At the sight of that face, a sharp sensation pierced Elliope’s heart. The Imperial Court would be furious. They might even want to tear her apart. But that wasn’t all. The people of the Grand Duchy of Ilmos would also be furious.

On top of that, Kallian – a noble and loyal knight, the most faithful servant of the Ilmos family – would die with her.

But she couldn’t stop.

Despite the overwhelming desire that made her gasp for breath, her words were incredibly soft and calm.

“And so I ask you to understand that I can no longer swear to harmony, purity and chastity.”

As she thought of Kallian’s position within the Ilmos Grand Duchy, even as she said those words, she considered the possibility that Kallian might betray her. That this might all be a conspiracy. That Kallian might turn away, refuse to stand by her, claim he never expected her to go this far.

“I don’t know him well.”

Apart from the unexpected fact that he doesn’t like Theodor, there’s really… nothing she knows about him. For he had always shown her a cold face, had always been taciturn with her, and had always looked at her with a blank stare.

What she knew about him was limited to how hot his body felt, how deep his voice sounded when he whispered close to her ear, and what kind of face he made when he touched her body.

But when she saw Kallian standing in the ceremonial hall…

Kallian didn’t look away.

“…Kallian.”

Even as Theodor, following her gaze, spat out his name through clenched teeth, Kallian walked towards her and Theodor without hesitation.

The stunned eyes of the people of the Grand Duchy followed his every step.

Sparks flew from Kallian’s eyes. Strangely, he also looked like someone who had been waiting for this moment.

When he finally kissed her hand, the embers burning in his eyes seemed to transfer to the back of her hand.

“Please forgive my disloyalty, Your Grace.”

“I, Kallian Icerick.”

His voice cut through the tense air like a blade.

“will take full responsibility for my actions and marry Princess Elliope Kartan.”

It was a declaration that would shake the entire Grand Duchy of Ilmos.

“Kallian Icerick!”

Theodor, unable to contain his anger, finally threw a candlestick from the altar. It fell next to Kallian, spilling hot wax onto his clothes, but Kallian neither dodged nor wiped it away.

He remained motionless, kneeling on one knee before Elliope, her hand still clasped tightly in his.

“You insolent wretch!”

An enraged Theodor began throwing everything within reach at Kallian. Some of the objects even flew in Elliope’s direction.

But none of them hit Elliope. Kallian had quickly risen and pushed her behind him, shielding her from the barrage.

“My word, is that…?”

“Did I really just hear…?”

“Unbelievable.”

“Your Grace!”

Amongst the stunned onlookers, the Knights of the Grand Duchy were the first to regain their composure.

When Theodor finally drew his sword, the startled knights and chamberlain rushed forward.

“Your Grace! Please, calm yourself…”

“Calm myself? How dare you speak to me of calm?”

Under normal circumstances, Kallian would have been the one to bear the brunt of Theodor’s anger, or to calm him and defuse his rage. But at this moment, Theodor’s rage was entirely directed at Kallian.

“I’ll kill you both if I have to!”

“Your Grace.”

A quiet voice cut through the chaos. It came from Kallian.

Even Elliope jumped at the sound of his voice. Kallian quietly reached a hand behind him and clasped Elliope’s.

“You can’t kill us like this.”

“What?”

“You insolent bastard!”

Theodor shouted, his angry curses ringing out again. The knights, drenched in sweat, stood frozen in the tense atmosphere.

Kallian spoke again.

“Don’t kill us – use us instead.”

“You…!”

“The Imperial Court must now send a new princess.”

A heavy silence fell over the room as these words were spoken.

Theodor, his jaw quivering with anger, looked sharply at Kallian, his eyes like daggers.

“Does this even make sense?”

“The treaty explicitly states that the bloodlines of the Grand Duchy and the Imperial Family must be united – not just someone from the Grand Duchy.”

“…….”

“Press for the contract to be annulled. Demand that they send a new princess.”

The chamberlain, unable to help himself, swallowed nervously at Kallian’s behaviour, as if he knew every detail of the contract Theodor had received.

In truth, Kallian often handled certain matters of state on Theodor’s behalf. Theodor had a habit of delegating important but tedious matters to Kallian, and the Imperial Family contract was no exception.

” Request Princess Leanne.”

“…….”

The moment Kallian said that name, a collective sigh went through the room.

Elliope also looked up at Kallian.

“So, right now, Sir Kallian is…”
“Could it be that he’s trying to enforce His Grace’s will… by using the princess?”

No matter what Kallian actually thought, his words could easily be interpreted as those of a knight who had staked his life on the Grand Duchy’s cause.

‘A man who was said to hate women would go this far?’

‘Could this perhaps even become an opportunity to hold the Imperial Family accountable for the Princess’s shortcomings…?’

While countless thoughts swirled in her mind, Kallian continued to firmly hold Elliope’s hand. It was almost as if he were a child clutching onto a piece of candy.

Some semblance of rationality returned to Theodor’s raging eyes.

“…Leanne, you say.”

“You’ve told me countless times how much you wanted to marry her.”

Kallian’s voice was not loud, but every vassal and noble in the vicinity could hear it clearly.

The chamberlain, belatedly realising the presence of the crowd, signalled with his eyes for the servants to quickly disperse the people gathered in the Hall of Ceremonies. The servants and priests, flustered, began to lead the onlookers out.

The entrance to the temple was crowded with half-dazed people and others already contemplating the consequences of the unfolding chaos.

Even as the crowd thinned, the confrontation between Theodor and Kallian continued.

Elliope, almost without noticing, opened her mouth.

“…Sir Kallian is right. Demand Princess Leanne from the Imperial Court.”

“…!”

“Declare that the original marriage has been annulled. That the contract remains unfulfilled.”

“You, Princess, are the very embodiment of shamelessness…”

“Yes, call me that shameless woman if you must. A woman shaped by the audacity of…”

Her words hung in the air, brimming with defiance as the tense silence stretched between them.

“Yes, I’m telling you to use the excuse this shameless woman has created.”

As soon as those words left her lips, the vassals’ minds began to race even faster.

“Does the princess have an agenda of her own?”
“If not, then why…?”

But Elliope didn’t care what others thought. Having spoken her mind, she felt a small sense of relief.

She was prepared to endure the cascade of criticism that would follow – she even welcomed it. After all, the people of the Grand Duchy had disliked her even when she was their Grand Duchess. If people were going to despise her for no reason, she thought, she might as well give them a good one.

“So, Princess Elliope…”

Theodor began, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Kallian answered before he could finish.

“I have defiled her. It is only right that I take responsibility.”

“You defiled her?”

“Yes.”

Kallian answered without hesitation.

The knights who heard his answer turned pale. The chamberlain and the few vassals who had remained for this important occasion were equally shocked.

“A man who wouldn’t even look at women… and he defiled someone?”
“What on earth does this mean…?”
“Won’t this shift the fault onto the Grand Duchy rather than the Imperial Court?”

But regardless of their astonishment, Kallian spoke calmly and resolutely.

“I will become her husband, Your Grace.”

“…”

The vassals exchanged uneasy glances. Some of them began to subtly nod their heads, as if reluctantly acknowledging the practicality of the situation.

They, too, seemed to prefer Leanne over Elliope. Leanne was the true princess, much closer to the line of succession than Elliope.

“Your Grace, perhaps…”

Cautious voices began to rise among the vassals. As their murmurs filled the room, Elliope absentmindedly tightened her grip on Kallian’s hand, struggling to hold her breath.

‘This might actually work.’

Kalian had responded. In fact, he seemed to have anticipated this outcome all along, as if it had always been his plan. It was hard to believe that this was actually happening.

And yet, in the midst of the chaos, another thought crept into her mind.

‘Perhaps.’

Perhaps Kallian had accepted this course of action purely for Theodor’s sake.

It was even more convincing that Kalian, a loyal vassal of the Grand Duchy, might have accepted it for Theodore’s sake rather than out of hatred for him and a desire to marry her.

‘…It doesn’t matter.’

Elliope thought this as she clasped Kallian’s hand in return.

It really didn’t matter. Her plan to insult the Imperial Court and betray Theodor had already been brilliantly executed.

Even as she thought this, a small pain rang in her chest, but she pushed it aside.

Clang!

In the end, there was no answer. Theodor threw down his sword and stormed off in a fit of uncontrollable rage, walking aimlessly towards an unknown destination.

“Your Grace!”

The vassals, stewards and knights, all pale, hurried after him.

Only a few knights remained near Kallian and Elliope, casting furtive glances at them with expressions of unease and suspicion.

“Sir Kallian…”

Then the knights began to approach him, hesitantly.

Kallian pointed directly at two of them.

“You, and you.”

“Pardon?”

“Come here.”

“Us? But why…?”

“Because you’ll serve as witnesses.”

The bewildered knights approached with hesitant steps, their expressions a mixture of confusion and unease.

Then Kallian called over the priest, who stood dazedly nearby.

“Proceed with the ceremony.”

“Pardon?”

“Right now.”

His tone made it clear that he wasn’t prepared to wait any longer.

At Kallian’s words, the knights and the priest became belatedly nervous, trying to figure out what to do. The priest, with a doubtful look on his face, mumbled awkwardly as he began the ceremony.

“…Kallian Icerick of the Grand Duchy of Ilmos, do you, in the presence of these witnesses, take Elliope Kartan to be your wife?”

“Yes.”

“And… Elliope Kartan of the Kartan Imperial Family, do you…”

“Yes.”

Elliope replied quickly, cutting the priest off before he could finish his question.

“In that case, you may seal the union with a sacred kiss-“

Before the priest could finish his sentence, Kallian’s lips claimed hers.

What followed was not a chaste kiss of solemn vows, but one of fiery passion. It was a kiss that burned the inside of her mouth and felt as if it wanted to consume her very soul.