However, the man was smart.

As she said, he did have the “right to refuse,” but it was only nominal. The Emperor wanted Mathias to remain in his place and, to achieve that, wanted his hunting dog to become Mathias’s hunting dog.

This meant that what the Emperor desired was not merely a marriage that appeared legitimate on the surface.

The fact that he was intelligent could either work in Leticia’s favor or against her. It was still too early to determine which.

So, what should she do now?

Callius Maxis couldn’t kill Leticia at this moment. That meant she could use him for a certain period of time.

It wasn’t part of her original plan, but a man like Callius Maxis seemed worth revising her plans for.

“I always get what I want.”

At that moment, Callius Maxis rubbed his chin irritably as he spoke.

He seemed dissatisfied with his own words.

At that moment, Leticia had no idea what he was about to say. Even if she could go back to that moment, she wouldn’t have been able to predict it.

Finally, Callius spoke.

“Let’s make a deal.”

Leticia couldn’t immediately grasp the situation. Callius Maxis was proposing a deal to her.

It was strange. He was someone who didn’t need Leticia’s help.

Her opinion was utterly unnecessary in this marriage.

“I heard you tried to throw yourself into the Senat River.”

“…”

“Dying won’t solve anything. That’s quite foolish of you.”

For a moment, Leticia thought he might have clicked his tongue.

He shook his head as though her choice was pathetic.

“If you die, His Majesty will doubt my loyalty. He’ll think I killed you to avoid this marriage. In other words, all the hardships I’ve endured so far would be for nothing.”

As though he desperately wanted to avoid that outcome, his tone was biting.

Leticia mulled over his words again.

“So, if you quietly go through with the marriage, I’ll grant you what you want.”

There was much Leticia could gain from such a deal. There was no need to even think about whether to accept it.

But she didn’t want to jump at his offer as though she had been waiting for it.

Leticia carefully reviewed his proposal.

“…So.”

Surprisingly, he showed patience as he waited for her response.

“You’re saying you’ll give me what I want.”

“Is my language difficult to understand?”

No, scratch that—he wasn’t patient at all. He snapped irritably, as though frustrated by her making him repeat himself.

There was nothing to gain by provoking him now.

“How do you know what I want?”

“Isn’t it obvious what you want?”

His sharp gaze gleamed. His eyes, reminiscent of a well-honed sword that had been tempered over many years, were deeper and more seasoned than she had expected.

It was clear that he hadn’t risen to his current position by sheer luck.

“Is it Mathias’s head that you want?”

Leticia thought she shouldn’t show her emotions, but she couldn’t help being surprised by his words.

Her mind, sluggish from prolonged starvation, worried that she might have missed something in their conversation.

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why he would offer her something of that magnitude.

“But you are Mathias’s…”

“Hunting dog, yes. Because that’s what the Emperor wants.”

He answered immediately.

Leticia mulled over his words. He was the Emperor’s hunting dog.

Not Mathias’s hunting dog.

He might pretend to be one because the Emperor desired it, but that wasn’t what he truly wanted.

Then what did he want?

An alliance with unclear motives was more dangerous than being held captive.

“So what is it that you want?”

“Power. Success. Whatever it takes to ensure that no one can look down on me.”

Once again, his answer came without hesitation.

There wasn’t a trace of doubt in his voice. He was clear about what he wanted.

“But Mathias Metherdea doesn’t have that kind of power.”

She was right. Currently, Mathias Metherdea was only temporarily riding high after bringing down Rearbon. Previously, he had been a mediocre man whose only claim to fame was having the Emperor’s backing after coming of age.

In terms of dignity, he was even rated lower than Princess Kelsior, who remained unmarried and clung to the imperial palace.

Leticia agreed with Callius’s assessment.

Her plans underwent significant revisions.

His name was added to the list of people who might help her.

At least temporarily, he could be on Leticia’s side. It was an unexpected help. Moreover, through this marriage, Leticia could escape Mathias’s clutches.

Leticia didn’t believe he would actually bring her Mathias’s head.

Instead, she thought about the things he could definitely give her.

Leticia could escape Mathias’s gaze. That meant she could buy herself time.

And time meant opportunity.

“If I become your wife.”

Accepting the deal meant becoming his wife.

His straight eyebrows furrowed, as though he didn’t like the fact that Leticia had pointed that out.

“You’ll lose the chance to marry a wife of noble lineage.”

Even if Leticia divorced him later, no noblewoman of high status would want to marry him.

Ultimately, marrying Leticia would tarnish his reputation.

Was he still okay with that?

“Does that matter right now?”

“…”

Callius turned his head as though he found her question absurd.

“What matters is escaping the current situation. You can worry about that later.”

With those words, he stood up.

Then, as though offering a handshake, he extended his hand to Leticia.

Leticia furrowed her brow.

“Take it. I’m not helping you. You’re helping me.”

“…”

It wasn’t something one would typically say to a noblewoman of high standing.

Of course, Leticia was no longer a noblewoman.

“Don’t trust me. Trust the fact that I need you.”

His gaze was unwavering. Leticia swallowed hard. There was no other choice but to take his hand. His golden eyes gleamed as though they would devour her.

If there were another way, she wouldn’t have taken his hand.

But Leticia thought that even if there had been another way, she still would have taken that hand.

Leticia’s hand met his. He firmly grasped her hand, which seemed insignificant compared to his.

Then, clicking his tongue, he turned her hand over and examined it.

“At this rate, you’ll die before the wedding. Eat something.”

—

The wedding was conducted in a simplified manner.

Mathias didn’t have the generosity to host a grand wedding for Leticia and Callius.

Leticia stood before him in a hastily prepared, shabby dress.

The guests consisted only of Mathias, Crown Princess Milona Holdein, and her two maids.

Although Leticia hadn’t dreamed of a grand wedding, even she hadn’t imagined such a ceremony.

Born with a weak constitution, Leticia had often been told she wouldn’t live to see adulthood.

She had never thought she would become someone’s wife.

Could this even be called a wedding? Could she and Callius truly be considered a married couple?

At the very least, the Duke of Rearbon wouldn’t have envisioned such a wedding.

Her mouth tasted bitter. Leticia found herself unexpectedly saddened by the wedding.

Even though she knew this marriage was her salvation from the pit of Mathias, she couldn’t help but feel melancholic.

Now, Leticia stood side by side with Callius Maxis.

The wedding, held after sunset, was a modest affair.

“Just follow along as you are now.”

The priest was explaining the conditions of the marriage to Mathias.

Mathias wanted to rush through it all as quickly as possible, but the priest insisted on following the proper procedures.

This gave Leticia a brief moment to converse with Callius Maxis.

“I haven’t done anything.”

“You’re acting like a beast being dragged to the slaughterhouse.”

Leticia raised her head to look at him. He kept his gaze fixed forward, feigning ignorance as though he hadn’t said anything.

But he was right.

Leticia was trembling like a beast being led to slaughter.

Now that the day had come, she doubted whether her choice had been the right one, even though she had no other options.

Once doubt took root, it grew uncontrollably. Was taking his hand truly the way out of the pit? Or would he become another pit?

She was scared. More than when Rearbon had fallen.