...I HAD A DREAM.
A KNIGHT WHOSE FACE WAS HIDDEN BENEATH A COLD HELM
KNELT BEFORE ME, SWEARING A SOLEMN VOW.
I SEARCHED FRANTICALLY FOR A TOKEN OF HOPE TO BIND AROUND HIS ARM,
BUT POSSESSING NO SCARF, NO HANDKERCHIEF, NOR EVEN A SCRAP OF SLEEVE,
I STOOD UTTERLY HELPLESS, LOST IN DESPAIR.
BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE KNIGHT HAD DEPARTED AND VANISHED INTO THE DISTANCE.
HOW FOOLISH I WAS, FOR ONLY THEN DID I REALIZE
THAT A RIBBON HAD BEEN HOLDING UP MY HAIR ALL ALONG.
AND IF THAT KNIGHT
FAILED TO FIND HOPE IN HIS MOST DESPERATE HOUR,
I TORMENTED MYSELF WITH GRIEF,
BELIEVING IT WOULD ALL BE MY FAULT.
LOOK HERE, I ALREADY TOLD YOU IT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.
WE CROSS- REFERENCE THE LIST OF EXPECTED NOBLE GUESTS IN REAL TIME.
SOMEONE WITH AN UNVERIFIED IDENTITY WHO ISN'T ON TODAY'S ROSTER CANNOT BE ADMITTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
HOW IMMENSELY FRUSTRATING! I HAVE DECLARED MY IDENTITY MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY!
I AM DUKE ROCHE NOIR'S LONGTIME FRIEND, THE GREAT DETECTIVE ARJEN!
IF YOU FIND IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE, WHY NOT SUMMON THE DUKE HIMSELF TO VERIFY IT?
HOW COULD LOW- RANKING GUARDS LIKE US CALL HIS GRACE AS IF HE WERE A CHILDHOOD FRIEND?
DISTURBING OUR SUPERIORS OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BRING THUNDEROUS WRATH UPON US.
BESIDES,
YOU LOOK THOROUGHLY SUSPICIOUS TO ANYONE WITH EYES...
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, THERE COMES MY FRIEND NOW!
AZELTEIN!
long time no see, roche noir!
this ancient castle remains utterly bleak even in the spring!
BY THE WAY, AZELTEIN! JUST HOW LONG DO YOU INTENT TO KEEP THAT LONG HAIR?!
I HAVE SET NO PARTICULAR DEADLINE.
DO YOU PERHAPS FIND MY HAIR DISPLEASING?
AH! DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND. THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT.
MERELY PICTURE THIS WORLD AS A SINGLE THEATRICAL STAGE.
I, THE LEAD PROTAGONIST, HAVE LONG HAIR, AND YET SO DO YOU!
in short, our character designs overlap.
what's more, silver hair that rivals my own flowing gold!
at this rate, will it not dilute the protagonist's unique appeal?!
HOW COULD MY HUMBLE HAIR EVER OBSCURE THE SINGULAR RADIANCE OF THE SUN?
YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY IRAZEN.
I GREET THE GREAT SUN OF CARDONIA.
PRAY FORGIVE MY UNANNOUNCED INTRUSION. THIS IS STRICTLY AN UNOFFICIAL MATTER, AFTER ALL.
IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOUR VERY UNION WAS AS SUDDEN AS URANUS,
SO THERE IS NO REASON TO BE ASTONISHED ANEW.
BE THAT AS IT MAY...
IT MAKES QUITE A PICTURE.
DUKE ROCHE NOIR,
NOT ONLY INHERITING THE DUCAL TITLE AS A SECOND SON,
BUT BECOMING THE HUSBAND OF A PRINCESS OVERNIGHT, HOW DOES IT FEEL?
I MERELY OBEYED YOUR MAJESTY'S DECREE.
HOW COLD AND DISTANT YOU REMAIN.
IF THE GROOM SPEAKS WITH SUCH DETACHMENT, WILL THE BRIDE NOT FEEL HURT AND HEARTBROKEN?!
...N-NO, YOUR MAJESTY.
I, TOO, SIMPLY OBEYED THE DECREE, TRUSTING YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY POSSESSED A PROFOUND INTENT.
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A REASON YOUR MAJESTY MADE SUCH A DIFFICULT DECISION...
AND THE DUKE SURELY UNDERSTOOD THAT AS WELL WHEN ACCEPTING THIS MARRIAGE TO ME...
A DIFFICULT DECISION, YOU SAY...
...INDEED. ACCORDING TO DIVINE LAW,
THE CARDONIA EMPIRE CANNOT INTERFERE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF LUCIDORIA.
FURTHERMORE, DUKE ROCHE NOIR,
WITH THE KING OF LUCIDORIA, HEAD OF THE STATE RELIGION, EXECUTED AFTER FALLING INTO HERESY,
MARRYING YOU TO RIEN TO PROTECT HER, WHEN SHE WAS FRAMED ALONGSIDE HIM FOR TREASON AGAINST THE FAITH,
IS UNDENIABLY BOUND TO PROVOKE FIERCE CONTROVERSY.
NEVERTHELESS, I INTEND TO FORGE AHEAD.
IN ONE MONTH, AT VOLKOV PALACE...
*The imperial palace where the Emperor of Cardonia resides.
I PLAN TO HOST A BANQUET TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE YOUR MARRIAGE.
...SUCH AN OCCASION IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS.
AT A SUDDEN PUBLIC GATHERING,
WE CANNOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE PRINCESS BY RADICAL FACTIONS.
IF SHE LACKS THE RESOLVE TO FACE EVEN THAT MUCH DANGER,
SHE OUGHT TO RETURN TO HER UNDERGROUND CELL.
RIEN WAS BROUGHT OUT BECAUSE SHE HAS A DUTY TO FULFILL AS A PRINCESS OF A FALLEN REALM.
AS ROYALTY WHO SURVIVED THE REVOLUTION, SHE MUST DEMONSTRATE TO THE PUBLIC HER WILLINGNESS TO BRAVE DANGER.
FOR THE SAKE OF LUCIDORIA.
...I SHALL GLADLY BEAR IT.
MY LIFE WAS DESTINED TO PERISH UNDER THE REVOLUTION'S BLADE REGARDLESS.
...IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT I ENDURE IT.
...LEAVE US NOW, DUKE.
I HAVE URGENT MATTERS TO DISCUSS WITH MY NIECE IN PRIVATE.
MY NIECE, RIEN. DAUGHTER OF MY BELOVED SISTER.
YOU MUST HAVE MANY QUESTIONS.
MY SISTERS...
WHERE ARE THEY?
IREMIA IS CURRENTLY STAYING AT THE IMPERIAL PALACE.
THANKS TO PROVING HER DEVOTION AT THE DIVINE TRIAL AND CLEARING HERSELF OF HERESY CHARGES.
YOUR TWIN SISTERS ALSO HAD THEIR SENTENCES COMMUTED, AGREEING TO SERVE GOD FOR LIFE AT A CONVENT.
IT IS ALL THANKS TO YOU, RIEN.
...THANKS TO... ME?
CURRENTLY, IREMIA HAS BEEN REBORN AS THE IMAGE OF A TRUE SAINT, GAINING IMMENSE PUBLIC SUPPORT.
ALL THE TRACES OF YOUR DEEP, SOLITARY STUDY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES OVER THOSE LONG YEARS...
WERE PRESENTED AT TRIAL AS IREMIA'S OWN EVIDENCE.
...YOUR MAJESTY...
CALM DOWN...
ON THE DAY OF THE REVOLUTION... I SUDDENLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS,
AND WHEN I OPENED MY EYES, I WAS IN A DARK UNDERGROUND CELL.
IN YOUR LETTER, YOUR MAJESTY CLEARLY INSTRUCTED ME TO REPENT MY SINS AND WAIT THERE.
TO ME, THAT WAS A ROYAL COMMAND.
SO WHY WAS I THE ONLY ONE LOCKED AWAY IN SOLITUDE,
AND WHY DID EVERYTHING BELONGING TO ME HAVE TO BE STOLEN?
Clockwork Lovers Chapter Draft 5 opens with Princess Rien's despair and guilt in her dream of a helmeted knight, confronting her with the realities of her political marriage. An uninvited guest at the gate who introduces himself as the great detective Arjen, an old friend of Duke Roche Noir, is not admitted, followed by the arrival of Duke Azeltein and Emperor Irazen. The Emperor says he will announce Rien and the Duke's marriage at a banquet at Volkov Palace within a month, that despite the danger of assassination Rien must fulfill her duty as the princess of ruined Lucidoria, and explains the fate of her sisters.
