Calix left Selina’s side and headed toward the ceremonial platform.

‘A good husband…’

Selina found herself thinking back on what he’d said, watching his retreating figure. It was astonishing enough that the man who’d seemed so unreachable just last night was standing here at all—let alone talking about wanting to be a good husband.

‘What could have changed overnight?’

The question left Selina bewildered, unable to read his heart.

“You managed to bring him here, I see.”

It was Marquis Bryson, her father.

He stood out today more than ever, his appearance as dazzling as the occasion itself. Whether it was his way of trying to overshadow Thalia or just his own taste, Selina couldn’t say. But today, his features so closely resembled hers that she found herself biting her lip in silence.

“I heard you left the palace last night. What exactly did you do?”

He seemed genuinely curious about how she had managed to bring a man as immovable as a stone to the altar. Reaching out to take her hand, he asked again, preparing to escort her down the aisle.

“I always thought you were nothing but a fool, but you’ve surprised me. Did you try to seduce him or something?”

“…I did everything you told me to, Father.”

At her answer, Bryson’s lips curled in satisfaction.

“Good. If you didn’t want to end up rotting in the cellar, you should have done whatever it took.”

Nodding approvingly, he gripped her hand and walked her down the aisle.

“Disgusting little bastard.”

He muttered with a smile, glaring at Calix standing before the altar draped in holy white.

“Still, at least you got through the first trial.”

“The first trial…?”

Wasn’t marrying the Grand Duke of Thalia supposed to be the end of it all? Her father’s words sounded ominous, as if another hurdle still awaited.

He chuckled and leaned in to whisper,

“That’s right. After the ceremony, come to Iden’s room.”

Selina froze at the thought of being summoned to a place she never wanted to see again. But the marquis seemed not to notice, his face composed as he approached Calix.

“I’m entrusting my beloved daughter to you.”

Calix stood before the altar, every inch the noble groom beneath the holy sunlight. With perfect politeness, he accepted Selina’s hand from her father.

“Of course.”

To any observer, the exchange looked flawless—like any respectful groom accepting his bride from her father. But everyone present knew there were hidden blades beneath their smiles.

Finally, Calix and Selina stood together before the altar. As the officiating count began his blessing for their marriage, Calix leaned in and whispered in a low voice,

“You were always beautiful, but today you’re positively radiant.”

The unexpected compliment caught Selina off guard.

“Wh-what do you mean by that?”

“Is there some hidden meaning behind telling you you’re beautiful?”

“No, it’s just…”

She lowered her voice even further.

“You don’t like me, Your Grace.”

Calix let out a quiet chuckle, as if he’d expected that answer.

“If you want to know the truth, it’s not you I dislike—it’s your father.”

Had he really changed how he felt about her in just a day?

‘No, that can’t be…’

For some reason, however, the word ‘seduction’, of which her father had accused her, kept echoing in her mind.

‘No way. There must be so many women more beautiful than me by Calix’s side. That’s ridiculous…’

But the more she tried to dismiss the thought, the more her heart fluttered with a feeling she couldn’t name.

“Let me make you a promise.”

Calix said softly, as if responding to the secret excitement he sensed in her.

“I’ll do my best to be a good husband to you.”

With a calm, unreadable expression, Calix stood beside her as the officiant’s voice rang out:

“Do you, Calix, take Lady Selina as your wife, and vow to love her for the rest of your life?”

Calix looked at Selina, raising their joined hands to press a gentle kiss to the back of her glove.

“I do.”

Even through the gloves, Selina could feel the warmth of his lips, making her shiver.

Then came the question for the bride.

But standing there, about to pledge her love to a man she would call her husband for the rest of her life, Selina suddenly found herself gripped by fear.

‘I never thought I could be this happy…’

She looked up at the man standing before her. The sweet boy she had met in a remote monastery years ago was now a grown man, about to become her husband. If she could spend her life by his side, perhaps she would find the courage to reveal her true identity one day.

But first, she needed to be sure that his affection wasn’t just an act and that he wouldn’t come to hate her. Then, maybe someday, she could tell Calix everything.

“Yes, I do.”

A new flutter of excitement bloomed in her chest—the hope that maybe this relationship could turn out well after all.

“And with that, the ceremony is complete. Bride and groom, please make your exit.”

At the officiant’s cue, Calix and Selina turned and walked back down the aisle together, retraced the steps that Selina had previously taken with her father. This time, however, she was walking with her new husband by her side.

And so, Thalia’s wedding to the Empire came to an end.

‘This dress is even more suffocating than I expected…’

Selina thought to herself as, before leaving the hall, she stood with Calix greeting the guests outside.

“You two make an even lovelier couple than I imagined. If you hadn’t married, even the heavens would have wept!”

Because the Emperor himself had come to offer his congratulations, Selina couldn’t excuse herself to change or even slip away.

“Thank you.”

Calix responded to the Emperor’s words with a polite smile, but his eyes were cold and unemotional. His guards, now standing behind him, also looked tense and uncomfortable.

“Now that this marriage has taken place, we can finally put an end to the long war between us. Isn’t that wonderful? I hope love will blossom between you two. Perhaps there will even be a child next year?”

The Emperor wore a bright, genial smile, but everyone from Thalia present knew the truth behind his facade. He was a brazen, shameless man who, refusing to let his own daughter marry into Thalia, had simply handed over the Marquis’s daughter in her place.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

The imperial princess at the Emperor’s side offered her own greeting to Selina and Calix.

“Sir Calix, you’re even more handsome than I’d heard.”

“You’re too kind.”

As Selina had expected, the princess was stunningly beautiful — so much so that it almost hurt to look at her. She gracefully extended her hand to Calix, and the two of them together looked like a scene straight out of a painting.

“Did you know I was originally supposed to marry you? Circumstances made it impossible, but… that wasn’t my wish. If you were disappointed, I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Disappointed? Of course not.”

Calix answered smoothly.

“Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just thought you must have been expecting me, and… well, I wanted you to know I was looking forward to it as well.”

The princess seemed to speak only to Calix, as if Selina wasn’t even there. Despite the discomfort in the air, all Selina could do was force a strained smile, pretending not to mind.

“It’s true that I had certain expectations, but I’m not particularly disappointed.”

Calix replied with a gentle smile. Then, much to everyone’s surprise, he pulled Selina closer by his arm.

“It turns out, I rather like my new bride.”

Selina’s cheeks burned at his casual remark.

“…Is that so.”

The princess replied, her voice dropping with barely concealed displeasure.

“Oh, that reminds me! Lady Selina, I heard that you were quite unwell as a child and spent much of your youth recovering. Are you well now?”

At last, the princess turned her attention to Selina, forcing her to respond.

“Yes, I’m much better now. Thanks to my father’s care…”

It was the answer Selina had practiced many times, knowing this question would inevitably come.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Lady Selina needs to change into her ceremonial gown. She’ll have to excuse herself for a moment.”

Maya announced, stepping forward—the same maid who had helped Selina get ready earlier.

“Oh, do go ahead.”

The princess said, waving her hand as if she’d been waiting for the opportunity. Calix also nodded in agreement.

“Then, please excuse me for a moment.”

Selina said, bowing politely to them before following Maya out.

But the place Maya led her wasn’t the dressing room.

“Maya? This… doesn’t look like the dressing room…”

“No. There’s somewhere else you need to go first.”

The place Maya brought her to was Iden’s room.

‘Father must have sent for me.’

The thought that her father and Iden might both be inside made Selina’s chest tighten with dread. Steeling herself to get it over with, she opened the door.

“Father? Did you call for—oh?”

But the room was empty.

She glanced at Maya, wondering if they’d come to the wrong place, but the maid only shook her head, signaling this was indeed the right room.

Scanning the room, Selina noticed a neatly arranged table—and on it, a sealed letter.

It must be from her father.

She broke the wax seal and unfolded the note. The handwriting was unmistakably the marquis’s.

[Selina. At last, you’ve been entrusted with a truly important task.]

As Selina read, her hands suddenly went cold.

[Find Calix’s weakness—so that you may kill him.]

A brutal future was waiting for her in that single line.