“I will marry Lady Letia Crystalos.”

At this incredible statement, even the ladies who loved such words couldn’t utter a sound.

Without a word, not even a breath, an eerie silence continued.

Then, the voice that broke this silence was one that absolutely should not have spoken up.

“That cannot be!”

Asiz shouted strongly, and Serina bowed her head deeply, her face turning pale.

Taking in a sharp breath they couldn’t quite hide, the nobles truly felt like they wanted to sink into the ground at this moment.

This was no longer a simple matter of gossip.

Kallion continued in a cold tone towards Asiz, who had stepped forward.

“On what grounds do you object, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

“No matter what, this is not right. How could elder brother and Letia… Letia? No. It’s not true, is it?”

Asiz looked at Letia with desperate eyes, and Kallion gripped Letia’s hand more firmly.

Letia also grasped Kallion’s hand more deeply while coldly avoiding Asiz’s gaze.

As Asiz, unable to bear the sight, was about to open his mouth again, Terisia, who had tried not to get involved in this messy situation, finally raised her voice sharply.

“Count Harencloud, suddenly talking of marriage. What nonsense is this?”

But Kallion’s attitude was infinitely relaxed.

“Nonsense, Your Majesty the Empress? Perhaps you didn’t know? This is the very important reason I attended this engagement ceremony.”

“Reason?”

“Kiyan!”

Kiyan, who had been watching this situation from afar in shock, snapped to attention at Kallion’s call and hurriedly pulled out the emperor’s letter.

“My marriage is by imperial decree. Thus, I am gladly obeying the imperial command.”

Terisia snatched the emperor’s letter, almost tearing it away, and as she scanned the contents written in his own hand, she could not possibly manage her expression.

‘When on earth did he send this!’

From the start, she hadn’t liked returning the title of Grand Duke of Harencloud.

She had wondered why he was suddenly called to the engagement ceremony, and now…

‘Again, without a word to me like this!’

Terisia’s fingers holding the letter trembled white, and Kallion observed this sight.

‘It seems the relationship between the emperor and empress is not what it used to be.’

“Your Majesty the Empress, do you dare to take the imperial decree lightly?”

Terisia barely smoothed her brow and smiled.

“Of course not. But marriage is an extremely important matter, so more carefully and slowly…”

“I proposed to Lady Letia because I fancy her, and Lady Letia accepted my proposal. What could be more important than this?”

But Kallion continued speaking without pause, seeking to decide on the marriage right here and now.

Terisia turned away from Kallion, who was strangely resolute, and instead addressed Letia, who seemed easier to handle.

“Lady Letia, did you really accept Count Harencloud’s proposal? I know you very well. I had no idea you desired the position of duchess so much.”

Terisia shot her words at Letia without even trying to hide the thorns embedded in them.

“To think you wanted to enter the imperial family like this.”

As Kallion was about to step in again at these words aimed at Letia, Letia gently pulled him back and looked straight at Terisia.

At this sight, Terisia’s lips twisted involuntarily.

In over ten years of taming her, not once had she ever looked at her so directly like this.

“Though I may be just a worthless pebble, since His Grace the Duke says he wants me. I dare to try to have it too.”

Letia finished her words, putting more strength into her body.

“All of it, whatever it may be.”

Terisia’s voice, which had always stirred her mind and tormented her, was no longer audible.

Because she could no longer run away like before, and she shouldn’t run away.

Terisia stared at Letia and smiled faintly.

“I see. So that’s how it is. I didn’t know you well. I should have known you better…”

Under her meaningful voice, Letia’s body gradually stiffened.

But Kallion silently held Letia more firmly.

Letia glanced at him, feeling a strange sense of relief for the first time, and naturally recalled what he had said.

“Even if I’m just a nominal husband, I will be completely on your side.”

‘On my side…’

“Since it’s an imperial decree, I, as the empress, don’t need to give permission or not. Well then, Count Harencloud, Lady Letia. I wish you well in your wedding preparations. I’ll make sure to attend if possible.”

At Terisia’s words, Asiz felt as if his whole body was sinking into the ground.

Letia and Kallion, of all people.

“This can’t be…”

Terisia, watching the precariously swaying Asiz, rather thought the current situation had turned out well.

‘It seems the suggestion didn’t work properly for some reason, so it’s not bad to get rid of that wench like this. At least Asiz won’t be able to do anything to find fault anymore.’

Terisia spoke to Moila, the head lady-in-waiting.

“Where is His Majesty now? We should hurry and start the engagement ceremony…”

“I have a request for Your Majesty the Empress.”

Terisia’s eyebrow twitched at Kallion’s ominous words.

“A request?”

“Since all the nobles are gathered here anyway, I’d like to get married right here, right now.”

At yet another commotion, the nobles gave up on even raising their heads.

Asiz stared blankly at Kallion, and Serina glared at Letia in shock.

‘Don’t tell me this is what she meant by stealing the engagement ceremony?’

Letia calmly held her ground.

‘It’s already happened. There’s no turning back now.’

For the first time, Terisia glared at Kallion with a murderous gaze she couldn’t hide.

‘How dare he talk of marriage at the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony!’

“You must really like Lady Letia. What on earth did she do to make Count Harencloud act so recklessly and rush things like this?”

“Because she’s the greatest jewel of my life. This time, not even a little.”

Kallion spoke strongly, looking at Asiz whose eyes couldn’t hide their wavering.

“I won’t be late.”

At Kallion’s unrestrained words and actions, Letia felt an unnecessary feeling welling up.

‘Don’t read too much into it. This is all fake. It’s all an act.’

“No matter what, to have the wedding here. It’s the wedding of none other than the House of Harencloud. If we do it shabbily, I’ll lose face.”

“Shabby? Isn’t this Gaudium, the greatest holy site in Elmorte? Besides, Your Majesty the Empress said you would celebrate my victory at the engagement venue, so it would be a great joy to complete the marriage here as a reward. Or was that also misdelivered?”

Kallion’s gaze turned to Moila.

Terisia’s insides twisted at Kallion’s brazen demand, but with so many eyes watching, she couldn’t bring up what happened in the Red Forest.

“Of course not. Of course we should celebrate the victory. But still, to have the wedding here…!”

“Kallion!”

Just then, a cheerful voice rang out along with applause.

At last, Emperor Kalua appeared together with Duke Crosent.

The emperor’s appearance was as jovial as his voice.

Because of his soft eyes and constantly smiling lips beneath his slightly long white hair, he looked even more so.

The nobles quickly bowed deeply in greeting.

“Glory to Elmorte, we greet Your Majesty the Emperor, Ruler of the Sun!”

Kalua roughly passed over the nobles’ greetings and immediately hugged Kallion tightly.

“Kallion! I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you like this. How long I’ve waited for this moment!”

“…I am honored, Your Majesty.”

Kallion’s voice continued indifferently, but Letia flinched as she looked at him. She could see the malice in his eyes that she had felt before.

‘Why suddenly…’

Kalua firmly held Kallion’s face and spoke in a tone overflowing with joy.

“I was actually a bit worried, but to obey the imperial decree so quickly. Yes, you should hurry and get married to continue the bloodline of the ducal house. That’s how we can comfort Takel.”

When Takel’s name came from Kalua’s lips, Kallion suppressed his strength to the point where his jaw stiffened, and Duke Crosent quietly observed this subtle change.

“Your Majesty, but!”

Terisia stepped forward once again, unable to ruin the engagement ceremony, but was blocked once more.

“I sincerely congratulate Count Harencloud on his marriage. With this, the House of Harencloud will smoothly continue its line. I will be the witness for this marriage. As an uncle, I can do at least that much, can’t I?”

At the voice of Duke Crosent, who had been silent, Terisia’s expression crumbled completely.

‘I wondered why this guy who had been holed up in his territory for over ten years suddenly appeared here like a cunning snake!’

Letia’s eyes widened involuntarily.

Though she knew of Duke Panel Crosent, this was the first time she had seen his face like this.

Befitting the blood of Emperor Kalua, his outward appearance was very similar to the emperor’s, but the atmosphere he exuded was completely different.

While the emperor had a generous and relaxed atmosphere, Duke Crosent had a unique, chilling gaze that kept making one tense, though he appeared relaxed.

Beneath his neatly arranged white hair, his short-trimmed beard and clean face had some contours, giving off a sturdy impression.

Although he seemed to lack presence now after withdrawing from politics, as the bloodline of the Dasos Imperial Family, the only allied nation on the continent next to Elmorte that held the most of the strongest Adamas, he was by no means a person to be taken lightly.

A wedding ceremony celebrated by the emperor and witnessed by the duke.

Even Terisia could no longer stop such an incredible wedding.

In the end, the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony was completely forgotten, and today became Kallion and Letia’s wedding day.

Though Letia had intended to ruin Serina’s engagement ceremony, she hadn’t meant to ruin it so terrifyingly, so her heart kept pounding. Then Kallion whispered lightly.

“Why? Did you want to make it even more of a mess?”

“No. This is enough.”

“Don’t just say it, show it in your actions too.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re doing well. Hiding it. So don’t be discouraged. Hold your head high.”

The firm voice stirred Letia’s mind.

“You are now the Duchess of Harencloud. From now on, that name will follow behind you.”

At his words, Letia deliberately straightened her back.

It was an unfamiliar and very heavy title, but at this moment, it was incredibly comforting.

Kallion and Letia stood before the dais of Gaudium.

On the dais, statues of the founding emperor of Elmorte and the goddess blessing that emperor could be seen.

Here, at the origin of Elmorte and the beginning of everything, Kallion and Letia held each other’s hands, about to take their first step as husband and wife.

Duke Crosent, preparing a simple marriage vow as the witness for this wedding, made a troubled expression.

“There are no rings, so there’s no token of promise.”

Kallion faced Letia and gently enveloped her hand.

“We just need to leave a mark that will never let us forget this moment.”

Then he pulled her hand closer.

Just as his lips seemed about to touch.

“Don’t forget even a single moment this time.”

As Kallion bit Letia’s ring finger, she flinched at a stronger stimulation than the pain digging into her skin.

Caressing the bite mark, Kallion discovered the knife scar on Letia’s palm and his eyes froze.

“Who?”

But Letia bit Kallion’s finger nonchalantly and said,

“It’s alright. I’ll hurt them back just the same.”