“That child is Christina! The top lady of high society!”

The Marchioness took deep breaths, her face red as if suppressing anger and embarrassment.

“…I thought you would recognize her when you saw her. But we were careless. It seems there’s a reason why you cannot recognize that child.”

Arthur’s expression remained unchanged.

The Marchioness took a few deep breaths before continuing.

“…Perhaps years of hardship and disappointment have clouded your eyes. How could I not understand your resentment? You must have much to say. I’ll listen to it all, so let’s go into the castle first and talk.”

Arthur didn’t respond and merely smiled.

Though it was a very light expression, it was a smile that made the observer feel pressured.

The Marchioness clutched her fan with trembling hands, trying to lift her chin and maintain a dignified expression.

“Even if there’s a misunderstanding, it should be a problem we can resolve through dialogue. Please give us a chance to make amends. After all, we’re in the same boat, and you’re not planning to completely turn your back on Julius, are you?”

The Marchioness’s voice continued.

“Don’t put Christina in a difficult position just to express your resentment towards us. In the end, that child will become your shield. You are now damaging your own shield. Please don’t do that. Above all, isn’t she now your wife for life?”

Once again, a precarious silence fell over the tent.

“Is that so.”

Arthur finally spoke.

“Let me see my wife again. My eyes might have been mistaken.”

The Marchioness’s face brightened.

However, Arthur wasn’t finished speaking.

“But if she’s not my wife this time either, I won’t let it slide like before.”

The faces of the Marquis and Marchioness hardened.

“What do you mean…”

Arthur calmly continued.

“If you want to correct a mistake, you should start by admitting it. If you want a ‘chance to make amends,’ don’t try to hide your mistakes.”

Arthur smiled at them.

“This time, she must be my real wife. Then, as long as that lady is in my hands, I will remain silent about this matter for now.”

The next moment, Arthur briefly jerked his chin towards the back.

“We’ll talk after that. Goodbye for now.”

At this simple dismissal, the Marquis’s jaw dropped.

* * *

‘No doubt about it. He’s noticed. And he’s throwing this tantrum because he’s upset.’

The Marquis, expelled from Arthur’s camp, gritted his teeth.

What does he mean, don’t hide anything?

Insolent bastard!

The Marchioness bit her lip, holding her forehead.

“…I told you we should have gotten rid of that girl earlier!”

The Marquis retorted grumpily.

“Didn’t you say there was no better talent than her, being tight-lipped and capable of handling any task? Who was it that said to leave her be.”

“…”

The Marchioness closed her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut, as if not wanting to respond.

After fuming for a while, the Marquis muttered as if spitting out the words.

“…What if we get rid of her now?”

The Marchioness muttered as if bursting with indignation.

“You think we haven’t tried that? If we had done it earlier, maybe, but now it’s too dangerous.”

“…”

The desire to immediately erase the evidence of past events raised its head several times in the Marchioness’s mind, but now they couldn’t move rashly.

If they were caught attempting such a thing, that would truly be the end.

Right now, the eyes of the whole world were focused on the Julius mansion.

Too many reporters had gathered, and inside the mansion was even Earl Rembrandt, the eyes of the imperial family.

If a person were to be found dead in the house at a time like this, it would be like shouting to the neighborhood that they had something to hide.

Above all, someone might already be watching.

It was not the right timing to resolve matters through dangerous means.

“…”

The Marchioness, tearing at her fan, hysterically pondered.

“Saying he’ll remain silent if we hand over that girl means he wants proper compensation for the marriage fraud, holding the evidence for now, right? He doesn’t mean to completely break ties with us, does he?”

“…”

The Marchioness muttered as if talking to herself.

“We should still be able to turn this around. Even if it comes to light, Arthur would only damage his image without gaining anything…”

“…”

The Marquis thought with a terribly hardened face.

Though furious to the tips of his hair, this time his wife was right.

For now, it was urgent to somehow appease him and keep his mouth shut.

If talk of marriage fraud were to intrude at a timing like this, the position of Imperial Duke that they had barely obtained would…

‘Right. It’s better if he wants to negotiate rather than causing a commotion.’

As the anger subsided, his head began to cool.

Everything had to flow naturally, without any major disturbance.

As soon as he returned to the mansion, the Marquis said to his wife.

“Send her out, that maid. To the Victory Square.”

The Marchioness flinched and looked at him.

The Marquis continued.

“He won’t cooperate unless he sees that we’re yielding. Show him a gesture that we’ll do as Arthur wants.”

The Marchioness trembled under her eyes, feeling dizzy.

Though she had prepared, thinking it might come to this…

Is this really the only way?

Then what about afterwards?

“…If we send that maid out in front of people, what about Christina!”

The Marquis’s face crumpled.

“Why do you think we’ve been spending money to buy time until now?!”

He immediately summoned the head butler and head maid and ordered.

“Light the torches minimally. Hide ‘Christina’s’ face in the darkness. Olga, that child. And assign maids who can keep their mouths shut to attend to her.”

“Yes, sir.”

The head butler and head maid received the order and left.

The Marquis tried to light his pipe, but when his trembling hand failed a couple of times, he threw it away in irritation.

The tobacco leaves scattered messily on the carpet as the sound of heavy breathing filled the room.

The Marquis strained his bloodshot eyes, thinking of the guest who had become no different from an imperial watchdog.

‘The marriage fraud must absolutely not be revealed. Earl Rembrandt, the Emperor’s niece’s husband, is watching.’

To avoid looking suspicious, they had to somehow pull it off by today at the latest.

‘For that, we must first appease Arthur.’

The Marchioness stood blankly staring at him before staggering and barely managing to grasp the table.

* * *

“I can’t do it. I can’t…”

“If I go out there, what about the aftermath…”

“Even if I wanted to take all the blame and die alone, I can’t…”

“How can I die alone in this situation…”

“Even if I said I stole the dress and deceived the Marquis’s elders to act as the young lady’s stand-in for the marriage, no one would believe me…”

Reina knelt before the Marchioness and pleaded, but the answer was sharp.

“Don’t make a fuss.”

“Arthur is just briefly angry.”

“Your role is simply to quell the current uproar. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“We’re just briefly putting you in that position to show we’re sincerely responding to Arthur’s demands.”

“Don’t be afraid. You won’t have to be there for long.”

“Arthur will stop before things become irreversible, even if he wants to make us uncomfortable.”

“Arthur won’t want to be at odds with us either.”

“He may be hailed as a hero now, but will the Empress leave alone an illegitimate child who rescued the captive Crown Prince?”

“He’s more popular than the Crown Prince?”

“When Empress Maria’s checks begin, Arthur will quickly realize he needs ‘Julius’ as his backing.”

“He needs the protection of ‘Julius’.”

“If Arthur isn’t a fool, he’ll realize it.”

The Marchioness smiled coldly as she met Reina’s eyes.

“And, Reina.”

“You just have to do as you’re told. Don’t presumptuously talk back.”

Reina looked up at the Marchioness, sitting blankly.

“This time, specially, I’m explaining because you’ve struggled too.”

“So do well.”

“Don’t tarnish Christina’s honor.”

* * *

And so, Reina ended up being dragged out before him again.

Once more, under the name of ‘Christina Julius’.

* * *

“In front of Arthur, be thoroughly Christina.”

“Don’t fall for leading questions, lest a careless word trip us up.”

* * *

A wedding ring was placed on Reina’s finger after five years.

Large teardrop pearls hung from her ears, a necklace around her neck.

“…”

Though her vision darkened.

She was doomed either way.

* * *

“…At your words that I wasn’t your wife, I was severely scolded by my parents. They asked if I had perhaps offended you. How could I have made my husband say such things?”

Arthur, who had been quietly watching her, smiled softly.

Perhaps it was because she was standing before thousands of people, telling lies while tightly laced up to the point of suffocation.

She thought she might faint.

Everything felt so unreal that she became calm, as if turned into a fool.

Knowing it couldn’t be quiet, why did it feel that way?

The wind blowing beneath her ears ruffled her loose hair as if it wasn’t her own.

Her pierced ears burned. The earrings were heavy.

Reina exhaled a shaky breath through her corset-constricted chest.

“…”

He extended his hand.

Reina only realized it meant an escort when she heard the gasps of the onlookers around her.

Her breathing began to calm.

In this surreal feeling, Reina brought her hand to rest on his.

The moment Arthur lightly grasped Reina’s hand that barely touched his, thunderous cheers erupted.

A world echoing like another dimension.

The torches flickered slowly.

Reina stared blankly at Arthur’s face.

Was it because of his eyes looking back at her?

Emotions from five years ago that she had forgotten came flooding back.

The person who was kind during their brief time together, even though it wasn’t a place she had wanted at all.

The feelings of that moment when she sent off her one-night husband, who they said didn’t matter if a maid stood in for since he wouldn’t return alive anyway, unable to say anything.

“…I’m glad… you returned safely.”

Words she hadn’t intended came out without her realizing.

He smiled and replied.

“Didn’t you tell me not to come back?”

Reina closed her mouth, a bit flustered.

Only then did she remember.

His words that finally made Reina unable to remain silent until the end.

“…I only get to hear your voice in distress before I go.”

“…”

And the words she had impulsively offered came to mind.

Not knowing that the Marquis had put out a maid like her as a fake bride instead of the young lady, feeling sorry for him departing for certain death to keep his promise with Julius…

That he didn’t have to come back.

That a life like Ryan Dalton* would be fine too…

“…”

Having already let him hear her voice turned out to be a good excuse.

Reina bowed her head with a resigned feeling.

“…I didn’t know you’d return so successfully.”

He chuckled softly.

“Is that so.”

…Was he offended?

Reina hesitated before lowering her head and adding quietly.

“…Welcome back. It’s… nice to see you again.”

He smiled.

“I’m back.”

At that, she felt relieved.

—

*Ryan Dalton: A character from a classic novel who deserted his position as a prince, abandoning his status and name to live longing for his beloved fiancée for life. Interpreted as a cowardly and foolish character.