Chapter 1
My grandfather was a general who rose from humble beginnings in the Kingdom of Serenya.
My father carried on his legacy.
He devoted himself to the military, protecting our homeland, and spent most of his life fighting on distant battlefields.
He earned countless honors and was granted Sterling Hall, along with the prestigious title of General Sterling.
My mother, a merchant's daughter, died giving birth to me.
I grew up side by side with Lucas Everly, the Lord of the neighboring Everly Estate.
I loved swords and spears, while Lucas had a talent for poetry and music.
I spent seven years chasing after Lucas.
For the past seven years, I was Lucas' ultimate simp, knowing every one of his preferences.
From his favorite art and poetry, to the tunes he loved, right down to the wine he drank and the food he liked.
I treated his friends like royalty, always generous and making sure they had a good time.
But on my eighteenth birthday, everything took a turn.
I overheard him joking around with his buddies, "Anna's nothing but a rough nobody, pathetically obsessed. She is nowhere near as good as Lila."
I turned to my maid and ordered, "Go to the palace and tell my aunt that I will accept the marriage His Majesty has arranged for me."
*****
Lila was the legitimate daughter of the Sinclair family.
And also my childhood playmate.
Somewhere along the way, every meeting between us became a contest.
If I remember right, things changed after the year Lucas fell into the pond on his eighth birthday.
The Everly Estate threw a birthday party for Lucas.
The three of us sneaked away from the servants and went to play by the lotus pond in the backyard.
"Lucas, look at that white lotus. It's so pretty," Lila said in a sweet, delicate voice, trailing after Lucas. "Can you pick it for me?"
Then we watched as Lucas lost his footing and tumbled right into the lotus pond.
Lila freaked out and bolted.
I jumped into the water. One hand grabbed the railing, the other clung desperately to Lucas' collar, refusing to let go.
The water crept up, closing over my mouth and nose.
When I finally woke up, I had already been sent back to Sterling Hall.
Because of the cold I caught that night, I was stuck in bed for three months straight.
That was also when I realized the blessed locket my mother left me was gone from my wrist.
It must have fallen off when I jumped into the water to save Lucas.
Thinking of this, I just shook my head helplessly.
I took my maid with me and went to the Velvet Patisserie to buy some freshly baked madeleines.
"Ms. Sterling, all the desserts have been reserved by Lord Lucas from the Everly Estate, all for Lila's birthday."
So that was it. Lila's birthday was just one day after mine.
Back at Sterling Hall, a servant of Lucas was waiting at the gate.
"Ms. Sterling, Lord Lucas sent over a box of cake for you. He wants you to bring the 'Melodia' to the Everly Estate tomorrow."
"Melodia" was a silver lyre, my mother's most precious keepsake.
I caught sight of the box of honey cake the servant was holding.
My heart sank a little.
We'd grown up together since we were kids.
And yet, Lucas didn't even remember that I can't eat honey.
My face fell, and I sneered inwardly.
When did it get to the point where even Lucas' servants feel free to order me around?
Showed just how insignificant I was in his eyes.
"Go back and tell your master: if he really wants it, let him bring a proper invitation to Sterling Hall in person!"
The next day.
News arrived from the palace.
The Blackwood family wanted to move forward with the marriage proposal as soon as possible.
"Is it really that urgent?" I smiled bitterly.
In my mind appeared the third son of the Blackwood family.
Ethan Blackwood, that little devil.
He was notorious for shirking his studies, but when it came to indulging in food, drink, and mischief, he was second to none.
He was about my age, making him a fitting prospect for marriage.
At home, there were only the old nanny who had come with my mother and a couple of maids.
So I had no choice but to handle everything myself.
I grabbed my maid and went straight to Flame Boulevard.
"Oh, isn't that Anna?" Lila grinned from a short distance away.
Beside her was Lucas, tall and graceful, with that cool, untouchable vibe.
"Lucas just celebrated my birthday with me."
She smiled as she casually lifted her wrist to brush a strand of hair from her forehead.
An onyx bracelet, traced with faint golden veins, peeked out at her wrist.
My eyes were fixed on it.
That bracelet.
Lila noticed me staring at her and pressed her lips into a smile. "I spotted this bracelet in Lucas' study, so I asked him to give it to me as a birthday gift.
"But Lucas said the gift was too cheap, so he insisted on booking the whole Celestial Hall to throw me a birthday party.
"He even made sure I got all my favorite desserts from the Velvet Patisserie."
I fixed Lucas with a cold stare.
There wasn't the slightest trace of apology on his face.
In fact, he looked downright impatient. "This bracelet is for protection and good fortune. If Lila wants it, then let her have it."
With my maid in tow, I strode right past the two of them without looking back.
"Ms. Sterling, Lucas is really crossing the line!
"The onyx bracelet he gave away was the one you got for him when he was seriously ill.
"You left home way before sunrise, right in the middle of the freezing winter, enduring the bitter cold to pray at St. Margaret's Chapel, just to obtain this sacred bracelet for him.
"You went through all that trouble just to pray for his protection.
"And now he just gives it away to someone else like it means nothing?!"
Even though I had already decided to accept the arranged marriage, seeing my true feelings stomped on like this still hurt.
Seven years of devotion, and this was all I got?
Lucas must have wondered why I, who used to follow him like a shadow, was acting so strange today.
But from now on, I would never be the same again.