A voice devoid of any warmth continued.

“You said it then. To confirm it myself.”

“……”

“So I confirmed, and to do as I wish, like this.”

The moment their fingers, bearing traces of each other, intertwined.

“This is a deal.”

Kallion’s eyes sank even darker.

Letia tried to release his hand with an awkward smile.

“Come to think of it, everything the Grand Duke said was right.”

But Kallion didn’t loosen his grip, so Letia couldn’t move even a step away from him.

Letia looked puzzled.

“Your Grace?”

“You too have become quite in need of this marriage, so from now on, we should be faithful to each other.”

Letia flinched at the somewhat dangerous tone.

“Fa-faithful……”

“It’s still a wedding after all, there should be at least one romantic moment. We can’t let anyone know it’s a contract, right? Right now, it’s almost like we’re writing a blood oath with a comrade on the eve of war.”

Letia couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Romantic…… It was really a word that didn’t suit him at all.

But it was an unfamiliar word to Letia as well.

“Then what should we do to be romantic?”

At that moment, Kallion’s fingers cupped her cheek, and his thumb began to caress near her lips.

Soon, his voice sounded strangely husky.

“A vow kiss?”

“What?”

Before she could comprehend the meaning of the words, Kallion’s lips quickly descended and took her breath away.

For the first time in her life, as someone else’s breath rushed in, Letia’s heart raced overwhelmingly fast.

Feeling her strength leaving her body, she unconsciously grabbed onto him, and at that small movement, Kallion held his breath for a moment.

The heightened emotion that only rose in front of her shook him.

Kallion forcibly tried to maintain his reason, conscious of where they were, gripping it tightly again and again.

Otherwise, he felt he might arbitrarily drag her away.

Asiz, who had barely endured until the wedding, couldn’t bear to watch this scene and bowed his head deeply, gritting his teeth.

At that moment, Duke Crescent approached them, clapping his hands cheerfully.

Kallion finally raised his head, and Letia tried to compose herself, still calming her rapidly beating heart.

“Good, very good. Yes. What does the form matter? What’s important is the hearts of the two. You’ve exchanged tokens, shared a vow kiss, it’s a perfect wedding!”

Terisia glared at Duke Crescent, who was somehow pushing to end this wedding right here, and raised her voice to Kalua.

“Your Majesty, do you really approve of this marriage? Lady Letia is not an ordinary lady, but a Gemma. One who was once educated in the Imperial Palace!”

“Didn’t she break off the engagement with Nebula, so she’s no longer related to the Imperial family?”

Kallion opened his mouth, suppressing a laugh.

“If you keep that in mind, it might be unfavorable for the Crown Prince’s new fiancée as well.”

Serina, who should have been the protagonist of this place but was completely pushed aside, couldn’t control her expression from crumbling.

“Count Harenclode is right. It’s been 5 years already. Besides, isn’t the will of the parties involved most important in marriage? Isn’t that right, Your Majesty.”

Duke Crescent once again grated on Terisia’s nerves.

“It’s all in the past, Empress. It’s not good to keep mentioning that incident.”

Finally, Kalua cut in sharply, settling the situation.

“These two are now officially husband and wife. They will attend the next ball as the Duke and Duchess of Harenclode.”

Duke Crescent patted Kallion’s shoulder with a bright expression.

“Now that you’ve properly become the head of a family, I’ll meet with you separately soon to greet you.”

“I will do so, Uncle.”

“Congratulations to the Duchess as well.”

Duke Crescent’s gaze turned to Letia for the first time, and Letia greeted him calmly, forcing a smile.

“Thank you, Duke Crescent.”

Terisia glared at Duke Crescent.

‘He must have some ulterior motive. Kallion, it was strange from the moment that guy entered the capital and stopped his seclusion. And now this marriage.’

On the surface, the Emperor and the Duke seemed to be on good terms, but the Duke had a past grudge that could never bring him close to the Emperor.

Kalua gently grabbed Kallion’s shoulder and said to Letia.

“I’ll borrow the groom for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kallion gave Letia a brief glance before following the Emperor.

Kalua raised his voice towards the nobles with a bright expression.

“Today is a very joyous and good day. All those who left us have returned to our side. Everyone, enjoy this ball!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Terisia, no longer wanting to stay in this place, turned her back first, making the excuse of being tired.

Kallion Luca Harenclode.

As soon as that guy returned, he ruined none other than the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony.

The most troublesome ones had done something unthinkable.

‘Yes, Kallion. Of course you wouldn’t stay quiet. That’s why I tried to deal with you quickly somehow.’

“How did I come this far…”

Terisia muttered in a tone colder than the ice fragment secretly drawn on her wrist.

“If you want to wage war again, I have no choice but to wield my sword once more.”

***

Serina couldn’t believe the situation unfolding before her eyes.

Today was clearly supposed to be her engagement ceremony, but somehow it had turned into Letia’s wedding, and no one paid any attention to her.

It really was as Letia said, Letia had stolen her engagement ceremony.

“This can’t be… This is impossible.”

Serina tried to grab Asiz who was nearby.

“Your Highness, but our engagement ceremony…”

But Asiz ignored Serina as if he had forgotten she was even there and moved away.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Asiz casually took Letia’s hand as she stood alone.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

For some reason, Letia obediently followed Asiz out of the great hall. But as soon as they entered the corridor, she shook off his hand as if she had been waiting for it.

“You shouldn’t do this anymore, Your Highness. I am now Harenclode’s…”

“Don’t say it with your own mouth. I’m barely holding myself back right now.”

As Asiz, losing his composure, tried to grab Letia again with a suppressed voice, Serina blocked their way.

“Where are you going?”

Serina could no longer control her emotions at the sight of Letia and Asiz together.

“Our engagement ceremony isn’t over yet. How, how can you do this to me? Both at Selene Palace and now. I am Your Highness’s fiancée. It’s me, not Letia!”

Unlike the agitated Serina, Asiz was cold.

“Did you see? Then I don’t need to explain. From the beginning, I’ve been preparing and waiting all this time to meet Letia, not you.”

Serina turned pale and lost her words.

Finally, Letia pulled Asiz and stepped forward.

“I have something to say to Serina first.”

But Asiz wouldn’t let Letia go easily.

“You must talk to me today. Otherwise, I won’t let you go from here, whether anyone sees or not.”

Seeing Asiz’s persistent gaze, Letia nodded.

“Alright. There’s a villa nearby, I’ll go there.”

“You must come. You must.”

Asiz reluctantly let go of Letia and turned his back first.

Finally left alone, Serina glared at Letia as if she could kill her.

“You’re crazy.”

“You said to do whatever I could. So I’m just obeying.”

“You!”

Serina screamed, almost a shriek.

“I’ve rotted here for over 10 years, so you should also endure and endure for at least 10 years before losing.”

Between Serina’s voice that had lost all reason, Letia’s frighteningly calm voice continued.

“Actually, it’s not stealing, it’s reclaiming what’s mine. One by one. Slowly. I’ll return everything you have. To you who originally had nothing. Ah, but I’ll return that brooch soon.”

At those words, Serina let out a scornful laugh.

“What? Are you trying to threaten me with that? Do you have any proof that I did it? I wasn’t the only one. How do you plan to stand against Her Majesty the Empress? And you didn’t even die. Like a worm!”

“Evidence, I don’t have any now. So hide it well.”

Letia deliberately emphasized her last words.

“If you’re caught again, I’ll do exactly the same, no more, no less. Lady Serina, no, Crown Princess.”

With that, Letia turned her back first, and Serina, left behind, clenched her fists so tightly her nails might break, her face contorted uglily.

“Why on earth……”

At that moment, Kayla, who had just arrived at Gaudium, spotted Serina standing in the corridor and ran over.

“Serina! Our precious daughter. Our precious jewel! Have you been waiting here? I’m sorry, darling. It was a bit delayed, but it’s our daughter’s engagement ceremony to become the Crown Princess, we couldn’t prepare hastily, could we? But His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are still… Wait. Serina, why do you look like that?”

“Why didn’t she die? Why. Why on earth. Why!”

“Se-Serina? What’s wrong with you? What about the engagement ceremony? Don’t tell me His Majesty has already arrived? And Her Majesty too? Where is His Highness the Crown Prince? Hm?”

“I won’t let it be taken away. I’m the real one. I’m the real one!”

***

Kallion stared at the door through which Letia and Asiz had disappeared together.

They had been gone for quite a while.

‘Meeting today is unavoidable.’

He unconsciously touched the mark where she had bitten him, but it was already fading.

Kallion’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

“It doesn’t last as long as I thought.”

As if, like their current relationship, it could disappear quickly like a sandcastle.

As if reminding him that everything was just fake.

“Still, from now on, we’re husband and wife. That fact is real.”

He grabbed hold of his wavering composure once again and stared at the firmly closed door.

‘I’ll wait until today. Until today.’