She was fine.
Being ignored by others, or having her name appear in baseless rumors—these were familiar things to Clématty.
In fact, they were part of her everyday life, for which she had once been grateful.
Before she met him, everything in the world had threatened her life. There were even times when she had to flinch at the sound of birds taking flight.
Because of that, Clématty had developed a certain immunity to being humiliated by others.
However, when it came to Prox—the person she admired and loved most—there were things she simply could not endure.
He was a capable and respectable man in every regard, but as a matter of duty, he was often cold and could say things that hurt others.
Some people accepted their mistakes humbly, while others tried to find the cause of everything in others.
Whenever Clématty overheard servants or knights in Prox’s estate speaking ill of him, she could not sleep that night.
How could they say such things about such a great man? There must be a deeper reason behind everything he did.
She could endure being insulted herself, but she could not tolerate anyone insulting him.
But what if others found out about her relationship with Prox?
She might be used as a scapegoat, but Prox—the master of this estate—was different.
Even those who respected him might become disappointed, and some might even lose their admiration for him.
Clématty desperately wanted to prevent any harm from reaching Prox because of her relationship with him.
“Please understand. Unlike me, Your Grace must uphold your dignity.”
Prox took his hand off the wall and stepped back, widening the distance between them.
He would normally have accepted her words without hesitation, finding them reasonable.
But for some reason, he could no longer look at Clématty the way he once did.
His tightly pressed lips delayed the answer he knew he would eventually have to give.
“…Fine. I’ll leave that aside.”
As soon as Prox spoke, Clématty lowered her head.
“Thank you very much.”
Even after speaking, Clématty’s eyes wandered aimlessly, unsure where to look.
The conversation seemed to have ended, yet Prox did not return to his place. Instead, he stood at a distance, looking down at her.
“Now that I think about it… this isn’t the first time.”
Prox muttered something unclear.
Clématty blinked, not understanding, then slowly looked up at him.
Prox met her with a languid gaze and tapped his own lips with his index finger.
“Kiss.”
Just hearing the word made Clématty immediately recall last night.
Her whole body heated up instantly, and her breathing became uneven.
She tightly closed her lips, forcing down her ragged breath.
“…Ah.”
Prox’s mouth curved slightly.
“You know, that wasn’t your first kiss, was it?”
“……”
Only then did Clématty understand what he meant.
Clématty had not always been born a commoner.
She had once been the beloved daughter of a prestigious noble house.
Her father, Marquis Robert, was a loyal subject of the king, deeply trusted and long-serving.
Born as the youngest daughter of the House of Robert, Clématty received a high-level education and often traveled abroad to broaden her horizons.
From a young age, she entered high society, forming friendships with other noble daughters her age, and frequently accompanied her father to royal audiences.
Among the Robert family’s children, Clématty was the most notable.
She was a precious daughter born like a ray of light to a marquis house that had only sons.
And she possessed a very special ability.
“The reason the garden trees of House Robert remain so healthy and vibrant is all thanks to Clématty.”
The ability to restore dying life.
Her mother had once imported rare fruit trees from abroad, planting them in the estate garden. However, they quickly withered due to the unfamiliar climate and soil.
As her mother wept beside them, young Clématty had breathed life into the trees. Within minutes, they had regained vitality.
When this story spread, the royal family summoned Clématty and asked her to revitalize the royal gardens as well.
Thanks to her ability, the palace gardens flourished, enhancing the prestige of the Kingdom of Karlian.
At first, Clématty believed she was using magic.
But her ability came at a price.
The law of equivalent exchange.
Each time she revived a dying being, her own health began to deteriorate little by little.
At first, she did not notice it because she used her power only occasionally. But when noble families repeatedly summoned her after hearing of her abilities, she began suffering sudden fevers.
Despite her fragile condition, Clématty became even more renowned as the noble daughter with a special gift.
“My dear daughter. Unless it is truly necessary, do not use your ability carelessly. Your health is far more important.”
Clématty remembered her mother’s words.
Even the king did not demand excessive use of her ability that would endanger the health of the trusted marquis’s daughter.
And so, Clématty naturally sealed away her power and lived quietly.
It would have been nice if that peaceful life had lasted.
“Madam! Something terrible has happened!”
“What is all this commotion?”
“Lord Robert, who was dispatched to the Kingdom of Teiran—he…!”
The Kingdom of Teiran bordered Karlian.
It was a nation with constant disputes over border territories and military authority. To resolve decades of conflict, Marquis Robert had been sent as an envoy.
However, he was taken hostage in Teiran and ultimately forced to sign an unjust treaty with Karlian.
In an instant, he was branded a traitor who had sold out his country. Upon returning, Marquis Robert was executed immediately.
Soon after, the royal decree came: House Robert, now deemed traitors, was to be eradicated.
The Robert family prepared to flee at night.
But royal knights had already breached the gates and surrounded the estate.
“Go first!”
Her mother pushed Clématty into a hidden passage in her bedroom.
“Mother! What about you?!”
“I will follow soon. Go now!”
Tears streamed down Clématty’s face as she was forced away.
She could not move.
“Clématty. Listen carefully.”
Her mother held her tightly one last time.
“No matter what happens, you must never use your ability to revive the dying. It will harm your health, and it will expose your identity as a daughter of House Robert.”
Clématty’s ability was known throughout the kingdom.
Her mother feared that it would eventually reveal her identity.
“So change your name. Erase every trace of House Robert.”
“Mother… Mother!”
Bang—bang!
The doors shook violently.
“Open the door!”
Her mother shut the hidden passage.
“Run. I will buy time. Don’t worry.”
That was the last time Clématty saw her mother.
Her father, her brothers—everyone was left behind.
Alone, she fled and survived.
She hid in a remote mountain orphanage for over three years, living every day in fear.
Night after night, she dreamed of being caught and executed like her father.
One day, unable to bear the suffocating fear, she wandered down into the forest.
There, beneath the warm sunlight in the deep woods—
A man lay bleeding on the ground.
Clématty could not look away.
Though she had hidden herself away from the world, she approached him without hesitation.
She knelt beside him and pressed her ear to his chest.
A faint heartbeat—he was alive.
How could such a beautiful man be dying here?
For a moment, she forgot even her own situation.
After a brief hesitation, she closed her eyes.
She would soon be caught and executed anyway.
So if her life was destined to end, she would give it to him instead.
It felt almost like fate—that she was meant to save him.
She took a deep breath.
Her mother had told her never to use her ability again, but after three years, Clématty broke that promise.
She leaned down toward the fading life before her.
And in that moment—something unbelievable happened.
The dying man opened his eyes.
That was the moment of their first kiss.
When she saw his eyes, he was even more beautiful than she had imagined.
Clématty saw a clear, shimmering light within his blue gaze.
“Thank goodness… you’re alive…”
She could not finish her words.
And then she collapsed onto his chest.
