Exactly when did she fall in love with the Prince? It was no longer possible to scrutinize.
She had spent far too much time with Faust—so much that Viviana had grown accustomed to him being a natural, taken-for-granted part of her life.
But Viviana would always remember that first day they met. After a night of snow, ten-year-old Viviana was practicing her swordsmanship in the estate, a habit she had kept since she was small.
Before the uprising, the Roselin family had been an ancient knightly house of the Empire, holding the heritage of the [Palace Knight] Path. The requirement of this Path was extreme diligence and self-discipline.
Therefore, Viviana had lived a life of ascetic cultivation from the moment she was old enough to understand things. Her talent was so high that even in the long history of her family, no kinsman could stand as her peer.
Viviana remembered her father lamenting her talent more than once, praising her and saying she would surely achieve extraordinary things.
But as for these accolades, Viviana had never really had a concept of them.
Everything she had done up to that point was merely following a set routine, adhering to the rules.
She did it to respond to her parents' expectations, to win glory for the family, even if she didn't fundamentally understand what those things meant.
Whether it was the praise or the jealousy of others, it was meaningless to the young girl; she was simply doing what she "should" do.
She lived like a doll, knowing neither joy nor sorrow.
"Vivian, let's end today's training here. I'm taking you to the palace."
Her father's appearance interrupted her practice. Viviana looked at her father, who was dressed in formal attire, and asked:
"Yes, Father. Is there something the matter?"
"His Majesty has adopted a youth. It seems our kingdom will have a Prince."
In Viviana's memory, her father had been very excited at that time, almost talking to himself:
"His Majesty and I had an agreement—a engagement arranged before birth. Originally, His Majesty only had a daughter, and I thought this marriage could no longer be realized. I didn't expect His Majesty would actually..."
Her father suddenly choked up, covering his face as he wept:
"Your Majesty, to think you would specifically adopt a Prince just for that promise. Your Majesty..."
Viviana couldn't quite understand her father's emotion. She thought for a moment, then tilted her head and said:
"Father, so, am I engaged?"
"That's right. Although it hasn't been formally settled, His Majesty will certainly have you and the Prince get engaged in a few years. This time, we are going to meet your fiancé."
Her father stroked her head and said.
"Is that so? I understand."
Viviana accepted it submissively. She had no clear perception of a engagement; since her father and the King had agreed upon it, it was only natural.
"Alas, your only flaw is that your temperament is a bit too indifferent. At least act happy, or even resistant. Never mind, we'll correct that later."
Thus, she quickly changed into a dress and followed her father to the palace.
It wasn't Viviana's first time at the palace. While her father went to meet with the King, she leaned quietly against a pillar, dazing at the grass in the garden.
Until she heard footsteps behind her, followed by a cheerful greeting:
"Hey there, where did such a fragrant and soft honey-cake come from?"
When Viviana turned her head to look, the subsequent scene was etched deep into her memory, unable to be washed away or erased by any means:
The youth was clearly her age, but his aura was mature in a way that didn't seem childlike.
Against the backdrop of the sunlight, his handsome face wore a gentle and confident smile as he drew nearly level with the little "loli's" face.
"Little... little cake?"
Viviana's calm, clear purple eyes couldn't help but widen. She had never been called such a thing before.
"Just a cute nickname. Don't you like it? It's because you're simply too cute."
The youth shrugged and then extended his hand toward Viviana:
"Of course, I know you are Viviana of the Roselin house. First time meeting you; I am Faust. Not long ago, I became the Prince of this country. You can just call me Faust."
Viviana hesitated for a moment before taking the hand Faust offered:
"...Hello, Your Highness."
She slightly tilted up her snowy-white chin, sizing up the youth who was only a bit taller than herself.
This is my fiancé.
The person with whom she would spend her life. The person with whom she would mutually possess.
For the first time, a ripple stirred in the girl's heart that had known neither joy nor sorrow.
Since then, Viviana had become Faust's follower.
Under the deliberate match-making of their elders, the two were practically inseparable. Whether it was dining, training, studying, or working, they were together. As they grew day by day, the originally vague and hazy concept of engagement became clear in Viviana's heart.
It was a contract of a lifetime, a supreme treasure of mutual possession, and a love of shared life and death.
At the thought of Faust becoming her lover, her partner, Viviana could not suppress the thumping of her heart.
It was as if she had been told that she would receive an incomparable treasure; an exhilarating pain swept through her heart, making the girl lost in fantasies about the future.
She had fallen hopelessly in love with Faust.
When and where?
Perhaps it was in the sunset when the two shared a small boat, drifting on the lake while water birds sang along;
Perhaps it was in the smile of the Prince as he described a brilliant future during an eloquent meeting;
Or perhaps it was in those busy late nights when they rested their shoulders against each other for a nap;
Or, perhaps, it was simply at that very first moment they met.
Identifying herself as Faust's future partner, Viviana vowed to be the Prince's most trusted person, working a thousand times harder than before and squeezing every bit of her potential.
No matter what the Prince demanded, she would give without reservation.
She would never disappoint Faust. It seemed that only by satisfying his every requirement could she be considered a qualified partner.
As long as Faust needed it, she would do her utmost to complete it. Regarding the political achievements the Prince of Qingxi had made over the years, it was hard to say who exactly had done the work.
Although the two had never been formally engaged and the Prince's opinion had never been asked, in Viviana's eyes, it simply wasn't a question.
How could we, who are so close and inseparable, not love each other?
So, when the King felt the time was ripe, he summoned them both and announced the news of the engagement.
Viviana still clearly remembered her joy upon hearing of the engagement ceremony, and she had waited impatiently to look at the Prince beside her, wanting to see the same delight on his face.
However, what greeted Viviana's eyes was Faust's expressionless indifference.
The Prince looked as if he wanted to say something, but he said nothing in the Audience Hall, accepting the news calmly.
Though he hid it well, as someone who had been with Faust for so long and could be called the person who knew him best, how could Viviana not see his resistance?
And so, the girl's originally rapturous heart plummeted into an abyss.
Sure enough, after a period of time, Viviana was sought out by her father, who bowed his head to his daughter in apology:
"I'm sorry, Viviana."
"We of the older generation really shouldn't have been so presumptuous. That engagement... let's act as if it never existed."