The night of Noah Valemont’s wedding arrived with a celebration Rosylin had never been allowed to be part of.
From behind the closed door of her room, she could hear everything.
Music.
Laughter.
The distant sound of glasses being raised.
The footsteps of servants rushing through the corridors.
Every few moments, another burst of laughter floated through the castle.
Rosylin sat quietly beside the window, listening.
She had been ordered not to leave her room.
The warning from the maid still echoed in her mind.
“Do not come outside tonight.
The castle will be filled with guests.
If anyone sees you, you will cause trouble.”
Rosylin had lowered her head and obeyed.
She always obeyed.
But tonight was different.
It was her brother’s wedding.
Noah Valemont was getting married.
And for the first time in her life, Rosylin wanted to see what happiness looked like when her family was together.
She slowly stood from her bed.
She walked toward the window.
The castle courtyard could not be seen clearly from her room, but the golden glow from hundreds of lanterns painted the night sky.
She could hear the wedding music more clearly now.
A violin.
Then another instrument joined.
The melody drifted through the corridors like an invitation.
Rosylin placed her hand against the window.
“What does it look like?” she whispered.
She had never been invited to celebrations.
She had never been allowed to sit beside her family during important occasions.
She had never watched Noah receive congratulations.
She had never seen her father smile proudly for one of his children while standing among guests.
Tonight, however, she was curious.
Just once.
She wanted to see it.
She wanted to know what everyone was celebrating.
Rosylin knew the servants would be extremely busy.
The wedding had brought nobles and important guests into the castle.
The maids would be carrying food, preparing rooms, serving drinks, and attending to the guests.
No one would be watching her.
No one would notice if she disappeared for a little while.
Her heart began beating faster.
She knew she was taking a risk.
If her father discovered her outside, she could be punished.
If the maids saw her, they might report her.
If one of the guests recognized her, everything could become a disaster.
But curiosity had already taken hold of her.
Rosylin opened the small wooden chest beside her bed.
Inside was an old maid’s dress.
She changed quickly.
She tied her long burgundy hair beneath a plain cloth and looked at herself in the small mirror.
The beautiful girl reflected there did not look like a member of the Valemont family anymore.
She looked like a servant.
Exactly what she needed.
Rosylin took a slow breath.
“Just for a little while.”
Then she opened her door.
She waited.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Nothing.
She slipped into the corridor.
Her heart pounded as she walked.
Every sound made her stop.
Every approaching footstep made her press herself against the wall.
But the castle was too busy to notice her.
Servants rushed past carrying trays.
Guests walked through the halls.
Music continued playing in the distance.
Rosylin finally reached a side passage that led toward an outside door.
She looked behind her one last time.
Then she opened it.
Cold night air touched her face.
For a moment, she simply stood there.
She had escaped.
Rosylin quietly closed the door behind her and walked toward the courtyard.
She stayed near the walls, keeping her head lowered whenever guests passed.
Eventually, she found a distant corner from where she could see the wedding celebration.
And then she stopped.
Her breath caught.
The entire Valemont family was there.
Her father stood proudly among the guests.
Her mother was smiling.
Noah stood beside his bride, dressed magnificently, surrounded by people congratulating him.
Relatives laughed together.
Alen moved excitedly among the guests.
Everyone looked happy.
Everyone belonged.
Rosylin remained far away.
She didn’t dare move closer.
She didn’t want anyone to recognize her.
So she simply watched.
For a moment, she forgot about everything else.
She watched her brother smile.
She watched her mother laugh.
She watched her father place a hand proudly on Noah’s shoulder.
And something inside her quietly broke.
She had spent years wondering whether her family would ever look at her the way they looked at Noah.
Tonight, she finally understood.
Perhaps they never would.
Rosylin lowered her eyes.
She tried not to cry.
“Noah deserves to be happy,” she whispered.
She meant it.
She truly did.
She wasn’t angry at him.
She wasn’t angry at the bride.
She wasn’t even angry at the people laughing around them.
She was simply hurt that she had to stand in the darkness to watch her own family celebrate.
A servant walked past her without even noticing.
Rosylin stepped farther into the shadows.
She watched the ceremony for a few more minutes.
Then she heard something behind her.
A small door opened.
Rosylin turned.
A little girl quietly stepped out of the castle.
She looked around nervously before walking toward the garden.
Rosylin frowned.
Why was a child leaving the celebration alone?
She watched the girl disappear through the garden entrance.
Something inside Rosylin urged her to follow.
She hesitated.
She had already broken one rule tonight.
Following a stranger was another risk.
But the girl looked frightened.
Rosylin quietly followed.
The garden was much quieter than the courtyard.
The wedding music became distant.
The laughter faded behind the castle walls.
Moonlight fell through the branches of the trees.
Rosylin finally saw the girl sitting alone on a bench.
The child looked calmer now.
Rosylin approached slowly.
“Are you all right?”
The girl looked up.
“I don’t like the wedding.”
Rosylin blinked.
“You don’t?”
The girl shook her head.
“There are too many people.”
Rosylin smiled faintly.
“Then I understand.”
The girl studied her.
“You don’t like crowds either?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Rosylin looked toward the castle.
“Sometimes a crowd can make you feel more alone than an empty room.”
The girl seemed to understand.
She moved slightly on the bench.
Rosylin sat at the other end.
“What is your name?”
The girl hesitated.
“Rizel.”
“Rizel,” Rosylin repeated softly.
“That’s beautiful.”
“What is yours?”
Rosylin looked down at her maid’s dress.
“Rosylin.”
“Are you a guest?”
Rosylin shook her head.
“No.
I’m just a maid who works here.”
Rizel looked at her carefully.
“You don’t look like a maid.”
Rosylin gave a small, embarrassed smile.
“Why?”
“Because you’re very beautiful.”
Rosylin looked away.
“No one has ever told me that.”
Rizel smiled.
“Then they don’t know how to see.”
Rosylin couldn’t help laughing softly.
It was a strange thing.
She had been hiding from everyone all evening.
Yet somehow, she felt comfortable talking to this little girl.
Rizel looked back toward the castle.
“My brother is inside.”
“Your brother?”
She nodded.
“He came with me.”
“Is he worried about you?”
Rizel smiled.
“He always worries about me.”
Rosylin’s expression softened.
“He sounds kind.”
“He is.”
Rizel’s smile became brighter.
“My brother is my whole world.”
Rosylin became quiet.
Rizel continued.
“He always knows when I’m scared.
He knows when I don’t want to talk.
When there are too many people, he takes me somewhere quiet.”
Rosylin listened carefully.
There was something almost painful about hearing those words.
Someone noticed Rizel.
Someone understood her.
Someone made sure she never had to face her fears alone.
Rosylin looked down at her hands.
“I think you’re very lucky.”
Rizel nodded.
“I am.”
Then her smile faded.
“But I still miss Mother.”
Rosylin looked at her.
“Your mother?”
“She isn’t here anymore.”
Rizel’s voice became quieter.
“She died when I was born.”
Rosylin’s heart tightened.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t remember her very well.”
Rizel looked toward the moonlit sky.
“Sometimes I try to imagine her face.”
Rosylin didn’t know what to say.
“She must have loved you very much.”
Rizel’s eyes filled with tears.
“My brother says she did.”
Rosylin reached out hesitantly and placed a gentle hand over Rizel’s.
“She did.”
Rizel looked at her.
“Sometimes I feel guilty.”
Rosylin immediately shook her head.
“Don’t.”
“Mother died because of me.”
“No.”
Rosylin’s voice was gentle but firm.
“You didn’t choose what happened.
You were only a child.”
Rizel wiped her tears.
“My brother tells me that too.”
“Then listen to him.”
Rizel smiled sadly.
“He says I’m the most important person in his life.”
Rosylin’s chest tightened.
She looked away.
She had never heard words like that spoken about her.
Not once.
She had spent sixteen years wondering what it felt like to be someone’s first choice.
Now she was sitting beside a child who had lost her mother, yet still had someone who loved her enough to protect her from the loneliness.
Rosylin smiled through the ache in her heart.
“You’re lucky to have him.”
“I know.”
A voice suddenly came from behind them.
“Rizel.”
Rizel’s face immediately brightened.
“Brother!”
Rosylin froze.
Slowly, she turned.
A young man stood beneath the trees.
He was tall—188 centimeters—with black hair and striking blue eyes.
His handsome face was calm and unreadable.
There was something distant about him.
He didn’t look like a man who easily trusted people.
This was Sylvan Ashford.
Twenty-one years old.
The eldest son of Lucien Ashford and the late Aster Ashford.
Aster had died giving birth to Rizel.
Since then, Sylvan had become fiercely protective of his younger sister.
Rizel was only eight.
She was the last living connection to the mother he had lost.
Sylvan had searched the castle when he realized she was gone.
He knew Rizel.
He knew that crowds made her anxious.
He knew that when she became overwhelmed, she searched for quiet places.
So he had come to the garden.
And before revealing himself, he had heard their conversation.
He had heard Rizel say that he was her whole world.
He had heard her speak about their mother.
And he had heard the mysterious maid comforting her.
His blue eyes settled on Rosylin.
Cold.
Careful.
Observant.
Rosylin suddenly felt uncomfortable.
She stood.
“I should go.”
Rizel looked disappointed.
“Already?”
Rosylin smiled gently.
“It was nice meeting you.”
“Will I see you again?”
Rosylin hesitated.
“Perhaps.”
She looked at Sylvan for only a moment.
Their eyes met.
His expression didn’t change.
Rosylin quickly lowered her gaze.
“Goodnight, Rizel.”
She turned and walked away.
Sylvan watched her disappear into the darkness.
He didn’t call after her.
He didn’t ask her name.
He simply watched.
There was something unusual about her.
She said she was only a maid.
But there was something about the way she spoke to Rizel.
Something sincere.
And then there was her appearance.
Sylvan had seen beautiful women before.
Beauty had never impressed him.
He had always kept his distance from women, refusing to encourage attention he didn’t return.
He didn’t fall easily.
He didn’t trust easily.
And he certainly didn’t become interested simply because someone was beautiful.
Yet as Rosylin disappeared into the darkness, an unexpected thought escaped his lips.
“How can a maid be this beautiful?”
He frowned slightly at himself.
Why had he even thought that?
Before he could think further, small arms wrapped around him.
“Brother.”
Sylvan looked down.
Rizel was hugging him tightly.
His cold expression softened immediately.
He placed one hand gently on her head.
“You disappeared.”
“I didn’t like the crowd.”
“I know.”
“I knew you would find me.”
Sylvan looked down at her.
“Of course I would.”
Rizel hugged him tighter.
“I missed you.”
“I was looking for you.”
“I knew you would come.”
Sylvan’s hand moved gently through her hair.
“I always will.”
Rizel rested her head against him.
And beneath the quiet moonlit sky, Sylvan held his little sister close.
He had no idea that the mysterious maid he had just seen was Rosylin Valemont.
And Rosylin had no idea that the cold young man in the garden was Sylvan Ashford—the heir of Ashen.
They had met only once.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But that single night would become the beginning of a story neither of them could escape.