Without Keios holding her back, Nicole is blossoming more than ever and even sets her sights on a new dream: studying abroad in Iregard. Humbled and desperate, Keios scrambles to win her back, cursing the man he once was. But is it enough? Their misunderstanding may be behind them, but with their roles now reversed, there's more distance between them than ever-especially with the arrival of a potential rival on the scene.

Young noblewoman Nicole has had her heart broken more times than she can count by her fiancé, Keios. Day after day, he overlooks her in favor of Princess Caroline, beloved queen bee of their elite academy and Keios's childhood friend. After one too many slights, Nicole makes a bold decision: If he can do as he pleases, why shouldn't I? Embracing her newfound independence, she begins to shine in ways that even the clueless Keios can't ignore…

Keios finally realizes that thanks to his neglect, he and Nicole have never truly connected. As the consequences begin to dawn on him, he launches a frantic campaign to win her back, only to find Nicole is thriving without him. Relishing life on her own terms, she's seemingly lost all interest in love and proposes a marriage of convenience instead-the kind with no romantic strings attached.