Suddenly, as I thrust the invitation forward, the faces of the three people sitting opposite me turned to shock and excitement.
"An invitation? What's this all of a sudden...?"
"Sis! Are you going to marry Sir Siph?!"
"Wait, Shasha. We need to talk about this together. You're proposing to me like this?"
My stepmother, my younger sister Reina, and the person I loved, Siph, each reacted differently as they looked at the invitation. It was as if they were watching a well-rehearsed play, their responses fitting together perfectly. They clearly expected me to marry Siph. After all, in the past, I had never tried to escape from Siph, and I couldn't even imagine another man besides him.
"I won't have a wedding ceremony. Instead, we'll go to the temple and read the vows and that will be it."
"Shasha, I want to give you a grand wedding."
Who's going to have a wedding with you? Siph, who had always been ambitious, grumbled as he tore open the invitation on the table. His face turned pale as he read the contents.
"Sis, when did you and Sir Siph prepare for the wedding? Why didn't you tell us?"
"But if it's Sir Siph, I can trust him with you. That's good."
The two, pretending to be kind, turned their gaze to the invitation in Siph's hand. Reina jumped up from her seat.
"What... What is this...?"
Now they've all read the contents. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled more brightly than ever.
"Yes, I've decided to marry Duke Laphireon."
I ultimately decided to proceed with my marriage to Terdeo. It wasn't easy to find a man who matched my conditions so perfectly. I turned my head to look at Siph, who was frozen like he had seen a ghost. You bastard. This is all your fault. So now...
"Siph, let's part ways."
You're out of my life.
"Sis! What do you mean! You love Sir Siph! Have you forgotten?"
"I haven't forgotten."
If I die, my inheritance will go to Siph, and he will use it to make you, Reina, and my stepmother happy. How could I forget that? Siph must have given you clothes, bags, and shoes with my money, right? I wanted to tear the dress Reina was wearing to shreds.
"...Shasha, what did I do wrong? Why are you doing this?"
"Siph."
"Yes, Shasha. It's me. Siph, the one you loved."
"Can you leave my house now?"
And my life, too. I smiled coldly and stood up, leaving the three of them frozen in place.
"Shasha!"
Siph hurriedly grabbed me as I turned to leave. I felt a shiver run down my spine as if a bug had touched me. I pushed Siph hard, and he fell to the floor.
"Siph! ...Sir!"
Reina naturally called out Siph's name and helped him up.
"Sis! Why did you push him! Are you a thug?"
It's so ridiculous that I can't even laugh.
"Fereshati. What's wrong? You seem to be in pain today. Did you have a fight with Sir Siph? Why don't you two go on a trip together?"
Seeing my stepmother pretending to be kind, Siph pretending to be hurt, and Reina comforting Siph, I felt a surge of anger.
'To think I believed these people were my family.'
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch their faces with my elbows, and pulled up my trembling cheeks.
"Listen carefully."
I scanned the three of them.
"From now on, no outsiders are allowed to enter my mansion. That includes Sir Siph."
*** Time passed quickly, and the day of our wedding arrived. We had set the date as soon as possible, knowing that delaying it would only make things worse. Siph, who had been a common knight, lost his eligibility for the royal knight promotion exam, which only nobles could attend, due to the cancellation of our wedding.
'This is just the beginning. I'll make you lose even more.'
After reading the marriage vows, Terdeo asked quietly as we left the temple.
"Is reading the vows enough?"
"Is there anything else needed?"
"Even though it's a contractual marriage, if the lady wishes, I can give her a grander wedding than anyone else in the empire."
It seemed that the few sentences read by the priest earlier were not enough for him. A wedding with no one to congratulate or watch. I thought for a moment, then smiled and shrugged.
"Give me the money when we divorce in a year."
Since it's just a formal marriage, it's not necessary. It's better to take the money when we divorce! Money is the best. Money will never betray me.
"Already thinking about the alimony after a year? You're thorough."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
"Your luggage? Is it arriving today?"
"I finished packing this morning, so it should be at your mansion by now."
We walked towards the carriage waiting for us. But before we could take a few steps, someone suddenly blocked our path.
"Duke Laphireon."
Surprised. The woman with golden hair and deep green eyes, filled with jealousy and anger, stood before us.
'This face looks familiar.'
As I furrowed my brow, trying to remember, Terdeo sighed and said quietly.
"Her Highness, the Princess."
What? A princess? I looked back and forth between the two, surprised. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the face I had seen at the inauguration and royal events. The fourth princess, Dodelea Ina Castor. She looked pale and sickly then, but now she looked completely fine. She must have recovered from her illness.
"How did you get here?"
"Are you really marrying someone other than me?"
Despite her cute appearance, Dodelea's lips were set in a hard line. She seemed to ignore my presence.
"I've been waiting a long time to meet you. Why didn't you marry me? Is there anyone else who loves you as much as I do?"
Dodelea stepped closer to us. Her green eyes were filled with a longing that seemed to be directed at no one in particular. She spoke in a bitter, almost sobbing voice.
"Finally, we've met. I've become the most perfect woman for you, and now there's nothing to stop us."
I thought it was a marriage forced by the emperor, but did Dodelea want it? Anyway...
'Was Dodelea always like this? In my memory, she was a pure and cute princess.'
As I blinked in confusion, Dodelea, without giving me a chance to react, placed her hand on Terdeo's left cheek.
"Besides, I sent a letter saying I would die if I didn't marry you. Didn't you receive it?"
What? Did I hear that wrong? A letter? Is she crazy? Thud.
"What are you doing?"
Disgusted by the sudden contact, Terdeo quickly and roughly pushed Dodelea's hand away. Her handback quickly turned red from the force. But Dodelea still smiled, twisting her red lips.
"I have no reason to live here without you. You are my man."
A shiver ran down my spine. She's crazy. It was obvious. Dodelea, who had supposedly recovered from her illness, was not in her right mind.
'How can a person change so drastically in an instant?'
I stared at the two, then suddenly came to my senses. Terdeo must have agreed to a contractual marriage with me to avoid getting entangled with such a princess. So, I need to do my part. I slipped between the two and linked my arm with Terdeo's. Dodelea, looking like a predator who had lost its prey, glared at me with wide eyes. Don't look at me like you're going to tear me apart.
"Her Highness, I'm sorry."
Though I was a bit scared, I forced a bright smile.
"My husband doesn't like it when other people touch him."
Dodelea glared at me as if she were a dragon spitting fire. It was terrifying! Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
"Oh, oh, your hand is so swollen. For your precious body...! You should see a doctor right away!"
So, please leave now. I hoped she would understand my polite dismissal, but Dodelea stood rooted to the spot.
"What about you?"
Dodelea, grinding her teeth, stepped closer to me. Her eyes were filled with anger and disbelief.
'What? Why is she coming to me?'
Surprised, I took a step back, and Terdeo subtly stepped in front of me. But Dodelea's gaze remained on me.
"Why are you here?"
Of course, I'm here because I'm getting married. ...I wanted to say that but held back, fearing she might tear my mouth apart. For a moment, I saw someone else in Dodelea.
"You can't be here...!"
Just as Dodelea was about to shout, a new voice interrupted.
"Goodness, it's so noisy that I can't help but hear everything."
The carriage stopped, and a stranger looked at us indifferently from the window.
"If the princess's infatuation with someone else's man becomes known in the empire, it would be quite a spectacle."
The woman chuckled, covering her mouth with a fan.
"People are starting to gather. Is it okay to continue lusting after someone else's man here?"
I looked around and saw that people were already staring at us. But Dodelea seemed to ignore their gazes.
"Of course. You're here to interfere again."
Dodelea, still staring at me, stretched out her hand and muttered something incomprehensible. Her actions were eerie and sinister, sending shivers down my spine.
"..."
But that was all. Despite the tense atmosphere, she didn't do anything to harm me or Terdeo. The woman in the carriage, who had been watching the scene, also tilted her head in confusion.
"Damn."
Dodelea, too, seemed frustrated. She scowled and lowered her hand, staring at it in disbelief.
"Remember this well."
Her voice was filled with resentment.
"I can't live without you. I won't give up again. You'll realize that you need me. We can't be happy without each other."
It felt like witnessing the tragic end of someone who had lived for thousands of years. This was not the voice or expression of a young princess just blooming like a spring bud. Dodelea left, leaving behind those incomprehensible words. I sighed and turned to the savior in the carriage.