“I have been yours from the beginning. And.”

You are mine too.

Orbis whispered softly and showered kisses from Litania’s forehead to her temple and neck. Their bodies clung tightly together.

“We are husband and wife.”

We swore to become one forever, just the two of us.

So it’s alright.

With those words, her anxiety melted away like snow. Litania closed her eyes.

Though held in an embrace so tight it felt crushing, it wasn’t painful, only warm and comforting.

It was the time just before dawn, when the deepest darkness still enveloped the bedroom.

Litania noticed Orbis’s absence and drowsily opened her eyes. She had certainly fallen asleep in his arms, but the bed was cold as if he had vacated it long ago.

‘Did he go back to his room?’

It’s our wedding anniversary, couldn’t he have stayed until morning?

Litania curled up, feeling slightly disappointed. But she didn’t feel bad. Rather, she felt a bit refreshed.

‘It feels like we’ve really become husband and wife.’

It bothered her that they had consummated their relationship right after receiving the divorce certificate from her half-brother who had become emperor, but what did it matter? The two of them would object to it anyway.

‘When day breaks, I’ll see the guests off and go to the dressing room to get the divorce papers.’

Orbis might be a bit shocked at first, but he would understand if Litania explained the situation and urged reconsideration within a month.

Rather, wouldn’t this clash help put an end to unnecessary misunderstandings about the two of them? They say love deepens through trials, after all.

“Marchioness, I am at a loss for words at such generous hospitality.”

“It was a splendid banquet. If you invite us again, I’d like to bring all the reporters and put the appearance of the Dragon Castle on the front page of the newspaper.”

“Hahaha.”

Litania, as the hostess, saw off the nobles returning from the short banquet at the Dragon Castle. Orbis was nowhere to be seen, but as the divine dragon was inherently mysterious, no one found fault with this.

‘Still, since we’re married, I should tell him to always attend these official occasions together from now on.’

Orbis surprisingly enjoyed doing these small things together with Litania. Didn’t he say so himself? That he wanted to make memories.

“When we invite you to our castle next time, we look forward to both the Marquis and you visiting.”

“Yes, of course. We’ll come.”

There was no reason to be bound to the imperial palace anymore. Litania could go anywhere now. With Orbis.

‘I don’t see Herna.’

Her figure was nowhere to be seen, as if she had secretly left the Dragon Castle last night. It bothered Litania a bit that they couldn’t pursue someone who had escaped, as the castle gates had been left completely open for the invited guests.

‘We could find her using Orbis’s power, but…’

She didn’t want to. She didn’t want to get involved with Herna anymore.

Whatever truth Herna harbored, Litania had no intention of getting caught up in it any further.

Litania and Orbis love each other. That was enough.

“Thank you. Until next time.”

After finishing her farewells with the last guest, Litania watched as the guests’ carriages passed through the castle gates and disappeared. Somehow, she felt refreshed and content.

A warm feeling of satisfaction, contentment, and pride at successfully concluding the banquet tickled her heart.

“Bain. Are you disappointed your sister didn’t come?”

Bain’s sister had given birth to twins and was too busy with childcare to accept Litania’s invitation.

She had sent a letter expressing her deep regret and promising to repay Litania’s kindness next time without fail.

“Not at all. From the beginning, I entered the Dragon Castle prepared to never see my family again.”

“Come now, the Dragon Castle isn’t a prison.”

Saying that, Litania smiled brightly as she noticed Bain’s expression soften ever so slightly.

‘They’re my people, so I should treat them even better.’

The dragon’s bride, loved by the master of the Dragon Castle.

It was only right to cherish with all her heart those who followed her.

‘No matter what anyone says, I’m the mistress of this castle.’

Autumn was deepening. Litania decided to host a banquet this winter where the castle servants and knights could mingle comfortably regardless of status.

“Phew, that crown prince is troublesome to the very end.”

Litania picked up the divorce papers, badmouthing her half-brother who had long since become emperor.

The certificate granting permission for divorce was still absurd no matter how many times she looked at it. Anyone who saw it would think she had requested the divorce.

‘Come to think of it, why did the crown prince say he’d divorce me back then?’

The crown prince seemed to dislike Orbis. And he seemed to dislike her too.

Wouldn’t it be good if two people he disliked got together and disappeared from his sight? Why did he choose such a messy way of entangling them?

“Is he trying to torment us?”

How old is he to put so much effort into tormenting people he dislikes? Litania crumpled up the divorce papers, thinking that Snow hadn’t called him a pervert for nothing.

As long as she didn’t tear it, it would still be valid, so she wanted to vent her frustration at least this much.

“Oh no. I shouldn’t have crumpled it before showing Orbis.”

She decided to show it to him first and then badmouth the crown prince, no, the emperor together.

With that resolve, Litania placed the divorce approval document on the table and smoothed out the wrinkled parts by pressing it with her palms.

“…you know.”

It was then that she heard Snow’s voice.

‘Snow? Is he here?’

Litania raised her head and looked around.

‘The next room?’

There was a small room attached to Litania’s dressing room. It was usually unused and served as a storage room. Herna had probably sneaked in through that room last night.

‘This isn’t my room or Orbis’s room, so why is Snow here?’

She left the crumpled approval document on the table and moved carefully to avoid making footsteps.

“If she doesn’t know it was all planned, Lady Litania is too pitiful.”

Her steps froze. Litania’s heart pounded heavily.

‘Me? Why?’

There were only two people in this Dragon Castle whom Snow addressed respectfully: Litania and Orbis.

The person Snow was talking to now must be Orbis.

But he was saying Litania was pitiful in front of him. Why?

Litania approached the door, holding her breath.

“You promised to respect…!”

Snow’s words were suddenly cut off.

Did he notice her approach?

Peeking through the door crack, Litania witnessed Snow covering his mouth and shaking his shoulders violently with his head bowed low.

Drip. Drop.

Something was flowing down from Snow’s hand.

Something red…

‘Blood?’

Her body moved reflexively. Litania flung the door wide open and entered.

“Snow! Are you hurt?”

“…!”

Snow’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Litania, then he turned his head to glare at Orbis.

“Those eyes.”

With a ripping sound as if skin was tearing, Snow’s white bangs were dyed red.

“Snow!”

Litania quickly rushed over to support Snow. The boy tried to turn away as if not wanting to show his face to her, keeping his mouth covered.

“Orbis, did you hurt Snow?”

“I merely educated him a little for his insolent words.”

“Snow is the attendant I personally brought from the imperial palace. I don’t know what he said, but you can’t treat him like this, Orbis!”

Litania’s breathing quickened. She began to pat Snow’s shoulder to comfort him.

“Snow, are you alright? Show me your wound. I need to see it to treat it.”

“…”

Snow blinked his left eye, which had been closed.

It seemed the skin above his eyelid had been torn. Fortunately, it didn’t appear that his eye itself was injured.

But to leave a scar on his face like this!

“Orbis, don’t ever do this to Snow again. Snow, let’s go to Hazel for treatment.”

“…”

But even as Litania tried to pull him, Snow didn’t budge from his spot.

“Snow, let’s go. You’re hurt.”

“I… can’t go.”

When Snow removed his hand from his mouth, his lips down to his chin were stained completely red.

“Please reveal the truth to Lady Litania and apologize. I can’t leave until you do.”

“Snow, what did Orbis do? I’ll ask about it later and confront him, so you need to get treatment first.”

With her heart sinking at the strong smell of blood, Litania tugged on Snow’s arm. Whether it was because her fingertips were trembling or because Snow’s strength was unexpectedly firm, the boy didn’t budge an inch.

“By the master’s orders, I have served Lady Litania for 20 years. So I know. Trying to restrain Lady Litania’s actions like this is wrong.”

“…Huh?”

By the master’s orders?

Wasn’t Snow taking care of Litania at the separate palace on the emperor’s orders?