“Congratulations, Lady Kristin.”
Selena spoke as if nothing unusual had occurred.
This simple statement made it seem like they had exchanged typical celebratory words in the bridal room. Kristin responded with a smile to keep up appearances.
As Kristin exited the waiting room, Duke Raphael Rodney approached to meet her.
Everyone in the duchy rose from their seats, their eyes fixed on the couple.
Kristin saw Duke Raphael Rodney extending his hand to escort her. Sending him a subtle signal known only to them, she nodded and placed a hand over her heart, indicating she was ready.
In response, Raphael Rodney nodded back and took her hand.
As the two joined hands, the servants bustled about the venue, lighting candles and offering wine to the noble guests in attendance, all in preparation for the successful wedding ceremony.
The nobles sipped their wine slowly, observing the ceremony unfold.
On the surface, it seemed like an ordinary wedding.
Yet, unease lingered in the hearts of the nobles.
Watching Kristin marry Raphael Rodney despite losing her family and fortune for defying the Emperor’s orders filled them with a deep sense of foreboding.
Some nobles nervously glanced at the entrance and their surroundings, fearing something might go wrong. Others flinched at the celebratory fireworks set off by the servants.
The shared trait among them was their constant wariness.
“Now, the High Priest will deliver the wedding sermon. After the sermon, the couple will exchange vows and rings,” one of Raphael’s aides announced.
The nobles responded with polite applause.
As Raphael Rodney and Kristin, facing each other, turned toward the High Priest, Kristin gasped.
“Ah.”
She couldn’t help it; the thought of the impending attack filled her with dread.
For now, however, all remained quiet.
Struggling to contain her fear, Kristin glanced at Raphael Rodney, trying to steady herself. The High Priest began to speak.
“Duke Raphael Rodney and Lady Kristin Edith stand before us today—”
The High Priest, who often officiated weddings at the request of the nobility, had initially hesitated to oversee this ceremony. However, Duke Raphael’s earnest plea had brought him here.
But then, it happened.
As the High Priest continued his sermon, a single arrow shot through the air at frightening speed and embedded itself with a thud in the podium.
Seeing the arrow, Duke Raphael Rodney released Kristin’s hand and pushed her away, ensuring she could escape.
Moments later, more arrows rained down, piercing Raphael’s body one by one.
As Kristin followed Duke Raphael Rodney’s instructions, she ran into the duchy without looking back at him.
She needed to appear as though she was fleeing in fear, which would help avoid suspicion, and staying by Raphael’s side would have also put her in danger. Kristin had no choice but to run without a glance at him.
“What’s happening? Quickly, take cover!”
“What on earth is this? Is Lady Kristin safe?”
“I knew it! This must be because His Majesty the Emperor is furious!”
The nobles, some even losing their shoes in the chaos, fled outside the duchy.
As Raphael collapsed, blood streaming from his wounds, the arrows ceased.
Kristin ran toward the duchy’s interior, where the waiting aides quickly helped her hide in a pile of hay on an ordinary cart.
Simultaneously, a maid dressed in the same wedding gown as Kristin entered the duchy.
This maid was Raphael Rodney’s attendant, someone he trusted implicitly. Having prepared for this situation in advance, he had arranged for her to take Kristin’s place.
Although her face would easily reveal the truth, her height, build, and age were similar enough to Kristin’s, so she could pass as the bride from behind. This deception was the cornerstone of their plan.
In the ensuing chaos, if Kristin appeared to run into the duchy, it would buy her the time to sneak into the Imperial Palace unnoticed.
Kristin wore a veil to obscure her face, and so did the maid. Unless someone got close, they wouldn’t realize the switch.
*Please, Your Grace. Stay safe,* Kristin silently prayed as she climbed into the cart prepared by the aides.
The cart set off toward a temporary shelter arranged by Raphael Rodney.
—
The wedding venue was in utter disarray.
Days later, the Jamir News Bureau published an article reporting that an unidentified assailant had killed Duke Raphael Rodney.
Rumors spread that a search of the duchy for Kristin Edith, who had defied the Emperor’s orders, had turned up nothing—Kristin was nowhere to be found.
These rumors reached Emperor Lucas Aedon, who was deeply shaken.
How could Raphael Rodney have been the one to take the assassin’s attack instead of Kristin?
To make matters worse, baseless rumors began circulating that the Emperor had orchestrated Raphael’s death due to his displeasure with Kristin Edith.
In truth, the Emperor had intended to capture Kristin on her wedding day and imprison her in the palace’s underground cells.
He had only sent soldiers to search the duchy, but now he found himself falsely accused of killing Raphael Rodney.
The Empire’s nobles were unaware of Princess Rebella’s involvement.
Though a few well-traveled nobles vaguely knew of Rebella from the neighboring Praga Empire, none suspected that she might have anything to do with Raphael Rodney’s marriage—or his death.
Thus, rumors persisted that Emperor Lucas was behind Raphael Rodney’s murder.
The Emperor found these rumors not only distressing but infuriating.
Speaking to Empress Leli Aedon, he expressed his frustration.
“Do you know what they’re saying about me? That I killed Raphael Rodney! This is outrageous—absolutely unacceptable.”
“Your Majesty, under the current circumstances, it’s not surprising that you’re the main suspect. The timing was too convenient. Moreover, if the Pope hears these rumors, he’ll be furious that his authority was disregarded,” the Empress replied, adjusting her slipping tiara as she gazed at the scenery outside the office.
The Empress couldn’t shake the unease, whether it was due to discomfort or something weighing on her mind. Even her tiara, which she had placed on her head earlier, felt uncomfortable. She briefly set the tiara down on the table before continuing the conversation.
“Your Majesty, I think you might be placing too much trust in Princess Rebella. Honestly, I’m bothered that she didn’t come with other nobles, bringing only a few maids with her.”
“What do you mean? She came alone to establish a cooperative relationship with our empire. Surely, a young princess, only twenty-one, can’t be expected to do much. She can barely handle embroidery and instruct her maids.”
“However, Your Majesty, you must understand how dangerous it is to trust the princess completely.”
Empress Leli Aedon was also disturbed by Princess Rebella’s attitude.
Because of this, she secretly sent someone to search for Kristin Edith, but they found nothing.
Kristin had disappeared after fleeing to the duchy and had not been seen anywhere since. She heard that Raphael Rodney’s funeral was already underway.
Moreover, there were rumors that Kristin Edith didn’t even appear at the funeral.
*Where could Lady Edith have gone?*
As Empress Leli Aedon pondered this for a while, Emperor Lucas Aedon suddenly clapped his hands loudly, as if struck by a great idea, and turned to his wife.
“We can just create a criminal. I recall that Duke Raphael Rodney and Marquis Winston Zenon didn’t get along at the debutante ball. It seems they both had an interest in Kristin Edith. Yes, yes, this will work. I’ll be able to clear my name!”
“Your Majesty, surely you don’t intend to frame the loyal Marquis Winston as the culprit?”
“Why not? Is there something wrong with that?”
At the Emperor’s words, Empress Leli Aedon was left in complete shock.
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Teoni7
Is there something wrong with that 🤦♀️? Someone please kill the emperor and put the Empress on the throne. She clearly is the only one with her head screwed on straight.