The revenge I had longed for.

‘It would be a lie to say I hadn’t dreamed of revenge.’

Considering what she had done, even imprisoning her for decades wouldn’t have been enough.

And if we had allowed her to ruin the national wedding, she might have actually ended up in prison for decades.

But…

“I’m okay.”

My voice sounded more relaxed than I had expected. Yuri’s brow furrowed.

“Compared to what she did to you, she’s going to get away with a ridiculously light punishment. His Majesty the Emperor won’t severely punish Sabina.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

Most people didn’t know about the evil act she had planned for the wedding day, so there was no reason to punish her and expose the royal family’s disgrace.

In the end, Sabina’s misdeed remained just an attempt.

Of course, I wanted her to receive proper punishment.

“But seeing Rosemary happy is enough for me.”

Even if I ruined my friend’s wedding and got my revenge, it wouldn’t be that satisfying.

Especially if it meant she nearly suffered a disfiguring burn that couldn’t be healed by magic.

‘Burn.’

Thinking of burns naturally brought one person’s image to my mind.

As I bit my lip in discomfort, Yuri hugged me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“Titi, you really have no greed. You know, it makes me want to give you even more?”

I felt the gaze of those around us turn towards me because of the affectionate embrace.

‘Anyway, the important ceremony is over, so there’s no need to worry about people’s attention now.’

For the next event, everyone who had stood for the marriage vows descended from the platform. The Emperor also rose from his seat and began to move.

It was then that Sabina, seeming to have been summoned by the Emperor, followed him outside with her shoulders hunched.

Watching her, I narrowed my eyes and spoke slowly.

“…That doesn’t mean I’m just going to let it go.”

“What do you mean?”

Yuri perked up and listened closely.

“You know? People don’t change easily. If they haven’t suffered any loss, they won’t reflect on their actions. Even when she’s deeply sunk in a mire she can’t escape from, she’ll plan another evil deed.”

“Indeed, imagining her reflecting and reforming is difficult.”

Yuri nodded in agreement and cautiously expressed his concern.

“But Sabina isn’t a fool. Will she cause trouble again after being suspected once? She’ll probably act pitiful and wait for an opportunity.”

Yuri could say this because he had been fooled by her ‘pitiful act’ several times.

I folded my arms and exhaled through my nose.

“In my opinion…”

It seemed she was going to cause a big problem soon. Someone who knew what Sabina had done would take action.

I whispered my prediction to Yuri. He frowned in surprise.

***

I couldn’t have a long conversation with Yuri. It was time for the ‘flower sharing’ event, where the unmarried ladies would take home the flowers decorating the venue.

Rosemary was waiting for me in the center of the hall with a bright smile. I approached her, smiling back. Just as I was about to offer my congratulations, a hand in white lace gloves grabbed me and pulled me closer. In a mischievous tone, she whispered.

“I saw you hugging the Grand Mage earlier. What were you talking about?”

“Wait, you noticed that even during the wedding?”

“No matter how nervous I was, how could I miss that? Being lifted and hugged like that—Grand Mage is quite bold.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

Her words were so typical of Rosemary that I couldn’t help but laugh.

She bombarded me with questions, as if she had been holding them back throughout the ceremony.

“So, when’s your wedding?”

I squinted as if troubled but answered honestly. It was something that would be revealed soon anyway.

“We haven’t decided yet. If Rosie picks a good day, we’ll do it then.”

“Oh my, aren’t you adorable.”

Rosemary flashed her characteristic confident smile.

As our conversation dragged on, the protocol officer, who had been fidgeting behind us, cautiously approached.

“Your Highness, we must proceed with the next event.”

Now, only the final procedure of the ceremony remained: riding the carriage around the capital to greet the citizens.

Since the flower-sharing event was only for unmarried women, the Crown Prince had already gone to change his attire.

Rosemary pouted, disappointed that she couldn’t tease me further. Then, suddenly linking arms with me, she spoke loudly.

“Everyone, I have some additional happy news to share. The young lady beside me, Titiana Este, is set to marry Yuri Esrenche, the Grand Mage, next month.”

Rosemary’s sudden announcement caused a stir among the guests.

“What did Her Highness just say?”

“Next month, a wedding?”

“The Grand Mage and the Este Baron’s daughter?”

Naturally, all eyes turned to me. Unfortunately, I could only respond with:

“Pardon?”

I had asked Rosemary to pick a date, but I hadn’t expected it to be as soon as next month. As I stood there, flustered and mouthing silently, Rosemary handed me the entire bouquet she was holding.

Traditionally, the bouquet symbolized good fortune. Unmarried women usually looked forward to the flower-sharing time, but Rosemary unexpectedly gifted it to me.

With a wink, she said, “Live happily, Titi.”

***

Sabina kept fiddling with the edge of her dress, even though it was getting wrinkled. Her lips felt dry.

‘What on earth happened?’

Before her eyes, the wedding was successfully concluding. Her plan had gone awry.

If the potion she had scattered in advance had worked properly, Rosemary should have been under a spell, refusing to marry the Crown Prince.

Yet, Rosemary was smiling serenely, as if proudly displaying her happiness to those around her.

This was not the outcome Sabina had desired. Anxiously, she moved her fingers restlessly and glared.

‘I cast the spell, so why is nothing happening? Is it related to the sudden fire from the vase? The timing is strange! It’s like the fire erupted because I cast the spell.’

It was unsettling beyond measure. Anxiety crept up her heart like a fire spreading across a dry field.

But Sabina shook her head, trying to dispel her uneasy feelings.

‘It must be a coincidence. I don’t know what happened, but the potion I ordered from the Magic Tower wasn’t supposed to do that.’

A potion capable of controlling a person.

That was what Sabina had ordered.

She never imagined that Autumn lacked the ability to create a brainwashing potion and had made something else instead.

No matter how much she tried to calm herself, her teeth clattered with anxiety whenever she came to her senses. Sabina hunched her shoulders.

‘For now, let’s wait until the wedding is over. There’s nothing I can do at this moment.’

In the meantime, the Crown Prince had gone to check his attire, and other guests were leisurely drinking or chatting over food. Only the unmarried women participating in the flower-sharing event gathered around Rosemary.

Originally, Sabina should have been among them. But she was too preoccupied with other thoughts to step forward.

As Sabina belatedly tried to rise from her seat, she caught sight of an unwelcome face and glared fiercely.

‘That woman.’

A pretty girl with striking silver hair and rabbit-like pink eyes.

Titiana Este.

‘Annoying people sticking together.’

Rosemary was holding Titiana’s arm with a bright smile.

Having spotted two people she disliked, Sabina folded her arms and sat back down. Her expression naturally turned sour.

‘Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep smiling like that.’

Did they think she would let them be happy forever?

While she was busy plotting how to trouble the two of them, Rosemary, still arm-in-arm with Titiana, proudly announced with a radiant smile:

“Titiana Este is set to marry Yuri Esrenche, the Grand Mage, next month.”

“What!”

That statement shattered her composure.

It was already annoying enough seeing Yuri and that woman together, but marriage?

Yuri Esrenche getting married?

“Why on earth would Yuri…”

She couldn’t believe that he, who hadn’t even blinked when she, the empire’s most beautiful and imperial princess, tried to seduce him, was marrying a woman like that.

Practically a commoner, a fallen noble.

Surely, that woman must have used some dirty trick.

‘How dare she take what’s mine.’

Yuri had never belonged to Sabina for even a moment, but trapped in her own delusions, Sabina didn’t notice the absurdity.

Trembling with rage, Sabina muttered under her breath.

“I won’t forgive this.”

Just then, a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

“What is it that you won’t forgive?”

It was the Emperor. Sabina, who always acted tearful and fragile in front of him, was caught off guard and froze.

“…It’s nothing, Father.”

She answered demurely, lowering her long eyelashes, but for some reason, the Emperor’s face crumpled with anger. He scolded Sabina with a stern voice.

“Father? Do you not know the etiquette required in a public setting?”