Woo-hye and San-gyeong joined hands and knelt down.

“Dan Woo-hye, daughter of the Dan family of Danmyeongwon, greets His Highness the Sixth Prince.

“Cheong-un of Taesang greets His Highness the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth Prince approached them with a pompous walk. Meanwhile, his attendants struggled to get a chair out of the baggage cart.

“Pleased to meet you both. You may rise now – I am not particularly fond of such formalities.”

For someone who claimed to dislike pomp and ceremony, he stood flanked by attendants holding fans taller than a man, behaving as if they were serving the Emperor himself.

The Sixth Prince stared at Woo-hye with curiosity.

“So you’re Dan Woo-hye?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I heard that Lady Dan Wan-ri is set to be betrothed to my eldest brother. It seems your family has much to celebrate these days. So I thought—why not take this chance to look after the Dan family’s future daughter-in-law myself? That’s why I brought your younger sister along too.”

At his words, the people who had been waiting outside poured into the courtyard.

Hearing their footsteps, Woo-hye scoffed inwardly.

‘When the tiger is away, the fox plays king.’

With no one of higher rank present in Doha, the sixth prince acted like one.

Just then, a group of women in extravagant dresses – clearly from Akyang – entered with their maids.

The woman at the front was the most splendidly dressed.

She was none other than Dan Gyu-yeong.

“Congratulations on your wedding, sister.”

Gyu-yeong gave Woo-hye a scornful look before turning her attention to San-gyeong.

She had expected Woo-hye to live in poverty, so it annoyed her to see her having such a big wedding.

But her annoyance faded quickly.

‘So Cheong-un is actually rich? I suppose he looks decent enough… but honestly, who cares? Marrying a man with such an ordinary face? If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to go on living—I’d sooner bite my tongue and die.’

Gyu-yeong stifled a grin and spoke in a proud voice as she introduced the others.

“Oh, and Mujin came too, along with Sister Jarim, to celebrate your wedding. You remember them, don’t you?”

Gyeon Mujin was Woo-hye’s former fiancé – and now Gyu-yeong’s current fiancé.

Gyeon Jarim, Mujin’s younger sister, had disliked Woo-hye since childhood.

She always said that Woo-hye’s mannerisms were annoying and hard to like, but the truth was that she had grown resentful of being constantly compared to Woo-hye, who outshone her in every way.

Jarim—

Jarim was close to Gyu-yeong and had come all this way just to see Woo-hye’s misfortune with his own eyes.

Gyu-yeong glanced back, then trotted over to a well-dressed young nobleman. This man was Gyeon Mujin.

“Brother! Come over here quickly. It’s been a long time – you should say hello, even if it’s a bit awkward.”

Mujin gave a strained smile.

Woo-hye hadn’t even said a word and Gyu-yeong’s behaviour was already out of line.

Woo-hye had tolerated Gyu-yeong in silence until the moment she crossed a clear line – then she spoke sharply, her voice cold and without the slightest hint of a smile.

“You seem to think you outrank my husband.”

Even with her face hidden, there was no mistaking the stern rebuke in her tone.

“I haven’t even had the chance to introduce my husband, and yet you parade your fiancé around first? Who taught you that it’s acceptable for an unmarried woman to behave so improperly?”

It was a direct insult to Seol Mi-hee’s upbringing.

And Gyu-yeong knew it immediately – her expression turned vicious.

‘How dare you…!’

But she couldn’t afford to show her temper here. If she did, she would only look petty and ungraceful.

“I was just… excited to see you again after so long, sister. Mujin and Jarim were also close to you once.”

Gyu-yeong replied in a pathetic tone, trying to make it sound as if her older sister was unfairly scolding an eager younger sibling.

It was an easy story to sell.

But her opponent was Woo-hye.

“You seem to have forgotten that I’ve been living alone in Doha for seven years.”

Everyone in Doha watched the exchange with interest.

They remembered how small and young Woo-hye had been when she first arrived.

The guests muttered to each other about the cold-heartedness of the Dan family.

Woo-hye summed it up.

“Well, I guess no one remembered that I was even here. That must be why no one came to visit me – not even on my wedding day.”

“T-That’s because…!”

“My brother is away fighting in a war, and there’s no word of his return. But of course the family is too busy celebrating engagements to worry about that. I suppose it’s up to me to be the understanding one.”

Woo-hye bowed respectfully to the Sixth Prince once more.

“If Your Highness hadn’t shown me such kindness and treated me as one of your own, I would have had to go through today’s wedding without a single blood relative by my side.”

The Sixth Prince, who had been quietly stewing in irritation at being ignored, quickly softened at her words.

“It was worth the long journey if you appreciate my efforts. Come now, rise. Your ornaments must be heavy – don’t strain yourself.”

“I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s kindness.”

Those who had watched the scene with fascination began to share a similar thought:

Compared to Dan Gyu-yeong, who had grown up in privileged comfort in Akyang, Dan Woo-hye, who had endured alone in Doha, seemed far more like a true noblewoman.

It was time for someone to change the mood.

As this was a day of celebration, it had to end on a more harmonious note.

San-gyeong, who had been watching in silence, stepped forward at the perfect moment.

“Your Highness, the Sixth Prince, Sister-in-Law, Lord Gyeon, Lady Gyeon – if it’s not too much trouble, may I suggest that you stay here in Doha during your visit?”

If Woo-hye made her younger sister, who had come all this way, stay elsewhere, people would soon start whispering that she had been thrown out of her own home because of Woo-hye’s cruelty.

Even if Gyu-yeong volunteered to stay outside, it would still be a problem.

After all, Gyu-yeong was her younger sister and had come a long way from home.

Under normal circumstances, Woo-hye would be expected to give in, to graciously insist that she stay under the same roof.

But Woo-hye didn’t seem the least bit inclined to bow.

‘I don’t know what this woman really wants.’

San-gyeong thought, but one thing is clear – she has no intention of getting along with her family.

If she did, she wouldn’t have rebuked her sister so harshly in front of the crowd on her wedding day.

No – it was deliberate.

It was her way of showing how she had been treated by her family and how cruel they really were.

That was why San-gyeong helped her – in a way that allowed her to stand tall without having to be the one to appear gracious.

He decided to treat everyone who came today simply as guests.

The Sixth Prince clearly intended to stay.

And if he did, it would only be natural for Gyu-yeong, the bride’s sister, to stay with him.

Of course, Gyu-yeong couldn’t refuse the prince’s wishes – so she would inevitably have to stay in Yeonmowon.

While admiring Woo-hye’s graceful figure, the Sixth Prince suddenly noticed San-gyeong’s presence and cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Can you really accommodate so many guests? I’d hate to impose.”

The Sixth Prince said, pretending to hesitate.

San-gyeong bowed slightly and urged once more.

“It would be a great honour for our household if Your Highness would stay with us.”

“Hm.”

The Sixth Prince, though of high rank, was used to being treated with deference – never with true respect.

So San-gyeong’s words, calling it an honour, made a slight impression on him. Pleased, he stood up with little resistance.

“Well, I couldn’t possibly come to a celebration empty-handed, so I brought gifts. You there – bring everything in.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The Sixth Prince had a very flamboyant personality and was very sensitive to appearances.

He had brought an abundance of gifts.

“We are deeply grateful, Your Highness.”

“Oh, think nothing of it. I’ve seen to it that they’re all fine things – I’m sure you’ll like them. May my gifts help to ease any hard feelings you may have towards your sister.”

Woo-hye made a graceful curtsy in gratitude.

“Of course. How could I not feel more generous after being shown such warmth by Your Highness?”

In truth, she didn’t feel the least bit forgiving.

But San-gyeong’s unwavering support had softened her heart more than she had expected.

His words and actions continued to echo in her mind.

Even with Seol Mi-hee’s daughter standing before them, he had continued to stand by her.

Time and time again, he had chosen Woo-hye over Seol Mi-hee.

‘Could it be… I don’t have to doubt him anymore?’

She wanted to ask him herself. She wanted to hear it directly from him.

And so she moved to wrap things up quickly.

“Gyu-yeong, I was too harsh earlier because I was concentrating on taking care of my husband. I’m sure you care about Lord Gyeon as well, so I know you understand how I felt.”

Gyu-yeong could barely contain her anger.

The way Woo-hye kept subtly insinuating that she was the elder and had the higher status was infuriating.

But she couldn’t say a word in front of the Sixth Prince.

She forced a stiff smile.

“Yes… of course I understand.”

After hearing her answer, Woo-hye gently took San-gyeong’s arm.

“My husband, will you take me to our bridal chamber now?”

San-gyeong then placed his warm hand over hers, which had grown icy cold.

The sudden heat made Woo-hye blink in surprise.

Just as something else began to happen.

“Your Highness, since my wife can’t see, I think I’ll feel more comfortable if I escort her to the bridal chamber myself. Please forgive me for not being able to attend to you personally.”

“Ah, of course you should. Then go.”

San-gyeong lifted Woo-hye into his arms again and carried her away, just as he had done when they crossed the courtyard earlier.

The Sixth Prince clicked his tongue quietly as he watched the couple retreat.

‘How beautiful does a man’s wife have to be to deserve such unwavering devotion?’

His curiosity about Dan Woo-hye’s appearance only grew, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to see her face until at least the next day.

A bride could not remove the red veil that covered her face until the wedding night.

And only the groom had the right to remove it.

The Sixth Prince watched San-gyeong with envious eyes.