In an ancient castle that exudes both splendor and gravity, a beautiful woman was comfortably soaking in a bathtub in the deepest part of the castle.
She was leisurely rubbing her body in the tub, adorned with rose petals. The vibe she gave off felt more alluring than pure, with a slight hint of dark charm radiating from her stunning face.
With blue hair and emerald green eyes, she began to cleanse her skin, which was as smooth and flawless as white jade, and her expression began to reflect serenity.
Starting from her shoulders, she slowly caressed her ample bosom, feeling no sense of inadequacy in her allure. As she washed the area that had never once felt a twinge of disappointment, a calm smile appeared on her lips.
Possessing the pride befitting a woman, she pondered over the conversation she had overheard that morning.
“Engagement… It’s about time, isn’t it? This is the peak of my bloom as a woman, the ultimate time to find the best groom.”
Marriage was practically a mandatory concern for these hopeful women. Of course, Count Turun’s eldest daughter, Queen Andreas, was uniquely maintaining her single status. However, that fact cast a rather unfavorable shadow on how society viewed her.
Moreover, her influence within her family was similarly hampered by this perceived flaw. Thus, in this regard, as she washed her blue hair while reflecting, she couldn’t help but hold a low opinion of Queen Andreas, who seemed somewhat similar yet fundamentally different.
“I don’t quite grasp what she’s thinking… But unfortunately, even if it might work next door in the Dragona Empire, behaving this way in the Sacred Empire is nothing short of a blunder. To climb higher, one must know how to leverage various situations…”
With those thoughts in mind, she slowly finished her bath and rose from the tub. At that moment, receiving the bright autumn sun, her body began to shine brilliantly.
Her voluptuous and beautiful bosom was enough to send many men into a flurry. With a slim waist devoid of flab, and artistic hips supporting it, she truly looked like a perfect sculpture as she started to dry her body.
“Hoo…” she sighed, feeling a slight chill from the cold autumn air as she wrapped a large towel around herself.
After finishing her refreshing morning bath, she slowly left the bathroom and headed to her dressing room.
Inside, a myriad of colorful outfits awaited her attention. Among them, a black dress captured her interest as it would perfectly complement her blue hair and green eyes.
Turning to the maids standing behind her, she spoke with a commanding tone, “Dress me.”
“Yes, Milady.”
Immediately, the maids began to adorn the beautiful lady, envied even by their own kind, with elegant clothing, their careful yet somewhat reverent hands enhancing her youthful figure.
Once she was fully dressed, she stepped out of the room. There, a young boy stood waiting for her.
A child, no older than seven years, he beamed a bright smile and rushed towards her.
“Sister!”
As he called out to her and leaped into her arms, she naturally embraced him, a tender smile spreading across her face.
To an onlooker, they might appear as a young mother and her child, but these two were, in fact, siblings sharing the same blood.
The boy cuddled in the arms of his older sister, who was over a decade his senior.
Johan Bertina Fernandez, the lord governing the Rhapsody Region adjacent to Bohemia, was still a naive child with little understanding of the world.
And, his sister, Estelle Bertina Fernandez, was the one who wielded significant power in the region of Rhapsody on his behalf.
After a moment of petting her little brother’s head, she slowly released him, grasping his hand firmly, and together they began to walk toward the lord’s office.
“Did you sleep well last night, my lord?” she asked.
“Yes. I was a bit scared without you… but I held on and slept well. Will you praise me?”
“Of course, you did splendidly, my lord.”
Though he spoke with the cultivated speech of a noble, Johan was still just a young boy in appearance. He had merely assumed the title of lord due to the sudden death of their father two years ago and knew nothing of power or politics; in everyday life, he was still quite lacking.
Therefore, since ascending to power, he had to rely almost entirely on his sister Estelle, the only family he had.
Estelle, in turn, took charge of the Rhapsody Region in Johan’s name, handling the pressures of the situation exceptionally well despite her youth, all while facing various concerns from those around her.
Despite being very young, she proved her lineage as a descendant of the famous Bertina matriarch, having kept the local discontent gentlemen in check almost flawlessly.
Also, considering the unstable politics of the Sacred Empire, Estelle expanded her influence by reaching out to the Dragona Empire, further solidifying her power.
Through these impressive accomplishments, her renown had spread beyond Rhapsody, even reaching both the Sacred Empire and Dragona Empire.
And at present, Estelle’s thoughts were consumed by the contents of a letter that had arrived that morning. It was a marriage proposal from a neighboring noblewoman from Bohemia.
“The Bohemian noble Santan… Certainly, he appears to be quite a suitable match.”
She was already familiar with his reputation. He was the man who had defeated the powerful military of the Sacred Empire, leading what was thought to be an impossible war to victory.
Estelle had kept her distance, originally predicting that Bohemia’s rebellion would end in meaningless failure. Nevertheless, she found herself considerably interested in this key player of the war, Santan.
“And… that man is seeking a bride? I’ll need to keep tabs, but it’s clear that meeting him is necessary.”
She considered the upcoming meeting and what it might mean, whether she would indeed wed the man or not was a later concern.
While it might not matter in other areas, as the next successor to the strong land of Bohemia, she felt it was crucial to establish a connection as the de facto ruler of Rhapsody.
Thus, focusing more on gathering information and building relationships rather than a simple marriage arrangement, Estelle decided she would visit Bohemia.
As always, she was determined to secure a future for herself and her little brother.
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