Chapter 3

Constantin's mother had been frail since childhood.

She spent most of her childhood in bed, with the small birds that came to the tree outside her window as her only friends.

As she grew older, she was able to live a normal life, but there were many days when she was bedridden.

Despite being known as a beautiful but unfortunate woman in society, Constantin's father thought she would not be able to bear children.

Though many sought her hand, she mostly turned them down.

Constantin's mother and his father, Gregoire, were one of the rare noble couples who had a love marriage.

Initially, their marriage was opposed, but Gregoire said he was fine even if they didn't have children, and the marriage was eventually approved.

Miraculously, the couple was blessed with a child.

A healthy boy, Constantin, was born.

From a young age, Constantin's mother often looked unwell.

No matter what she ate, she never gained weight, and her skin, paler than white, showed blue veins.

She would collapse after just a little work in the fields, and it was a daily occurrence for the doctor to be called.

Each time his mother fell ill, Gregoire was deeply worried.

Unfortunately, she passed away before Constantin graduated from the military academy.

He had been thinking that if he became a field knight, he could spend more time with his parents. Her death came just as he was considering this.

There were no words to console the grieving Gregoire.

So, Constantin fled and joined the royal guard.

The royal guard was full of good-natured comrades. Unlike the military academy, there were no rivals trying to bring each other down. They built a relationship of mutual respect and improvement.

Among them, he only spoke about his future with Claire, who took him under his wing. He told her that he planned to leave the royal guard and become a field knight like his father.

Her advice was, "It's better to find a wife soon."

The royal guards were very popular. She suggested that he should get engaged and marry quickly while he was still in the guard.

Constantin was not good at social gatherings.

Being introduced to strangers and dancing with them was always a painful experience.

Claire, in a rash move, introduced him to a woman known as the belle of society.

She had beautiful, golden hair and clear, lake-like eyes.

However, seeing the blue veins on her porcelain-like skin reminded him of his frail mother.

The young lady seemed so fragile that she might disappear if she were to step into the sunlight.

Mid-conversation, he could no longer bear it and left the scene.

It seemed that Constantin was under a curse that made him unable to see the beauty of the women who were adored in society.

Even four years later, he was still under the same curse.

Everywhere he looked, there were young ladies with pale skin and a fragile appearance.

There was not a single woman who looked healthy at first glance.

Claire then informed him that this year, it was fashionable to draw blue veins on one's skin.

In society, it seemed that the more fragile and ethereal a woman appeared, the more popular she was.

Chilled to the bone, Constantin quickly left the ballroom.

◇◇◇

The journey that took two and a half hours by carriage took only an hour and a half on his beloved horse.

The Arambour family's townhouse was located in the suburbs, away from the capital.

Here, they had cleared the forest and created fields.

The mansion, gifted by the king three centuries ago, was built overlooking a lake. It was so grand that it was often mistaken for a royal castle.

To Constantin, the imposing stone mansion seemed a little eerie at night. In the morning, the deep fog made it look like a haunted house.

Although his surroundings had changed, the family home and the king's garden remained the same.

Heaving a sigh, he led his horse to the stable.

The front door creaked open with a eerie sound.

"Master, welcome back."

"Ah."

He handed his mantle to the old butler who had served the family for generations and headed straight to his father's private room.

"Father, I have returned."

"Oh, Constantin."

His father, Gregoire, now with white streaks in his hair, patted Constantin's back with his cane as a sign of welcome.

He was offered a seat on the sofa and sat down lightly.

"How was the ball?"

"As usual."

"Were there no suitable young ladies?"

"Well, not really..."

At Constantin's usual report, Gregoire's shoulders slumped.

"Actually, I have a few marriage proposals for you."

Gregoire raised his hand, and the butler laid out the marriage proposals on the table, each with a portrait attached.

Seeing the portraits of women with the fashionable blue veins drawn on their skin, Constantin frowned.

"All of them are from good families. They are eager to marry into the family of the 'King's Garden' knight."

"The 'King's Garden' knight..."

It sounded good, but in reality, they were called 'field knights' and were often ridiculed.

"You are of marriageable age now. I know you were busy when you were in the royal guard, but now you have more time. You should think about getting married—"

Constantin interrupted his father by slamming his hand on the table and standing up.

"W-What is the matter?"

"Father, I will choose my own wife."

"But you're not good at that sort of thing, are you?"

"Father, didn't you choose your own wife? I will find my own bride as well."

Gregoire was taken aback. Constantin had never expressed his opinion like this before.

He was speechless at his obedient son's first act of defiance.

Constantin de Arambour.

It was a belated rebellion at the age of twenty.