and if he marries someone else, I will undoubtedly be deeply saddened and grieve. I love the son of the Lake Rich family from the bottom of my heart.

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"What an insolent brat! Apologize, or I will never love you in my life!"

Under the cloudless sky, the former me—ten-year-old Yurisia Hamilton—met Harold Lake Rich.

The strong scent of flowers and perfume overwhelmed the sweet smell of the colorful, sugar-laden pastries. The two of us were brought together in the garden of the Lake Rich earldom. The garden, which the ostentatious Lake Rich head of the house was proud of, was filled with vivid large flowers and lavish sculptures, each one competing to outshine the others. It was gaudy and grand, and to be honest, I didn't like it at all.

Twelve-year-old Harold was a beautiful boy, famous even at tea parties, and his parents seemed to spoil him deeply. They praised his every move and believed without a doubt that he would marry into a ducal family, or even a princess of the royal family, and eventually become king.

So, the marriage alliance with a mere dukedom, which was only one rank higher in title, was indeed unsatisfactory for them. When I first met Harold's parents, they greeted me politely in front of my father, but the moment he left, they sneered and glared at me, saying, "Don't get too full of yourself, kid."

"Our Harold's fiancée is just a little girl like this! To think they'd offer to pay off our debts... What a nerve..."

Indeed, the engagement was proposed by the Hamiltons. For the Hamiltons, who were prosperous due to various mineral veins, from iron to gemstones, the debt that had swollen in proportion to the luxurious lifestyle of the heads of the house was worth paying off for the excellent craftsmanship of the Lake Rich artisans.

However, it was never forced upon the Lake Rich family, nor was it a done deal. My parents loved their two children and wanted us to have a happy marriage if we fell in love, and they even said it was fine if we didn't marry as long as we were happy. They gave me the right to choose my future partner.

My visit to the Lake Rich family was just one of the options. Last week, I attended a tea party hosted by a baron's family, and next week, I was scheduled to meet the son of a different dukedom.

Sitting next to my father at the ornate garden table, I looked across at the Lake Rich couple. Their faces, which must have been well-kept in the past, were now puffy, and their expressions were twisted with malice.

Seeing their true nature, I thought I didn't want to marry into a family like this. However, just because I didn't get along with the parents didn't mean the marriage partner would be the same, so I decided to be polite until I returned. I straightened my back in front of the tea and pastries on the table.

After a while, the boy who arrived was indeed more beautiful than the rumors. His sapphire eyes were like jewels, his golden hair shone in the sun, and he was not at all overshadowed by the lavish, extravagant clothes he wore. The people who compared him to an angel or a miracle in their conversations were not exaggerating. From his high nose to his long eyelashes, he was perfect.

My father and I were speechless at the sight of the most beautiful person we had ever seen, beyond our imagination. I watched in amazement as his perfectly shaped lips opened.

"Since you said you wanted to meet me, I came, but what's this? You're not cute enough for me! If you want to stand next to me, you need to try harder!"

Ah, there it is.

The words, spoken in a pre-pubescent soprano, instantly cooled my slightly elevated mood. Harold's distorted face and the unhidden ridicule of his parents were beyond my comprehension, and they were certainly far from the people of decorum and manners I had been involved with until then.

If my father hadn't cracked his cup with a murderous aura, I might have fled home in the carriage. I managed to bow politely and say a few words before being subjected to a long, endless stream of boasts from Harold and his parents.

What ended the long and boring talk? I think it was when I pointed out a mistake in his story. The boy, whose water had been poured, became extremely angry and shouted at me not to get too full of myself. A warm breeze blew, and one of the large flowers fell.

"What an insolent brat! Apologize, or I will never love you in my life!"

He shouted and ran out of his seat. His parents, after complaining to me, chased after him and went somewhere.

Thinking I had seen something incredible, I met my father's eyes as the Lake Rich servants disappeared, leaving us alone.

"…Shall we go home, Yurisia? We can stop somewhere and buy you anything you like."

"Thank you, Father."

I think we were thinking the same thing. We nodded quietly and returned to the carriage.

Just as we were about to return home, I realized I had left my handkerchief on the table. I told my father I would be fine going alone since it was nearby and retraced my steps. Beyond the sculptures and flower beds, at the table where the chilly tea party had just taken place, a boy was sitting alone, eating the leftover pastries.

He was wearing a simple shirt and pants. He was about my age, with soft, wavy brown hair and a gentle face with slightly drooping eyes. He was a little taller than me. What caught my eye were his clear sky-blue eyes, which were more beautiful than the blue sky I saw with my troubled heart today.

When he noticed me, he blinked in surprise.

"Ah... sorry. No one else was eating, so I couldn't help it."

His voice had no pretense and was gentle. The kind boy had a calm voice.

I can't quite explain it, but I thought he was nice. Calm and gentle, I wanted to be friends with him.

"It's okay, it would be a waste otherwise. Would you like to sit and eat with me?"

So, I smiled as charmingly as I could. Maybe this was the first time the smile I had practiced in front of a mirror with my mother was useful.

He blinked again and said he was happy, then pulled out the chair for me.

The boy introduced himself as Kairi Lake Rich, Harold's younger brother by two years. After introducing myself, I commented that they didn't look much alike, and his expression darkened as he said, "Harold is much cooler, isn't he?" I quickly corrected him, as that wasn't what I meant.

"Things like pulling out the chair and introducing yourself, those are different."

At least, I think you are much more charming. I meant to say that, but Kairi's face didn't brighten.

"Harold is liked by everyone without even trying. …By the way, I saw a handkerchief on the table. Is it Hamilton…san's?"

"Yes! I love the embroidery, so I'm glad it was found. Thank you for picking it up. You can call me Yurisia, and I'd like to call you Kairi."

"Right, it's a beautiful pattern. I like blue stars too. What other flowers do you like, Yurisia…? …Calling your name makes me a bit shy."

"I like most flowers. But I especially like small flowers that change the color of the meadow when they bloom in abundance. There's a hill in our territory that turns into a sea of flowers in spring. It's really beautiful. Kairi… Ahaha, really! It's a bit embarrassing."

I forgot to tell my father I would be back soon and talked a lot with him while making fresh tea and eating pastries. We had a lot in common, both in what we liked and disliked.

This was the first time I had talked to someone outside my family and servants without having to think about what they were really saying or what they were thinking.

While chatting about trivial things, I thought it would have been nice if the person I met as a potential fiancé was Kairi instead of Harold. I wouldn't say I wanted to get engaged right away, but if it had been Kairi, I would have wanted to have more tea parties and invite him to my house to get to know him better.

The pleasant time passed quickly. Before I knew it, the pot was empty.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I asked him, who seemed a bit sad.

"Kairi, do you have a fiancé? Or someone you like?"

"What's with the sudden question? …No, there's no such talk. I can't even attend tea parties because I don't have manners, and I'm told not to leave my room when something is held at home. …I envy Harold."

I felt relieved that Kairi was free, but I was puzzled by his next words. Although he seemed inexperienced, his gestures were polite, and he was not at all rude. Besides, being told not to leave the room.

I felt something was wrong and saw a red mark on his wrist, which was thinner than a boy his age, peeking out from his shirt.

"…I don't think that's true. You hold the cup beautifully. You're very good at it, and you wouldn't be a disgrace anywhere. Harold was always crossing his legs and leaning on the table. You're definitely better than him."

I couldn't help but clench my handkerchief.

I had heard of the beautiful golden-haired eldest son who was doted on by his parents, but I had never heard of a second son in the Lake Rich family. My bad feeling was probably right.

Stay calm, confronting Kairi's parents here would only make things worse for him. Instead of lashing out, I poured my anger at Harold into a passionate speech, and Kairi's face twisted in sadness.

"…Even so, I can't compete with Harold. Yurisia, you came here to get engaged to Harold, right? I envy Harold, who can meet a beautiful and cute girl like Yurisia as a fiancé."

He said this with a sad face, calling me beautiful and cute.

Just as I had taken a liking to him, he had also taken a liking to me.

The moment I realized this.

I was struck by a thunderbolt and received a revelation.

That's right, I will definitely bring Kairi back to Hamilton.

My resolve was firm. Without hesitation, I turned to the hedge where I had felt someone's gaze.

"…Father, you're here? You said you would buy me anything I wanted, but I want to bring him back."

The bushes rustled violently, and my father, who seemed to have jumped up involuntarily, stood up with leaves all over him.

"Wait, Yurisia, I said I would buy you something, but he's not for sale—"

"Kairi, if I get married, I want to marry Kairi. I want to be with Kairi. So, I want you to live with me, not in this house. …Is that okay?"

"Y-Yes, Yurisia."

"Yes! Thank you, I'm so happy! We'll be together from now on!"

I took Kairi's hand and declared, "Let's go, Father!" as I got up from my chair, feeling I had secured his word.

"Yurisia, aren't you being a bit too hasty?"

My father, with a soulless look, noticed that Kairi was thinner than his age and the marks on his shirt and said, "Well, it can't be helped," and told the driver to bring him back with us.

My father, who usually has a dignified presence, becomes very soft when he is very surprised. Without the usual restraining presence of my mother or butler, the carriage arrived at our house without any problems, carrying me with a full smile, Kairi with wide eyes, and my father with a strange demeanor.