Episode 1
【 The Proposal 】
Year 897 of the Empire, July — The Duke of Kailani’s estate.
Roxana was taking her usual walk through the gardens of the Duke’s mansion.
It was a day off for the servants, but she had nowhere else to go.
So, whenever she had a holiday, instead of going outside, she preferred strolling through the
beautiful gardens of the mansion — a quiet escape just for herself.
‘It’s getting hotter every day.’
She walked under the trees carefully trimmed to cast perfect shade, trying to escape the heat of early summer for just a little while.
The Kailani estate and gardens were so vast that it would be easy for a stranger to get lost.
But Roxana, who had lived here for seven years — ever since she was thirteen — knew every path by heart.
She walked without much thought, just letting her feet lead her wherever they wanted… until suddenly, it felt as if she had run into a wall.
Someone was standing right in front of her.
She flinched, startled, and quickly lifted her head to see who it was.
“Ah!”
Golden hair that outshone the sunlight. Eyes as blue as a clear sky.
It was Asterion Kailani, the Duke himself.
Roxana froze in place, staring at the young, handsome duke — twenty-three years old and breathtaking in every way.
Before she could even greet him, Asterion spoke first.
“Lady Roxana Avelio, will you marry me?”
Roxana, who had just been about to bow in greeting, froze mid-movement.
Did she hear that right?
Her long black eyelashes fluttered rapidly, and her green eyes — the color of fresh summer leaves — widened like lanterns.
She opened her mouth a moment later.
“What?”
“I said, marry me.”
Roxana blinked in disbelief.
Was the heat getting to both of them? Her heart was beating so loudly she could barely think.
“What do you mean by that…?”
“I need a duchess.”
His voice was dry, his expression cold.
A duchess, not a wife.
Understanding the hidden meaning behind those words, Roxana’s face twisted slightly.
Even though she wasn’t very social, she still knew the rumors floating around lately.
And she was smart enough to guess why Asterion would suddenly bring up marriage — and to her, of all people.
The faction of the new crown prince — Asterion’s political enemies — had been pressuring him relentlessly.
They wanted to place one of their own in the empty seat of the Duchess of Kailani.
Lately, that pressure had reached its peak.
If things went wrong, the Kailani family, which stood neutral in politics, could end up with a duchess from the enemy faction — something absolutely unacceptable.
So, Asterion needed a shield.
A wife who had no power, no ambition, and who wouldn’t cause trouble or demand anything from him.
And the perfect candidate just happened to be right nearby.
Roxana Avelio — daughter of a fallen baron family.
An orphan with no family left, working as a servant in the Kailani household.
‘No family, no influence… A perfect puppet duchess.’
Countless thoughts tangled in her mind, but Roxana quickly composed herself.
Still, she couldn’t hide the flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
There they stood — in the middle of the garden, roses blooming red all around — the most powerful, most admired man in the empire waiting for her answer.
When her silence dragged on, Asterion added calmly:
“It’ll be good for you, too. You’ll live comfortably with financial stability. And if we ever divorce later… I’ll make sure you’re compensated generously.”
Divorce?
A marriage that had already assumed an ending.
Roxana bit her lip hard.
“And if I say no?”
“To the marriage? Or the divorce?”
“Both.”
“I won’t force you to marry me. That part is your choice.”
If she said yes, it meant that divorce was inevitable.
If she said no… would he just find another woman and make the same proposal?
He probably would. No — definitely not.
His eyes made it clear he wanted an answer now.
Her lips parted, about to ask for time to think… but then closed again.
She had nowhere to go.
And honestly, a better offer would never come — not now, not ever.
‘Even if there’s divorce waiting at the end…’
After a long silence, Roxana finally spoke softly.
“…I’ll accept your proposal.”
“Good. A wise decision.”
His golden eyebrows twitched ever so slightly, satisfied.
Roxana didn’t miss that faint smile.
The warm breeze stirred his golden hair. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.
When had it started — this feeling she couldn’t name?
In the seven years she had lived here, she had barely seen him.
Their meetings could be counted on one hand.
Yet somehow, somewhere along the way, she had come to harbor feelings for him.
And now, her answer marked the beginning of a loveless, practical, hollow marriage — a marriage that only existed for his convenience.
Even so… Roxana couldn’t help but accept.
‘Will I really be able to endure life by his side?’
The moment he heard her answer, Asterion turned and walked away without a trace of hesitation.
Roxana watched his cold back fade into the distance, pressing her aching chest with trembling hands.
The Duke of Kailani wasted no time announcing the engagement and began preparations immediately.
The once-quiet mansion was suddenly alive with activity.
The maids, busier than ever, finally finished their day’s work and returned to their quarters.
“Can you believe it? She’s a maid, just like us — and now she’s going to be the duchess?!”
“Roxana’s still of noble birth, though,” Daisy said timidly.
“So what if she’s noble-born? She’s still one of us.”
Paula sided with Julie, whose voice dripped with jealousy.
Among the servants, the young, handsome, and capable Duke of Kailani was an object of admiration — and unreachable fantasy.
So hearing that he was marrying Roxana, of all people, made jealousy burn like fire.
“Seriously, why her? There are so many better ladies lining up for him!”
“Shh! What if someone hears you?” Daisy whispered anxiously.
“What? It’s true! Don’t you feel weird serving a maid as your new duchess?”
“I… I don’t really know,” Daisy murmured.
“Of course you don’t. Well, I can’t accept it!”
“Me neither. I’m prettier than her anyway. Roxana’s all skin and bones.”
Unlike shy Daisy, Paula and Julie had no problem speaking their minds.
“And compared to his ex-fiancée, she’s nothing!”
“Exactly! The Lowell family is perfect in every way!”
Paula nodded in agreement.
Daisy’s quiet voice was drowned out when she whispered:
“But… Lady Lowell is already the Crown Princess now…”
The voices faded as the maids walked away, leaving the garden empty.
Hidden behind a hedge, sitting quietly on a bench, Roxana slowly stood up.
She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop — she had only stopped there to prolong her walk before going back to her new room.
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
Victoria Lowell.
The empire’s most praised woman — known as the Flower of the Empire, and now the Crown Princess — was none other than Asterion’s ex-fiancée.
Everyone knew the story.
How the Duke of Kailani had been abandoned like an old shoe, and how he had never gotten over her.
Roxana knew it too.
It wasn’t just that she couldn’t compare to the Crown Princess in looks, status, or grace — what hurt most was knowing that Asterion’s heart still belonged to someone else.
Her eyes drifted toward the window of her new bedroom.
Only an hour after accepting the proposal, her room had been moved — from the servants’ quarters to the second floor of the main mansion.
A faint, warm light spilled from the window.
The maids must have lit the lamps inside.
‘It’s not enough to call it heartbreak… but it still hurts.’
Roxana gave a small, bitter smile.
Was this what they called marriage blues? Her emotions were a tangled mess.
After a moment, she began walking again — toward her new quarters, once used by the late Duchess Eleanor.
Her steps felt unbearably heavy.
The Imperial Capital — Crown Prince’s Palace
“What?! The Duke of Kailani is getting married?!”
Crown Prince Donovan Marquis furrowed his brows and shouted in disbelief.
His aide, Viscount Alton, flinched and lowered his head.
“Yes, Your Highness. The bride is Roxana Avelio, a servant working at the Duke’s estate. She’s the daughter of a fallen baron.”
Sensing the Crown Prince’s temper, Alton hurried to change the subject.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ve confirmed it myself,” Alton said, speaking quickly as if to keep his head attached.
“After Baron Avelio and his wife died in an accident, the late Duchess of Kailani took in their only daughter as her personal maid. After the duchess passed away, Roxana continued to serve at the mansion. With no family or support, she’s been there ever since.”
“Hmm. Well, at least she’s not from an influential house. That’s something. Still, it’s a shame… our people should’ve taken that duchess seat.”
Donovan stroked his chin thoughtfully, feeling a twinge of regret.
He figured Asterion’s decision to marry a baron’s orphaned daughter was nothing more than a way to escape their political pressure.
But for some reason, something about it bothered him — like a thorn stuck in his throat.
Five years ago, after the death of the former Crown Prince Nathan in a carriage accident, Donovan, the emperor’s eldest son, had taken the position of Crown Prince.
And Asterion Kailani…
was not only his half-brother, but also Nathan’s closest friend.
