The carriage belonging to Crown Prince Garkhain was heading south along the highway.

The journey so far has been kind of a blur.

If they continued on for about half a day from here, they should be able to vaguely see their destination.

Dressed in a cool, youthful dress for the oncoming summer, Rishe turned to Arnold, who was sitting across from her in the carriage reading some documents.

Its a surprise, though I didnt expect His Highness to offer his company on this excursion.

Then Rishe recalled her exchange with Arnold a week ago.

***

Thats right. My engagement with His Highness Dietrich since I was young remains unofficially annulled.

Rishe clarified it in Arnolds office.

Arnold, who was facing her, seemed to have grasped her intent.

Did you hold a betrothal ceremony with the Hermitian Crown Prince?

Thats right. Its a very old ritual, and I heard that its something that no royalty of any country performs nowadays.

The betrothal ceremony was a separate ceremony from the wedding.

In many cases, it was a ceremony performed in political marriages, where children were brought together for marriage.

It was to ascertain that a political marriage, a long-term plan that would take more than a decade to complete, wouldnt be violated lightly. In Dietrichs case, however, he didnt care that such a contract existed.

My parents seemed to have made a request to His Majesty, King Hermity.

It was almost like a hazy memory, but Rishe vaguely remembered it.

All she could remember was feeling very sleepy after being forced to get ready so early in the morning. Dietrich, on the other hand, was very excited to be in a different atmosphere.

My engagement to him is still registered with the shrine.

I hadnt even heard of it. After all, an engagement ceremony alone is rare, and there are few precedents for a contract being broken.

Rishe shut her eyes and nodded cryptically.

I completely forgot about it. I cant marry another man unless I go to the Grand Shrine and complete the formalities in annulling my engagement!

Of course, it was a bright red lie.

Rishe was well aware that if she wanted to marry a man other than Dietrich, she had to apply for annulment at the Grand Shrine beforehand.

She got to know of it on her fourth lifetime, when she dropped by the Grand Shrine for an errand.

A bishop told her that she needed to go through formalities to break off her engagement if she did an engagement ceremony, and she hurriedly applied on the spot.

In this life, I purposely came all the way to Garkhain without annulling it despite knowing it If I really didnt want to marry His Highness Arnold, I would use the fact that my betrothal ceremony with His Highness Dietrich hadnt been broken as an excuse. I thought I could make a break for it and get away.

It was a custom that most countries didnt practice, so she stepped on the assumption that Arnold wouldnt confirm it either.

Rishe kept her head down and glanced upward at Arnold.

But I think its safe to scrap this now. I dont think Ill have to think of not wanting to marry His Highness Arnold Because His Highness is gentle, and kind.

What?

N-Nothing!

However, it was an engagement she had left behind.

It would be a waste if she didnt use it for its intended purpose and just break it off as usual. Rishe decided to use this as an opportunity to investigate certain things.

Ive been wondering about the relationship between His Highness Arnold and the Krushade Order for a long time.

Rumors have it that there once was a goddess in this world.

The religion named Krushade Order worshipped this goddess and created teachings, almanacs etc. dedicated to her.

Their teachings have spread throughout the world, and many believed them. The same was true for Rishes homeland and Garkhain.

Although the depth of devotion varied from person to person, most people lived their lives under the influence of their teachings. At weddings, they pledged their love to the goddess, and on her birthday, they celebrated with their families.

Most nobles were given a church baptismal name in addition to their first and last name.

In Rishes case, Ilmgard from her name Rishe Ilmgard Wertsner was her baptismal name granted by the church.

The teachings of Krushade and the Goddess were so pervasive that such customs were familiar.

Garkhain is one of the most powerful nations in the world, but the Krushade Order is just as powerful and also has a much longer history than Garkhain.

However, one person also reduced the history of such a colossal order into ashes.