Then Jade’s eyebrows twitched.

“That sounds unpleasant. Time to part.”

“If you plan to get married in that outfit, I won’t stop you.”

“Tch. If we part now, we’ll see each other at the ceremony. See you later. I’ll dress up handsomely so you’ll dote on me.”

Rosana took in the sight of Jade moving away with both eyes. Watching Rosana, who wasn’t moving, Yuna asked, “Are you nervous?”

“…I am nervous. But this is anticipation. Like he said. It’s been so long.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go quickly.”

Arriving at the preparation room, Rosana entrusted herself to the maids’ hands. The wedding dress was put on, and powder was applied to her face. It felt different from when she’d tried on the wedding dress as a trial. And finally, Celine handed her something.

“Lady Rosana, please accept this.”

“Thank you.”

Standing before the mirror holding a bouquet where pale pink flowers and white flowers blended together, Rosana was beautiful. Rosana fiddled with the bouquet.

The fresh fragrance colored Rosana’s heart even more sweetly. Once preparations were complete, murmuring voices could be heard from outside.

They were the young ladies she’d built friendships with. Representing them, Lily slightly opened the door and poked her head in.

“May we come in for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Lily smiled brightly and entered. The young ladies followed behind her. They all praised Rosana’s appearance in unison. Lily also looked at her seemingly entranced.

“Seeing you, Rosana, makes me want to get married quickly too.”

“I’m looking forward to it too. The day Sir Baron and Lily get married.”

“I’ll definitely invite you!”

Blessings were exchanged, and Rosana asked Lily.

“Did you see my family?”

“Pardon? Yes… I saw them sitting in the front row.”

Lily spoke somewhat reluctantly. The Imperial Knights had surrounded the Arcadi ducal family members to the point where it was unclear if they were escorting or monitoring them. 

Because they resembled Rosana so much, she could tell at a glance they were family. However, the knights’ attitude toward them was subtle. Their eyes were wary.

A maid informed Rosana that the ceremony would begin soon.

People withdrew, and Rosana walked carefully so the dress wouldn’t get disheveled. Then she saw Jade standing outside the door with his arms crossed, anxiously tapping his arm with his fingers.

He’s nervous after all.

Rosana smiled softly. He was so distracted that he didn’t even notice Rosana’s presence. 

When Malek awakened him from the side, he seemed to come to his senses and only then saw Rosana.

“Rosana.”

“Did I keep you waiting long?”

“Considering how long I’ve waited, this is just a fleeting moment.”

Jade whispered sweetly in her ear that she was even more beautiful today. Rosana smiled softly and clasped his hand.

“Let’s go quickly. We’ve waited a long time.”

“Yes.”

The two stepped forward between the pouring rays of light and the congratulations they heard.

* * *

“Mother, it’s really wonderful. Don’t you think so?”

“…Yes, it is.”

The Duchess forced a smile and responded. Looking at Amy’s bright smile, she soothed her bitter heart. Rosana had subtly gone astray, but Amy remained the same. That was the only comfort.

“She was incredibly beautiful last time, and it’ll be the same this time too.”

“It’s finally the wedding. I heard the reason they postponed the wedding was because of us.”

“Oh my? Really?”

At the stories about Rosana’s good deeds heard from around them, the Duchess’s brow furrowed. She was experiencing firsthand the aftermath of Rosana’s changed reputation. 

Moreover, stories about the Ales Kingdom came up occasionally. The Duchess held back the sneer that wanted to escape.

Rosana was being welcomed by the Diovaha nobility. Something that could never happen. But it’s fine. The countermeasure is already perfect.

“Oh my! They’re walking over there!”

The Duchess’s head turned. Trumpet sounds announcing the protagonists’ appearance echoed through the air, and simultaneously, flowers in full bloom all around fell, releasing sweet fragrances like they were blessing them.

Walking in a beautiful wedding dress with her arm linked with Jade’s, Rosana looked happy. 

Very much so. The way they naturally exchanged jokes showed they were lovers in love, no, a married couple. They just hadn’t held the wedding ceremony yet.

It was unbelievable for a political marriage conducted purely based on interests between empires. One couldn’t even think this was the marriage between the Emperor of Diovaha, called a murderer, and Rosana Arcadi, called the greatest villainess of Astrot.

Amy clapped enthusiastically from the side. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of her sister looking so happy.

“Mother, it’s such a relief. Right? She looks so happy.”

It was undeniable. The Duchess only fiddled with the ornament holding up her hair. Originally, it was a specially crafted hair ornament prepared for when her life was threatened.

Rosana’s and the Duchess’s eyes met. Rosana merely smiled, but to the Duchess, it felt like she was mocking her. That she was the victor.

Walking straight down the wedding aisle, they stood before the officiant. The officiant cleared his throat and said, “Do you vow to cherish and love each other and be lifelong companions?”

“I vow.”

“I vow.”

Rosana and Jade looked at each other and spoke simultaneously. The Duchess didn’t care what they were saying or whether people around were rejoicing and congratulating them. 

Quickly…!

She had to kill her as quickly as possible. Otherwise, she would be the one unable to escape from this place.

It must have been the kissing moment, as applause continued from around them. 

While everyone was blessing them, there were eyes looking strangely at the Duchess, who wasn’t clapping, but she had no time to care even about such gazes. 

The wedding ended and the spotlight went out. The moment when the curtain truly needed to fall was approaching.

* * *

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Rosana smiled brightly while hearing congratulations from those around her. Jade, standing far away from her, was also surrounded by people around him, suffering through the ordeal.

The knights in particular were shedding tears.

“Finally… His Majesty has a companion…!”

“Stop crying.”

Jade looked at the knights with a completely deadpan expression. Rosana laughed quietly.

This was the wedding she’d dreamed of. Two happy people and many people blessing them. 

Everything that made up the world conveyed a gently swaying warm breeze and refreshing air, seemingly blessing the two, and the sun also warmly embraced them rather than pouring scorching heat onto the ground.

Of course, not only those who blessed them existed.

“Are you looking for someone?”

“Ah, no.”

In a very fleeting moment passing by, Rosana thought she saw eyes swirling with madness. She was someone who knew the Duchess’s duplicity better than anyone.

“Rosana. Let’s move locations now.”

“Yes.”

However, she couldn’t only worry about the Duchess. The citizens of Diovaha were eagerly waiting for them to appear. Since this was also the first time Jade would officially show himself before the people, their anticipation was extraordinary.

A carriage waiting for the newlyweds and the road the carriage would travel were prepared. 

The moment they left the temple, they would face the many people waiting to bless Rosana and Jade.

However, then a voice caught Rosana’s ankle.

“Rosana. You’ve become a proper adult.”

Rosana turned around in surprise. When she’d been looking for her, she was nowhere to be seen, but suddenly she appeared. And Amy, who’d popped out, firmly grasped Rosana’s hands.

“Sister, you look happy. I’m really glad. I don’t think there’s any need to worry now.”

“…Yeah, thank you.”

Amy quietly stood on her tiptoes and whispered softly in her ear.

“The Emperor of Diovaha seems kind to you, sister.”

“That’s right. He’s an affectionate person.”

Amy smiled brightly, saying it was really wonderful. She was sincerely congratulating Rosana’s marriage.

‘What about Mother…?’

Rosana raised her head to look at the Duchess’s face. What formed at her lips was a smile. 

However, it was false. She was someone who hadn’t even attempted to apologize for the previous day’s incident. 

Amy had wanted to meet Rosana, but the Duchess hadn’t budged from inside her room, seemingly planning to seclude herself.

What had she thought about alone in that room?

While lamenting a reality that didn’t flow according to the story, something Rosana had once ruminated on. Perhaps she couldn’t accept a story that didn’t flow according to the original.

“Mother. I’m marrying someone who loves me.”

“So it seems. To think someone who loves you appeared, really…”

The Duchess trailed off. Like someone unable to control their overwhelming emotions, she couldn’t continue to the end.

To others, she would look like a mother unable to suppress her emotions at her daughter’s wedding, her daughter who’d grown up so quickly. 

But why did she look into Rosana’s eyes like someone making a final desperate struggle?

Seemingly sensing the strange atmosphere, Jade was suddenly standing right next to her. Still, she was nominally Rosana’s mother, and not all nobles knew Rosana’s family circumstances. 

He didn’t want to bring up unpleasant matters in a good place.

“I’ll take good care of her from now on, so please be at ease.”

Interpreting his words, it meant to get lost back to the ducal family. The Duchess suddenly removed the ornament from her hair. Jade reacted sensitively to her sudden action.

Before anyone knew it, the Imperial Knights were hovering near the Duchess. Her hair fell down. And the Duchess quietly held out the object in her hand to Rosana.

“This is something I received as a gift from your father after I got married. It’s a gift from me to you, who is far away and can’t visit often.”

Parents sometimes passed down gifts they received at their wedding to their children. At the mention that it was a gift from a father whose face she couldn’t even remember, Rosana turned her gaze toward the ornament.

“Father…”

“Yes. The person who left me behind.”

Everyone knew that Duke Arcadi had passed away early. But her emotion seemed closer to anger than sadness.

Rosana carefully reached her hand toward the hair ornament.

“But you’re trying to trap me in this place too.”

With those words, the Duchess grabbed Rosana’s outstretched hand and pulled it. 

Unable to keep her balance, Rosana fell forward helplessly. And the Duchess, still gripping the hair ornament, stabbed down at her.

It was a very fleeting moment. Blue veins stood out on her pale hand, showing how such strength had surged from a delicate woman’s body.

Rosana stared blankly at the sight. She hadn’t expected at all that she would commit such an act in front of everyone. She had always cared about others’ gazes. Because that’s how she could remain the duchess people respected.

Did this mean she was cornered to that extent?

Rosana’s eyes widened. She still wanted Rosana’s death. Rosana squeezed her eyes shut, watching the sharp hair ornament approaching moment by moment. However, Jade was one step faster. He quickly embraced Rosana and turned around.

The tip of the hair ornament the Duchess wielded stabbed Jade’s back and mercilessly dug into his flesh. Red blood spread around it.

“Ugh…!”

Rosana heard Jade’s short groan of pain. It was natural that the nobles who’d been watching the situation in a daze screamed in panic.