7: Into the Fire

Kael treated Aella with the same demeanor she remembered when he was in front of her father, Hans Blueanz. However, the subtle change in his gaze was something only Aella could perceive.

In five days, Aella would no longer be the daughter of Count Blueanz but the Duchess of Hormons.

From the moment she realized her love for Kael, her childhood friend, it had been her dream to marry him. But now, Aella was endlessly afraid. She knew better than anyone how deeply the employees of the Hormons family revered the late Duke—more than the Emperor, more than any deity.

‘They’ll despise me… especially that woman, Rensi.’

The employees of the ducal house had always been kind to Aella, treating her as if she were a lady of the family. But there was one exception: Rensi, the maid trusted most by the head maid, openly displayed her hostility toward Aella—though she did so discreetly.

“Sigh…”

Just thinking about how she would suffer at Rensi’s hands once she became the duchess was enough to make her anxious. What worried Aella even more was Kina, who would never stand idly by if Aella were mistreated.

Calling Kina to her, Aella spoke.

“You called for me, my lady?”

“Kina, I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything, my lady.”

“No matter what happens to me, don’t intervene.”

“What are you saying?!”

“Whether it’s Kael… no, His Grace, or the employees, you mustn’t cause any trouble.”

“I can understand His Grace, but not the employees! My lady, you—”

“Kina.”

Aella’s earnest gaze brought tears to Kina’s eyes.

“Please, I’m asking you. For my sake, hold yourself back.”

“Hic… My lady! No, I can’t do it! I want you to be happy! So would the late madam! Please, just run away. It’s not too late. Please!”

When Aella shook her head, Kina couldn’t hold back her frustration.

“Why?! Why should you have to endure this?! It’s the same with everyone else! My lady, it’s not like you chose to be born as the daughter of that devilish man!”

“Kina! Lower your voice!”

“Hic… sniff… hic…”

“I’m sorry for yelling. I’m sorry, Kina.”

“My lady…”

Aella embraced Kina, who was trembling like a leaf, and gently patted her back.

“I’ll be fine. I can endure it. As long as I have you, Laura, and Charlotte, I can endure anything.”

“Hic… My lady, I wish… I wish someone would save you. Someone, please save our poor lady…”

As Kina cried out in despair, Aella remained silent, gently soothing her and shedding quiet tears.

Outside the tightly closed door, Laura let out a deep sigh and began walking toward her destination.

She was heading to the loathsome villa of Hans Blueanz, a place she didn’t want to visit. As she approached, the sound of unpleasant screams filled her ears.

Entering the villa, the nauseating scent that permeated the air made Laura want to erase her sense of smell entirely.

Knock, knock.

“Master.”

Laura, desperate to leave the place filled with rough breathing, cries, and groans of pain, knocked harder on the door.

Bang!

“What is it?!”

The disgusting man appeared, wearing nothing, and Laura bowed her head.

“In two days, the young lady’s—”

“Ah! Who doesn’t know that already, you wretched wench?!”

Each time his rough hand struck her head, her skull seemed to rattle.

“I apologize.”

“Because of you, my mood is ruined. Bring me fresher women! And bring more of them. Got it?!”

“Yes, understood.”

Creak.

As the door closed, Laura raised her head and caught sight of the women inside glaring at her with hatred.

Clenching her eyes shut, Laura made a silent vow.

‘I will pay for my sins. Even if it costs me my life.’

With tightly clenched fists, Laura stepped outside. Looking up at the clear sky, she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.

“God, I pray with all my heart. Please, let that demon in human form meet the most brutal end.”

But her venomous prayer was drowned out by the agonized cries echoing from within the villa.

***

Julius felt like he was losing his mind at the thought of the woman he loved—no, the woman he was madly in love with—becoming the Duchess of Hormons in just two days.

Why was she willingly walking into that hell, where she would burn up like a moth to a flame? He couldn’t understand her at all.

If he could, he would use his authority as the Crown Prince to stop the wedding. But doing so would only earn him her hatred.

“Sigh. Ella! Why?! Why are you doing this?! Why are you going to that man who wants to destroy you, even though you’ve done nothing wrong?!”

As Julius pounded his chest in frustration, the door to his room suddenly burst open, and he came face-to-face with his father.

Smack!

Smack!

Both of Julius’s cheeks turned red in an instant.

“You’re making a mockery of me and the Imperial Family!”

“…”

“Julius Albazar!”

“I can hear you just fine.”

“When will you finally come to your senses, you disgrace of a son?! Do you have any idea how Princess Roden is being treated in this empire because of you?!”

At his father’s scolding, Julius let out a bitter laugh.

“You insolent fool!”

“So why did you arbitrarily make Princess Roden my fiancée?”

“…”

“If you hadn’t called her my fiancée from the start, neither she nor I would have to endure this…”

Before he could finish speaking, Julius received another harsh slap across the face.

Drip.

Blood began to trickle from his nose.

“No matter how much you resist, Princess Roden will be your wife and the empress of this empire.”

“Do as you please.”

“You damned brat!”

As his father stormed out, Julius called after him, meeting his father’s cold gaze with his own.

“Just remember this, Your Majesty. That princess will wither away in my indifference. And it will all be because of your greed.”

“You lunatic.”

Muttering a curse, the Emperor left, slamming the door behind him. Julius walked to the window, wiping the blood from his nose with his sleeve, and looked up at the clear sky.

“Yes, I am crazy. Ella… That terrible woman who doesn’t understand my feelings.”

Closing his eyes, tears began to roll silently down his cheeks.

***

The day had come for Aella to step into the inferno.

Early in the morning, Aella entered her late mother’s room—a place that had remained untouched. The room was just as it had been, with her mother’s portrait hanging on the wall and pictures filled with memories they had shared.

“Mother… Today, I’m marrying Kael. I’m becoming the Duchess of Hormons.”

Though she had loved Kael deeply and longed for this day, Aella now felt overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty about her future as his wife. Clenching her eyes shut, she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Don’t worry about me. Even though you’re far away, I have Laura, who is like a mother to me, Kina, who feels like a sister and friend, and my little sister Charlotte. They’ll be by my side, so… please don’t worry about me. Rest peacefully.”

Despite her efforts to hold back, tears began to fall.

“Just for today… Just for today, I’ll cry. Mother. Mom…”

Even if only in a dream, Aella desperately wished to see her mother one more time. Though her mother had never appeared in her dreams, no matter how much she wished for it, Aella wiped her tears and smiled at the portrait of her mother, who was smiling back.

“I love you, Mom. From now on, I’ll try my best to live…”

‘I’ll endure it. I’ll atone for my sins to Kael until my last breath.’

When she stepped outside, she met Kina’s worried gaze and smiled brightly.

“Today is my one and only wedding day, so take good care of me, Kina.”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll make you the most beautiful bride in the world. Trust me.”

“Thank you, Kina.”

Even as she smiled, Kina’s heart ached, knowing how much pain Aella was hiding.

‘If only I could… I’d kidnap her and run far away.’

Frustrated by her own helplessness, Kina made a firm vow.

‘I’ll protect her… no, I’ll protect my lady, no matter what it takes!’

***

The Albazar Grand Cathedral was crowded with people.

Today marked the wedding of Kael Hormons, who had inherited the title of Duke after losing his father tragically, and Aella Blueanz, the only daughter of Count Blueanz—the man suspected of orchestrating the death of the late Duke.

Those attending the wedding already knew this union would not be a happy one. Some pitied Aella, while others scorned Kael for marrying the daughter of the man who might have killed his father.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

“The Duke of Hormons has arrived first.”

“He always rides a horse, doesn’t he?”

“The late Duke was the same.”

“Well, considering his mother died in a carriage accident, it’s understandable. Especially since the Duke witnessed it himself.”

Annoyed by the murmurs, Kael dismounted his white horse.

‘She hasn’t arrived yet? Or did she run away?’

Scoffing, Kael thought it might be better if she had run away. But then…

Neigh!

Hearing the loud neigh of a horse, Kael turned to see a familiar carriage approaching.

‘So, she didn’t run away.’

Kael watched as Aella stepped out of the carriage. Dressed in a pure white wedding gown and veil, she drew gasps of admiration from those gathered.

“…”

For a moment, Kael was almost entranced by her beauty, but he quickly furrowed his brows.

‘Get a grip.’

Biting his tongue to steady himself, Kael approached Aella with a smile and extended his hand.

“Shall we go in, Ella?”

Aella, showing only a faint smile, placed her hand lightly in his.

The hand that had once been so warm now felt as cold as ice.

Creak.

As the grand doors of the cathedral slowly opened, Aella walked inside, her steps matching Kael’s beside her.

And so, she willingly walked into the flames of hell.