Chapter 2.1 – A Perfect Day to Be Sold Off  

The night was illuminated brightly by the full moon hanging high in the sky. There was no time to feel the excitement that brides supposedly experience on the eve of their wedding.  

Livie did not entertain such thoughts. To her, all of this felt like nothing but a dream.  

The wedding was perfectly prepared. Livie approached the bridal attire hanging on one side of the wall.  

The outfit, made of delicately woven white lace and silk, was so beautiful that it felt almost too precious to touch. The thread used for the embroidery was made entirely of real gold.  

Livie’s gaze followed the wide, spread-out train of the dress, arranged to prevent any creases.  

It would undoubtedly look beautiful when worn, but the voluminous train made it seem impossible to move freely.  

The thought of walking down the wedding aisle alone tomorrow in that dress made her feel stifled once again.  

She would have to leave the place where she had lived her entire life and become the wife of a man in a foreign land.  

The daughter of a rural noble suddenly transformed into the daughter of a princess and destined to become a Duchess.  

At first glance, it seemed like an incredible rise in status, but in reality, it was far from that.  

Livie had ears to hear with as well. Although communication with the outside world was not particularly easy in this area, rumors about the man who was to become her husband spread like wildfire.  

“Apparently, he already has several mistresses.”  

“I heard he has children too.”  

“Seven, in total—sons and daughters combined.”  

“Oh my, then does that mean Livie will end up being relegated to the backroom once she’s married?”  

And the rumors didn’t stop there.  

“They say he’s a pervert. There are whispers that he beats women. That he… finds pleasure in such things.”  

Livie vividly remembered the townspeople secretly gossiping about her.  

After the sudden visit from the Kingdom’s army, the way the villagers looked at her had changed slightly. They pretended to treat her the same as before, as she had asked, but things could never truly return to how they once were. It was simply unavoidable.  

Whoosh.  

Something black flickered across the moonlit room.  

“Huh?”  

When she turned around, the curtains were fluttering in the breeze that had blown in through the wide-open window.  

“What was that?”  

She thought she had seen something large and black.  

Perhaps the shadow of a very large bird.  

“…There’s no way that’s possible.”  

Of course, she had heard stories of enormous birds, as large as humans, existing. But those were said to dwell deep in the forests—places like the “Forest of Crows.”  

“It’s cold.”  

Perhaps because of the night wind, she felt a chill run through her body.  

Whoosh.  

She felt something pass behind her again.  

Livie turned around once more. All she could see was the brightly shining full moon; nothing else entered her view.  

“…”  

Livie closed the window and turned back. Then, she drew the curtains over the closed window and flopped down onto her bed.  

Though she doubted she’d be able to fall asleep easily, her nerves, which had been on edge the entire time, eventually pulled her into a deep slumber.  

***  

“Mmm…”  

Bathed in the pouring sunlight, Livie slowly opened her eyes. It was the very day she had wished would never come.  

Stretching her arms, she let out a long yawn. Then, she blinked in surprise at the soft sensation she felt in her hand.  

“A feather…?”  

Why is this here?  

On the pillowcase of her bed lay a large, black feather.  

The wing feather, so black that it gleamed with a bluish tint, was too large to hold in both hands at once.  

What kind of bird could have such a massive feather? 

Judging by the color, it seemed like it belonged to a crow, but crows couldn’t possibly be this large.  

“How can it be this big?”  

As she turned the enormous feather over and over in her hands, Livie recalled the dream she had the previous night.  

A dream where she entrusted herself to something very large, soft, and warm. It felt as though she had been buried in a pair of enormous, gentle wings.  

“What a strange dream.”  

The warmth, whose source she couldn’t identify, still lingered on her body.  

Whoosh.  

Startled by a sudden gust of wind, Livie turned her head.  

“Why is the window open again?”  

She was certain she had closed it before going to bed. She even remembered drawing the curtains. So why…  

The curtains were wide open, and so was the window. 

Could the lock have come undone while I was sleeping? And through that window…  

“Did a bird come in?”  

Staring blankly at the black feather in her hand, Livie approached the window. She leaned out and looked outside.  

“Get a grip.”  

Livie slapped her cheeks lightly. This wasn’t the time to be doing this.  

She stretched out her arms and yawned deeply, leaning out the window. She decided to forget about last night’s dream. It was just a strange dream she had because she didn’t want to get married.  

The dazzling sunlight streamed down, scattering brilliantly on the leaves of the trees. Everywhere she looked, everything sparkled.  

“What beautiful weather.”  

A perfect day to walk down the crimson virgin road in a pure white dress.  

Today was a perfect day to be sold off.  

***  

“Livie, you’ll be the most beautiful bride this village has ever seen.”  

Her friends, who had gathered to serve as bridesmaids for the wedding, were busy showering her with endless compliments from the early morning.  

Their words weren’t mere flattery. The Livie Hayden reflected in the mirror was more beautiful than she had ever been on any other day.  

And most of that beauty came from what she was wearing. At a glance, it was clear that everything adorning her was incredibly expensive.  

The white dress prepared for the wedding was densely embroidered with gold thread on the sleeves and hem. She had heard that the value of the gold alone was substantial.  

The dress trailed behind her, long enough to drag on the floor, and the sleeves were puffed out extravagantly, designed to waste as much fabric as possible.  

This was her first time wearing puffed sleeves this large.  

The fabric was imported from abroad, the finest quality, and even her shoes were studded with small diamonds and rubies.  

Livie knew that creating such items required skilled artisans to work tirelessly for days and nights. These were not things that ordinary nobles or wealthy individuals could easily acquire.  

And it wasn’t just the outfit and shoes. Her neck and ears were adorned with luxurious jewelry. All of these were gifts sent by her fiancé.  

“There, it’s done.”  

Her hair was styled elegantly, with a few strands left to fall loosely, giving her an air of grace and refinement. It was a look befitting the bride of someone of high status.  

When Livie stood up, the maids opened one of the jewelry boxes piled nearby and took out its contents.  

Inside the long box was a pearl necklace.  

The number of pearls exceeded a hundred, enough to wrap around her entire body and then some.  

“Wow.”  

Her friends’ eyes lit up as they peered into the box. The luster of the pearls was enough to brighten the entire room.  

“It’s beautiful. With this, you’d look like the goddess of pearls. You could even wrap your whole body in it.”  

One of her friends remarked, and Livie let out a small laugh.  

“Yes, it looks like a chain. Perfect for tying up a prisoner.”  

The atmosphere in the room grew cold at her words. Livie reached out and lifted the pearl necklace.  

The pearls clinked softly as they slid against each other, and Livie let out an even deeper sigh.  

The most luxurious chain in the world.  

To Livie, that’s what the pearl necklace looked like.  

“No, it’s truly beautiful.”  

Angne quickly chimed in.

“Your pale skin matches so well. Look, the pearl color and your skin are exactly the same.”  

Angne held the pearl necklace up next to Livie’s face as she spoke.  

“Thank you.”  

Livie gave a hollow smile, and Angne lowered her head with a troubled expression.  

“I’ll put it on for you.”  

Livie nodded with a face completely devoid of spirit.  

The pearl necklace was long enough to wrap around her neck twice and still have plenty left over. After draping it diagonally across her shoulders and chest to decorate her body, the dresser stepped back with a satisfied expression.  

“It’s heavy.”  

Her dress was already studded with jewels, and now, with the necklace made of hundreds of pearls, even moving her body properly felt like a struggle.  

“You’ll get used to it soon. Look, it’s so beautiful.”  

“…”  

Livie stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror. To her, the sight of herself draped in pearls looked utterly foolish.  

“Ah, we need to add a red rose.”  

The dresser clapped her hands and picked up a single red rose from the vanity table. It was a fresh flower, vividly red like blood, and stunningly beautiful.  

“It’s the symbol of the groom’s family.”  

The dresser busily adjusted the position of the flower, trying to find the best spot to place it.