ESWPT 01

Chapter 1

“Duke Ceres, marry me.”

Just as what should have been a peaceful day was drawing to a close—
a sudden, uninvited guest hurled those words at him, and Edward Ceres’ thoughts froze completely.

He stared fixedly at his unexpected visitor.

Cecilia Graham.

There was no one in the Empire’s social circles who wouldn’t recognize that face.

A radiant beauty with honey-blonde hair that gleamed like sunlight on water, and eyes as vivid as a shard of clear autumn sky.

Her looks alone had made her the darling of high society, a “flower” courted by nearly half the Empire’s unmarried noblemen—though she herself was only nineteen, the daughter of a mere baron.

But Edward had never exchanged even a proper greeting with her.

And yet, she appeared before him now and, without even a trace of formality, declared—

“Are you joking?”

But Cecilia didn’t so much as blink.

“Did it sound like a joke?”

“…If not, then this is certainly a very novel proposal.”

“Surely this isn’t your first?”

Her obvious provocation twisted his lips for an instant, but only for an instant.

Because Edward immediately understood exactly why Cecilia Graham had come to him with such a proposal.

Only a handful of people knew that Emperor Gerard II intended to issue a marriage decree, elevating this nineteen-year-old baron’s daughter to empress.

Had Edward not glimpsed the documents in the Emperor’s study by chance, even he wouldn’t have known.

How she had discovered this, he couldn’t guess. But it was obvious she had no wish to wed the Emperor.

So much so that she was ready to propose marriage to a man she had never truly spoken to.

Not a fool, then.

It had been less than half a year since the death of the former Empress—a wise and benevolent woman revered as the mother of the nation.

If the Emperor remarried so soon, the nobility’s opposition and the outrage of the people would be deafening.

But if she rejects the Emperor outright…

Then the Graham family would surely be crushed beneath his wrath.

But if she bound herself in advance to another man, before the Emperor could propose—then the story would change.

The Emperor’s fury would not fall on House Graham, but upon the unfortunate man who dared to marry Cecilia Graham.

No ordinary house could possibly withstand that rage.

So she’s come to me… She’s calculated this well.

Edward answered curtly.

“His Majesty will be furious.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“…”

He studied her in silence.

Cecilia Graham was not the first, nor would she be the last, to know something of his fraught history with the Emperor.

But she was the first to openly hand him an opportunity to oppose Gerard.

And yet… why must it be her?

Truthfully, Edward had always felt vaguely uncomfortable in her presence.

It wasn’t as if he had ever been interested. His life was far too dangerous to be distracted by beauty.

But the way Cecilia Graham would flit through ballrooms, smiling as if she were the happiest girl alive, somehow unsettled him.

So much so that he eventually stopped attending any ball where she was present.

For Cecilia Graham was far too bright, too social, to avoid otherwise.

I should refuse. Send her away, right now.

And yet… his tongue betrayed his mind, shaping words on its own.

“Are you prepared for what comes?”

“As long as I don’t have to be Empress, I can endure anything.”

Her answer was desperate, almost frantic.

Edward studied her intently, and found himself startled—
his heart was pounding, violently, for the first time in a very long while.

Perhaps it was only because he had not seen anyone stand against the Emperor beside him in years.

If so…

Then perhaps stepping into the fire he had always known he must face—
and stepping into it now, together—was not such a bad thing.

Two would fare better than one.

“I accept your proposal, Lady Cecilia.”

“…!”

Her sky-blue eyes widened, rippling with shock.

To be honest, Cecilia had not expected Edward Ceres to accept so readily.

They had only crossed paths at a ball once or twice, and every time he had regarded her as though she were invisible.

To Edward, Cecilia had always been little more than air.

That was why she had struck at his sorest point—his hatred of the Emperor.

She had hoped it might work, but his immediate response made it clear: Edward’s grudge against Gerard ran deeper than she had imagined.

Edward cleared his throat.

“We must marry as soon as possible. By next week, you’ll already be the Emperor’s intended Empress.”

“…That soon?”

Cecilia’s expression faltered, fear flickering across her face.

Edward looked at her with unexpected pity.

Truthfully, Cecilia Graham had done nothing wrong. She was simply a nineteen-year-old girl cursed with beauty striking enough to captivate even the Emperor.

Even the discomfort she stirred in him could hardly be called her fault.

“The engagement… It must be announced quickly.”

She murmured this, then stepped closer to him. A gentle, sweet fragrance—soft and harmless—brushed his senses.

“Your Grace, will you cooperate with my plan?”

“Tell me what it is.”

Edward was genuinely curious.

What scheme would this brazen, desperate baron’s daughter reveal?

Cecilia rose slightly on her toes, though she was still far from his ear.

Before she could speak, Edward bent down just enough to meet her gaze at level.

Her soft voice tickled his ear, leaving behind a faint trace.

“Even if we become a laughingstock, will you endure it?”

A strange sensation curled inside his chest.

And so, Edward didn’t hesitate.

“Use me however you wish.”

The very next evening after Cecilia Graham’s proposal, Edward made his way to a ball hosted at the Marquis of Entian’s estate.

Entian was one of Edward’s many enemies—so much so that it was almost a wonder he had been invited at all.

Fortunate, really.

Edward allowed himself a wry smile.

If tonight’s plan had required dragging one of his few friends into the mess, he would have felt far less at ease.

As it was, if his guess proved true, Entian’s house would be sharing the Emperor’s wrath soon enough.

And so, he entered the ballroom untroubled.

The Marquis had clearly spent his recent trading profits to flaunt his wealth: gold, crystal, and glass sparkled from every corner, dazzling the entire hall.

It was, in fact, a perfect stage for the performance he and Cecilia Graham were about to put on.

Scanning the crowd, he found her quickly.

Cecilia Graham glided across the floor in a pale rose gown, delicate as a butterfly, radiant as morning dew.

Even without tonight’s scheme, her beauty alone would have been enough to make her the subject of every conversation.

The moment she spotted him, her eyes lit up.

Then she moved toward him, graceful yet confident, and Edward knew—this was it.

She intended to propose here, before the ball had even properly begun, ensuring that the gossip would spread all night long.

Right here, right now.

She won’t even greet me first. Straight to the proposal, then.

And indeed, Cecilia did not disappoint.

Stopping just a few steps away, she slipped a ring from her left hand.

A dazzling diamond piece, clearly befitting the reputation of Baron Graham, who never spared expense when it came to his beloved daughter.