“I don’t want to go.”

“What are you waiting for? Get her in quickly!”

Their father ordered the knights to force Selvia into the carriage.

Standing beside them, Leliana watched Selvia with an amused smile, clasping her hands together with sparkling eyes.

“Father, I want to go too.”

“Go ahead. It wouldn’t be bad to see. Just be careful.”

Their father looked at Leliana with a subtle expression.

Selvia found his attitude somewhat strange.

‘He’s not stopping her.’

Does he want her to go to the palace?

Since she was going instead, it would be better for everyone if Leliana didn’t go.

Yet their father gave his permission right away.

“I’ll be going then!”

Leliana smiled brightly as she headed toward the carriage.

She wanted to see with her own eyes just how miserable Selvia’s life would become.

Leliana smirked while looking at Selvia.

Resigned, Selvia had to board the carriage heading to the palace with Leliana.

“Have you heard the rumors that His Highness’s face is half covered in burn scars? They say he even limps.”

She kept chattering while looking at Selvia, who remained silent.

“You know what? That’s why you’re unlucky. You always act so noble and look down on people. I hate those creepy eyes of yours.”

“Leliana, do you realize how grave a sin your current actions are?”

Leliana snorted at Selvia’s words.

What does it matter? He’s obviously going to be half-crippled!

Besides, Selvia won’t be able to tell Beatus what she did.

After all, going in her place meant they were in the same boat.

“Keep your mouth shut. You’re in the same position as me.”

Leliana wanted to see Selvia’s face filled with despair when she saw the king.

At that time, Leliana didn’t know what proposal her father had made to Beatus.

She just hummed a tune, anticipating Selvia’s distorted expression.

Things had to unfold as she imagined. Beatus needed to be as horrible as the rumors suggested.

Nothing should happen outside of her expectations.

Though Selvia maintained her silence, Leliana didn’t mind.

She would break down the moment they arrived at the imperial palace.

‘I wish this would stop. Or better yet, if we could have an accident on the way…’

Selvia squeezed her eyes shut.

Perhaps her wish was granted?

The carriage began to shake violently.

“Eek, eeeek! W-what’s happening!”

Leliana’s face turned pale before being overtaken by terror.

“You unlucky witch! Strange things always happen because of you!”

Selvia’s luck was so bad it was hard to believe she was a child of the Light family.

She clearly possessed a power that was opposite to Leliana’s.

Though they vaguely knew this, they had never seen it manifest. So the family members could only speculate whether it was related to the misfortunes that befell Selvia.

In the shaking carriage, Leliana glared at Selvia with murderous intent.

The carriage rocked more violently before finally beginning to roll over with a loud crash.

“Aaaaah! S-save me!”

Leliana screamed. Selvia barely maintained consciousness as she tumbled inside the carriage.

Bang! Crack!

With a tremendous noise, the carriage finally came to a stop.

Among the broken carriage debris, Leliana and Selvia lay collapsed, breathing heavily.

“Ugh… it, it hurts.”

Selvia bit her lip at the pain coursing through her entire body.

She wanted to stand but couldn’t muster the strength.

At that moment, someone’s voice was heard.

“Search thoroughly.”

The low voice, devoid of emotion, carried a chilling quality.

Selvia painfully lifted her head slightly to survey her surroundings.

She saw the unconscious Leliana at some distance from her.

‘No… no… this can’t be.’

Seeing Leliana covered in blood sent chills down her spine.

Selvia reached out her hand but couldn’t move.

“You should have known your limits. Acting so arrogantly…”

The man swept back his hair with a twisted expression.

Selvia struggled to prop herself up against the ground while trying to maintain her fading consciousness.

‘I need to run away. I might die.’

She felt as if death’s shadow was standing right in front of her.

At that moment, her eyes met directly with the man who had been kicking Leliana.

“Hah… if it weren’t for the prophecy.”

His low voice was filled with killing intent.

Selvia was too terrified to do anything, her hair standing on end.

Golden eyes flashed, matching well with his black hair.

Selvia recognized him immediately. This was Beatus, the King of Delpheron.

Outstanding beauty, tall stature, broad shoulders. And perfectly normal legs.

He was far more impressive than any man she had seen before.

Selvia stared at Beatus, unable to hide her bewilderment.

He approached her with a sinister smile and lifted her chin.

“Ah, I was worried you might have died.”

Selvia’s face contorted at his words.

“Fortunately, you’re alive.”

It would have been troublesome if his future queen had died.

“Well, if you had died, I could have just put your sister in your place.”

He was smiling as if he had found some amusing entertainment.

* * *

Selvia looked around with a tense expression.

She couldn’t remember anything.

When she opened her eyes, she was in an unfamiliar bedroom, and her injuries were gone.

“What’s going on?”

She carefully recalled what had happened earlier.

As she remembered Beatus’s words, the memory of the carriage accident overlapped.

‘This wasn’t a coincidence.’

Whatever his intentions, it was clearly done with the thought of killing her.

While the various rumors circulating weren’t true, it seemed the fact that he was insane was real.

She looked at the closed door, trying to gauge where she was.

A large bedroom filled with black furniture contrasting with red.

While the palace must have many rooms, Selvia could tell immediately. The same scent she had sensed when they met earlier filled this room as well.

‘This is Beatus’s room.’

To bring her directly to his bedroom…

Selvia felt she clearly understood what he wanted from her.

She smiled, suppressing her rising emotions.

Creeak.

As if anticipating her awakening, Beatus appeared.

His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and his languid eyes were visible.

“From your expression, it seems you’ve figured it out. I’m not one to waste time.”

Selvia’s eyebrows rose at his words.

“…I see. Is my sister alright?”

“Well, she’s not dead. Though you should be more worried about yourself. Your father played quite the clever game.”

Beatus strode over to Selvia, grabbed her hand, and lifted it up.

“What? What do you mean…”

“It seems you didn’t know about this.”

Beatus climbed on top of Selvia with a sinister smile.

“Selvia Flandre would be suitable as queen and would satisfy Your Highness. If you find my judgment wrong, I will offer both my daughters to Your Highness.”

He’s crazy. He must be insane.

Selvia gritted her teeth at Beatus’s words.

So that’s how it was possible to send her instead of Leliana.

“However, my personality isn’t very pleasant. I couldn’t welcome this happily.”

So that’s why he deliberately caused the carriage accident. He really must be insane.

It would have been troublesome for him too if she had died.

“I heard those with the power of light don’t die easily. It’s impressive to see it firsthand.”

Beatus smirked as he watched Selvia’s slightly trembling body.

“I’ve talked too long. Now fulfill your duty.”

“Duty? We haven’t even had our wedding ceremony yet.”

Selvia could finally understand why her father hadn’t stopped Leliana from coming along.

It was obvious he planned to push her aside and put Leliana on the throne if Beatus turned out to be normal.

When she realized this, her blood ran cold and her mind became clear.

If that was the case, she would just have to play along until an opportunity arose.

“Wedding? After changing the bride as they pleased… As if I would have a wedding ceremony.”

If there was one piece of bad luck, it was that his anger was directed at her as well.

That was to be expected.

It would probably end with just the announcement of her being appointed queen.

Beatus smiled as he looked at Selvia, whose eyes were wavering.

Black hair and golden eyes like his own.

She looked so much like him that people might believe she was of royal blood.

Though she should have had silver hair as a descendant of House Flandre, Selvia was different.

Black hair tainted with darkness in the House of Flandre, which possessed the power of light…

It naturally piqued his curiosity.

“You’re my type. I hope you feel the same.”

In truth, his preferences didn’t matter to him.

As long as she bore the child of prophecy, that was enough.

Beatus grabbed Selvia’s hair and inhaled its scent.

The subtle lavender fragrance made him feel languid.

He slowly lifted her chin to make her look at him.

Her eyes, containing the sun, trembled mournfully.

“Don’t expect love. Though I’ll allow you to scream that you love me every night.”

Selvia gripped the blanket tightly at his trashy words.

“That’s exactly what I want as well.”

“We understand each other well.”

Beatus liked this side of her.

“So let’s both be faithful to each other.”

We don’t have much time, after all.

With those words, he moved to press his lips against hers.

The shadow at Selvia’s feet suddenly grew larger. A streak of darkness shot out and struck the back of his head.

Thwack.

Beatus collapsed from the force.

“How dare you try to put those filthy lips anywhere.”

Selvia looked down at Beatus while dusting off her hands.