Prologue – My Wife, Is That You?

I gazed at the condemnation unfolding before me with an uneasy feeling.

Had that girl really done something deserving of such intense questioning?

Before I realized it, I let out a sigh.

The one being accused by Arios Luminous, the crown prince of the Luminous Kingdom—one of the kingdoms in the Caravan Union—was his prospective fiancée, Shitoen Barimore.

I had heard that Lady Shitoen had been living in the Luminous Kingdom for about two years prior to the engagement, so the two must already know each other’s faces.

However, from where we, the attendees, stood, her appearance was impossible to discern.

This was because, in accordance with the customs of her homeland, the Kingdom of Tania, she was covered from head to toe in a white veil.

When she entered the cathedral, for a moment, I thought she was a moving white cocoon.

“Now, Crown Prince Arios will lift the veil and kiss her forehead,”

My mother whispered to me discreetly as we watched the white cocoon.

Apparently, that would conclude the engagement ceremony.

In short, my mother, the queen of the Tidros Kingdom, and I had come to this engagement ceremony just to witness someone else’s forehead kiss.

Seven days of being jostled in a carriage. We finally arrived in Leeds, the capital of the Caravan Union, just yesterday.

Honestly, whether I’m rocked in a carriage for days or spend time on horseback, it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t mind traveling. In fact, I quite enjoy seeing the sights of other countries.

And yet, my heart felt so heavy and melancholic…

It was because I could foresee what would come after this engagement ceremony.

Normally, wouldn’t it be customary for the king or crown prince to escort the queen to a neighboring country’s engagement ceremony?

When I first heard about this, I wondered why it was me. It felt suspicious, but I quickly realized.

This was that. A marriage meeting.

After the engagement ceremony, there would be the obligatory social gathering with the royal families.

My mother would parade me before the noble ladies, saying, “What do you think of my son?”

“Oh, your son is still unmarried?” “Yes, if you know anyone suitable, please introduce them!”—the usual scripted exchange would unfold, and I’d be mercilessly scrutinized.

At twenty-five, still unmarried and without a fiancée, people would wonder, Is there something wrong with this man?

I’d be exposed to those judgmental stares, practically a public execution.

There’s no grand reason.

I’m just not popular.

Women run away from me.

Sure, I feel bad for my mother, okay?

She says things like, “My son’s a good boy. Why does he keep getting rejected at these marriage meetings? People just don’t have an eye for quality.”

But, well…

My eldest brother, the crown prince, and my second brother, who married into another kingdom, both take after our beautiful mother, with their androgynous, refined looks… like polished noblemen.

But I take after our rugged father.

It’s an honor. Truly, an honor. I mean, I resemble His Majesty the King! My mother even said she was relieved. Apparently, when my brothers were born, people whispered, “Whose children are these?”

But resembling Father doesn’t exactly equal a face that wins hearts…

Sorry, but it’s just not.

How do I put it? I’m just… too manly, overall.

There’s hardly anyone in the knight order taller than me. I’m not fat, but the more I train, the more muscle builds up on my arms, back, and thighs.

I mean, come on, I’m the furthest thing from the image of a duke.

On top of that, every winter, I lead the knight order to patrol the borders, driving off bandits and rebels.

And so, I earned the nickname The Winter Bear of Tidros.

Look, I get it! I slacked off on shaving during border patrols! It’s not like we’re at court! It’s just a bunch of guys sitting around a campfire at night! A beard’s fine, right?

…And then, somehow, that nickname stuck. The moment I returned to the capital, women screamed, and some even called me smelly.

Ugh, I’m fine staying single forever at this point.

But my mother is tirelessly trying to find me a bride, eagerly arranging marriage meetings.

I’ve done my best, you know. She’s working so hard for my sake.

But the results just aren’t there…

Every rejection at these marriage meetings chips away at my heart, little by little.

So, I was dreading the noble ladies’ appraisal session that would follow, but then, unbelievably, Crown Prince Arios started talking about breaking off the engagement during the ceremony.

This… is going to get messy.

I was certain of it.

The social gathering afterward wouldn’t be about finding my future bride. This engagement annulment would be the talk of the event.

At first, I watched the scene unfold in silence, but gradually, I grew irritated.

The cause was Crown Prince Arios.

His trembling voice, dripping with self-absorption, was exquisitely infuriating.

Even my eldest brother, a crown prince himself, doesn’t indulge in such narcissism. He’s my pride—our kingdom’s pride.

But is this acceptable for the crown prince of the Luminous Kingdom?

Is this normal? I glanced around the cathedral.

The attendees were mainly royalty from the Caravan Union.

As the name suggests, the Caravan Union consists of five kingdoms.

Each kingdom selects a representative, and through elections or discussions among the five, a Chosen King is decided.

When the Chosen King passes, each kingdom selects a new representative to determine the next Chosen King.

The current Chosen King is Noie Jiena Luminous, head of one of the five royal families, the Luminous Royal Family.

He’s the father of Crown Prince Arios, who’s currently barking at his daughter in the middle of the cathedral’s red carpet.

King Noie is a distant relative of my mother, the queen of Tidros.

My mother married into the Tidros Kingdom from the Luminous Kingdom as a symbol of friendship.

That connection is why we were invited to this joyous occasion of the crown prince’s engagement ceremony.

We’re relatives, but as foreign royalty, my mother and I have the least ties to the Caravan Union.

Well… this should at least preserve the Luminous Kingdom’s dignity.

Fortunately or not, the crown prince’s foolish behavior won’t leak too much to other kingdoms.

The corner of my mouth twisted without me noticing.

When we leave, they’ll probably say, “Please keep this strictly confidential,” with a gag order.

As I was thinking this, Crown Prince Arios suddenly raised his voice even louder.

“And yet, you ignored Meil when she spoke to you multiple times!”

Whoa, that startled me.

I directed my gaze toward the center of the cathedral.

Facing Crown Prince Arios was Lady Shitoen, his fiancée, wrapped in a white silk veil like a cocoon.

Behind Arios stood a girl in dazzlingly ornate clothing.

She was the one Arios had brought out from the attendees’ seats before he began his accusations against Lady Shitoen. Her extravagant attire seemed out of place, as if she were the fiancée.

I overheard nearby attendees muttering, “That’s Meil, from Baron Harty’s family,” and “Oh, the crown prince’s lover,” with disdainful tones. So, she must be his public mistress.

That explains it, I thought.

Setting aside taste, those aren’t clothes a mere baron’s daughter could wear.

Meil, the girl, shrank behind Arios, clutching his sleeve and keeping her eyes downcast.

Occasionally, she’d lift her face as if pitying the criticized Lady Shitoen, her lips trembling as if she wanted to speak up for Arios, but ultimately, she’d lower her gaze again.

It felt less like a noble gesture and more like the act of a brazen actress.

If she were truly timid, she’d have fled by now under the glares of such high-ranking nobles.

Yes, every attendee was glaring at Arios and Meil.

Yet, Arios misunderstood.

He thought the criticism was directed at Lady Shitoen.

It was utterly embarrassing. What was he so smug about…?

He was basking in the attendees’ stares, as if he were a stage actor delivering a monologue.

He went on about how Meil spoke to her but was ignored, or how she greeted her but got no response, speaking as if it were a big deal. But from my perspective, it’s the higher-ranking person who should initiate conversation with the lower-ranking one. For someone of lower status to approach a higher-ranking person is unthinkable.

Lady Shitoen, if I recall, is from the Tania Royal Family, one of the five kingdoms with voting rights.

A mere baron’s daughter shouldn’t be speaking to her just because they’re acquainted.

In such a setting, one might even pretend not to hear to avoid trouble.

Now, Arios was saying, “You didn’t invite Meil to the tea party,” but the difference in status is too great. Why would a baron’s daughter think she could attend a royal tea party?

So naive.

No, having been granted the highest status as crown prince, he doesn’t understand the hierarchy of high society.

And together with Meil, who’s equally clueless, they’re whining about being “bullied” or “ignored.”

Now he’s saying, “During the dance, you deliberately bumped into her,” but is that even true?

Can that girl even dance properly? Isn’t it more likely she bumped into Lady Shitoen?

I surveyed the entire venue.

The attendees’ seats were arranged facing each other across the central aisle.

The nobles seated there had initially been buzzing, flustered, and panicked, but now they were staring at Arios in the center with icy glares.

I let out a scoff.

Arios himself still believed those cold stares were directed at Lady Shitoen.

But no one here would feel anger or contempt toward her—only sympathy.

After all, despite being publicly berated in front of the audience, the cocoon-wrapped Lady Shitoen hadn’t uttered a single retort against Arios.

I thought she was enduring it silently, but gradually, I sensed she had given up.

No matter what she said, it would be futile.

That sense of resignation enveloped her along with her veil.

“Saryu.”

My name was called softly, and I looked to my side.

My mother, hiding her mouth with an open fan, was looking at me.

“What is it?”

“Do you still not have a lover?”

What’s with the sudden question?

“Well, no. I don’t.”

I answered honestly.

Truth is, just before turning twenty, I went through a heartbreak and cried to my aide, Raul, that I was done with love and romance.

I scare women away, but I’ll never be loved.

“I see,”

My mother smiled like a young girl. What did she understand?

“Then, let’s take that young lady♪”

She said it as casually as if she were saying, “Could you wrap this item for me?”

Wait, wait, wait.

Take what?

“Mother…”

My attempt to continue was cut off by the grandiose words Crown Prince Arios unleashed.

“I could never take someone as vile-hearted as you as my wife! I hereby annul our engagement!”

A stunned silence filled the cathedral, tinged with exasperation and pity for King Noie, who had such a son.

“For starters—”

Arios stifled a laugh in his throat.

Just shut up already. Where are his aides? Wouldn’t it be better to drag him out, even if it means punching him, and make him apologize?

“For someone with your appearance to be my fiancée—did you not think it mismatched?”

The moment he spat those words, the white veil seemed to tremble for the first time.

Even for a foreign crown prince, that remark couldn’t be overlooked.

To insult a woman’s appearance in public—what was he thinking?

“Retract that statement.”

Before I knew it, I was on my feet, shouting at Arios.

If he wants to talk about appearances to a man like me, fine, but not to a woman.

I wasn’t the only one angered. Several attendees, driven by chivalric spirit, stood up in agreement.

Arios must have realized his blunder. He turned his face away from the crowd, pursing his lips.

But this guy—he doesn’t apologize, does he?

What a child. As a man of the same age, it’s pathetic.

“…Huh? Why are you…?”

A voice I didn’t recognize reached my ears, and I turned with a “Hm?”

It seemed the contents of the white cocoon had spoken.

She might be looking at me. The hem of her veil swayed.

“Atsuhito.”

She muttered something incomprehensible, and I tilted my head. What language was that?

“Anyway!”

Arios cleared his throat and surveyed the cathedral again. With Meil in his arm, he wore a triumphant grin.

Hey, we still haven’t gotten your correction or apology.

“The engagement is over!”

“You fool!”

A thunderous roar echoed through the room.

Whoa! That startled me!

One of the knights who stood to protest was gripping the hilt of his ceremonial sword. I wasn’t the only one shocked.

Arios’s shoulders shook, and Meil let out a small scream, clinging to him.

“Lord Barimore, please forgive my son’s rudeness!”

The voice belonged to King Noie.

With his white beard trembling, he bowed to a man still seated among his retainers.

That must be Lord Barimore, Lady Shitoen’s father. His hairline was receding, but his sharp features suggested he was in his fifties.

He seemed… calm, somehow.

Normally, if your daughter’s engagement was unjustly broken off in front of you, you’d be furious or grabbing King Noie, demanding, “What’s going on?”

But Lord Barimore just stared ahead silently.

I thought he might be cold, but seeing his taut jaw and subtly trembling arms, I realized he was suppressing his anger, which left me with a complex feeling.

Both Lady Shitoen and Lord Barimore were worlds apart from the hotheaded Luminous Royal Family.

“No need for apologies, King Noie.”

Suddenly, Lord Barimore spoke and stood.

“I’ll take my foolish daughter home. Shitoen.”

He smoothly extended his arm.

Even through his clothing, his well-defined muscles were evident—a testament to disciplined living and relentless training. I couldn’t help but respect him.

“Let’s return to the Kingdom of Tania. I’ll explain to the king myself.”

Ah, so this man is indeed tied to the Tania Royal Family.

I’d heard a third of Tania’s land is mountainous, known for its rich mineral resources.

Many there are herdsmen, said to have strong legs and robust lungs. Looking at Lord Barimore’s physique, I nodded in understanding.

“Please wait!”

“Lord Barimore, please! Have mercy!”

King Noie and his retainers tried to stop Lord Barimore as he stepped onto the red carpet of the aisle.

Looking at the aisle, the white cocoon stirred.

It seemed she was trying to go to her father on her own.

Seeing the cocoon move away, Arios and Meil grinned with glee.

It made me feel sick.

Do they even understand the situation? Because of them, people are apologizing, getting angry, sneering, or scheming.

“With all due respect, may I speak, King Noie, Lord Barimore?”

The one who raised her voice was my mother.

Startled, I looked beside me to see her extending her hand.

Oh, escort duty. Right, right.

I took her hand, and she rose gracefully, giving a slight curtsy in greeting.

“This is… Queen of Tidros. What an unfortunate scene.”

King Noie, sweating profusely, returned the gesture.

“Lord Barimore, has it been since last year’s Caravan Union ball?”

Hiding her mouth with her slightly open fan, Mother spoke. Lord Barimore pressed his right fist to his left chest in a salute before speaking solemnly.

“I’m deeply honored to be addressed by one such as myself. Your Highness, you look as splendid as ever. I’m delighted.”

The white cocoon paused, seemingly glancing between Lord Barimore and Mother.

“By the way, King Noie, is this engagement officially annulled?”

Mother said it outright… She always has to make things black-and-white.

“No, no, no! Absolutely not!”

King Noie panicked, but Lord Barimore gave a loud cough.

“It’s annulled. I’ll take my foolish daughter back to Tania.”

His voice and expression were resolute.

Murmurs rose from the attendees, and the atmosphere grew tense.

“How about this, Lord Barimore? I’m currently searching for a bride for my foolish son, and His Majesty has entrusted me with this matter.”

Mother’s ominous words halted the unease.

I, for my part, was speechless for a different reason.

Huh?

My bride search?

“She’s been raised to be a crown princess. Her poise, her composure—I’m truly impressed.”

Mother narrowed her eyes, looking at the moving white cocoon.

The cocoon shrank slightly, likely curtsying.

Behind her, Meil, nestled in Arios’s arms, furrowed her brows and glared at the cocoon, clearly displeased.

She must hate that the cocoon was praised over her.

“Pardon me, young lady. Do you speak Tidrosian?”

Mother, who had been using the Caravan common tongue to match the host country, switched to Tidrosian.

“I’m still inexperienced, but I can manage daily conversation.”

The cocoon replied.

That’s modesty. Her pronunciation was excellent. Truly befitting someone raised to be a crown princess.

Meanwhile, Meil looked confused, asking Arios, “What are they saying?” only to be told, “You don’t need to know, Meil,” followed by a kiss on her forehead.

Oh, right. I came here to see that, didn’t I? I couldn’t help but stare into the distance…

Seeing Meil’s ignorance of foreign languages, I grimaced, sensing trouble ahead.

This continent has several royal families, each independent or vying for dominance. Multilingualism is essential for diplomacy.

My eldest brother’s wife, the crown princess, is younger than me but fluent in languages. She seems carefree but is a brilliant scholar.

Even my second brother, married into another kingdom, speaks and writes several languages.

“You’re the third son,” they said, throwing me into the knight order from birth, where I honed my martial skills. Still, I can speak the main languages well enough for daily life. Otherwise, I couldn’t interrogate prisoners.

It’s fine to use interpreters, but how far can you trust them?

“Pardon my rudeness, but could we not welcome your daughter as my son’s partner, Lord Barimore?”

When Mother asked, the venue erupted in murmurs.

Of course it did. Mother’s betting on the cocoon, but… the partner would be me.

Does she have some filter that makes my appearance look dashing? Or does she still see me as an adorable three-year-old?

…If it came to it, would her daughter be okay with me as a partner…?

“Your daughter, raised as a crown princess… for a third prince, it would be a step down.”

“No, Your Highness. Those are overly kind words.”

Lord Barimore answered firmly.

“Lord Barimore!”

“Wait! Please, just wait!”

The Luminous retainers tried to intervene, but Lord Barimore didn’t even glance their way. Uh-oh… Is this okay?

“However, I am a subject of the Tania king. My daughter’s engagement to the Luminous Royal Family was by his will. May I first consult the king and later provide an official response to the Tidros Royal Family?”

Lord Barimore replied calmly.

“Of course, Lord Barimore.”

Mother smiled gracefully.

“I look forward to a favorable reply.”

Lord Barimore bowed deeply, letting out a soft sigh.

“As a father, I’d rather entrust my daughter to the prince who stood up for her honor above the Luminous Royal Family.”

All eyes turned to me.

I shrank my shoulders uncomfortably, only to be glared at by Mother. Get it together, she meant.

But I felt embarrassed, still driven by the impulsive anger toward Arios’s immaturity.

“I understand your feelings.”

Mother nodded repeatedly.

“What treatment for that young lady. If my son hadn’t spoken up, I’d have been ready to strike him myself.”

Yikes, I almost got hit!

“So, please convey to the Tania king to consider it favorably.”

Mother smiled brightly.

Lord Barimore bowed again, saying, “Understood,” then pushed past King Noie’s retainers and stepped onto the red carpet.

The white cocoon moved, taking Lord Barimore’s offered elbow.

Watching the two walk toward the door, I panicked, feeling I had to say something.

“Um, pardon me, Lord Barimore.”

When I called out, he stopped and slowly turned.

The white cocoon tilted her head, seemingly looking at me.

“I’m, well… as you can see, this is my appearance. I don’t resemble my mother, my crown prince brother, or my second brother, who’s a consort in another kingdom.”

I started boldly but stumbled under the attention.

“I spend most of my life with the knight order, so I’m clumsy with women… and above all, I’m the third son. I hold a ducal title, but I can’t aspire to more. I’m not adept at navigating courtly affairs either…”

I started losing track of what I was saying.

But I straightened my back, determined to make one thing clear.

“Please don’t force your daughter. Even if you refuse, I, Saryu El Tidros, won’t be hurt or bothered.”

Mother chuckled beside me.

“Honestly, are you trying to extend your marriage meeting losing streak?”

“That’s just how it is.”

I shrugged playfully, and to my relief, a faint smile appeared on Lord Barimore’s lips.

“Please prioritize your daughter’s opinion.”

“Your nickname is renowned even in our kingdom.”

“…The marriage meeting failure guy?”

I widened my eyes in shock, and this time, Lord Barimore laughed outright.

“No, that’s news to me. I meant the Winter Bear of Tidros.”

That one!

As I slumped in disappointment, a woman’s laughter hit me, making me feel even worse.

I was trying to lighten the mood for the cocoon, at least.

“That prince, the Winter Bear! It really suits him!”

It was Meil. Yes, yes, glad you’re amused.

I glanced over to see Arios quietly shushing her with a raised finger. Well, I am a prince, you know?

“I’ve long wanted to speak with you. Thank you for standing up for my daughter today.”

Lord Barimore bowed deeply again, and the cocoon, likely bowing too, briefly shrank before they left the cathedral together.

That was my first encounter with the white cocoon lady, Shitoen Barimore.

And later, I met Lady Shitoen again in the Tidros Kingdom’s palace.

As each other’s fiancés.