“It must be obvious.”

Iden muttered with a sneer, nodding toward the bracelet on Selina’s arm.

“That’s supposed to be really expensive. It’s more suited to someone who was raised in luxury, not you. It’s like putting pearls on a pig.”

He flicked the bracelet with his finger, feigning concern as he asked,

“Are you sure you haven’t really been found out? Maybe that’s why the Grand Duke is causing such a scene—he wants to break off the engagement.”

Selina desperately wanted to ignore Iden’s blatant mockery. He enjoyed seeing her wounded and flustered, and she didn’t want to give him the reaction he was looking for.

But when he crossed the line, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Are you going deaf, too? Just like your mother?”

She couldn’t stand it.

“I don’t know if you’re hoping I get exposed, or if you just want to torment me.”

Selina shot back, voice tightly controlled.

“But if my identity comes to light, I won’t be the only one in danger.”

The bored look on Iden’s face lifted into a crooked, satisfied smirk.

“Yeah? So who else would be at risk, then?”

“…”

“What, nothing to say?”

He stared hard at her, waiting for a reply.

Only then did Selina realize she shouldn’t have given him any response at all. But it was too late—the words had already spilled out, and now Iden pressed her for more, as if he’d been waiting for exactly this.

“Selina.”

“…”

“Selina—”

“…”

Selina avoided his eyes and tried to focus on the maids fussing over her appearance.

But in the next instant, Iden’s hand shot out, grabbing her hair and hissing in her ear as if annoyed by her silence.

“Ugh.”

“You stupid girl. Are you deaf, or are you just ignoring me?”

Selina clutched at her scalp, but Iden showed no intention of letting go. Her hair was a tangled mess, yet the maids made no move to intervene.

“Let… let go…”

“Selina. Did you really just lump yourself in with the marquis’s family?”

He pulled even harder, his voice dropping dangerously low.

“No one here considers you family. The only reason you were accepted was to spite the Thalians—not because anyone ever valued you.”

She gritted her teeth, swallowing the pain.

“Even if you’re lucky enough to leave for Thalia, it doesn’t mean you’ll ever truly become the Grand Duchess.”

Seeing her endure it only seemed to annoy him more. Finally, Iden released her hair with a scoff.

“Don’t forget your place, Selina.”

Freed from his grip at last, Selina clutched her burning scalp, fighting back tears. But before she could recover, the maids were already at her hair again, tidying it as if nothing had happened.

“Well. You do look a bit better all dressed up. Not that anyone’s going to care what you look like.”

Iden said with a cheery smile, as if he hadn’t just been cruel a moment ago.

Selina forced herself to ignore the nausea twisting in her gut and tried to block him out.

Knock, knock.

A knock at the door finally broke the tense atmosphere.

“How much longer will you need? The ceremony is about to begin.”

He called for the head lady-in-waiting, who was overseeing the preparations. Upon hearing about the new arrival, Iden straightened up and became the picture of manners.

“We’re just about finished here.”

“Is that so? Then shall I escort the bride to the hall?”

“Well, it’s not hard to get her there…”

Iden folded his arms behind his back, speaking as if there was no reason to rush.

“But really, is there any point in attending a wedding when the groom won’t even show up?”

The maids helping Selina get dressed laughed at his flippant remark.

“Of course, he hasn’t arrived yet, but we must follow the proper procedure…”

The head lady-in-waiting looked flustered as she confirmed that Calix still hadn’t shown up.

Once again, Selina was struck by the realization that all that awaited her was endless darkness. Maybe her future really was a windowless cellar, but perhaps she ought to be grateful she at least got to dress up like this once before dying.

She pressed her trembling hands tightly together, doing her best to hide her fear, when—

“It seems the groom has arrived right on time.”

A low, pleasant voice spoke from behind the head maid. For a split second, Selina thought it sounded familiar.

Then, a strong, steady hand settled gently over her shaking fingers.

“Or is it possible…”

The man knelt beside her, taking her hand in his and meeting her eyes.

“…that the groom has changed overnight?”

Selina looked up—and saw Calix.

He wore a black cashmere frock coat with a dark tie centred at the neck. Except for his white shirt and the gold insignia pinned to his chest, he was cloaked in shadow. Yet, standing there, he was as dazzling as sunlight cutting through the gloom; the shadow that only appears when the sun itself rises.

The casual figure she’d seen the night before had disappeared. Now, with the golden Thalia sash draped across his uniform, he looked every inch a prince.

“I came here today to get married.”

Calix said, feigning a look of innocent puzzlement as he looked at Selina.

His sleek, swept-back hair and striking features were almost impossibly handsome—she’d always known he was beautiful, but dressed like this, he was breathtaking.

“And you?”

Selina, who had lost all hope in him, now trembled before the miracle of his return.

“I… I prayed.”

The moment he stepped into the room, Selina found herself praying—asking whatever god might be listening to let her remain by Calix’s side, just a little longer.

“And what did you pray for?”

Calix looked at Selina, her lips parted in astonishment, and gently asked,

“If your prayer was for marriage, then it seems the gods are on your side this time.”

His words jolted Selina back to her senses.

“Th-then… you mean, you really came here to marry me?”

Calix smiled, inclining his head in a subtle nod.

Selina, almost in disbelief, lifted her gloved hand to cover her mouth.

“Really…?”

“Really.”

Following the events of the previous night, she was certain that Calix would never marry her. He had every reason to resent her for being the Marquis’s daughter, and she’d lost all hope after she’d threatened him with a sword.

She had resigned herself to her fate, convinced that there was nothing she could do but accept whatever was to come.

But then, suddenly, Calix appeared, bringing rain to her parched desert.

“Well then.”

Calyi said, taking Selina’s hand gently in his. He turned to the others in the room, giving a polite nod.

“In Thalia, it’s customary for the groom to escort the bride himself. I’d like to follow that tradition here, if it’s all right with you.”

The maids, catching his gaze, hurried to finish Selina’s preparations and stepped aside. The head maid nodded and quietly retreated as well.

“Thalia’s traditions, huh? Seems you’ve forgotten this is the Empire.”

Iden muttered irritably, but when he saw Calix only smiling in silence, he left the room with nothing more to say.

At last, with all the unwanted company gone, the room was quiet again.

Calix’s polite smile faded, his expression turning cold and serious.

“I see you didn’t mention your injured hand.”

He said, raising Selina’s gloved hand. The night before, she’d bandaged her wound and worn her gloves to bed, worried that the maids might notice and start asking questions.

“I… I just thought it would be hard to explain if anyone asked.”

“I suppose it would be. Admitting that the wound was self-inflicted can’t be easy.’

Selina flushed at his quiet remark.

“Th-then… why did you come back?”

“I changed my strategy.”

Calix replied, taking her hand and leading her toward the doors of the ceremonial hall.

Guests lingering in the corridor began to whisper as soon as they saw the two of them. Selina felt the weight of their stares, but she forced herself to hold her head high and appear calm.

“It doesn’t seem like you get along with your brother.”

Calix remarked, as if completely unfazed by the attention.

“Is that the reason?”

“Reason for what?”

“The reason you want to leave the Empire and escape to Thalia.”

“I—I never tried to run away.”

Selina protested, shaking her head. But Calix wasn’t convinced.

“Let’s not argue. No one who truly loves the Empire would threaten me with a sword.”

“That’s…”

“Whatever your reason is, it doesn’t matter.”

Hand in hand, the two of them entered the grand ceremonial hall. The imperial palace’s central ballroom was filled with people, glittering chandeliers, and opulent decorations—a space fit only for the most important figures in the Empire. The sight of it all made Selina even more nervous.

“Relax.”

As he escorted her down the aisle, he paused just before stepping aside. He pressed a lingering kiss to the back of her hand.

Leaning in close so that only she could hear, he whispered,

“From today on, I intend to be a good husband to you.”