Chapter 2 – Contract with the Prince (Part 3)

The sound of the organ echoed in her ears.

‘From this moment on, I will become the woman with the greatest power in the Empire.’

In the current Imperial Family, where there was no Empress, this was true.

Seia reminded herself of the role she had to play, adopting the most noble expression and posture she could as she entered the main hall.

As the doors opened and she stepped into the main hall, the chandeliers dazzled her eyes.

She took exactly three steps and stopped, where Kyle approached and extended his hand.

With no one from the Aden family present, and it being inappropriate for a servant or common noble to escort the future Crown Princess, Kyle was the most suitable choice.

It was an ironic situation.

‘Do they know what happened between Kyle and me…’

‘If they found out, how would their expressions change?’

Seia carefully placed her hand on Kyle’s.

The scene of their bloodied hands clasped together and their oath replayed in her mind.

Kyle led her silently, but Seia felt oddly reassured.

Though she didn’t fully trust him yet, there was a strange sense that she could rely on Kyle.

Of course, Seia had never truly relied on anyone. The path before her was one she had to carve out herself.

Seia had always thought that relying on others was weak and foolish.

‘So why?’

For some reason, she felt an absurd desire to be pampered for the first time in her life.

‘In truth, I’m barely holding on too.’

She felt that if she confessed this, Kyle would silently hold her hand, just like now. He wouldn’t criticize her for being weak.

They reached the altar, where Tristan was waiting, glaring at them.

Tristan snatched Seia’s hand away.

It wasn’t proper etiquette, but no one would dare to make an issue of it.

The organ music stopped, and the Crown Prince and his bride turned towards the altar.

The priest began the wedding ceremony.

The nobles filling the hall watched Seia intently with gleaming eyes.

‘What are they thinking?’

“Do you fancy Kyle?”

Tristan snarled.

“…Nothing happened between Kyle Hellis and me.”

Seia spoke without a hint of hesitation, as if she had the upper hand in this game.

“There’s certainly no child, so you needn’t worry.”

Seia said gracefully.

As the priest gave his blessing, Tristan lifted Seia’s veil.

With the veil pushed back, the Crown Prince’s bride smiled brightly.

At that moment, everyone was captivated by her radiant lavender hair, flushed cheeks, and golden eyes that lit up the hall.

“You must love me, Tribute.”

Tristan growled.

The priest continued his blessing in the name of the Sun God, oblivious to their whispered conversation.

“Let’s discuss this after the ceremony.”

Seia’s smile was fitting for a Crown Princess.

No one knew how much effort it took for Seia to maintain that smile in front of the Hellis Crown Prince.

“Indeed. We have our wedding night.”

Tristan said with a sly smile.

Instead of responding, Seia removed her gloves for the ring exchange as the priest instructed.

Her slender, white fingers were revealed.

Tristan was startled.

The wound from grabbing Kyle’s sword in the annex was nowhere to be seen.

Her skin was flawless, as smooth as silk.

“We’ll have much to discuss, Crown Princess.”

Tristan emphasized her new title.

“The night is long.”

Even during the ring exchange, Seia maintained a perfect smile for everyone.

“In the name of the Sun God, prove that you have become one with a kiss of oath.”

The priest declared passionately.

‘Kyle.’

At that moment, Seia thought of Kyle. The events in the inner chamber just a few hours ago replayed in her mind.

‘This might make it more bearable.’

Seia closed her eyes, thinking so.

Behind her closed eyelids, she imagined Kyle gently lifting her chin and approaching her.

Tristan pressed his lips hard against hers.

Applause erupted from all around.

And Seia thought of Kyle.

***

“Then, may the Sun God’s blessing fill your night.”

The priest who had completed the blessing bowed to the Crown Prince and his wife.

Tristan was staring intently at Seia, who stood rigidly like a doll, holding his hand.

The priest quietly left the couple’s bedroom.

As soon as the door closed, Tristan yanked Seia’s hand.

Seia stumbled momentarily but straightened up and pushed against his shoulder as he approached her.

“Let go.”

Seia said.

“Why is my wife so arrogant?”

Despite his sharp tone, Tristan was laughing as if he found it amusing.

“You must think I can’t kill the protagonist of the oracle.”

Seia did not respond.

Tristan grabbed Seia’s chin, turning her gaze towards him.

“Of course, I don’t plan to kill you.”

Tristan’s green eyes glinted coldly.

“But I can hurt you.”

Tristan roughly tore at Seia’s dress.

Seia shivered at the feel of Tristan’s hand on her bare skin. It felt like a snake slithering over her body.

“Today is not the night ordained by the temple for consummation.”

Seia glared at him.

“Do you think I care about that?”

Tristan scoffed.

Seia’s words were indeed true.

There was a reason why today was only a tentative date, different from the originally set wedding day.

They had tried to find a day when both the wedding and the consummation would align.

“There is a sure way to make a wife obedient to her husband.”

Tristan said, his words dripping with malice.

As the dress was undone, the white linen dress underneath was revealed.

“Indeed, the Crown Prince of Hellis only makes others obedient but never obeys himself.”

Seia said stiffly.

Tristan sensed something odd in her tone and looked up.

“But you couldn’t defy the will of God and took a princess of a defeated nation as your bride.”

Seia said, grabbing Tristan’s wrist.

“You obeyed fate.”

Seia casually brought Tristan’s hand to her skirt.

Tristan raised an eyebrow.

As Seia’s linen dress was removed, her petticoat came into view.

“Damn it.”

Tristan cursed and pushed her away.

Seia laughed with empty eyes.

Blood was smeared on her petticoat and down her legs.

“Will you defy the command of the Sun Temple not to engage with a menstruating woman?”

Seia said nonchalantly.

In Hellis, a woman’s menstruation was a taboo subject.

It was a common superstition that a man touching menstrual blood would incur the wrath of God or become impure.

Devout men even avoided sleeping in the same room as their menstruating wives.

“Why didn’t you tell the priests?”

Seia thought Tristan would no longer approach her, but the Crown Prince was enraged.

“You savage wench…”

In Aden, it was also nearly taboo to sleep with a menstruating woman.

However, the meaning was different in Hellis. In Aden, a woman’s body preparing to bear life was considered sacred.

Tristan grabbed Seia by the hair and dragged her to the bed.

Seia gritted her teeth and held back a scream.

“Did you dare try to deceive me?”

The pain from hitting the bedpost radiated through her back, but Seia still held back her scream.

“It was you, Your Highness, who moved the wedding date forward.”

Seia glared at him.

“Ungrateful wench.”

Tristan pushed her away and spat as if to ward off impurity.

Bang!

The door slammed shut, leaving Seia alone in the couple’s bedroom.

‘I succeeded.’

Seia let out a long sigh.

Her head, back, and waist all ached, but she felt relief.

Seia looked down at the blood running down her legs and lifted her petticoat.

‘The power of superstition is strong indeed.’

This had been a gamble for Seia. Not being born in Hellis, she couldn’t be sure how people would react to such superstitions.

‘But I couldn’t just sit back and take it.’

Seia removed a small pouch strapped to her thigh.

It was filled with deer blood.

She had strapped it to her thigh instead of a knife, ready to burst it in an emergency to create a scene like this.

‘Good thing I thought of it long ago.’

This method had been planned since her days as a girl trapped in the tower of Aden, dreaming of revenge.

Though she acted boldly, Seia’s heart was pounding as if it would burst.

‘I’m scared.’

Seia admitted her fear of Tristan.

But she had no intention of yielding to him.

‘One day, he will fear me.’

Seia vowed to herself.

She slowly got up and picked up the bell on the nightstand.

When she rang it, maids approached and knocked on the door after a moment.

“Do you need anything, Your Highness?”

Seia straightened her clothes and opened the door.

The maid, seeing the Crown Princess alone in the room, was momentarily flustered but quickly lowered her eyes.

“Could you prepare a bath for me?”

Seia said with a smile befitting a Crown Princess.