Chapter 1: Back to the Residence in the Capital

“Your Grace, my lady, welcome back.”

Our summer vacation was coming to an end, and Alexei and I had just returned to our residence in the capital after we’d spent the summer in the duchy. Between the purge of the nobles hostile to Alexei, the pilgrimage to the Mountain Sanctuary, my meeting with Dragon King Vladforen (plus his subsequent proposal), and the crown prince’s visit, the summer had been especially packed.

The servants of our capital residence had lined up behind our butler, Graham, to welcome us. Graham hadn’t changed one bit in the time we’d been away. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he bowed at the perfect angle when we approached. He was exactly what the butler of a powerful house with a long history of over four hundred years ought to have been.

However, I got the feeling that his smile was just a bit wider than the polite one a butler was required to wear.

“Thank you,” Alexei said with his usual briskness.

“I’m happy to be back! Have you and the others been well, Graham?” I asked.

“Yes, my lady. We’re all in good health.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” I said. I smiled at the servants in the room, and everyone returned the expression.

“And I’m glad to findyou well, my lady.”

I turned around to look at the person who’d just spoken, and my face lit up. “Mr. Halil!”

“Welcome back, my lady, Your Grace.” The duchy’s trade advisor, Halil, appeared from behind Graham. His beautiful foreign features were as striking as ever. He grinned before bowing to us.

“It’s good to see you. There’s so much I hope to discuss with you!” I exclaimed.

Halil chuckled. “I had a feeling there might be.”

Graham insisted we rest and relax first, so we entered the residence.

“You seem to be in high spirits,” Alexei said, taking my hand to escort me. “Do you prefer the capital?”

“I enjoyed our time in the duchy too, but it’s in this residence that—”

I stopped myself mid-sentence. It was in this residence that my memories had fully returned. This was the