Exiting the carriage, the butler told Karolina that her father was waiting for her in the drawing room.
There she began to grace herself before His Majesty, King Nathan, who sat beside her father. But the king shushed her. He was here on private business.
They exchanged pleasantries, and then Nathan asked whether she had a lover, or a partner of any kind at the moment.
Her father asked him to leave out the small talk and get to business.
"This isn't small talk," Nathan assured him, and stood, and began to explain why he had come.
The deadline for formalizing their broad-based alliance was approaching fast. Unfortunately, one of their own had slighted a duchess of the Malcosian Empire — and that duchess happened to be the reigning emperor's younger sister. They would not take that lying down. Under normal circumstances, Nathan would be facing some sort of sanction.
But an envoy from the empire had arrived just the other day and presented a proposal. Celestia was to provide a wife to the second prince of the Malcosian Empire.
Karolina knew who the second prince of Malcosius was. Edward Ruby Martinez, the founder and commander of the Pyborn Knights. Exceptionally gifted with both sword and magic, he had distinguished himself through countless battles and made a name for his order throughout the world. However, he had never been hailed as a hero, because he was cruel. He would strike down anyone, even women and children. He was feared by the people as a man devoid of blood and tears.
They called him the bloodthirsty prince.
Nathan was troubled at having to choose a bride for him so soon, and he had to select a noblewoman of the highest status within their country. His own daughter was already promised to someone, and the nation could not afford to send Flora, because she was the candidate for the next saint.
Karolina resigned herself to this fate before he finished speaking. Many could replace her. No one could replace Flora.
And so Nathan made one final request of her, for the sake of their country. He asked that she marry the second prince of the Malcosian Empire.
She accepted, with no resistance whatsoever.
After the king left, Karolina's father came up to her and asked whether she had any doubts about marrying Prince Edward. If so, he would persuade the king to scrap this plan entirely.
"This country would come to ruin if I refused —"
He cut her off. He knew that. But he could not stand by and watch as his daughter was married off to another country like a sacrificial offering. She was his darling little girl.
She could not believe what he was saying. She had always thought she was unloved, because she was a disgrace, unworthy of anything.
"That's ridiculous," her father said, and embraced her closely. "Who said that?"
She was so happy. She accepted the marriage without reservation. If this would serve the kingdom of Celestia, and if she could be of use to their house, it would be the greatest honor.
He smiled, and told her she was just like her mother in that respect. She was surprised as he went on. She was just like Karen — the way she was so hard on herself, yet kind to others. The way she never spared any effort. He thought she was her spitting image.
Karolina asked to hear more about her mother, and they talked about her all through the night. About how she, with persistent effort, had been able to beat him at chess once. About how delicious the late-night snacks were that she secretly made. About how hardworking and serious she was, and yet how, on occasion, she would prank him and give him a hard time. How she loved going out to pick flowers. And the fact that right up to the very moment of her death, she never once harbored resentment toward anyone.
As if showing off a precious treasure, he carefully conveyed his memories of her with each and every word.
Iris, a maid, stopped outside the door, overhearing their giggling. She went to Flora afterward and reported everything she had heard about Karolina.
On another day, Karolina visited Karen's grave with her father. She took notice of the bouquet he was holding. Blue hyacinths meant unchanging love, and white meant modest love. Despite how he seemed, her father was surprisingly romantic.
They knelt together.
"Karen. It's been almost sixteen years since you left this world, and yet I still can't get used to a life without you. When it dawns on me, I find myself looking for traces of you."
Karolina looked at him in surprise. Then she spoke.
"It's been a while, Mother. Thanks to the resilience you passed on to me in birth, I'm doing great. Being healthy is my only merit. But I'm actually getting married. Tomorrow, I depart for the Malcosian Empire."
She paused.
"Mother, I believe today will be the last day I'm able to visit your grave. So please allow me to ask you one final thing. Mother — are you glad you gave birth to me?"
Her father was taken aback by the question, but she continued.
"The nobles of the kingdom of Celestia call me the Sanchez family disgrace. I lack brilliance of mind and any talent whatsoever, and to make matters worse, I was the cause of your demise, Mother." She wept. "Have you ever wished that you never gave birth to an embarrassment like me?"
Her father said that was enough, and Karolina apologized. But that said, she had no regrets herself. A light breeze blew across the grave, and she told her mother that she would not run from her fate any longer.
While packing her things that evening, Flora burst into her room, saying she had heard the news. Karolina ignored her sister's taunts about how she was being married off as a sacrificial offering, and about how no matter where she went, no one — not even a bloodthirsty prince — would ever love a disgrace like her.
It was a relief to Karolina, in a way. She would never have to see Flora again.
Karolina wept, smiling, at the carriage that would take her away, and thanked her father for everything. All the while Flora scowled, watching them from the window above.
The Duke embraced his daughter and told her he was so proud of her, and then he began to cry as well. He told her she need not be special, or the best, but simply live a happy, healthy life. That was all he wished for.
She stared out through the night, watching as she left her father behind. Eventually the dawn rose, and her driver told her they would be reaching their location soon.
This location was where the Pyborn awaited her. Since she was traveling in secret, the plan was to rendezvous with the returning knight order and to enter the empire together. That way, no one would be suspicious.