First meeting

"How did the current emperor mend the bonds the former emperor broke?" Celesti asked not helping but feel slightly curious about the subject. Seeing the deep frown resurface on Juvel's expression told her it was not as simple. His hands clenching over as they shook slightly and what could be described as anger and frustration.

"With his own sacrifice."

The conversation cut short after Juvel uttered those words. The rest of the ride remained silent not finding words to say. It wasn't until they had stopped to allow the horses to rest that she let out a breath sitting down by the stream. Gazing at her reflection she couldn't help but sigh.

Maybe it was the pity or discomfort of the subject. Compared to the first storyline she had learned more about her future husband than she had with the time she had spent with him.

Her heart thumped as she glanced down at the ring on her finger.

Why was this timeline already different from the original?

Juvel's arrival...

In the original the Soleil emperor only had some knights come.

The gifts...

The ring he had originally sent her before the wedding.

The stories Juvel had told her.

Small details that had changed after her realization. Was it those small changes she had done that repelled the paths ahead? Closing her eyes she took in a deep breath calming her nerves.

No, even then it changes nothing.

Even now, her plan would remain the same. Since the Soleil emperor had no real interest in the marriage other than a political one. She was sure that part wouldn't change. She sees him on the day of the wedding. After that the two remained in a cold relationship, appearing beside each other at events that needed so.

In a year of the marriage, the foreign girl from another world would arrive and she could willingly step down her crown. Returning to her home, and smoothly be able to avoid her family's passing. Her family and her kingdom would remain happy and at peace.

With that thought in mind, she let out a small smile opening her eyes. Letting out a gasp as a pair of gold eyes stared right at her from across the stream.

Perched on a bolder a large bird stood, its head tilting slightly as it stared at her curiously. It was a beautiful bird.

Larger than the average in size its feathers seemed to gleam like the sun in gold color, shifting into a crimson red as it went down its wings and long feathered tail. Around its neck, she caught sight of a gold cuff necklace.

The two stared at one another in silence before Celesti let out a smile.

"Maybe you're the only beautiful welcome I'll receive," Celesti spoke out to the bird who only titled its head more. She couldn't help but almost see a gleam in the bird's eyes. A gleam of something she couldn't figure out. Staring at her in silence the bird let out a cry extending its wings before ascending into the sky. Flying over her before it disappeared above the clouds. In awe, she extended a hand upward as one of the bird's feathers slowly floated down into her hand.

It was warm. As she stared at the feather she couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you."