Blanc Archipelago

As many things were taking place in various places, the first and most important among them was about to go underway, but it was in one of the least expected places.

Compared to the places where allies had been gained so far, the location where someone had become a target for the White Storm was among those with a much higher privilege.

The location had changed to an island called Blanc Archipelago.

It was an island that was made of several connecting islands that were very closely positioned and had bridges connecting them.

Each of the smaller islands connected to form the Blanc Archipelago, while the differences in the status of the people living on those islands were heavily divided in terms of wealth, influence and power.

Each archipelago was home to a noble family of the highest ranks in the Blanc Archipelago, and they had complete rulership over those lands while managing everything under them from lesser nobles to the commoners.

The upper-class nobility and the royalty had rulership of a single Archipelago, while the royals were living on the largest Archipelago in the middle of them all.

The capital was located on that Archipelago, which made up the central part of the Blanc Archipelago, and that was where the royal family lived and where the nobility gathered.

Either the nobility sent someone to oversee their land or left it to their family while someone remained in the Capital to keep up appearances and to develop their various interests.

The royal family gave birth to only one son, who was arranged to marry a girl from one of the prominent noble families from the moment they were born.

It was an arranged marriage which would suit both sides and would be for the sake of the prosperity of the Blanc Archipelago.

Prince Francis was raised with love and was given much by his parents, who doted on him.

He was the sole heir with nobody to challenge his position, so he had it quite easy compared to other royalty.

The only thing that was ever decided for him and forced upon him from a young age was marriage, but that was something that was usually expected of those of the nobility.

Political marriages were normal, and choosing a suitable family and bride for the future crown prince was not to be decided on a whim.

The family chosen was a well-known and old family that had a long history in the Blanc Archipelago.

The De Weiss family had a marquess rank, which was sufficient to be able to provide political support to the future crown prince, but that was not all.

The De Weiss family had been among the most well-known families to have produced Queens for the royal family throughout the many generations.

Compared to any other family, they had someone in their family become the Queen more often, and the most famous Queens were among their family.

Such a household was very strict on the upbringing of their daughters, who were raised with the expectation of becoming the partner who would support the next King.

It could be said that the track record of those Queens produced by the De Weiss family did not disappoint the Royal Family and that they would be chosen every few generations without fail when it came to arranging a political marriage for the future king.

Marceline De Weiss was brought up under a very strict education while being unable to do anything else that was unrelated to her future duties as a Queen.

She was always told to uphold the honour of their noble household and to become the best Queen possible so that it would reflect well on the family.

As a result of such an upbringing, Marceline became quite strict and critical of herself and others around her.

Even when she was struggling through the tough lessons, she believed that Prince Francis, whom she often met with, was eager to have her join him.

They had already met at a young age and shared several moments where they promised to support each other.

Unfortunately, the past and the present were very different, as many nobles gathered together in the royal palace.

A large ball was being held with a lot of nobles who were gathered.

The architecture and clothing looked like they were from an old French period.

There was a lot of discussion going on among the nobles who were looking toward a commotion.

They looked like they were used to such a scene, as they offered comments without care.

The scene that had caught their attention and interest involved the main culprit behind so many bad rumours that had spread throughout the whole Archipelago.

Marceline De Weiss stood holding a folding fan covering her face as she stared toward the couple standing opposite her.

There was a slightly noble and prickly aura surrounding her as she narrowed her black eyes. "Prince Francis. Please, could you come to your senses? This woman is no good for you. She..."

She tried to offer her earnest counsel to support her fiancé, who had not been treating her well for quite some time already.

There was a time when they were close and both aimed to support each other as the future King and Queen, but that relationship and promises seemed to have been forgotten over time.

The way they had been raised was far too different, which resulted in her becoming very capable and taking charge of many things at an early age, while Prince Francis grew up quite spoiled.