From early morning, the Ruschef family and their vassals were bustling about in the Tanasha Grand Temple.

Originally, Biare and Ivan’s engagement was to be held secretly in the imperial banquet hall, but following the wishes of the devout duke, the venue for the engagement ceremony was changed to this place.

His argument was that the Grand Temple is where the voice of God Ecarto is best heard, so wouldn’t blessings and prosperity be bestowed upon them?

After gaining the approval of the imperial family, the duke immediately made a substantial donation to the archbishop, and eventually the secret engagement ceremony was to be held here.

Of course, as it was conducted unofficially, an absolute gag order was issued even to the high-ranking officials of the Grand Temple.

‘I can’t believe we’re actually having the engagement in the chapel.’

At first, when Biare heard this idea from her father, she thought it surely wouldn’t happen.

However, it seemed it wasn’t a difficult task for the duke, who had developed excellent eloquence while running the Cheilo trading company for a long time.

In the end, everything was proceeding according to Fredick Ruschef’s wishes.

The duke, who had led a devout religious life, seemed to take great pride in his daughter having her engagement ceremony at the Tanasha Grand Temple.

He had personally and meticulously selected and prepared each item to be used in the engagement ceremony. Even down to the flowers.

Perhaps finding his father’s behavior disagreeable, Gaizen spoke with a somewhat disgruntled voice.

“Anyone would think it’s Father getting engaged.”

Hearing this, the duke, who was removing dry leaves from the flowers, chuckled and looked at Gaizen.

“Hah— What nonsense. Of course I should take charge, it’s your sister’s engagement.”

It was fortunate the imperial carriage hadn’t arrived yet; if they had seen this, they would have thought it odd.

Gaizen shook his head as if he couldn’t understand the duke’s behavior, and soon added in a grumbling tone.

“Please don’t cry when the engagement ceremony starts later.”

“You rascal. Who says I’m going to cry……”

Sighing heavily as if he could already picture the scene, Gaizen spoke in a low voice to his sister beside him.

“Sister, want to make a bet with me?”

“Well, I think we’d both bet on the same side.”

As Biare glanced at her father and agreed with Gaizen’s words, he smiled with satisfaction.

Since there was still some time left until the engagement ceremony began, Biare decided to tidy up her appearance.

She headed to a small room that was temporarily vacant next to the chapel, along with Diane.

The dress Biare was wearing was one sent by the imperial family, a neat dress designed with a high neck and empire line.

Even the accessories, including earrings and necklaces, were all said to have been delivered to her through the crown prince’s hands.

In her heart, she wanted to tear everything surrounding her to shreds right then and there.

But since she couldn’t, Biare swallowed a shallow sigh and put on the white lace gloves she hadn’t even glanced at before.

Watching this, Diane wore an expression that looked like she might cry at any moment.

‘That tearful face again…’

Since there was still time left until the engagement ceremony, Biare thought she should comfort her a little.

“I’m really fine, Diane.”

“……”

Diane just hung her head without saying a word.

“You’re not even congratulating me now? I’m starting to feel a bit hurt.”

When Biare deliberately put on a mischievous expression and tone, she grumbled quietly.

“You know very well that I wish for your blessing more than anyone else……”

“Yes, I know that well. You’re my reliable confidant, aren’t you?”

Finding her both cute and pitiful, Biare answered with a kind smile.

At this, Diane seemed to feel slightly better, relaxing her furrowed brow, but her lips were still pouting.

“I’ve told you many times that what you’re worried about won’t happen.”

Unable to reveal the detailed circumstances to her, Biare spoke vaguely and roundabout, and Diane nodded slightly.

“I know. The young lady always achieves her intentions. You must have your own plans.”

“So don’t worry too much, Diane.”

“…Yes, my lady. Although it’s late, congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you. Now, let’s go out.”

Entering the chapel, the light from the elaborately crafted beveled glass was spreading brilliantly.

The imperial family members had already arrived and were entering one after another, and the Ruschef family paid their respects to them.

“Glory to the holy Marta Empire.”

“You may raise your heads now.”

At the emperor’s command, who still maintained his dignity despite leaning on a cane with a metallic sound, they raised their heads.

Thus, the engagement ceremony began, and the archbishop, who was officiating, was conducting the mass contained in the scripture before them.

The crown prince, who seemed as uninterested in the god Ecarto as Biare, kept yawning at the never-ending mass.

Biare, who had been absentmindedly staring at the arched windows, turned her head at the voice coming from beside her.

“My lady, are you listening to me?”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

At this, Ivan, who had been wearing a displeased expression, spoke in a tone that seemed hurt.

“You know, when I look at you closely, you’re quite indifferent.”

“……”

“Well, never mind. You’re going to be my fiancée now, so I should be understanding, shouldn’t I?”

Ivan smirked and looked ahead again nonchalantly, and Biare, not feeling it worth responding to, only hoped he wouldn’t speak to her again until the mass ended.

As the archbishop’s mass came to an end, the engagement ceremony for Biare and Ivan proceeded.

Standing face to face in front of the pulpit of the archbishop, the prophet of Ecarto, they presented their prepared vows.

“Your Highness, do you swear to faithfully fulfill your role and responsibilities in your engagement to Lady Ruschef?”

‘This vow seems a bit different from what I remember.’

Noticing that the content was slightly different from the vows she had heard at Gaizen’s engagement, Biare glanced at her father.

When their eyes met, she saw the duke eagerly winking at her, and Biare turned her head back.

It seemed that the duke, uneasy about giving his daughter to the crown prince who had behaved poorly until now, had devised a small scheme.

In response to the archbishop’s question, Ivan answered with an ill-fitting gentle expression, as if giving a benevolent reply.

“From now on, I will direct my attention to only one person.”

At these words, Biare stiffened her body and kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, trying her best not to show any reaction.

In her mind, she only thought about wanting to quickly wash her ears, which had just been tainted with filth, with holy water.

Was it just her imagination that Gaizen’s angry muttering from behind seemed to be heard so close?

Soon after, the archbishop cleared his throat a couple of times and hurriedly looked at Biare, presenting the vow.

“Lady Ruschef, do you swear to faithfully fulfill your role and responsibilities in your engagement to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

‘Responsibilities……’

Biare intended to diligently fulfill her role by deceiving everyone flawlessly during her engagement period with Ivan.

Hadn’t she repeatedly resolved?

That she would make the crown prince fall to the ground when he was experiencing his greatest joy.

“I swear.”

At this, the archbishop gave them a simple blessing.

“Lord Ecarto. Please bestow blessings and prosperity upon His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Ruschef, who have been engaged today, and watch over them so that they may be joined in matrimony.”

As each word was unpleasant to hear, she tightly closed her eyes and then opened them, only earnestly wishing for this time to pass quickly.

Meanwhile, from behind them came the sound of a middle-aged man and a young man sobbing in unison.

When Biare turned around, she found the duke wiping his tears with a handkerchief and Gaizen crying beside him.

‘What on earth are they all doing here now……’

As she was trying to manage her expression with an awkward smile, Ivan glanced at them from beside her and said,

“Anyone would think the lady was getting married right away.”

“…… I have no words to offer.”

She hadn’t expected her brother to be crying like this, even if it was understandable for her father.

“You’re lucky, my lady. You have people who cry for you.”

Just as she was about to lightly ignore his sneering words, the archbishop declared,

“With this, I hereby announce that the engagement between these two people has been established.”

Biare and Ivan, having completed their vows, were now officially engaged.

It was the moment when the prelude to revenge began.

That afternoon, after finishing all her schedules and returning, Biare sat by the window, gazing at the sky dyed red.

As if the form she longed for was there in that setting sun.

‘Why can’t I let go of you?’

Although she had made the decision to get engaged to the crown prince herself, she thought of Dension throughout the engagement ceremony.

She even had the impossible imagination of how happy she would be if the person next to her was Dension.

That’s how much his existence always filled her.

‘I must not let anyone know that Sion is my weakness.’

Therefore, she must not let anyone discover her feelings towards him.

Now that Biare had a new fiancé, if her feelings were to be discovered, Dension would be in danger again.

‘I will never let that happen.’

She didn’t want to render all the plans and progress he had made over the past time futile.

So Biare resolved not to see Dension anymore.

Because to protect something, one must also know how to give up.

Even if she missed him, Biare decided to be grateful for the time they shared.

Although they couldn’t be together, they would remain in the same world even as a long time passed.