“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is waiting.”

Upon hearing the news from Lina, Blair immediately returned to the Princess’s Palace.

As soon as she entered the reception room, Blair was greeted by Katrina’s hand.

Slap!

Blair’s body staggered from the unexpected slap.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Lina, who was following behind, embraced the swaying Blair.

Katrina raised her hand once more, but unable to strike again, she burst out in anguish.

“There’s a limit to disrespecting your mother! How could you visit that woman the day before your wedding? That woman who tried to kill you!”

Though her cheek stung from the slap, Blair looked at Katrina with calm eyes, not letting out even a single groan.

Katrina, who had a complex about her lowly birth, was extremely conscious of others’ gazes. No matter how she felt inside, she tried her best to act like a noble, elegant and refined.

For her to resort to physical violence was a rare occurrence.

Blair had touched Katrina’s sore spot.

“I am your mother! I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you in pain. Not that woman!”

A fierce madness flickered in her purple eyes, so similar to Blair’s own.

Blair sneered at the sight.

Her mother, who despised Blair’s attachment to Esmeralda, ironically thought of her daughter as merely a chess piece for her son.

From the time Blair started developing a woman’s body, Katrina began strictly managing her daughter’s weight.

If she weighed even slightly more than the target weight, Katrina would have the maids of the Princess’s Palace whipped on their calves until they bled, and starved them as punishment. Claiming it was punishment for not serving their mistress wholeheartedly.

Katrina whispered that it was all for Blair’s sake.

‘Think about the fate of that unloved woman. How pitiful and useless a life, to be jealous and envious of those who are loved, and self-destruct.’

‘……’

‘You must become a woman who is loved, Blair. Like your mother.’

And thus, you must become excellent support for your brother and me, for this imperial family I have built…

On days when Blair felt she had gained even a little weight, she would stick her finger down her throat and vomit up everything she had eaten.

It was painful to the point of tears from the rising nausea, but she thought it was fine. She convinced herself it was fine.

This is all because mother is thinking of me, worrying about me.

If I just endure, the maids won’t be punished in my stead, mother won’t hate me, and everyone will see me as beautiful and pretty.

Everyone will love me.

Yes, it’s fine.

If I can just be loved, this much is really nothing…

But the moment she held the newborn Asiel in her arms, she realized.

‘You must make Herdin Delmark fall for you. And thus become a strong ally for your brother. Do you understand?’

If one truly loves, they cannot worry about their son before their daughter who is about to be married.

If one truly loves, they cannot help but find the sight of their beloved child eating adorable.

No matter what others say, in their eyes, the child is so lovely and precious.

It was painful, but now she could not help but acknowledge it. That Katrina’s love for her was not love at all.

That’s why.

That’s why she was able to refute Katrina’s words.

“Since when have you cared for me so much, Mother?”

Blair’s calm but resentful voice and gaze pierced Katrina.

“You…!”

Stunned by her daughter’s sudden change in attitude, when she had always clung desperately to her love, Katrina raised her hand again.

At that moment, Blair spoke.

“Wouldn’t it be troublesome if the new bride’s face was scarred?”

At Blair’s words, Katrina’s hand, which seemed about to strike, hesitated.

Trembling with rage she could barely contain, Katrina finally lowered her hand.

“You insist on driving a nail into your mother’s heart. You’ve become so stubborn…”

Katrina walked past Blair and Lina, leaving the reception room.

Blair closed her eyes as she listened to the fading sound of high heels.

That sound was a little painful, and yet somewhat relieving.

It was the end of a terrible unrequited love.

* * *

The wedding was held at a temple located on the outskirts of the capital.

A huge crowd had gathered to witness the marriage of the Emperor’s only sister to the Duke of Delmark. Not just nobles, but commoners as well.

In the bridal waiting room, dedicated maids were bustling to put the final touches on Blair’s attire, today’s main character.

“It’s fortunate that the swelling has gone down so much.”

The maid touching up Blair’s skin makeup gently stroked the cheek where Katrina had slapped her yesterday, sighing in relief.

“It’s all thanks to your treatment. Mother should reward you generously.”

“The Empress Dowager was really too much. What kind of face is this for a new bride?”

Blair merely smiled faintly at the maid who seemed more upset than she was.

Just then, Lina, who was approaching with the veil, suddenly exclaimed as she looked out the window.

“Oh my, it’s snowing outside.”

“It seems even the gods have come to bless Your Highness’s wedding.”

Looking out the window, small white snowflakes were indeed fluttering down. The same snow that had fallen during her first wedding.

Blair, who had watched that snow then with a mix of excitement and fear, now gazed at it with calm eyes.

That serenity was broken by a knock.

“Is the preparation complete?”

Hearing Ivan’s voice, the maids quickly placed the veil over Blair. The new bride’s beauty was to be seen first only by the groom.

The maids bowed their heads as Ivan entered the bridal waiting room.

“If you’re ready, let’s head out.”

Ivan approached Blair and held out his hand.

Blair stared at that hand for a moment before placing her own on top of it.

As they left the bridal waiting room together, Ivan spoke.

“The surest way for a woman to establish her position in her in-laws’ house is to give birth to a son. You know that, right?”

Blair gave no reaction.

Ivan was displeased by his sister’s silence in response to his well-meaning advice.

“And as your brother, let me advise you: you’re too stiff for a girl. Being a lady is good, but in bed, you need to act like a seductress to some extent to be loved.”

“……”

“Mother was very worried.”

Blair, who had been silent all along, finally spoke at the mention of ‘Mother’.

“Please tell Mother not to worry too much, as her daughter will live well anywhere, Brother.”

Anywhere on this continent.

Blair planned to travel freely with her beloved son Asiel once this contract marriage was over, free from the responsibilities of royalty.

As Blair emerged holding Ivan’s hand, the crowd waiting in front broke into cheers.

The nobles couldn’t help but marvel at Blair’s silhouette beneath the veil.

Even with the veil, her face wasn’t completely hidden.

“My goodness, she looks just like an angel descended from heaven.”

“She’s like a snow fairy as well.”

Herdin watched Ivan and Blair approaching him, letting the nobles’ praises go in one ear and out the other.

It was a wedding without any significance for him.

Ivan, who had reached Herdin, handed Blair over to him.

“She’s a precious child I’ve raised preciously. Please cherish her.”

“How could I disobey the imperial command?”

The two, now holding hands, stood side by side before Pope Gerard, who was officiating the ceremony.

He smiled contentedly as he looked at the couple.

“It warms my heart to see the Princess grow up safely and enter into marriage.”

He was the life-saving benefactor who had treated Blair when she was injured during the fire at the Empress’s Palace.

He had also personally presided over the funeral of the late Duke and Duchess as the Pope.

Thus, his connections with both of them had continued until now, leading him to personally officiate their wedding.

Soon, the ceremony proceeded.

In the midst of people more excited than the couple themselves about the marriage of the empire’s most beautiful man and woman, only the two remained indifferent.

“Now, lastly, please seal your vows with a kiss.”

Herdin lifted Blair’s veil. Their eyes met at that moment.

In that instant, his eyes, which had been as calm as a winter lake, rippled slightly.

The pure white dress and fair platinum blonde hair accentuated all the colors above her.

The slightly flushed fair face beneath the veil, the transparent amethyst-like purple eyes set on that face, and the crimson lips.

And beyond the window, gently falling snowflakes formed the backdrop.

A snow fairy.

A woman in pure white who perfectly matched that description.

Thinking that the nobles’ praises weren’t entirely unfounded, Herdin willingly pressed his lips to those of the fairy.

* * *

After the wedding ceremony at the temple, a banquet was held at the imperial palace.

It was a banquet hosted by the Emperor to share the joyous occasion with everyone. Yet, as if being considerate of the newlyweds, he allowed Herdin and Blair to leave early.

Luth had finished organizing the documents that had arrived for Herdin throughout the day and was about to leave the office when he opened the door.

At the same moment, he bumped into a large shadow.

“Ah! You startled me!”

Standing before him was Herdin in a robe. His hair was still damp, suggesting he had just bathed.

Luth looked up at him while calming his startled heart.

“Why are you here at this hour?”

“Do I need a reason to come to my own office?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Today is your wedding night, isn’t it?”

“There are documents that need to be processed.”

“There’s nothing so urgent that it needs to be handled on your wedding day.”

“You seem to have hoped I wouldn’t come to the office.”

“Of course. Who would want to be alone with their boss at this late hour? Especially a boss who just got married today.”

A boss who sought out his office with his aide on his wedding night, rather than his bride’s bedroom.

It was a combination that could potentially lead to strange rumors.

Herdin walked past Luth, who was writhing at the terrible imagination, and sat down at his desk, lighting a cigar.

He’s ruthless, truly ruthless. That workaholic.

Luth clicked his tongue as he watched Herdin actually reviewing documents, then cautiously asked.

“…By the way, what are you going to do from now on?”

Though the subject was omitted, Herdin understood what Luth was referring to.

“She said she would cooperate as much as possible in finding memories related to the incident ten years ago.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Whether she truly lost her memories or is pretending to have lost them for some other purpose, I’m not sure.”

Though he had agreed to marry Blair based on her proposal, he still couldn’t trust her.

‘…It doesn’t matter either way.’

Whatever her purpose was, she was now in his hands, and as long as she remained so, he would use her to the fullest to uncover the truth.

Watching Herdin lost in thought, Luth carefully asked.

“But are you really not going to the bedroom?”

Herdin suddenly recalled the face of the woman who had been by his side all day, wearing the same expression like a doll.

A cold light gleamed in his blue eyes as he remembered that pale face.

She’s probably fallen asleep from exhaustion anyway. It must have been a grueling day for such a fragile woman.

And above all, there’s no need for wedding night rituals in a contract marriage, right? She would probably feel the same way.

As that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly changed his mind.

Herdin, who had been lost in thought while rubbing his chin, stood up from his seat.

“Are you going?”

To Luth’s question, Herdin replied nonchalantly.

“I suddenly became curious.”

About what expression that doll-like woman would make at the unwelcome visit of her husband.