Ophelia wasn’t content with just appearing as an apparition, she even followed into the dream.

No, perhaps it was because he saw Ophelia before properly falling asleep that she appeared in his dream.

The reason didn’t matter. What was important was that even his dreams were now occupied by Ophelia.

Idren encountered a blatantly cold-hearted woman towards him after a very long time.

‘You’re the one who sent a marriage proposal to my father instead of me, so how do you expect me to refuse?’

And Ophelia slammed the door shut in front of him.

In the dream, he seemed to have no pride as he begged before her, saying he would propose directly even now.

Ophelia coldly told him it was futile.

‘You’re already disqualified.’

How am I supposed to live with someone who can’t even propose properly?

Those harsh words jolted him awake. The ailing Idren opened his eyes.

“What kind of dream……”

……was that. He finished the sentence with a hoarse voice and looked around.

The ceiling looked familiar yet not quite so familiar. The decorations set up for the wedding night were a bonus.

His feverish eyes felt hot. The dizziness in his head was an added bonus.

To think I would manage my body in such a way. He let out another groan at the unbelievable fact and rubbed his face. That’s when someone approached.

“Are you awake?”

Slowly raising his body to face Penrel, who was looking down at him with worried eyes, Idren looked around.

It wasn’t anything new, but Ophelia was not there.

Rubbing his face, Idren slowly retraced his memories.

He arrived at the castle, heard that the ceremony might have already started. So he entered the hall, his eyes met Ophelia’s, and he took her out to the corridor and then…..

Having recalled all the important parts, he let out a sigh.

“I must have made a spectacle of myself.”

“Not at all. The doctor said it was overwork, so you should rest……”

Not listening to the end, Idren tried to get up but held his forehead.

His head was throbbing and he felt unwell. As he caught his breath for a moment, the knight extended his arm.

Waving away the other’s hand, Idren asked.

“How much time has passed?”

“You’ve slept for a full day, sir.”

It was longer than he had thought.

Rubbing his face, Idren tried to think with his sluggish mind. What was scheduled after the wedding?

It was a marriage he had already gone through twice. And both times, the next day involved putting on appearances under the guise of a celebration.

This time wouldn’t be much different.

Finally realizing the gravity of the situation, Idren took a sharp breath.

“Where is the Princess of Reden?”

What did Ophelia want to do?

Idren really couldn’t understand women. People say you can’t understand anyone’s mind, but Ophelia was exceptional among them.

What was she thinking, canceling the audience scheduled for the day after the wedding?

Penrel said Ophelia had canceled the audience and instead scheduled activities for poor relief. She had diverted the budget he had prepared towards that.

Of course, Ophelia was planning to only show her face from the castle walls instead of going down directly, but that wasn’t the important part.

As his expression changed moment by moment, Penrel, seemingly worried, defended Ophelia as if he were her spokesperson.

“Well, I’m sure the Queen didn’t mean any harm. At the time, we didn’t know if Your Majesty would be able to return……”

The man who once said he would keep his mouth shut to avoid speaking ill of her in the future was now watching his reaction.

But Penrel didn’t know that Idren’s stomach turned even more because Ophelia had no ill intentions.

Idren became more anxious every time the woman showed him kindness.

In his past life, the problems that ultimately made her unhappy were derived from him.

The issues he should have resolved, Ophelia tried to solve instead, feeling indebted to him.

And then she couldn’t bear it anymore and gave up everything.

Knowing this all too well, how could her kindness be welcome?

And that flower too.

Idren recalled the familiar bright yellow flower he had found by the bedside.

“……What is this?”

To his trembling voice, Penrel answered.

“The Queen left it here.”

Hearing those words, Idren really felt like crying.

Ophelia clearly didn’t remember what kind of flower it was.

That small, bright yellow flower was the one he had brought from Reden, the one Ophelia had refused to accept because she disliked what was inside.

And.

And, he… he……

On that last day, he had prepared.

Let’s not think about it. Walking quickly down the corridor, Idren tried to calm his naturally roughened breath. Don’t think about it.

It must have been a meaningless action for Ophelia. Idren recalled the words he had repeated to himself since the old days when he wasn’t even allowed to exchange a word with her.

Ophelia doesn’t have that kind of malice. Ophelia doesn’t intentionally try to hurt me.

Because I’m not worth that much to her.

Seeing him walk with a stern expression, some people held their breath.

Some averted their gaze or quickly turned to hide.

Everyone had reason to be frightened. It hadn’t even been a few months since he had carried out a large-scale purge in Edegrun.

Ignoring them and walking towards the castle walls where Ophelia was said to be, Idren unconsciously clenched his fist.

Ophelia should have thought of herself. She shouldn’t have canceled something like the audience schedule, she should have just dragged him out.

What did it matter if he had a bit of a fever? If she had thrown cold water on him, he would have gotten up on his own.

How much would people look down on her?

All sorts of things were already bothering Ophelia.

Every time he faced that fact, Idren’s pride was automatically hurt.

He felt ashamed for causing trouble to Ophelia because he couldn’t manage his surroundings properly.

No, there was no need to be so concerned. If anyone looked down on Ophelia, he could just gouge out their eyes.

Idren now cared about nothing. Anyone would become like that after killing the same person two or three times.

The sentry who spotted him opened the door connecting to the castle walls. Soon after, the back of a woman dressed in white came into view.

Ophelia looked down from the castle walls. Her mouth wore the smile she had always practiced for this moment.

People who once gasped at her unheard-of extravagance were now cheering below.

Perhaps about a tenth of them were acting as previously arranged.

Salode had said he released some people to shape public opinion in line with the relief activities.

It might be staged, but what could she do? Since her husband had ruined her reputation, she had to rebuild it herself.

Husband. The thought of the man she believed would rightfully become hers once the ceremony was over made her feel suffocated.

She almost bit her lip, but Ophelia raised the corners of her mouth again.

The things Mahanas had taught were quite useful when it came to managing expressions.

Ophelia gauged how benevolent she must look right now. Wouldn’t she appear completely saintly?

She had deliberately chosen white clothes and styled herself to look gentle, so it should be more than enough.

Kindness was one of the virtues easy to fake through appearance.

Moreover, the people of Edegrun had liked her appearance since her first life.

No, it seemed that there wasn’t anyone who particularly disliked her looks.

Even Idren had said so, hadn’t he?

“Your appearance is a hundred times better than your personality.”

Yet the man had said that his liking for her wasn’t because of her appearance.

It was contradictory that he couldn’t find where to look when she dressed up, but Ophelia had never pointed that out.

She had never said it, but she thought it was cute……

Ah, let’s not think about that man. Chasing away the troubled face of her husband from her mind, Ophelia smiled again.

Someone in the cheering crowd shouted. Congratulations on your marriage.

Ophelia inwardly agreed with those words.

Although that husband was late to the wedding and fell ill from the first night, Idren had become her husband after all. It was worth celebrating.

It was then that someone grabbed her wrist.

Ah! Ophelia involuntarily let out a groan and furrowed her brow. Idren, who had appeared at some point, was glaring at her.

Yesterday, Idren hadn’t let go of her wrist until he was completely asleep.

The unconscious man couldn’t control his strength well, so there was already a bruise on her wrist.

She had just let it go without saying anything because she felt sorry for him, but it clearly hurt. And now he was squeezing it.

Ophelia glared at the opponent who was repaying her kindness in the worst way possible.

“What are you doing?”

“What are you doing here……”

And Idren shut his mouth tightly. After looking her up and down, he said.

“Follow me.”

And Idren started to drag her somewhere.

Experiencing this treatment from her husband for the first time, Ophelia was unable to react and was dragged along.

As if he had made up his mind to do all sorts of uncharacteristic things today, Idren even yelled at the people who were glancing at them with surprised eyes.

“Is this a spectacle?”

A startled Ophelia reprimanded him.

“What are you doing? Why are you scaring people?”

Idren didn’t answer her.

The man who had been silent as if his lips were glued shut finally spoke again after putting her in the bedroom.

“……Why were you out there?”

“What?”

“I’m asking why you were out there.”

And the man took a deep breath as if trying to suppress his anger.

His shoulders and chest were trembling. He twisted his lips and spat out the words.

“You…… how much more pathetic do you want me to look before you’re satisfied?”