Clockwork Lovers — Chapter 1

TO ME, OPPORTUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TEST.

THINGS THAT COULD NEVER BE MINE FROM THE START,

THINGS I WAS FORBIDDEN TO HOLD,

OR THINGS GRANTED ONLY TO BE RIPPED AWAY ONCE MORE.

ALWAYS, SUCH THINGS WERE CAST BEFORE ME LIKE PREY THROWN TO A STARVING BEAST,

AND WHENEVER I REACHED OUT IN DESPERATE

I WAS LEFT EMPTY- HANDED, CONDEMNED AS NOTHING MORE THAN A CREATURE DRIVEN BY GREED.

MERELY BECAUSE I DARED TO DESIRE.

UM...

IS THIS MARRIAGE PROPOSAL TRULY MEANT FOR ME?

IT IS AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY OF CARDONIA.

...FROM MY

To My Niece, Rien.

three years have already passed since the night of the revolution in your homeland of lucidoria.

though the world remains cold toward your royal family, a warm wind blows through your homeland.

public sentiment calling for the restoration of the monarchy is swelling among the people of lucidoria.

now that your brother is dead, we intend to rally our forces around princess iremia.

at a time like this, it would present a grand image if you, as a royal family member, stepped forward to offer your public support to iremia.

of course, the threat of assassination by radical factions remains ever-present. therefore, you must secure a partner who can serve as your shield.

your suitor is duke roche noir, ruler of the imperial autonomous territory.

by marrying him, you will gain a safe fortress under the direct protection of the empire.

this arrangement is made solely on my authority, braving opposition from ministers and grave risks.

thus, your wedding must be conducted in total secrecy and with the utmost speed.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS, BUT THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCE.

WHY DO YOU HESITATE SO?

SURELY YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY.

...I WASN'T WAITING FOR THIS DAY.

I KNOW. EVEN IF I HAD NOT BEEN IMPRISONED HERE,

WHETHER BY EXECUTION OR ASSASSINATION, I HARDLY WOULD HAVE SURVIVED...

A HORRIFIC END, JUST LIKE MY FATHER AND BROTHER...

ON THE NIGHT OF THE REVOLUTION, AMID THE CHOKING SMOKE, I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.

WHEN I OPENED MY EYES, I FOUND MYSELF IN THIS UNDERGROUND DUNGEON.

MY IMPRISONMENT HERE WAS MY PUNISHMENT, SO I BORE IT WILLINGLY...

THREE YEARS IS HARDLY ENOUGH TIME TO ATONE FOR MY FAMILY'S SINS ANYWAY...

BUT I HAVE REACHED MY LIMIT.

I CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I SAW THE SUNLIGHT.

THE AIR HERE IS SO HEAVY AND DAMP THAT MY CHEST SUFFOCATES. BREATHING ITSELF IS A STRUGGLE NOW.

IF DEATH DOES NOT CLAIM ME, MADNESS SURELY WILL.

THE ONLY THINGS GRANTED TO ME WERE THESE HOLY SCRIPTURES...

YET EVEN THESE HAVE BLURRED BEFORE MY EYES, THE WORDS SCATTERING INTO MEANINGLESS SHAPES.

MY ONLY COMPANION HAS BEEN THE MAID WHO DROPS BY EVERY FEW DAYS,

BUT SHE NEVER ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS, SPEAKING ONLY WHAT IS STRICTLY NECESSARY.

STILL, TO HEAR HER SPEAK LIKE THAT TODAY...

COULD SHE SECRETLY HAVE FELT PITY FOR ME...?

PERHAPS THREE YEARS UNDER THE SAME ROOF FOSTERED A THREAD OF FONDNESS...

BUT THIS MAN...

...WAS THE MAN SISTER IREMIA LOVED.

CASSIUS KRAISEN DE ROCHE NOIR.

THAT NOBLE, FLAWLESS SISTER OF MINE, IREMIA...

THE MAN SHE PINED OVER WITH FLUSHED CHEEKS...

THE MAN SHE WAS SO DESPERATE TO MAKE HERS...

SO WHY IS A PROPOSAL BEING SENT TO ME...?

...THEN YOU OUGHT TO DECLINE.

STEALING THE MAN YOUR SISTER LOVES WOULD BE A VILE, COWARDLY ACT.

...YOU ARE UNUSUALLY TALKATIVE TODAY. LEAVE US.

EVEN IF MY VERY SURVIVAL HANGS IN THE BALANCE,

THE MOMENT I AM ENTANGLED WITH MY SISTER, IT WILL BE PAINTED OVER AS PETTY SELFISHNESS.

I KNOW YOU ENVY ME, RIEN.

I WAS SIXTEEN.

...WHAT? WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM ALL OF A SUDDEN, SISTER...?

WHY WOULD I EVER...

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED HOW WORDS COULD BIND A PERSON.

...TRY TO HIDE IT ALL YOU WANT, BUT I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

YOUR HEART IS HEAVY, BITTER WITH RESENTMENT TOWARD ME.

...RESENTMENT? BUT I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, SISTER.

YOUR DANCE AT TODAY'S GRAND FESTIVAL CEREMONY WAS TRULY BREATHTAKING.

YOU ARE LUCIDORIA'S ONE AND ONLY JEWEL.

YOU ARE THINKING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU.

BECAUSE EVERYONE COMPARES THE TWO OF US AND BELITTLES YOU,

YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO ME DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE STRAND OF HAIR,

LONGING FOR EVERYTHING I POSSESS.

YOU WANT TO STRIP IT FROM ME, BUT SINCE YOU CANNOT,

YOU WISH TO SEE ME FALL.

YOU WANT ME RUINED, DON'T YOU?

N-NO... I...

I AM SORRY, RIEN.

FOR FAILING TO BE SO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPERIOR THAT YOU HAD NO ROOM TO COMPARE.

HAD I BEEN, YOU COULD HAVE SIMPLY ADMIRED ME FROM AFAR.

BUT BECAUSE I WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER, I ENDED UP WITH SO MUCH...

MAKING YOU DELUDE YOURSELF INTO THINKING

THAT ALL OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOURS.

I BROKE YOUR HEART, DIDN'T I?

I SHALL STRIVE TO DO MUCH BETTER, RIEN.

NO...

SISTER, I TRULY...

"THIS IS THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE."

AS IF AN OMNISCIENT SOVEREIGN WERE LOOKING THROUGH MY SOUL,

WHENEVER MY SISTER DEFINED ME,

I WAS LOCKED INSIDE THAT CAGE, UNABLE TO BREAK FREE.

EVEN NOW, AFTER THREE YEARS TRAPPED IN TOTAL SOLITUDE...

PERHAPS I SHOULD REFUSE FOR NOW AND ENDURE A LITTLE LONGER...

IF I DECLINE THIS OFFER, PERHAPS MY REPUTATION WILL IMPROVE. PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT I STAYED LOYAL TO MY SISTER.

I WOULD NO LONGER BE THE JEALOUS YOUNGER SISTER. THERE WOULD BE WITNESSES, TOO.

BUT HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY STATED THERE WOULD BE NO SECOND CHANCE.

AM I TO REMAIN LOCKED IN THE DARK FOR YEARS TO COME?

LORD CASSIUS WAS A TRULY FINE MAN...

EVERYONE SPOKE OF HIS KINDNESS, HIS WISDOM, AND HIS STRIKING BEAUTY...

THEY SAID HE WOULD SUIT MY SISTER PERFECTLY...

...DOES THAT MEAN HE IS FAR TOO GOOD FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME...?

AM I SIMPLY UNWORTHY...?

STOP THESE HIDEOUS THOUGHTS, RIEN!

THE FRESH NIGHT AIR...

HOW I MISSED THIS...

AND THESE BEAUTIFUL STARS...

TODAY IS THE NIGHT OF THE LUNAR ECLIPSE...?

KEEP YOUR HOOD DRAWN AT ALL TIMES.

YOU MUST NOT REVEAL YOUR FACE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

MY UNCLE'S MEN REFUSE TO ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS.

WERE THEY STRICTLY ORDERED TO REMAIN SILENT?

GIVEN HIS STATURE AS A DUKE, PREPARING A PROPER WEDDING SHOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK.

IF I MAKE IT CLEAR HOW FRAIL AND ILL I AM, HIS SIDE MIGHT DEMAND TO BREAK THE ENGAGEMENT FIRST.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS MY UNCLE... PUBLIC SENTIMENT MAY HAVE SOFTENED, BUT WOULD HE TRULY LOCK ME AWAY AGAIN?

SHOULD I THROW MYSELF AT HIS MERCY AND BEG TO BE SENT TO A CONVENT INSTEAD?

WE HAVE ARRIVED.

...ALREADY?

HOWEVER DULLED MY SENSE OF TIME HAS BECOME,

IT FEELS AS THOUGH LESS THAN AN HOUR HAS PASSED.

I ASSUMED WE WOULD BOARD A SHIP OR TRANSFER TO A TRAIN ONCE WE STEPPED OFF THE CARRIAGE.

THEN COULD IT BE THAT WHERE I WAS HELD CAPTIVE ALL THIS TIME...

...WAS INSIDE THE DUCHY OF ROCHE NOIR ITSELF?

SILENCE. KEEP YOUR EYES ON MY FEET AND FOLLOW CLOSELY.

A SUDDEN WAVE OF TERROR WASHES OVER ME... WAS THIS THE RIGHT CHOICE?

I'M SO UNEASY..

GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF, RIEN.

COWERING NOW WILL CHANGE NOTHING.

THE BRIDE HAS ARRIVED.

...WHAT...? THE BRIDE...?

DON'T TELL ME THE WEDDING IS HAPPENING THIS VERY INSTANT?!

BRIDE, PROCEED STRAIGHT DOWN THE AISLE.

THIS IS MADNESS!

THAT MAN...

...IS NOT LORD CASSIUS!

WE MUST HALT THIS CEREMONY AT ONCE!

THIS IS OUTRIGHT DECEPTION!

THAT WOMAN IS NOT PRINCESS IREMIA!

FALLEN DYNASTY OR NOT, ADDRESSING HER AS 'THAT WOMAN' IS GROSS INSOLENCE.

FURTHERMORE, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY NEVER NAMED PRINCESS IREMIA SPECIFICALLY.

HE MERELY REQUESTED THAT WE TAKE IN A PRINCESS OF LUCIDORIA.

SO YOU ADMIT THIS WAS A PLAY ON WORDS FROM THE VERY START!

OF THE FOUR PRINCESSES, TWO HAVE TAKEN HOLY VOWS,

AND ANOTHER IS MISSING!

THE ONLY ONE REMAINING WAS PRINCESS IREMIA!

I WAS LISTED AS MISSING...?

...I ASK THE DUKE OF ROCHE NOIR.

SHOULD THIS CEREMONY BE HALTED, NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE EMPIRE AND THE DUCHY ARE VOID,

AND THE PRINCESS SHALL BE RETURNED TO HER CELL TO FINISH SERVING HER SENTENCE.

WHY..

WHY IS HE WALKING TOWARD ME?

PRINCESS RIEN.

I GREET THE RADIANT STAR OF LUCIDORIA.