Since the unification of the empire, a unification celebration event featuring splendid fireworks has been held in the imperial capital of Khaledvar on May 8th every year.

The fireworks bursting into various shapes and colors in the sky are a pride of the empire.
They combine cutting-edge magic and attract numerous nobles to witness the beautiful spectacle.

As the evening approached and the darkness of the night gently crept in, we left the mansion and headed towards the capital by car.

“It’s an annual fireworks display, but I’m still looking forward to it.”
“Yeah.”

I happened to see the fireworks last year when I coincidentally stopped by the capital for negotiations.

At that time, due to busyness, it seemed like a blur.

Even within such hazy memories, there was one thing that stood out.

When the fireworks burst in the sky, my body trembled involuntarily.

The feeling of confusion at the trembling body, as if afraid of the loud noise and the unfamiliar shudder still vividly remembered.

Perhaps this is also some memory imprinted on Edward’s body.

Then am I… Edward Radner?

“Edward!”

Startled, I turned my head to find Ania staring at me with pursed lips.

“Yeah?”
“I called you several times… You were just staring out the window.”
“Sorry. I had something on my mind.”
“Hmm…”

Ania crossed her arms as if sulking and turned her head away.

Her playful gesture amused me, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Then, I shifted to sit beside her, lightly wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

“I won’t think of anything else. It’s our first date after we met again, and I was thoughtless.”
“You are too much. You’re the one who wanted to go as well.”
“Do you like fireworks?”

Swiftly changing the subject, Ania narrowed her eyes and glanced at me before chuckling.

It seemed like she was willing to let it slide this time.

“I like it.”
“Do you like it because fireworks look like flowers sometimes?”
“What kind of reason is that?”
“Haha.”

Ania leaned her head heavily on my shoulder as she spoke.

“Still, I prefer flowers over fireworks. Flowers may wither, but when spring comes, they bloom again.”
“But fireworks are launched again every year.”
“They disappear too soon.”
“That’s part of what makes it beautiful.”
“Is that so…”
“Sunsets are beautiful, but night swiftly follows. The meteor shower was beautiful too, but they passed in an instant.”

Ania then turned to me.

“But there are things that don’t disappear.”
“Yeah. Like the fact that I love you, forever.”

As if that was the correct answer, Ania buried her face into my chest.

“I feel the same way.”
“Yeah, I know.”

Before we knew it, darkness had fallen, and the car sped on its way.
Not far away, the magnificent walls of the Capital could be seen.

Already, small fireworks were shooting up into the sky, and the excited cheers of the people could be heard.

Amidst the small fireworks, one large red firework illuminated the sky.

I lowered my head and looked at Ania.
Her face was flushed.

***

Upon arriving at the gathering place where people had gathered in Khaledvar, fireworks began to burst into the sky.

“It’s already started.”
“Yeah, we arrived just in time.”

As they watched the fireworks bursting into the sky above the palace, Ania felt a renewed sense of joy.

Having seen them every year since childhood, these fireworks, which used to feel mundane, now seemed truly beautiful.

In truth, Ania didn’t particularly like fireworks that much.
If asked, she would say she didn’t like them.

The reason she participated in the annual Khaledvar Fireworks Festival was not because she liked fireworks, but rather the participation of the Bronte family in festivals under the Emperor’s rule was merely nominal.

“How fleeting,” Ania thought every time she watched the fireworks.

Whenever she saw the flickering flames illuminating the sky and disappearing, unpleasant memories of the past would come to Ania’s mind.

The men who professed love based solely on her appearance.
Her mother who left her behind under the name of love and disappeared to a distant place,
Her brother who passed away at a young age due to illness…

But this year was different.

The brief yet beautiful streaks of light shining and disappearing in the sky seemed truly beautiful.

Ania turned her head to see Edward looking up at the sky beside her.

His profile changed into various colors under the bright light.

It was impressive.

Just standing there quietly, Edward looked so cool that Ania couldn’t help but stare at him absentmindedly.

The fireworks reflected in his eyes sparkled.

Suddenly, the last firework flew into the sky.

With a roar, the firework burst into the symbol of the Empire.

And then darkness fell, and the street lamps flickered on.

“That was impressive.”
“Yeah.”

Still smiling, Ania, who had been watching his profile as if still immersed in the aftermath, chuckled softly.

This moment with you feels like a gift more precious than the fireworks in the sky.

Does this man even realize how I feel?

“It was too short.”

The boring time that she had wished would pass quickly seemed to pass too fast today.

Hoping that this week spent with him would pass slowly, Ania lightly hooked her arm with Edward’s.

“Shall we go back?”

Ania slowly raised her head towards Edward, who was smiling as he spoke.

“There’s a nice bar near the capital.”
“A bar? But you don’t drink…”
“It’s okay.”

Let’s get married again.
That’s what Ania wanted to say today.

She didn’t know if her feelings for Edward were love or possesiveness, but now she knew.
This feeling couldn’t be described in any other way than love.

Even if she felt she was completely inadequate for Edward, she wanted to gather her courage to say it.

However, she was afraid.
Because she had rejected countless hearts before.

So… let’s borrow a little bit of the power of alcohol.
To reveal her sincerity.

“Are you sure?”
“We should drink a little.”
“Okay.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”

Ania felt Edward’s intertwined fingers trembling slightly.

Was it fear, excitement, or both… she still didn’t know.

***

“The rumors were true.”

Upon hearing the news that Edward had suddenly canceled his one-week schedule and headed to the Capital, Joshua, passing through the crowd, hid his body when he saw a familiar face.

A man standing tall, with tousled brown hair, dark circles under his eyes, dressed in a suit.

He looked slightly different from what he remembered, but he was definitely Edward Radner.

“And… the one next to him.”

Even though the person was wearing a robe and had a hood over their head, Joshua knew the woman.

There was no mistaking it.

He had served as an aide at the Bronte Duchy for a whopping 30 years,
And because of that, he had seen Ania Bronte since the day she was born.

“I never imagined that they would actually run off to the Radner family…”

Joshua clicked his tongue at Ania’s absurd decision-making.

It was unbelievable how the noble girl who, just a few years ago, never refused any task assigned by the Duke had suddenly changed so much.

No matter how much children grow and change day by day, there must have been some catalyst.

Of course, for Joshua, it was a good thing.

For years, he had wanted to get the Bronte family in his hands.

Currently, the Bronte family, basking in the glory of the former Duke, was gradually declining, but the prestige of the ducal family still remained formidable.

Whether Valentine knew it or not, he was constantly tarnishing the reputation of the ducal family, and his daughter, Ania Bronte, was not capable enough to lead the ducal family.

She had a sense of responsibility, but she was too fragile and lacked decisiveness.

So rather than letting the ducal family, which the former Duke had worked so hard to establish during the invasion war, fall apart, it was better to take it into his own hands and restore its former glory.

“Here we are.”
“It’s really a great place. You sure have a good eye.”

After following them for a while, Edward and Ania entered a certain shop.

It was a famous bar frequented by the youth of the Capital.

“Young people these days…”

In the past, the youth of the Empire dedicated their bodies and minds to the country.
To think that they now just drink day in and day out, forgetting that lofty spirit.

Joshua shook his head in contemplation.

Once he got hold of the ducal family, he would set this declining Empire back on its feet.

For that, Joshua would do anything.

Even if it meant using the Duke’s daughter.

Joshua pulled his hood down deep and slowly stepped into the shop.

Author’s Note (Author’s Postscript):

I thought about doing a serial while I was caught up in PD pick, (TN: Think of it as a recommendation.)

But last night, I collapsed from stress while watching a soccer game,

And I just couldn’t write two episodes…

Still, I hope the national team, which worked so hard, returns home in good health. ㅜㅜ