It was a chilly morning, with the wind blowing as gloomy as my sunken mood.

Having grown quite accustomed to staying at Ren’s house for the past few days, I habitually grabbed the newspaper and sat on the sofa.

Perhaps due to tossing and turning all night, my eyes wouldn’t open well, just like my sluggish body.

I was blankly reading the front page of the newspaper when Ren appeared from behind and handed me a glass of water.

“You’re up early?”

“Yeah, maybe because the weather is bad, my eyes opened right away.”

At my answer, Ren pulled open the curtains that were hanging on the window. The gloomy sky, covered with clouds, revealed itself.

“It definitely looks like it’s going to rain. On days like this, you should sleep well…”

He looked out the window, then picked up a blanket nearby and wrapped it around my shoulders. Then he naturally sat next to me.

“You look cold.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Had I been shivering without realizing it?

Still not fully awake, I couldn’t even tell if I was cold or hot right now.

With a blank gaze, I absentmindedly turned the newspaper page to the next one.

I could feel Ren, sitting next to me, observing my expression.

“…Are you okay?”

“Huh? Why?”

Ren carefully pointed to the front of the newspaper he had turned.

“This.”

The article contained information about the wedding of First Prince Siegfried von Agrian and Leonie Schmidt taking place today.

I tried to smile and nodded.

“Yeah, of course it’s fine. Why wouldn’t it be?”

I thought I spoke naturally, but it seemed to be my misconception.

Ren suddenly pulled my hand up to his face. Then, without taking his eyes off me, he gently kissed the back of my hand.

“I told you, lady Vivian.”

“Huh?”

“When you tell a lie, you have a habit of your fingertips trembling.”

Caught in my inner thoughts in vain, I blinked my eyes open and closed.

‘As expected, I can’t deceive Ren.’

He already knew me better than I knew myself.

He thought of me more than I did myself.

Usually, even if he knew it was a lie, he would have just pretended not to know and let it slide.

But asking like this must mean he wants me to face my emotions instead of avoiding them.

I was lost in thought for a moment. A brief silence fell between us, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable.

Finally, with my thoughts sorted out, I opened my mouth.

“…Honestly, it would be a lie to say I’m not concerned at all.”

Ren held my hand and quietly listened to my words.

In the comfortable atmosphere, I could easily utter the next sentence.

“After all, Leonie is related to me by blood, right? Even though she was bullied, I don’t resent her enough to wish for her death. Well, of course, she seems to be different from me.”

“…Yes.”

“Someone may curse me for being a foolish idiot who hasn’t come to their senses even after being treated like that…”

“No. That’s not true. You’re not foolish, nor are you stupid.”

At his firm tone, laughter burst out of me unknowingly.

“Even if you say that, I can’t believe it? Ren, you always only speak well of me.”

“But I mean it. You may not know, but… It’s because you’re such a person that I was saved, lady Vivian.”

“Saved? Aren’t you using too heavy a word just to praise me? What have I done for you? I’ve only exploited you… Rather, I’m the one who received help from you.”

Ren shook his head, saying no, but I shrugged and brought up the original topic of conversation again.

“Anyway, so I am concerned about Leonie. You know too. Maybe Siegfried will do something to her tonight.”

Ren continued to listen intently to my words in silence.

“But I’ve already done my best for her.”

It was true.

Because I had endured countless efforts trying to mend my relationship with her.

Even in situations where she expressed her hatred for me without reservation, I gave her the necklace artifact.

So that she wouldn’t be helpless against Siegfried.

In response to my efforts, Leonie’s answer was to hand me over to Siegfried and even send an assassin.

“She’s already out of my hands. Whether she marries Siegfried or doesn’t use the necklace I gave her… All of those are choices Leonie made.”

“…”

“I’ve done what I had to do, so now it doesn’t matter to me what path she takes.”

Unknowingly, I clenched my fist tightly.

“So it’s okay. Really.”

It was more like a spell than sincerity.

A spell I chanted because I didn’t want to suffer any more heartache because of that child.

I tried to smile at Ren, pretending to be casual, but he already seemed to know my true feelings, looking at me with pitiful eyes.

He gently stroked the back of my hand and said,

“You’ll be okay. And even if you’re not, I’ll be with you until you are.”

At his kind words, I leaned my head on his shoulder. Not only my body but also my heart was now relying on him without me realizing it.

The wedding of Siegfried and Leonie was held in a grand manner.

Despite the wartime situation, the lavish wedding seemed to show that the empire was unaffected by the attacks of demons and was thriving.

Numerous nobles gathered to celebrate the birth of the new couple.

The barrage of gifts welcoming the princess consort was endless, and Leonie, dressed in a beautiful pure white dress, did not hide her joy.

By her side, looking happy, stood the neat-looking Siegfried with an elegant smile.

The two dignified individuals standing side by side couldn’t be more well-matched.

The guests wished for nothing but blessings in the lovely couple’s future.

Thus, the wedding ended smoothly, and soon deep night came.

Although Leonie always had a confident attitude, in reality, she was just a young girl.

Entering the marital bedchamber, she swallowed nervously.

‘After tonight, I will completely become a member of the imperial family.’

It meant leaving the mansion where traces of Vivian still remained and living here with a new mind.

Although it was a political marriage, she and Siegfried would become a true community of destiny starting today.

Since he was royalty, divorce was impossible.

Unlike the past when only her image mattered, now she had to take care of her husband as well.

Because his position would lead to her power.

‘I will make Siegfried the emperor no matter what.’

And she would definitely become the most noble woman in the empire.

It was then, when she had finished sorting out her thoughts.

A man entered the bedroom.

The beautiful blond hair shimmering in the moonlight clearly revealed who he was.

Siegfried von Agrian.

The noble imperial prince and the man who would become her husband from now on.

Leonie blushed shyly and smiled at him as lovingly as possible.

“Miss Leonie. No, I should call you my wife now.”

Siegfried called his wife’s name in a low voice and took a seat next to her.

Although he was dressed comfortably compared to his splendid ceremonial attire, he looked quite dashing thanks to his handsome appearance.

Leonie quietly looked at her husband’s face.

She hadn’t noticed from afar, but his eyelashes were very long.

As if sensing her gaze, Siegfried let out a light laugh.

“Do you like my face?”

At his joking tone, Leonie naturally realized.

This man was being considerate to ease her tension right now.

‘…I chose well for a husband indeed.’

After that, various conversations passed between the two.

Unlike the initial expectation that their married life would be based on pretense, there was a feeling that things would go well somehow.

Leonie thought that she and this man seemed to be a good match, as they communicated better than expected.

At that moment, Siegfried, who had been talking about other things, suddenly put on a serious expression and set the mood.

“Actually, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you as my wife.”

Words sweet beyond compare flowed from the prince’s mouth.

Leonie deliberately tilted her head as if she didn’t know the reason.

“Why is that?”

But Siegfried’s answer that followed was something she didn’t expect.

“Because there’s no easier way to torment the Marquis than marrying you.”

“What? What does that…”

No matter how cunning Leonie was, Siegfried’s sudden remark wasn’t easy to understand right away.

Siegfried, without taking his eyes off her like a lover, tapped Leonie’s bridge of the nose with his index finger.

“Do you know what royalty does when they’re unhappy with their spouse, as divorce is impossible?”

At the ominous question, Leonie’s body stiffened.

She warily answered her husband.

“…You’re not saying you’ll kill me, are you? It’s obvious you’ll be the first one suspected, and I didn’t think you were enough of a fool to do such a thing.”

At Leonie’s bold answer, Siegfried slightly curled up one corner of his mouth as if amused.

“Certainly, if you suddenly die, I will be suspected. But… what if you attack me first in front of others?”

“There’s no way I would do such a thing…”

Siegfried cut off her words and whispered in a small voice that Leonie could barely hear.

“No, you will. Because I’ll make you do it.”

At that moment, Siegfried’s eyes, which had been a pure green, began to glow frighteningly.

As his pupils turned white, sharp horns grew above his head.

Similar to humans, but clearly different in appearance.

Even though she had never directly seen it with her own eyes, she had heard about that existence, so it wasn’t very difficult to figure out what it was.

‘That’s… a demon?’

Leonie’s brown eyes were instantly filled with deep fear.