Hinael lifted her gaze to look at Lutz.

His face was expressionless, as if he had withdrawn all his emotions. But he couldn’t hide his firm spirit.

As she secretly glanced at his resolute face, she shifted her gaze to watch Chetter and Mie dancing together.

‘Haah, he shouldn’t be this cold already…’

Mie, with her pretty face and petite frame, was certainly charming.

But it was clear she wasn’t to Chetter’s taste. She recalled his words about not feeling attracted to thin, shapeless women.

As expected, Chetter showed no interest in Mie from the start, not even glancing at her.

‘I better not make eye contact, or he might provoke me again.’

Even without looking, she could feel Chetter occasionally stealing glances at her.

Hinael clung closer to Lutz. She needed to display the elegance of a princess through graceful dance moves, but she hated the idea of Chetter’s eyes on her.

As she subtly moved closer, a deep voice rumbled above her head.

“That guy seems really pissed off. His glare is sharper than a sword, almost piercing my skull.”

“I’m sorry, but please bear with it for a bit. Ah!”

At that moment, Lutz did something unexpected.

He seemed to lift her slender waist, then placed her foot on top of his shoe.

Oh my! Even accidentally stepping on someone’s foot would be the talk of the town, but standing on it outright…

“Your Highness, please put me down.”

“If you don’t stay still, I might just carry you over my shoulder.”

His grip was so strong that when she wriggled her toes, he held her waist and lifted her until she calmed down.

Her feet dangled in the air. Fearing he might actually carry her, Hinael buried her flushed face in his chest.

“I-I’ll stay still.”

When she obediently responded, Lutz placed her back on his foot.

Hinael couldn’t lift her head. She wished she could crawl into a hole.

When Lutz had acted so contrary to dance etiquette, the hall had erupted in noise. The mix of gasps and exclamations had soared like a war horn in a battlefield.

‘Are people still watching?’

With only four people on stage, they were surely focused on them. Despite knowing this, she futilely hoped their attention was elsewhere.

But the murmuring that pricked her ears made it hard to escape reality.

Hinael glanced around with just her eyes.

‘Everyone’s looking at His Highness.’

From noble ladies to princesses, their gazes were glued to Lutz.

It might be an illusion, but she felt she could see lust in their eyes.

His physique and demeanor, so different from the men of Sarr, must have piqued their curiosity.

His bold attitude and unapproachable spirit, coupled with his striking looks, made him desirable to anyone.

The amusing part was Seilla’s expression. She couldn’t take her eyes off Lutz.

With her face flushed with evident desire, she seemed ready to follow Lutz to Trycas at any moment, oblivious to Varsel’s intentions of using her for peace.

And why was she glaring at Hinael?

‘Seilla and Chetter are similar types.’

The more one has, the more greed takes hold. Never having lost anything, they become pathologically angry when they can’t grasp what they desire.

Even if it was never theirs to begin with.

Without a conscience.

Realizing she had been peeking around, Hinael felt a pang of guilt.

Shaking off her thoughts, she felt embarrassed again.

The uneasy and uncomfortable banquet was heading towards its end.

* * *

The wedding ceremony in the palace temple was brief.

It concluded simply with a couple’s vow before Nushka, the god of fire.

The attendees were few: the King, Queen, and Hinael’s mother. The royal couple attended only because of Lutz.

Hinael and Lutz, dressed in snow-white ceremonial robes, ascended the platform. The tall ceiling was made of glass, focusing beams of light on them.

Lutz glanced down at Hinael, whose skin was as white as snow. Sensing his gaze, Hinael met his eyes.

‘So, we are truly becoming a married couple. Whatever else, I know he’s definetely better than Chetter.’

Lutz slowly closed and opened his eyes. Although he couldn’t hear her thoughts, it felt as if she read an answer in his eyes.

“The ceremony will now begin.”

From below the platform, the priest announced the start of the wedding.

An elderly high priest stood with his back to them, muttering something in ancient language to the wooden figure on the wall.

She assumed it was a prayer to bless their new union and wish for a peaceful future.

‘If only this prayer comes true… I might not be loved by my husband, but at least I won’t die miserably.
That’s something.’

Since Lutz wanted an heir, she would eventually bear a child.

‘My baby…’

She didn’t dream of reuniting with the unborn child who died without a single cry. But she wanted to feel the vitality of a fetus just once.

The feeling of being connected to a baby inside her.

The sensation of the baby moving, whispering that it’s there.

“What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, Lutz gently pressed her arm.

“Yes?”

“Why are you trembling?”

“Was I trembling?”

Snapping out of her vivid memories and smiling nonchalantly, Lutz turned his head back to the front.

Hinael composed her agitated heart.

This was just the beginning. She hadn’t even avenged Chetter yet.

She could run away to Trycas and forget about Chetter, but she couldn’t do that thinking of her dead baby.

The fortunate thing was that Sarr and Trycas had signed a peace treaty. If they were enemies, communication would be cut off, but now that they had opened the channels, she could hear news from Sarr.

‘Prince Viant, please become my sword.’

The future emperor of Trycas. The absolute ruler, Lutz Viant.

She could do anything to appease him if she could ride his power. She knew he intended to use her as a tool to produce an heir.

‘His child is also my child, so there’s no loss.’

Thinking of meeting the baby she longed for made her heart flutter.

She couldn’t afford to be scared now, at this critical moment.

As if she had never trembled, she composed herself and focused on the ceremony.

The high priest, who had asked for the god’s blessing, slowly turned around. The golden bells on his robe jingled with his every move.

At his signal, two priests waiting below the platform carried wooden trays up the steps.

Then the high priest’s solemn voice echoed.

“This is the bark of the willow tree, symbolizing life force. It binds the couple’s fate, leading them to an unending path of blessings. It also opens the gate of the womb.”

As he spoke, the high priest held up the thinly peeled bark with his wrinkled hands. He then began to wrap it around Lutz and Hinael’s arms.

Hinael watched nervously, fearing the dry, yellowish-brown bark might snap.

If it broke, would their bond end here?

She wanted to ask him to wrap it gently.

She held her breath, afraid that even a small movement might tighten the bark too much. She waited quietly, hoping the ritual would pass smoothly.

After drawing a symbol connecting them to the gods, the high priest unwound the bark. Only then did Hinael let out a thin breath.

“Now, if we burn it with the fire blessed by Nushka…”

What was happening?

Suddenly, the high priest stopped speaking and stared sharply at Lutz.

It seemed as if he wanted to devour Lutz, whom even the King couldn’t treat lightly, as he scrutinized him from head to toe.

Varsel stood up to intervene in the high priest’s strange behavior.

“What is the matter?”

“I need to check something briefly.”

The high priest, with his gruff voice, descended the steps and disappeared somewhere.

Meanwhile, Hinael and Lutz stood frozen in confusion.

Was there a problem between the soon-to-be-married couple? Or had Hinael brought some malevolent curse with her return?

If so, the high priest should have been watching her, but he only examined Lutz.

With a worried face, Hinael asked.

“Do you have any idea why the high priest is acting this way?”

“As someone who isn’t even a citizen of this country, how would I know?”

Being a grand general who survived countless battles, he was expected to be sharp in all aspects. For example, reading his opponent’s aura or sensing supernatural abilities.

Since Lutz didn’t know the reason either, Hinael’s mouth went dry with anxiety.

She bit her innocent lips with her teeth. Then she noticed Lutz’s hand in her line of sight.

‘Almoner?’

As the high priest disappeared, they naturally lowered their arms wrapped in willow bark. And now, he was holding the almoner in that hand.

‘What is in that pouch that he can’t let go of it?’

She glanced at Lutz’s face with curiosity, but his expression was impassive, contrasting with his anxious hand movements.

It could just be a habit since he always carried it with him.

Just as she dismissed her doubts, the high priest returned to the platform. He was holding a small jar that looked like a holy relic.

What is that used for?

Is he about to perform some miraculous ability?

Could he possibly find out about my return?

Questions piled up endlessly. Not knowing what was inside the jar made her heart race as if it would burst.

At that moment, Varsel, unable to contain his curiosity, spoke up. Marsily and Hinael’s mother also looked anxious.

“What is it? What do you need to check?”

“I sensed a faint trace of dark magic.”

“Dark… magic? How could such an evil aura be lurking here, in this sacred temple?”

The high priest, as if reluctant to speak further, moved closer, pouring a clear liquid from the jar onto his hand.

Towards Lutz.

“The tears of Nushka will reveal the truth.”

“Wait! What are you doing!”

To consider Prince Viant as an ominous being was outrageous. Varsel, in shock, approached with heavy steps.

But several priests pleaded with the King to stop him from coming closer.