Chapter 2.2

A red rose.  

It was the symbol of the Resette family, the family Livie would be marrying into today.  

Livie’s chest was already adorned with decorations made of red roses, making it abundantly clear which family the bride belonged to.  

Livie touched the large, red rose petals and murmured, 

“I prefer white ones.”  

Her words brought another awkward silence to the room.  

“You already have plenty of white things—your dress, for example. A white rose would just blend in.”  

“That’s true.”  

Livie replied indifferently. Whether a white rose suited her or not didn’t even matter to her.  

From today onward, she would no longer be able to use the white rose, the symbol of the Hayden family where she had grown up. Even the color of the flowers adorning her would no longer be hers to choose freely.  

“This spot will be perfect.”  

The dresser placed the red rose beside Livie’s left ear, marking the completion of her hairstyle. Then, she brought over a velvet box and opened the lid.  

“Finally.”  

As the box lid opened, all the women in the room let out gasps of admiration.  

“It’s truly beautiful.”  

The crown, encrusted with diamonds both large and small, began to shimmer with iridescent light the moment it was taken out.  

Clap, clap, clap.  

As if on cue, Livie’s friends clapped their hands. But the bride’s expression remained far from bright.  

The sparkling tiara was placed atop Livie’s well-styled hair. Over it, a white, sheer veil woven with threads as fine as spider silk was draped.  

“To think the fabric is this thin and delicate. It must be incredibly expensive, right?”  

At Arisa’s remark, everyone nodded in unison.  

Once the veil was draped, Livie’s vision became hazy. Her friends’ faces blurred and were hard to make out. She squinted her eyes, trying to adjust to the blurred view. Apart from that, she looked like a perfect bride.  

“You’re absolutely stunning.”  

No sooner had the words been spoken than her friends applauded.  

The bridesmaids held small bouquets made of red roses and wore flower crowns made of the same blooms. Their attire was as meticulously prepared as the bride’s.  

“Indeed, for a bride being sold off, this look quite presentable.”  

Livie smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her words caused the expressions of her friends, who were gathered around her, to freeze instantly.  

“Being sold off… at a sacred wedding?”  

Her close friend Arisa glanced around as if seeking agreement. Following Arisa’s lead, the other friends quickly plastered smiles on their faces. Angne clapped enthusiastically.  

“Of course, it’s sacred. Sacred money exchanged hands, after all.”  

It wasn’t just money that had been exchanged. The peace of the Kingdom itself had been bartered.  

Livie was merely stating the facts, yet her friends’ faces hardened once again as they exchanged glances.  

“You’re becoming the Duchess of Resette, Livie.”  

Arisa patted her shoulder soothingly.  

“Did your father give you lessons or something, all of you?”  

Livie scanned the room. None of her friends met her gaze directly; instead, they either hung their heads or stared at the ceiling.  

“We don’t need to act for each other; it’s fine.”  

Livie patted Arisa’s shoulder comfortingly.  

“What kind of bride am I? A bride who receives a dowry instead of giving one—probably the only one in this entire Kingdom.”  

Livie chuckled softly and stood up.  

“Also, a bride marrying without a groom present… Oh, wait, that’s not unique, is it?”  

Stories of women marrying alone on behalf of lovers who had left for war were not uncommon.  

“Now that the war is over, weddings will probably be held every three days.”  

The village’s sole priest would surely be busy officiating weddings now that the war had ended.  

“It’s fortunate that it ended sooner than expected.”  

Another friend, Lusa, remarked.  

“Thanks to the Kalini Knight Order.”  

The long, drawn-out seven-year war between the two nations had been brought to an end solely by the efforts of the Kalini Knight Order.  

Though the village was so remote that most wars went unnoticed, the seven-year war had been so prolonged and large-scale that it had taken away all the young men of the village to fight on the battlefield.  

Everyone had sighed in relief, wishing for the war to end. The Kalini Knight Order had earned the admiration and respect of all. But—  

“Ah, that crazy crow?”  

Livie replied as if suddenly recalling something. The leader of the Kalini Knight Order had come to be known by that nickname.  

The sight of knights clad entirely in black from head to toe storming into battle had resembled a flock of crows feasting on corpses.  

In particular, the commander at the forefront of the charge was referred to not by title or name, but simply as the “Crazy Crow.”  

“Apparently, he’s been made a Duke for his achievements.”  

“That’s impressive.”  

Livie replied half-heartedly, nodding slightly. Her high-heeled shoes pinched her feet, and she frowned slightly.  

“A Duke? What’s the title?”

“I don’t know either.”

When someone who wasn’t originally a noble was granted noble status and land by the King, the title usually matched the name of the territory they were given.  

“So he’ll be meeting His Majesty soon to receive recognition for his achievements.”  

“And he’ll be granted land, too?”  

“Of course.”  

“Which territory will he govern?”  

“Who knows? Probably somewhere really good.”  

“At least it won’t be a remote place like this.”  

Ah, I see. 

Livie nodded again, then turned to look at Arisa, who was standing beside her with a bouquet.  

“Arisa, you’re next, right? Getting married, I mean.”  

“Me? Uh…”  

Her friend hung her head as if she had committed a crime. Livie took Arisa’s hands and held them.  

“Congratulations. I won’t be able to be your bridesmaid, though.”  

Tears seemed to well up in Arisa’s eyes.  

“Here.”  

After checking her appearance one last time in the mirror, Livie picked up the bouquet Arisa handed her.  

It, too, was made entirely of red roses. Livie lifted the bouquet and buried her face in the flowers for a moment. Their fragrance spread, seeping deep into her lungs. The scent was so strong it made her head spin.  

Creak.  

The sound of the door opening made everyone in the room turn their heads.  

“Unnie.”  

“Noona.”  

Through the gap of the open door, two small heads peeked in.  

“Edna, Rio.”  

Livie smiled brightly at her twin younger siblings.  

“You’re so beautiful.”  

The twins simultaneously exclaimed as they admired Livie’s beautifully adorned appearance. Then, they ran to her and hugged her tightly.  

The nine-year-old twins were born to Nicholas Hayden’s wife—Livie’s stepmother—after he returned to his hometown. After the frail stepmother passed away, Livie had practically raised the twins herself. Though they were only half-related by blood, Livie never thought of them as mere step-siblings.  

“Are you really leaving?”  

Edna lifted her face, which had been buried in Livie’s dress hem, and asked.  

“I don’t want you to go.”  

Rio clung to the long sleeves of her dress and whined.  

“Will we never see you again?”  

“…”  

Livie felt a lump in her throat as she looked into their clear, innocent eyes.  

Would I ever see my father and siblings again?  

“…Of course, we’ll see each other again.”  

“Rio, when Unnie gets married, she’ll become the Duchess. The Duke will surely invite us to his castle.”  

Arisa tried to comfort the twins, but Livie knew that was a far-fetched idea.  

The Edrach region, where Tiso Village was located, was in the northern part of the Kingdom of Sesher. Meanwhile, the Resette Duchy was in the south.  

It would take nearly a month by carriage to reach the Duchy, even traveling quickly. The journey was further complicated by treacherous mountains and swamps that required detours, adding even more time.  

Such a distance was not something her father and young siblings could easily traverse. Today might truly be the last time they’d see each other—their final moment together.  

“Of course, we’ll meet again.”  

Livie lowered herself and hugged the twins tightly. Their small, warm bodies clung to her. Her eyes stung, and she blinked rapidly to hold back tears.  

“It’s time.”  

At her friend’s words, Livie raised her bowed head.  

“Let’s go.”