“Are you really going through with the wedding as planned? Your Grace, but Lady Kristin…”

“Duke Raphael Rodney, why insist on marrying Kristin, who once suggested breaking off the engagement? And now, she’s just a commoner.”

“Your Grace, won’t you reconsider? This could end disastrously.”

On the wedding day, nobles gathered at the duchy, fervently imploring Duke Raphael Rodney to cancel the ceremony.

But the duke paid no heed to their words.

Instead, he firmly declared that, no matter the consequences, he would proceed with the wedding to Kristin Edith.

Kristin, meanwhile, sat in the designated bridal waiting room, her nerves fraught.

If even a single arrow were to hit a vital spot by mistake, Duke Raphael Rodney could meet the same fate as before.

Yet, she had no choice but to follow his plan.

Resolving herself, Kristin decided to play her part and show a bright face at the wedding ceremony.

“And avoid glancing toward the entrance of the duke’s manor. Finally, if an arrow strikes me, don’t hesitate—flee immediately with the aides.”

These were the three parts of Duke Raphael Rodney’s plan for today.

“The wedding will proceed as planned. While what happened to Lady Kristin’s family is regrettable, I’m sure the Pope will intervene and resolve this matter. Lady Kristin gave up her noble status to work for the less fortunate. How could it possibly make sense for her to lose everything instantly?”

In truth, most of the nobles who had gathered at Duke Raphael Rodney’s manor supported him.

The unfairness of Kristin losing her title and wealth for no apparent reason baffled them.

Even if breaking the emperor’s command to forbid marriage was a punishable offense, the severity of the punishment—confiscating all her property and stripping her family of its noble status—was unprecedented in the empire’s history.

Their greatest suspicion, however, lay with the diamond mine.

Owning a diamond mine brought immense wealth, and rumors had already begun circulating among the nobles that Emperor Lucas Aedon might have coveted it. They seized the mine under the guise of punishing a noblewoman.

In other words, while the nobles weren’t entirely against the emperor, they sided with Kristin because they saw her as a potential business ally.

This sentiment had drawn a large crowd of nobles to the reception hall of the duke’s manor, filling it to the brim.

Meanwhile, Marquis Winston Zenon and Selena Scarlet, having learned of the situation belatedly, came to the manor out of concern for Kristin.

Selena Scarlet had already taken action.

The day before the wedding, she sent a letter to Kristin via express courier.

—

[Letter from Selena Scarlet]

*If anything happens, seek help from the charity organization or Marquis Winston.

We will assist you no matter what.

We’re saddened by what has happened to you, Lady Kristin. Confiscating of a noblewoman’s property in this manner is also unprecedented for us. We cannot stand by idly.

I will attend the wedding with members of the charity organization and supportive nobles.

—

Upon receiving this letter, Kristin quickly replied, assuring Selena not to worry.

Despite being the emperor’s niece, Selena Scarlet was the type to step forward without hesitation when injustice occurred in the empire.

She firmly believed that being part of the imperial family meant maintaining an objective view of the emperor’s actions rather than a subjective one.

Kristin was grateful to Selena and included one important request in her reply:

“The empire might face a dangerous situation soon. Gather as many supportive nobles as possible and prepare to consolidate your strength.”

Curious and concerned about this cryptic warning, Selena Scarlet visited Kristin in the bridal waiting room.

“Lady Kristin.”

“Oh, Lady Selena Scarlet, you’ve come.”

“Lady Kristin, may I have a word with you?”

At Selena’s request, Lady Beatrice Charlotte and the other ladies who had come to congratulate Kristin quickly excused themselves.

With the waiting room now quiet, Selena Scarlet spoke first.

“I don’t understand what you wrote in your letter. What kind of danger are you anticipating within the empire?”

Kristin carefully closed the waiting room door before responding.

“Lady Selena Scarlet, do you know of Princess Rebella of the neighboring empire of Praga?”

“Oh, Princess Rebella? I’ve seen her at the imperial palace. She is elegant and refined, but I’ve heard from the maids that her manners can be lacking.

“Strangely, His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and Princess Rebella often meet in the audience chamber. And they always lock the door completely.”

While it wasn’t inherently suspicious for the three of them to converse in the audience chamber, Selena Scarlet’s words made Kristin suspect that the nature of their discussions wasn’t ordinary.

“As a relative of His Majesty the Emperor, I feel it’s important to share this with you first.

Princess Rebella has yet to come here with good intentions. She aims to take control of Union’s Empire, and my current situation directly results from her insistence on marrying Duke Raphael Rodney.”

“What? Are you saying the Princess of Praga views the Union’s Empire that way?”

“A few days ago, I visited the Praga Empire. In the region of Eriha, I observed soldiers in training. I managed to recruit one of the soldiers, and from him, I learned that Praga was planning to invade the Union Empire. Disguised as a merchant, I infiltrated their camp. They didn’t suspect who I truly was.”

Selena Scarlet felt like she’d been struck over the head by Kristin’s revelation.

The idea that Princess Rebella had come to seize control of the Union’s Empire was shocking.

Did His Majesty the Emperor have any inkling of this?

Selena quickly shook her head and asked Kristin for clarification.

“Does His Majesty know about this at all?”

Kristin’s nod confirmed it—he was unaware and hadn’t even the faintest suspicion.

“I understand, Lady Kristin. For now, I’ll keep this in mind. Is there anything I can do to help?”

At Selena Scarlet’s offer, Kristin seized the opportunity.

“Please help me sneak into the imperial palace. I need to get close to Princess Rebella.”

“What? But, Lady Kristin, that’s far too dangerous.”

“No one will believe the two of us based on our words. We need evidence. If I can secretly enter the palace and overhear what’s being said, that would be proof. I must observe what happens there for at least a few days.”

“If that’s the case… I’ll do it. I’ll go, Kristin.”

When Selena offered to do the task herself, Kristin shook her head.

It was too dangerous for a member of the imperial family to undertake such a mission.

Besides, Princess Rebella would find the sudden presence of a relative of the emperor within the palace suspicious and likely uncomfortable.

As a member of the imperial family, Selena’s presence might stifle any meaningful conversations.

“If Lady Selena Scarlet remains visible, Princess Rebella is more likely to carry out her plans secretly. That’s why I intend to infiltrate as a laundry maid. With your assistance, it will be easier for me to enter unnoticed. I’ll make every effort to remain hidden.”

As Kristin explained her reasoning, Selena realized the truth in her words.

Selena, who had always felt indebted to Kristin for the Vincent Orphanage incident, initially wanted to take the risk herself. But as Kristin pointed out, her involvement would likely yield little information.

Yes, as a maid…

Princess Rebella would never suspect that a mere servant was actually Kristin Edith.

After all, the princess would assume that Kristin, stripped of her noble status, had fled to avoid further confrontation.

Selena couldn’t help but admire Kristin’s courage.

What a fearless woman.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the wedding is about to begin. Please gather in the garden.”

As the butler of the duchy entered the bridal waiting room and addressed them, Kristin turned to Selena Scarlet, who spoke to her quietly.

“Understood, Lady Kristin. After today’s wedding, send a letter to my estate. I’ll arrange a carriage and come to wherever you are. It’s best to meet somewhere discreet.”

“Thank you, Lady Selena.”

Kristin replied, her gratitude clear, while Selena shrugged lightly as if to say it was nothing.

Then, as Selena Scarlet helped adjust Kristin’s dress, she opened the closed door.

With her heart pounding, Kristin stepped out with Selena Scarlet, who had been holding her dress.

When the other maids in the duchy came forward to assist Kristin, Selena cautiously released her hold and said to her,

“Congratulations, Lady Kristin.”