“I feel like I’m going to stumble. Hold me a little tighter.”

Valen had been holding her as lightly as possible, clearly wanting as little contact with Yuria as he could manage. She wasn’t asking him to pull her close like a real lover, but if he kept pulling away this openly, it was bound to look awkward.

“Right, sorry.”

He would never normally comply this easily, but Valen was strangely agreeable today. He drew her a little closer as she had asked and led her with practiced ease.

The awkward stretch passed, and the two gave each other a brief nod before finally separating. Only then did Valen’s expression ease slightly, as though he could breathe again.

Shortly after, a man from the Russo house approached and asked if he might have a dance with Yuria. True to expectation, Valen handed her over without a moment’s hesitation and walked away to the far end of the room. He had clearly wanted to be apart from her as soon as possible.

The man’s hand settled on her back, and the next piece began. Dante Russo was not quite Valen’s equal, but he was a capable enough dancer. He hadn’t stepped on her feet even once, so she supposed he was above average, Yuria thought to herself.

“What a shame, Lady Castoria. It is painfully obvious that your husband holds no affection for you.”

“Was it that apparent?”

Yuria asked without any particular feeling. Dante had been one of the men who had been making advances on her at every opportunity for some time now. Valen, of course, would not care in the slightest about that, which was precisely why he had left her alone with this man. Yuria ground her teeth as she felt his hand drifting lower and lower.

“Very much so. There was not a soul at the ceremony today who missed the grimace on Valen Castoria’s face.”

“There’s nothing to be done about it. I am already his wife.”

“What I mean to say is, when you find yourself lonely, please do seek me out, my lady.”

There was a price to be paid for the title of perfection. Men like Dante Russo, for instance, constantly circling around her. Before the marriage, his pursuit had been so relentless that she had half-wondered if it would be people like him who ended up getting her engagement broken off.

“I’m afraid that won’t happen.”

Yuria had reasons to keep this marriage intact without a single crack. It was not a relationship she could throw away for the sake of a little amusement with a man. Even if Valen had his heart set on another woman and strayed, Yuria would prevent a divorce to the very end.

“What is your reason for guarding your fidelity so carefully?”

Dante asked with a faint edge of feeling. Yuria had only one answer for him. The same answer she had consistently given to every man who had approached her over the years.

“Because I am desperately in love with Valen.”

Dante let out a sigh. It was impossible to tell from Yuria’s blue eyes whether those words were sincere or not. In the end, the man said nothing more for the rest of the song, and the two parted with a final exchange of farewells.

After that, two or three more men asked Yuria to dance. One of them tried the exact same approach as Dante, to a degree that was almost laughable, but Yuria sent him away just as firmly with the same answer.

By the time she was nearly exhausted, the event mercifully came to an end. Valen was nowhere to be seen when she looked around, and she figured he was either with another woman or somewhere lamenting his fate.

Keeping the cool, expressionless face she always wore, Yuria walked out of the venue with her head held straight. People were still lingering inside, busy chattering about the couple just married that day, or about whatever gossip and rumors were making the rounds.

The scent of flowers just beginning to bloom brushed past her nose. Yuria kept her posture composed in case there were any eyes on her. She walked on until she reached the shadowed back side of the building, and only then did she let her guard down.

After confirming no one was nearby, Yuria leaned against the wall and exhaled deeply. The thought that she had finally pulled off this marriage, the crowning piece of a tower built lie upon lie, drained the tension from her entire body. All that remained now was to keep the truth of her lie-filled life from being discovered by her husband.

Yuria Bellaris had several secrets she had not told the other party.

First, Yuria Bellaris was living her second life. The belief in reincarnation held by the Messina faith was no mere nonsense. Her past life self, Lucy, had been born to a cruel fate and lived a life of suffering, but had been granted one more chance.

Second, the Bellaris family had an absolute need for the alliance with Castoria. Though it was not publicly known, Bellaris was in the midst of a financial crisis on the verge of ruin. That was why they had put forward the word harmony and entered into what was essentially a tacit contract.

In this reincarnated life she had been given by a miracle, she had lived a perfect existence in order not to repeat the tragedies of the past. Stopping the family’s ruin required the power of Castoria, and to obtain that, she had to become the perfect bride they wanted.

So this life could not be lost. This life, the only chance God had given her, was Yuria’s last. If a divorce were ever to happen, Bellaris would be destroyed immediately. That was precisely why this marriage had to be maintained in peace.

Otherwise, she would ruin the one and only chance she would ever have.