Empress Jovine de Tristaine first fell in love with her husband on the day he proposed to her.

Frankly speaking, their marriage was one of convenience. Born from the noble family of Rainer, she was raised to be the perfect candidate for Crown Princess and molded to be the wife and partner to Richard de Tristaine, the heir to the Theolos Empire.

At the tender age of eleven, she had first met the brooding prince. Three years older than her, he had towered over her small frame, looking regal and threatening with those harsh dark blue eyes that narrowed on the timid girl in front of him. Since then, she couldn’t help but be intimidated by the cold presence of the future Emperor she was supposed to win over.

It wasn’t until they were older that she started noticing his alluring charm. His brash personality hadn’t changed much, but he grew to be devastatingly beautiful, with a luscious mane of dark hair, deep blue eyes that held a pool of mysteries, and a sharpness that made him feel strong and dominating. Not only that, but he started to smile in front of her. And, it was the way he let down his guard that had her falling.

She could still remember the exact day it all changed.

On the night of the Winter Solstice Ball when she was thirteen, Jovine had snuck out of the palace ballroom with a smuggled cloth full of chocolates. After days of eating under the watchful eye of her mother, who never stopped emphasizing the importance of sacrifice in beauty, she could not resist the seductive temptation of the decadent sweets piled high in mountains of sugar and luxury. So, after discreetly plucking a few from the plate of her third brother, Edgar, she stuffed them into a napkin and made her way to the gardens outside.

With only the night sky as her witness, Jovine hid behind a marble fountain and stuffed her face with rich chocolates that melted on her tongue the moment it entered her eager mouth. She closed her eyes, letting a small cry of delight escape as she enjoyed her dessert, surrounded by lights and endless green.

It wasn’t until she heard the soft padding of footsteps fall behind her that she realized her escapade would be short-lived. Swiftly discarding the evidence of her indulgence in the band of her gown, she turned to quietly retreat, only to find the Crown Prince staring at her inquisitively.

“Y-Your Highness,” she had sputtered, quickly lowering herself into a clumsy curtsy.

He was silent, and when she looked up, she found his expression curious.

“What are you doing out here alone?”

With wide eyes, she lied. “To... enjoy the stars.”

Richard pressed his lips together, and she couldn’t tell if he was displeased or not. Her cheeks flamed, flustered by the situation. She needed to be calm.

With a dramatic wave of her hand to the dark sky above them, she smiled. “The stars are as majestic as your presence tonight, Your Highness.”

A burst of laughter from the prince had her lips parting in shock. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile. In fact, she never knew he had a small dimple in his left cheek. He was simply magnificent.

Richard stepped into her as she remained frozen on the spot, too focused on the rare sight of his brilliant smile to react to his sudden proximity. With a gentle touch, he caressed her face, and her heart galloped furiously. What was going on?

The slow stroke of his thumb across her lips had her jerking back in surprise. Looking amused, he examined his stained finger.

“Mm,” he pondered. “Chocolate.”

Jovine gasped in horror, the moment shattering with the realization of her oversight. She clapped her hands over her chocolate-stained mouth, wanting to burst out in tears from the embarrassment. This was not how a future Crown Princess should be seen.

“I-I’m so sorry, Your Highness,” she mumbled behind her hands.

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He tilted his head, smiling at her reaction, except this time, she was no longer in a position to appreciate it. Despite the easiness on his face, Jovine wanted to crumble away into the earth until she could be safely hidden away from her mortification.With quivering eyes, she squeaked out an excuse and scurried away.

She avoided him for the rest of the night, turning her back on his amused glances from across the ballroom or fleeing from any chance of contact. She was quite successful in her attempts until she was forced to face him for her family’s bid of farewell to the Imperial family.

When he came to her to say his remarks and she avoided his eyes, he caught her hand and placed a customary kiss on the back of it, something so unexpected she jumped a little at the contact. With a discreet smile of mischief pressed against her heated skin, he inserted a small round object into her palm.

In the carriage ride home, she discovered it to be a ball of chocolate covered in golden foil.

Jovine fell asleep smiling that night.

By the age of sixteen, Jovine was no longer afraid of him. Instead, she adored him. Found herself endeared by any and every thing he happened to do in her presence. She couldn’t help but fall for the pitch of his reluctant chuckles during their brief acquaintances throughout the years, or the way he said her name and started calling her ‘Jovie’ as they grew more familiar. She loved how he would tell her stories from his childhood and the way he loved his family. She looked forward to hearing about his day or the plans he held for the Empire once he was crowned, just to be able to catch a glimpse into a life she could see herself sharing with him.

And, most of all, she loved the way his gaze towards her would change as she grew into a woman. A direct reflection of her mother, Jovine grew to be as stunning as the renowned Marchioness celebrated for her beauty. With long golden hair that rivaled the gleam of the sun, turquoise eyes as clear as the Western Sea, and a gentle smile that softened the hearts of even the most glacial men, Jovine Rainer was a treasured gem of the Theolos Empire. Together, the two future monarchs made a most handsome couple, and Richard de Tristaine came to appreciate the vision his future wife became.

When she finally came of age, and the betrothal was pronounced, the Prince, to her great surprise, requested a day to celebrate with her. So, after a peaceful day’s journey to the Summer Palace, he brought her to a hill surrounded by a field of yellow roses that overlooked the expanse of the ocean.

This place would later become her favorite escape, and this version of Richard — one who was carefree and young with the wind blowing through his hair and the sun coloring his cheeks — her most cherished memory of him. The image of him leaning back on a wool blanket, dressed down in a billowy white tunic that teased hints of bare skin, and grinning from ear to ear as he proudly presented a basket of baked goods and her favorite confections, felt like a sweet promise.

As Jovine happily munched on the talents of the royal patissier, she could feel the weight of his stare on her. When she looked up, he gazed at her thoughtfully.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Richard murmured distantly, as if his words were present here with her, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

“You can ask me anything,” Jovine replied eagerly, curious beyond measure as to what question could have him looking at her like that.

His lips twitched in amusement, but there was an unwelcome tension that suddenly intruded on their happy getaway.

“We’re officially betrothed now,” he slowly started.

Jovine nodded slowly, the direction of the conversation making her nervous.

He opened his mouth to continue, but he hesitated as his finger started to tap on his knee, an anxious habit of his. “You’ll make a fine Empress beside me one day, but there are sacrifices that come with being the bride of the future Emperor.”

Jovine swallowed the sour pastry she could have sworn was sweet.

Richard suddenly stood and extended a hand towards her. She reached out her hand uneasily, taken aback by his sudden movement, but he caught her hand in the air, and in that moment, it felt like the beginning of a lifetime connection between the two.

Holding onto her as she stood, he continued, “So, while I can’t promise you my love, I do promise you this, Jovine Rainer. I will be a good, committed husband to you. In times of happiness, like today, and times of heartache, I will stand by you, as I hope you will with me.”

Jovine’s heartbeats fluttered in staccato beats as he knelt down on the ground with a yellow rose.

“Our betrothal may be predetermined, but my mother did raise me to be a man of honor,” he said with a playful smile. “So I ask you, dear Jovie. Will you marry me?”

Jovine was rendered speechless. Of all the things she expected, having Richard de Tristaine bare his heart to her was never one of them.

The Crown Prince of Theolos was not a warm man. He was cold and calculating. Although he had defrosted in her company, it had taken years of obligatory contact. Yes, he opened up in rare moments of vulnerability, but those were quite scarce and she couldn’t help but wonder if every move he initiated was a calculation made to uphold his reputation or secure the loyalty of the people he required.

Even his words were carefully worded. He never promised his heart, but he unveiled enough of it to convey his sincerity.

In the coming years, when she looked back on this day, she would wish she had realized it. But, none of it mattered to her when she saw the way he beamed at her with hope in his eyes.

Because, while she may not have his love, he had hers. Unconditionally. Irreversibly.

So, foolishly, without another thought, she said, “Yes.”