“…What?”
I asked stupidly. Alan let go of my cold, clammy hand and moved as if he had finished talking.
I stood blankly and grabbed him by the hem.
It was rude, but I had a feeling that if I miss him now, I would never have a chance to hold him forever.
“Why, why…?”
If I had to leave the dukedom with Benny after the rebellion was successfully completed, I understood that.
‘I’m ready for it anyway.’
The problem was the words ‘Don’t come back again.’
“I’m sure I will continue to be useful in the future… Now I know how to handle black magic quite well. I also worked hard at studying military science.”
I rapidly said so and forced a laugh. I wanted to pass on his words as a joke.
“Of course, it will look poor in the Duke’s eyes, but still…”
Alan’s eyes were steadfast. It didn’t seem like he was going to take back his words at all.
I got so impatient that I finally stopped pretending not to acknowledge.
“This body belongs to Lily.”
I held up the red hair that was spilling over my shoulders with both hands.
Alan watched my behavior expressionlessly.
I was embarrassed to the point that my face was burning hot, but I couldn’t stop it.
I wanted to stop him from cutting me out of his life at all costs.
“Hair, eyes, limbs… They all belong to the Duke’s daughter. But if you don’t see me for the rest of your life…”
“No.”
Alan cut my words firmly.
“It’s yours.”
He touched my cheek with his gloved hand.
“It’s your body. It is proof of the life you have endured.”
There was a strong will that could not be changed in the man’s voice.
I was terrified of that fact.
“So…”
“Duke.”
“You are free.”
I couldn’t take it any longer, so I hugged Alan.
There was the sound of a heart thumping as if it was about to burst.
Alan looked down at me for a moment, then ran his hard fingers through the scattered hair on my temple.
“You don’t have to work for me anymore.”
‘Don’t say that. Please let me continue to protect you.’
‘Only then will I have a reason to be by your side.’
‘Even if you don’t take me as part of your family, please don’t take away my vain hopes.’
‘This is all that’s left between me and Dad.’
“No more…”
Alan pushed my shoulder. There was an eerie chill in the area where the body temperature had dropped.
“…You don’t have to remain as the daughter of a bastard like me.”
The low voice did not reach my ears properly.
I had no idea what he was talking about. All self-deprecating remarks sounded like excuses to cut me off.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
After the cliché congratulations, Alan turned away without a word. I stared blankly at his back as he walked away.
‘Should I hold onto him?’
After today, I might never see Alan again. I couldn’t even imagine that.
‘Should I beg? That I’ll do anything as long as he doesn’t leave me?’
The desire to get down on my knees and beg was like a chimney. But my body didn’t move.
I already had a hunch. No matter what I do, it would be of no use.
‘…It’s too far.’
Before I knew it, a lot had already been decided by Alan.
I couldn’t decide anything but the impossible dream of being in his family.
So I couldn’t even hold him. He didn’t even tell me not to go.
Like the moon in the sky, I couldn’t reach him even if I stretched out my hand.
Alan never looked back at me and just disappeared.
My legs lost strength. Left alone in the chapel, I sat in the same spot for a long time.
***
Ding, ding, ding.
The bell announcing the princess’s marriage rang throughout the whole duchy.
The snow had melted; it was a bright spring day.
The distinguished guests gathered in the castle laughed happily, saying that the sky seemed to be blessing the marriage.
I stayed up all night with my eyes open, staring blankly into the air like a doll throughout the celebration in the bride’s waiting room.
Pedro and Hugo were worried about me, but the larks gave them a good reason, saying, ‘It’s normal for the new bride to be uneasy.’
In fact, I didn’t even register that I was getting married.
The only thought in my head, which had been empty since last night, was ‘Time flies.’
‘Soon, I won’t be able to see Alan for the rest of my life.’
When I remembered that fact, I felt scared, sad, and eventually empty.
All emotions were consumed. Exhaustion crept up on the wedding dress and strangled me.
All of a sudden, the people around me disappeared. I didn’t even have the strength to figure out why.
Then Alan’s voice brought my mind back to reality.
“…The time has come.”
I raised my head suddenly. In the crowded waiting room, Alan and I were the only two left.
Seeing that Benny, who had been guarding me by my side like a loyal dog, also disappeared, it seemed that the wedding was about to begin.
Alan held out his arm. It was to escort me.
I glanced at him through the veil that covered my face, then finally put my arms around his.
His white gloved hands trembled like aspen trees.
We went to the chapel without saying anything.
When the door engraved with vines opened, people with smiles on their faces came into view.
Everyone seemed happier than I, who was getting married.
I could not relate to them, so I proceeded slowly as if walking on clouds.
I felt like I was going to collapse like last night the second I walked faster.
At the end of the endless carpet, was Benny, dressed in his wedding suit.
Alan handed me over to him and went back without hesitation.
I gazed at the neatly seated guests.
Everyone knew where their seats were. Different from me
“Princess.”
Benny called me.
I hurriedly looked straight ahead. The servant who brought the wedding rings was looking at us.
It seemed that the bishop’s officiating ceremony was over.
Benny looked at me with bright purple eyes and slipped the ring onto the ring finger of my left hand.
The hardness felt through the glove was unfamiliar.
I put the ring on his ring finger with a trembling hand. On the left, the bishop said a prayer.
Soon, Benny lifted the veil and brought his face close to mine.
It was a moment when I should have smiled, but the corners of my lips did not rise. Benny looked at me worriedly and whispered.
“I told you, didn’t I? I will make the princess happy.”
“…Huh?”
“Now I can keep my promise.”
Benny hugged and kissed me.
“My power has been completed.”
Cheers erupted in the chapel. I think Hugo’s cry was mixed between the applause.
All the noise seemed distant. In the infinite silence, only the voices of my own kind resounded in my ears.
“In a world where no one leaves the princess…”
A warm breath shook the veil. It was a hazy sight, as if the devil had opened the curtains of the night.
“A world where the princess never leaves me.”
A faint smile appeared on the lips of the man, who had always been expressionless.
“I’ll give you a present.”
I blinked my dry eyes and pondered Benny’s words.
“If no one leaves me…”
It sounded vain, but now I couldn’t afford to question it.
“Even my dad?”
After I said that, I laughed out loud.
I felt that I was so pathetic, but Benny kissed my forehead tenderly, as if not so.
“Yes.”
That simple acknowledgment gave me comfort.
I pulled Benny’s collar and kissed him. Our mixed breaths were hotter than before.
He always told me what I wanted to hear.
I couldn’t tell if it was a bluff or not, but at least he didn’t lie.
The fact that such a person loved me was a great help.
It seemed to prove that I wasn’t completely alone.
Being by Benny’s side, the punishment for living as a liar was a little bearable.
Bang!
Then the door to the chapel was thrown wide open.
Everyone’s eyes turned to the man standing at the door. My mouth dropped at the appearance of an unexpected person.
“…Michael?”
Michael’s red eyes were alert.
He hurriedly walked into the chapel and shouted clearly towards Alan.
“The Emperor has broken the alliance with House Bauner.”
A commotion occured.
Breaking the alliance. There was only one meaning of those words in a world where everyone, except allies, were enemies.
Alan stood up and said slowly.
“Igdrasil took the lead.”
***
The bridge was still covered with snow.
It was because no one took care of the long bridge after Alan showcased human necks like a beast marking its territory.
“Duke, it’s dangerous!”
Nike tapped his feet and looked alternately at the drawbridge and Alan.
I wanted to follow him too, but my voice didn’t come out properly when I thought of last night.
“We have to negotiate, no matter what.”
Alan stared at the center of the drawbridge, almost in a daze.
There stood a woman, tall like a majestic tree.
Her hair, which was indistinguishable from snow, was long and ran down like a river.
It was a clone of Emperor Igdrasil.
She didn’t bring anyone other than herself.
Therefore, Alan disarmed, intending to talk to her alone.
“S-Still…!”
“I’ll signal if something happens.”
Alan crossed the bridge without hesitation.
I swallowed my saliva together with the knights under the direct control of the duke and watched his back.
“What are they talking about?”
“Shh!”
The knights murmured in disbelief.
Pedro, who stood at the vanguard at that time, recited as if he was reading a book.
─ …What are you doing?
Wolf ears protrude through his curly black hair. He eavesdropping on the conversation between the duke and the emperor.
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