Duke Karnos’s face was dark against the ceiling light. His eyes, clouded with greed, seemed somewhat anxious. Bending slightly at the waist, Karnos firmly grasped Hari’s hand.

“Building trust comes first. When you’re ready enough, with this hand.”

The moment Hari realized what the object digging into her palm like snake scales was, she drew in a breath. It was a sharp silver dagger.

“You will stab him. Then under His Highness Antor’s light, we can grasp wealth and power for life. Remember my words. We must create cracks from within.”

With that chilling warning, Karnos turned away.

“This is your last chance. Don’t disappoint me again.”

“Lady Selina, please prepare yourself.”

After Karnos left, a maid who entered the waiting room announced. Boom boom, the sound of drums announcing the start of the ceremony echoed through the dark corridor.

* * *

The central part of Hitais’s temple ‘Cradle’ was connected to a dense forest. It was a hidden sanctuary where only the High Priest, priests, royal family, and high nobles for witnessing could enter. Tree branches and leaves spread thickly, covering the sky. Thin sunlight filtered through the gaps, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the characteristically humid and heavy air.

Achilleon stood at the end of the white altar, wearing ceremonial robes embroidered with purple and gold. Parchment inscribed with magic seals hung on the elongated wall, with a beam of sunlight illuminating it. Hari walked step by step along the path of sunlight that stretched to his feet. Hearing her approach, Achilleon turned his head and walked down the steps, extending his hand. His muscular forearm appeared dark against the pure white ceremonial robe.

“No need to be nervous. No one will recognize you.”

Their eyes met through the veil. She could see her own reflection trapped in his deep moss-green eyes. The man who held Hari’s palm led the way. The forest was so quiet that not even birdsong could be heard. Yet, as Hari climbed the thirty-five steps to stand before High Priest Egoto, countless gazes seemed to whisper to her in inaudible voices.

Do you know what you’re doing? You’ve lost your mind. Karnos will kill you if you’re discovered. Stop before it’s too late. Can you handle the consequences? No one will help you if you get into trouble. Don’t expect help from the Third Prince.

Hari closed her ears to the buzzing voices in her mind. She stopped before the final step. Reflexively, she looked around for Selina but couldn’t find her.

“Margharita.”

The low whisper that filtered through the veil brought Hari back to her senses. Achilleon, standing at the top of the steps with his back to the sunlight, was looking down at the stiffened Hari.

Grandmother had told her to be like sand. That even if scattered, eroded, and blown away by storms, it would eventually return to its original place. To accept life firmly yet flexibly.

As everyone watched, the High Priest’s solemn voice announcing the start of the Imprinting Ceremony rang out.

“…Thus, I hereby declare that Achilleon Neriandros and Selina Karnos have formed their Imprint before twelve witnesses.”

Hari faced the man under the split World Tree.

To return to one’s place, to become as it was in the beginning, even after being swept by wind and trampled by beast hooves.

As she raised her hand, light flowed from the magic-inscribed paper in the shape of the text. The light, buried under clear bell sounds and choir singing, soon disappeared without a trace.

* * *

“Shall I offer you some wine?”

“I don’t drink.”

Hari walked to the bed while untying the ribbon of her nightgown. Quite a leisurely appearance. Or perhaps pretending to be so. While Achilleon brought the wine glass to his lips, Hari reached the bed.

Her grape-like eyes stared straight at him before she began pacing anxiously on the carpet. Though her face was Selina’s, her behavior was unmistakably Margharita’s.

Leaning against the backrest, Achilleon observed the woman standing in the light.

Full lower lips, shoulders drawing gentle curves, and pale ears where black hair cascaded down. Though she wore Selina’s outer appearance through the power of sacred artifacts, strangely, the woman’s true face seemed visible.

Her exceptionally clear skin glowed with a subtle pearly sheen in the light from below.

He thought about how their fate seemed quite intense. The Princess of Lagonia who wailed at the sight of burning villages and dying people. That small girl had appeared before him again after passing through Galate.

Though he had dragged the fleeing woman here, he wouldn’t have done so if she hadn’t been necessary. Achilleon watched Hari through narrowed eyes as she seemed to be adapting to this private chamber. As she carefully looked around like a squirrel just out of its tree, her young face from when she had burst into tears overlapped with her current one. The single braid of golden hair that had swung wildly with her desperate movements, the tears mixed with dark ash flowing down her cheeks.

Had his memory always been this good? Now Margharita stood blankly staring at the wall, unable to find her bearings.

Wariness filled her gaze as it traced over the rough stone walls and the tulip-shaped flames decorating the ceiling. While the woman continued her exploration, Achilleon undressed with slow movements.

The room, carved out of a cave, was cool. Prolonging things would only add to the chill. After removing his heavy golden crown and himation, he approached Hari, who was examining the bed’s blanket. Her thorough inspection of the room even in this situation brought a small laugh. Better than trembling in absolute terror, at least. Sensing his approach, Hari gripped the ribbon holding her bodice together and took a defensive stance. Cornered and shrinking back, she looked like prey being hunted.

Not much different, perhaps.

Hari’s eyes widened with bewilderment as she faced his bare upper body. The large central outline was prominent above the fabric wrapped around his thick chest and slender waist. His taut thighs that couldn’t quite close were embarrassing to look at.

After only moving her lips wordlessly, Hari took a deep breath to calm her emotional turmoil. She had made countless promises to herself. That she would willingly do as this man desired. That this wasn’t submission but taking a step back to fly further ahead. Having made her resolution, Hari calmly raised her eyes to look at him.

“You’ll regret this.”

“It’s better than losing consciousness drunk and doing it.”

“Well then.”

Nodding as if willing to respect her opinion, Achilleon reached out. He slowly pulled down the ribbon that tied the center of the protruding fabric. Thud, contrary to his gentle voice, he used strong force to tear away both the ribbon and inner buttons at once. The seams ripped and the clothes spread wide open. Through the gap, white br*asts swayed and bounced, reflected in the man’s eyes that flickered with heat.

Achilleon clearly understood what he had to do. Take Margharita’s body to remove the leech-like Selina and plan his next move. Though he knew this intellectually, for some inexplicable reason, his body wouldn’t move readily. This was separate from how his lower body had hotly responded to the woman’s beautiful nakedness.

Achilleon reached out before useless thoughts could intrude.

“Ah, ungh…”

A suppressed moan escaped as his fingers twisted her n*pple after kneading and gathering from the bottom of her br*ast. Hari inhaled sharply and braced both hands against the wall. As she gasped amid stimulation that resembled pain, the man pressed even closer to her. He buried his lips in her nape as he pressed his firm abdomen against her back. A sweet flesh scent filled the air.

Thump thump, every time his risen manhood touched between her still-clothed legs, the fine hairs on her nape stood on end. Just a slight rub of his hips conveyed its fearsome size.

It felt like being trapped in a narrow cage with a beast. Hari’s mouth dried with hot breath as she was caught immobile between the wall and Achilleon. With each pass of his long fingers, the fibulae came undone one by one. He kissed her bare shoulder as he lowered the straps. He licked along her shoulder blade to her back while caressing her hardened n*pples, deepening her moans. Her lower abdomen tightened and her breathing grew rapid. Hari leaned her forehead against the wall and thought.

Everything after tonight will be forgotten.

When unfamiliar sensations she had never experienced tormented her, when feelings of being toyed with and shame overwhelmed the reassurances she had given herself on previous nights, when she felt confused between her grandmother’s last wishes and her own choices, Hari kept repeating to herself.

If enduring once could close the distance with this man, it was manageable. Hari stared at the vase on the round table. Hoping for the day she could strike the sleeping man’s head with it.

The hand that had been hotly rubbing around her navel suddenly delved between her legs. Hari arched her back with a cry at the sensation of smoothly penetrating her inner passage. His fingers were relentless as they stirred inside her moistening depths. As she squirmed, their eyes met. The man who had buried his face in her neck to inhale her scent raised his upper body, then lifted Hari and headed for the bedroom.