Episode 1. My Childhood Friend, Whom I Have a Crush On, Got a Fiancée

“I don’t think I could ever date a friend.”

Kaiden said those words when Brienne was around eighteen years old.

At the tail end of a particularly irritable and sensitive adolescence. Who would have known she’d be rejected even before confessing?

Jet-black hair tinged with a deep blue hue and pale skin. Eyes like the deep sea, dark and blue.

Kaiden Bannon, with his handsome appearance and solid build, was often the first love of many young noblewomen. Heir to the prestigious Duke Bannon family, his status was said to be just a bonus compared to his stunning face.

But that wasn’t all.

He possessed intelligence, swordsmanship, and even rare talent in the notoriously difficult art of magic. Unlike others his age, he had a mature side, and wherever he went, he was polite and courteous, earning the affection of adults as well.

Falling for someone as perfect as Kaiden was something Brienne couldn’t help; it was like fate.

For ten years, or maybe more.

Since the time her father, the Marquis of Ford, had set his sights on Kaiden as a potential son-in-law, they had always been together.

“Once I become friends with someone, I can’t see them as a woman anymore.”

So when Kaiden said those words, it crushed Brienne’s hopes.

Maybe, just maybe, they could become something more. Maybe one day, she could occupy a small corner of that aloof man’s heart.

If they stayed friends, maybe in the distant future, he’d allow her to stand at his feet.

If I try hard enough, maybe he’ll look my way too…

The kind of hope she had dreamed of since moments she could barely remember.

“…Why?”

Brienne feigned calm, but her eyes trembled slightly. Since entering the bookstore and opening a book, Kaiden hadn’t spared her a single glance, and now he opened his mouth with indifference.

“I don’t know. It’s just how it is.”

“Even if she’s really pretty?”

“Yeah.”

Flip. The soft sound of a page turning felt like it was slicing through Brienne’s heart. Her beauty—the only advantage she could claim—suddenly felt meaningless.

If she had known this would happen, she never would have asked such a question about whether men and women could be just friends.

“…I see. That’s a relief.”

Brienne barely managed a smile and gently lowered the book onto her lap. At that moment, Kaiden’s brows twitched ever so slightly beneath his otherwise emotionless face.

“But why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“Ah, well…”

Brienne gripped the spine of the book tightly. Avoiding Kaiden’s gaze, she offered the excuse she had prepared.

“Miss Bailey said she might be seeing you soon. You two have been spending so much time together this year, I started to wonder.”

Part of her had wanted to test him.

Two summers ago, the appearance of a beautiful young lady from the countryside had shaken high society. A new face among the tightly knit central nobility was always bound to draw attention.

Even more so when that new face belonged to someone as beautiful as Melosi Bailey.

“Honestly, she’s insanely pretty.”

At her softly added words, Kaiden’s hand paused while turning the page. But the words that came from his mouth were, as always, blunt to a fault.

“…Is she?”

When no other words followed, even after a while, Brienne slammed the book shut in frustration. She hadn’t read a single page, but with a dramatic sigh, she exhaled loudly.

“Whew, maybe I read for too long. Suddenly, I feel like taking a break… I think I’ll head in for today. That’s okay, right?”

As she hastily stood up, Kaiden finally looked up and followed her with his gaze. Brienne slid Tales of Roeta Mythology back into the shelf and calmly straightened her rumpled outfit.

“…Brienne, what’s wrong?”

Kaiden reluctantly rose to his feet. Taking a step closer behind her, he murmured in a low voice, “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and now this? I don’t know what upset you, but…”

“……”

“If it’s my fault again, then please don’t go.”

His pleasant voice pierced her twisted heart. Kaiden was always like this. Not even knowing what he did wrong, yet always acting as though the other person’s feelings came first.

Brienne, who knew that side of him well, barely restrained herself from glancing around the bookstore and saying it was because he didn’t deny the rumors with Melosi.

“It’s not that. I’m just, really just tired…”

“Rienne.”

Kaiden gently cut her off and stepped in closer.

“If it’s because I didn’t say anything about Melosi Bailey, there’s no need to worry. I don’t even consider Melosi a friend.”

…He didn’t even consider her a friend.

Shouldn’t that be something to worry about? Brienne furrowed her brow and turned to face Kaiden. The pretense of being fine shattered into a sharp voice.

“What am I supposed to be worried about?”

“That you don’t need to be jealous.”

Kaiden smiled kindly and gently held Brienne’s wrist. His careful touch, devoid of any force, was still enough to make Brienne lose her composure.

She couldn’t breathe.

“You know, right? As long as I have you, that’s all I need. The only person I want is Brienne Ford.”

Brienne’s eyes wavered as she faced Kaiden. He often cornered her like this. Making her want to throw herself into his deep blue eyes, into the waves of that sea.

Even though she knew that if she didn’t restrain herself, she might never see him again, that they could never go back to being friends…

“Kaiden, I…”

Brienne spoke as if hypnotized, but bit her lip before she could finish.

How many women had lost the ability to even speak to him after a reckless confession? Kaiden Bannon never kept someone around after rejecting them.

That’s why she couldn’t foolishly confess her feelings here. She wasn’t sure enough yet. If she said it and drove him away, this one-sided love would be over.

“…Sorry. I was being sensitive. You’re my best friend, and I was just worried you were hiding something from me.”

Brienne, barely regaining control, lifted the corners of her mouth into a smile and looked into those deep blue eyes.

Saying things like he only needed her, or that she was the only one he wanted—she knew Kaiden’s sweet words meant something completely different.

Naive as he was, he probably didn’t even think she liked him. And even if he did, he’d draw a line, insisting they remain friends forever.

“There’s nothing I’m hiding. I just end up seeing Melosi Bailey often because of my father. It’s different with you.”

Do you even know what those words mean to me? That your actions make me want to misunderstand, to believe they mean more?

Brienne held back those words and endured it.

For two years.

Until they became adults and stepped fully into the marriage market.

***

“Miss, are you that happy?”

The maid, Marie, asked as she braided Brienne’s hair, smiling brightly. Brienne, who had been unable to hide the smile of excitement on her face, now beamed even more.

“Yeah, Shiloh’s finally coming back. The house will be lively again.”

“It really has been quiet while the young master was away. The master, the madam, and you too, miss. None of the three of you are the party type. Just look at today. A party at the manor for the first time in four years, and it’s a welcome party for the young master!”

It was graduation season at the National Academy of the Kingdom of Roeta.

Across the Rontiano Empire, which welcomed back children who had studied abroad, preparations for welcome parties were in full swing. The Marquis of Ford’s manor, from which Brienne’s older brother Shiloh had been absent for four years, was no exception.

“Marie, for a welcome party, there’ll be a lot of people, right?”

“I imagine so? Why, are you getting nervous all of a sudden?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen people, so I’m a little nervous. If Kaiden comes later, I think I’ll feel a bit more at ease…”

At the thought of the welcome party she had briefly forgotten, Brienne’s face fell slightly. She had sent Kaiden an invitation but hadn’t received a reply. Marie, rolling her eyes with a troubled look, cautiously spoke up.

“Um, miss… I don’t think he’ll be able to make it. I have a friend who works for the Duke of Belif’s family, and I heard their young master is returning today too.”

Disappointment spread across Brienne’s face, which had been hoping against hope. Wasn’t the young master of the Belif family Kaiden’s closest friend? On a day like today, it didn’t make sense for Kaiden to forgo his friend’s welcome party to greet Shiloh instead.

‘…Still, it’s the day Shiloh is coming back. Let’s not get too worked up.’

Brienne let out a faint sigh and lifted the corners of her mouth, steadying herself. She didn’t want to appear gloomy in front of Shiloh, who was returning after enduring a grueling study abroad.

Just as her preparations were finishing, a voice called out from beyond the door.

“Miss, the young master has arrived!”

“Already?”

Brienne jumped up and rushed to the entrance. Her mother, Olivia Ford, who had already come down, looked up at the stairs in surprise.

“Brie…! You’re going to fall. Come down slowly!”

“Mother, where’s Shiloh? Where is he?”

Just then, someone appeared beyond the open door. It was Shiloh, dressed in his academy uniform.

“Shiloh!”

Brienne’s eyes sparkled with pride as she took in the sight of Shiloh. As he approached them, Shiloh bowed his head.

“It’s been a while, Mother. And… Brienne.”

But what was this?

She expected him to cheer about finally escaping that wretched academy, but Shiloh’s expression was grim. Brienne looked at him in confusion.

“What’s with that face? Did something happen on the way?”

Shiloh’s downcast eyes wavered for a moment. Brienne, closely observing his suspicious reaction, soon discovered the reason.

‘…The Empire Times?’

In Shiloh’s hand was a crisp newspaper. Strange. An inexplicable sense of unease swept over Brienne. The Shiloh she knew had no interest in newspapers unless they were the kind filled with scandal.

“A newspaper? Since when do you read that stuff?”

Trying to shake off the anxiety, Brienne laughed playfully. But Shiloh looked in no mood to joke with his sister after such a long time apart.

“Brienne.”

After a pause, Shiloh ran his hand through his thick golden hair. What came from his lips next was unbelievable.

“…Kaiden got engaged.”

Engaged?

What is that supposed to mean…

For a moment, Brienne doubted her ears. Was it a joke? Why would Shiloh say something like that? Blinking several times, Brienne awkwardly laughed and shook her head in disbelief.

“Shiloh, what are you talking about all of a sudden…”

“See for yourself.”

Shiloh held the newspaper up to her eyes. He tapped the front-page headline with his finger.

“Kaiden Bannon, that bastard, went and got engaged to Melosi Bailey, leaving you behind.”