11. Approaching Calamity

A week had already passed since the wedding ceremony attack. Freya huddled in a corner of a shabby inn on the outskirts of the capital, trapped inside the cramped, stuffy room. As the morning sun rose outside the window, familiar commotion could be heard from the street.

“The ‘Bride of God’ wedding ceremony will be held at the Imperial Grand Chapel!”

Frea’s shoulders flinched at that voice. After being momentarily dazed, she soon let out a scornful laugh.

“Bride of… God?”

The emptiness left by Marcel’s disappearance was gnawing at her heart. All that she had lost painfully came to mind. How desperately she had tried to grasp that position.

“That place was originally… mine.”

As she bit her lip, drops of red blood trickled down. Kayla, the criminal’s daughter, an insignificant being. All her feelings of hatred turned into rage.

“You… you ruined everything.”

Frea’s eyes gleamed coldly as she slowly rose to her feet.

“If God chose you… then I’ll tear that God apart first.”

She sat down at the old desk and began writing a letter with trembling hands. With fingertips stained with blood, Frea poured out her last madness in writing. Even knowing this letter might be her final plan. But her madness would never end.

※※※

Meanwhile, at the imperial palace, a crucial meeting had been ongoing since dawn. The Emperor rubbed his eyebrows tiredly and said.

“Grand Duke Theodore’s wedding ceremony will be held again as a state ceremony at the Imperial Grand Chapel.”

“Your Majesty…!”

The imperial ministers stirred, but Crown Prince Evan stepped forward first.

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess is now the Bride of God. It’s only natural to announce the wedding throughout the Empire. After the ceremony, we should also consider combining the holy ritual ceremony with a military parade.”

The Emperor nodded heavily.

“Presenting God’s token before the people… that’s important.”

Theodore remained silent for a while before speaking.

“It’s unreasonable to hold the holy ritual on the same day as the wedding. Moreover, if we mobilize the military, that would be…”

Before he could finish, Evan interrupted.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke, rumors have already spread. We cannot postpone the holy ritual. Deploying troops not only has defensive meaning but also symbolizes that holy power stands with the military.”

The Emperor quietly nodded at Evan’s words.

“Theodore, yield this time. Evan is right. The wedding has already become a matter for the entire Empire.”

Theodore’s fist tightened at the Emperor’s words.

“… I understand, Your Majesty.”

At that moment, Theodore realized. Their wedding was no longer just about the two of them. Kayla was now “the Bride of God,” a symbol of the Empire.

※※※

That night, at the grand ducal residence.

Theodore visited Kayla’s room with a tired face. When he opened the door, Kayla was sitting, waiting for him. She just stared at him blankly.

“As of today, you’ve been officially announced as the ‘Bride of God.'”

Kayla couldn’t give any response. He looked at her for a moment and said.

“You’re also forbidden from going outside until the wedding ceremony.”

Kayla nodded weakly. Theodore looked at her and let out a short sigh.

“… Why don’t you just come to my room.”

“What?”

As she opened her eyes wide, Theodore smiled with a tired face.

“It’s getting tiresome sneaking into your room in the middle of the night.”

Kayla’s face turned red.

“You mean… share a room?”

“I didn’t say we’d sleep together.”

He said, meeting her eyes.

“It’s just that I get anxious when you’re not by my side.”

Kayla couldn’t say anything. In the end, she nodded with a reddened face. That night, Kayla’s belongings were moved to Theodore’s bedroom. The maids whispered, and William and Martha couldn’t hide their awkward faces.

“Then, sleep well.”

William and Martha quietly withdrew after finishing arranging the room. Theodore went to the sofa and lay down, stretching his legs. His long legs protruded far beyond the sofa.

“Are you going to sleep there?”

“I thought you might be uncomfortable.”

“Then I should rather…”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Theodore cut her off quietly but firmly. He shifted uncomfortably. Kayla looked at him and finally said in a small voice.

“… Let’s sleep… together.”

“What?”

“The bed is… wide! It won’t be uncomfortable…”

As Kayla blushed, he approached the bed with a playful smile. He placed his longsword beside the pillow and carefully lay down. Kayla curled up quietly at the edge of the bed, looking at him.

“Is it a habit to keep your sword beside you?”

“It makes me feel secure.”

They looked at each other and laughed briefly. Kayla carefully lay down beside him.

“Hearing your breathing makes me feel at ease.”

He turned to face Kayla. Their eyes met. Kayla’s face flushed red again.

“I won’t do anything improper, so don’t worry and sleep.”

As he gently caressed her cheek, Kayla’s face reddened and she tightly closed her eyes. Then Theodore quietly kissed her forehead.

“Good night, Kayla.”

“… You too, Theo.”

That night, she fell asleep easily for the first time. Just because his breathing was beside her. He quietly called her name.

“Kayla…”

But her peace didn’t last long. In her dream, she was wandering in darkness. Cold darkness, despair, and fear. She was alone there. Looking around, people were lying fallen, covered in blood.

‘Ah… no! I have to save them!’

The moment Kayla reached out to them, a faint light bloomed from her fingertips.

‘No…!’

Suddenly, as if holy power was going out of control, a strong light spread throughout the room.

“Ha… huk…!”

Kayla clutched her chest as if suffocating. She tried to cry out for help, but no voice came out. Just then, Theodore shook her awake forcefully.

“Kayla!”

When Kayla opened her eyes, Theodore was looking at her with a worried expression. She barely grabbed his collar with trembling hands. She was filled with fear and terror.

“Theo… I’m scared… my power…”

Theodore grabbed the light flowing from her fingertips with his bare hands. The back of his hand was burning, but he didn’t even blink.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Calm down.”

She clung to him, crying as if she would soon stop breathing. Theodore held her in his arms and whispered endlessly.

“I’m not afraid of you. Even if it’s the power of a demon… whatever it is, it’s all right.”

The light of holy power gradually disappeared, and she quietly fell asleep in his arms as if fainting. Theodore didn’t let go of her hand until the end. The room was silent for a while. Theodore finally whispered, calling her name.

“Kayla… I will definitely protect you.”

There were burn marks on his hand, but he didn’t feel pain. He just held his breath, hoping she wouldn’t have any more nightmares.

Two weeks had already passed since the wedding ceremony attack. Kayla was still confined to a room in the grand ducal residence with even the windows firmly shut. Everyone said they were protecting her, but to her, this was imprisonment.

“Today too… I can’t go outside…”

Kayla muttered to herself as she adjusted her clothes in front of the mirror. It seemed like she should be ready to be called out at any moment if someone came. Soon Martha opened the door and entered.

“Your Highness, they say the wedding preparations will officially begin from today. The dress for the holy ritual is also completed.”

Holy ritual, Bride of God, symbol of the Empire. All those words suffocated her.

“Is this really okay?”

“… Don’t worry, you’re the one chosen by God, Your Highness.”

Martha’s answer was no longer comforting. At that moment, the door opened and Theodore entered. His face showed clear signs of fatigue.

“Kayla, the wedding date was officially announced throughout the Empire today.”

She couldn’t say anything.

“… And the holy ritual ceremony will be held right after the wedding.”

“The holy ritual too… on the same day?”

“It’s the Crown Prince and His Majesty’s decision. It was confidential, so I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

Kayla bowed her head. Everything was according to the Empire’s will. There was no place for her own will anywhere.

“… Is being confined like this really to protect me?”

Kayla questioned almost in opposition for the first time. Theodore couldn’t answer her words.

“In truth… you’re afraid, aren’t you?”

“What are you saying?”

“My power, because I still can’t use it properly…”

Theodore quietly approached her and took her hand. The burn mark from that night was still on the back of his hand.

“I am not afraid of you.”

Kayla finally lowered her head. Tears welled up at those words. At that moment, Ian burst through the door urgently.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke! We’ve discovered traces of intruders in the capital!”

Theodore’s expression hardened.

“Who is it?”

“The exact identity is unknown. They’re presumed to be surviving barbarian remnants from the northern subjugation campaign.”

“Barbarian remnants…”

Theodore’s expression froze coldly. Kayla asked quietly.

“Who… sent them?”

“We don’t know yet.”

But they both knew the answer. Frea. Theodore prepared to go out to track those traces.

“Kayla, stay with Martha. Don’t leave this room under any circumstances.”

“… I know.”

Theodore’s footsteps paused momentarily at Kayla’s response. However, he left the room without being able to say anything more to her.

※※※