Chapter 10
The Rumored Duke’s Daughter (4)
Veronica tilted her head back and looked up at the sky.
The clear blue expanse alone was enough to make her feel strangely refreshed. She slowly closed her eyes.
When was the last time she had looked at the sky like this?
The memory felt distant—almost lost.
“Are you ready, Veronica?”
“Yes, Father.”
Veronica lowered her head and straightened her posture. Her tied-up hair swayed lightly.
Harry approached while lightly stretching his body. Both of them were dressed in clothes suitable for movement.
A request she once made
“I want to learn martial arts.”
One day, Veronica had made that request to her father.
Harry had looked at her in confusion.
“But Veronica, didn’t you say you hated martial arts?”
He had once tried to teach her when she was very young.
Back then, Veronica had refused so strongly that she lay down on the floor in protest. After much persuasion, he had given up.
“My mind has changed. I think it would be good to learn.”
“You don’t need to push yourself. You were even unwell recently.”
“My body is fine now. And my mind is clear too. It’s better to know how to protect myself. We never know what might happen in the future…”
The weight of those words slipped out lightly, almost unnoticed.
Veronica quickly lifted her gaze and smiled.
“Moderate change is necessary, don’t you think?”
“…If that’s what you want.”
Harry still felt uneasy, but agreed.
He assumed she would lose interest quickly anyway.
“Thank you, Father.”
Veronica smiled brightly.
Morning training begins
From then on, they began running around the estate every morning.
Harry initially expected her to quit quickly—but even through muscle pain, she kept attending.
Eventually, he realized she was serious and began training with her properly.
Veronica stretched lightly, then shouted:
“Please take care of me!”
And they started running.
Harry had told her to build stamina first.
Even circling the estate left Veronica breathless. Her pale face quickly became soaked in sweat.
Her legs trembled. Her breathing grew ragged.
Until now, Veronica’s life had depended entirely on her father.
She had been a pampered daughter who could do nothing on her own.
She had never resisted anyone. Never defended herself. Never fought back.
Even though she was the daughter of a great general, she had never learned martial arts—simply because she disliked having muscle.
How foolish I was.
Even when her father had been taken away, she had lacked the courage to pick up a sword.
She had only been swept along by the waves.
She didn’t want that anymore.
She didn’t want to be powerless.
She wanted to act. To resist. Even if her future was destined to be tragic.
Her ultimate goal was now clear:
Cassian Theron Diasta—the Fifth Prince. She would bring him into her life.
Frustration about the engagement
Her running suddenly became more aggressive.
“Veronica, it’s good to be motivated, but don’t go too fast.”
“Ah, sorry.”
She slowed down.
And sighed.
She had been in a bad mood lately.
Even though she had agreed to the engagement, the Emperor had rushed everything.
He had tried to push for an immediate marriage, but Harry had insisted on at least an engagement ceremony first.
Still, it had all been rushed—barely three months of preparation, almost no formal procedures.
Harry had even offered to delay things if Veronica felt pressured.
But she had refused.
Because in both this life and her previous one, she had also been engaged to Asar around this time.
The Emperor had always been impatient.
So she had gone directly to him and requested the marriage herself.
Harry, unaware of this, believed she was enduring pressure for his sake.
He worried constantly.
“Are you truly okay?”
Veronica only smiled.
The engagement ceremony memory
Her engagement ceremony had been exactly as expected.
Rushed. Incomplete. Lacking imperial formalities.
She had seen it before—this exact scenario.
In her past life, she had stood in this same place with Asar.
Only now did she notice how hurried everything had been.
Cassian had been there too.
That day, she had left him behind after securing the Emperor’s agreement.
When they met again at the ceremony, his expression was still displeased and uncomfortable.
“Prince Cassian, you look very handsome today.”
“……”
He still glared at her.
But he had no choice but to complete the ceremony under the Emperor’s watchful eye.
With a face like someone wishing to die, he placed the ring on her finger.
Veronica smiled brightly.
Then, as if overwhelmed with joy, she hugged him.
Her gaze drifted—to someone standing far away, watching.
A man who had come to accompany his younger brother despite his discomfort.
She leaned toward Cassian and whispered:
“I will send you letters. You must reply.”
No reply
But—
He never replied.
Why aren’t you replying?!
Her crimson eyes turned cold.
Cassian had no manners.
Ignoring his fiancée’s letters was unacceptable.
Even if the engagement was political, basic etiquette required a reply.
She had sent twenty-five letters.
Not a single response.
He would regret this.
No matter how noble he was, he could not ignore an imperial engagement.
She sighed again.
Letter writing obsession
After returning from training, she bathed and changed.
Before her history tutor arrived, she went to her study.
She sat at her desk, took out clean paper, and picked up her quill.
Even though all twenty-five previous letters had been ignored, she did not give up.
She had never expected him to be receptive anyway.
So she simply continued writing.
Letter to Cassian
To His Highness Prince Cassian Theron Diasta,
I hope this letter reaches your heart…
She wrote politely at first.
But slowly, her true thoughts slipped through.
“…I hope you will finally reply. After ignoring me like this, I wonder how long your peace will last. Even if you refuse, we are already engaged…”
Her voice drifted into something more dangerous beneath the elegant phrasing.
From the outside, it looked like a perfect love letter.
Unexpected visitor
Knock knock.
A maid entered.
“Miss.”
“I told you not to disturb me unless it’s urgent.”
“Lady Arin has arrived.”
Her pen stopped.
Veronica paused briefly, then nodded.
“Take her to the reception room.”
She adjusted her clothes, cleaned her ink-stained hands, and put on gloves.
Lady Arin’s visit
A young woman with neatly styled silver hair greeted her warmly.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Veronica.”
“Thank you, Lady Arin.”
The greeting was now routine.
Then came the expected question:
“When did you and Prince Theron become… close?”
Arin’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Veronica sighed internally.
Everyone asked the same thing.
They were curious about how the girl who once obsessively loved the Fourth Prince ended up engaged to the Fifth.
And worse—
Those two princes were half-brothers.
The daughter of House Hardiness, caught between two imperial princes.
No wonder rumors were spreading.
Dirty rumors, no doubt.
Veronica calmly prepared herself to answer.
