When Odin asked about the wedding date, Clea hesitated for a moment.

In her heart, she wanted to do it right away.

Others called her cold as ice, but she too was human.

She knew how to feel anxious just like everyone else.

‘Is it right to marry him while under this curse?’

To be honest, this part kept bothering her.

Originally, she would have gone somewhere people couldn’t reach and quietly waited for death.

A quiet and eternal rest.

Perhaps that was what she had come to desire most desperately since possessing this body.

This life that was so noisy, tiring, and bothersome was only painful.

Clea looked at Admund beside her.

When their eyes met, her gaze naturally fell to the floor.

‘My feelings have changed without me realizing.’

From the moment she began to wish for days together with Admund, her thoughts changed.

She vowed to somehow break the curse. To escape this life that was like living on borrowed time.

At first it was just a whim.

It was merely a final amusement before death, so she remained confident throughout.

Since she would die soon anyway, she thought it didn’t matter if she was a bit shameless.

But now she felt a bit embarrassed and apologetic.

Wondering if someone with a death sentence should really take the place by his side.

Just the preparations for a royal wedding with the crown prince’s status would take considerable time.

Could her body withstand that long?

Of course, if the curse was broken during preparations, that would be one thing.

But if the curse wasn’t broken by then.

As various thoughts raced through her mind, Admund was the first to speak.

“I want the earliest possible date.”

The earliest possible date.

At those words, Clea who had been looking down raised her head.

Her eyes met Admund’s.

How long had he been watching her?

Odin spoke while looking at him.

“Are you afraid the bride might run away?”

“As Your Majesty says, I am afraid. Because she is such a beautiful bride, there’s a high chance she could be targeted by someone anytime, anywhere.”

“Hmm, that’s hard to deny. She does seem too good for you, indeed.”

Though the words sounded teasing, Admund calmly replied.

As if finding Admund’s words absurd, Odin let out a dry laugh, creating an odd atmosphere.

“Wouldn’t it be better to wait for the most auspicious day?”

When one of the priests tactlessly spoke up, others agreed.

Admund smiled and said,

“Is there a more blessed day than marrying this person? I don’t think there’s a more blessed day than that.”

People were shocked by Admund’s words and looked to see Odin’s reaction.

There were several auspicious days.

Since quite a few existed, like the founding day or the Emperor’s birthday, some might find it irreverent.

But Odin didn’t seem to mind.

Rather, his gaze was directed at Clea.

“I’d like to hear our daughter-in-law’s opinion. What thoughts are in that small head of yours?”

At Odin’s words, people shifted their gaze to Clea.

She wasn’t intimidated by their stares. If she were to be intimidated by this much, she wouldn’t have endured till now.

Though she had to answer the Emperor’s question, Clea was speechless for a different reason.

She only looked at Admund.

Admund smiled at her.

With a gentle and infinitely soft expression.

She knew he only showed such a face to her.

“Tell me what you want.”

Admund took Clea’s hand.

She felt her hand, which had unknowingly become cold, warming up again.

Her heart melted as much as her warming hand.

He continued, almost whispering,

“I also want what you want.”

At his seductive voice, Clea swallowed for a moment and thought.

What if this wasn’t the temple?

If there were no others around, just Admund and herself.

Emerging from her flight of fancy, she said,

“Then I feel the same. I too would like the earliest possible date, just as you wish.”

It might not be the most glamorous wedding.

There might be people criticizing it as unfit for royalty due to the date, but Clea didn’t care.

The most important thing to her now was the man before her.

“Then it’s settled. The earliest possible date it is. But not right after the penance ends. We must consider the bride’s health at least.”

“That’s something I’m mindful of as well.”

Odin came very close to Clea and Admund.

As the distance closed, even breathing sounds from behind couldn’t be heard.

Clea watched Odin approach.

A smile spread across the face of the father she thought would never show one.

He spoke in a low voice,

“I sincerely congratulate you two on your marriage.”

With those words, Odin left the temple like someone who had finished their business.

Admund silently watched Odin’s departing figure from afar.

Admund was quite shocked now.

He had never really had such warm family conversations with Odin before.

Except for with his mother, this was probably the first time talking in such an atmosphere.

Watching Admund standing dazed, Clea whispered in his ear.

“Please take good care of me, now and in the future.”

Seeing Clea’s brightened expression, Admund nodded and said,

“Let’s only have happy days from now on. You, and me too.”

Though there were still some troublemakers left, the couple facing marriage no longer had any fears.

From their perspective, it wasn’t that frightening to begin with.

There was annoyance at the many interferences, but they thought it could be sufficiently resolved if they were together.

‘Especially the matter of the Duchy of Percy.’

He wondered when to explain the Percy matter to Clea.

Clea wouldn’t know.

That he had completely overturned the Duchy while she was doing penance.

And at the same time, he had even received a firm promise.

That promise was related to Clea. He pondered when to tell her.

‘It should be fine to let her know a little later.’

Admund was more relaxed than anyone because he could predict what Aria would do next.

He grasped the silver hair that contrasted with his own with one hand.

That which sparkled like silver was more precious to him than silver itself.

If he hadn’t known, he might not have coveted it, but now that it was deeply rooted in his heart, he could never let go.

The woman who had been someone else’s, whom he only watched from afar, was now completely by his side.

“Let’s hold a banquet when the penance ends. And announce our news there too.”

Admund thought.

That this wait would be completely over if he endured just a little longer.

He could have become impatient, but he calmed his heart.

He had no intention of becoming like the one who hurt even precious things by not distinguishing them in his haste.

* * *

“Aria, how about following your father’s words?”

“Mother, you should at least take my side!”

“You saw it too. Who the Crown Prince has in his heart.”

“Mother!”

The Duchess of Hersher looked down at Aria with worried eyes.

As her husband said, there no longer seemed to be any hope.

If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they probably would have tried to support their daughter until the end.

Because Aria wanted it. No matter what rumors spread, they wouldn’t have believed it unless they saw it themselves.

But they witnessed it with their own eyes.

The scene of him choosing Clea instead of their daughter who was the apple of their eye.

After seeing that scene, the Duke of Hersher no longer had any lingering attachment to the position of Crown Princess.

“Aria, my child. Couldn’t you give up just this once? If you give up this time, I’ll grant whatever else you want.”

The Duchess’s heart wavered as she saw Aria looking at her with resentful eyes.

Because she had been sickly since childhood, they wanted to give her anything she desired.

Hoping Aria would calm down a little, she brought up a different topic.

“Are you still getting along well with the eldest son of Percy?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up Lloyd?”

Aria’s expression hardened at the sudden mention of Lloyd. Just hearing his name made her frown.

Her mood sank further as she recalled what had happened with Lloyd before.

The things that happened with him were the worst. She didn’t want to face him ever again.

It was so shameful that she couldn’t even talk about it when she came home.

But not knowing Aria’s feelings, the Duchess smiled and said,

“Your father is in talks with the Percy family right now. He’s looking into a marriage between you and Lloyd.”

The moment she heard the Duchess’s words, Aria felt like lightning had struck her head.

Marriage to Lloyd.

At first she thought she had misheard.

Of all people, that Lloyd! This was truly absurd.

Originally, Lloyd was engaged to Clea. And he should rightfully marry Clea, not her.

But now the person marrying Lloyd had changed to her.

Not only had she never thought about it, but recalling his rogue-like behavior, Aria bit her lip and shouted,

“I have no intention of marrying someone like him. So cancel it right now!”