Chapter 1

“That’s the girl, isn’t it? The cursed one who devoured her entire family and went blind.”

The cathedral, where a blessed wedding was to be held, carried a gloomy air.

Though winters in the south were relatively mild, the bride of the day, Rabiana Selden, wore a face as cold and dreary as the northern wind, prompting guests to pull their coats tighter.

The fall of the Selden family, once lords of the Roden territory, was widely blamed on this tragic woman.

A pure white dress trailed over the virgin road.

Rabiana held her back straight and focused all her attention on her toes, determined not to stumble.

What others saw as gossip about the Selden family’s misfortune was a painful past for Rabiana. Those words clung to her ankles, dragging her down, halting her steps.

Sensing her state immediately, Lawrence gripped her hand firmly. His warm hand seemed to tell her it was all right.

The only one who had stayed by her side after she became an orphan overnight.

Rabiana tilted her head slightly—toward Lawrence. Though his figure was blurry as if veiled, she could sense it. Lawrence, smiling warmly at her.

“Rabiana. Let’s keep walking.”

Rabiana took another step. At the end of this virgin road, only the officiant awaited her.

On the day of the wedding, the groom’s absence stirred many rumors.

Some whispered he had fled, unable to deal with marrying a blind woman.

But just moments ago, Count Bill Ford, her husband-to-be, had sent a letter.

[The road is blocked. I may be late to the wedding.]

Even if the Selden family was on the path to ruin now, it was still a baronet lineage.

Among noblemen, it wasn’t rare for some to delay their appearance to assert dominance over their brides. This was clearly a power play.

However, Lawrence wasn’t offended in the slightest.

He skillfully bought time, and when the guests’ complaints grew from the long wait, he rearranged the entrance order.

Thus, Rabiana was in the middle of a wedding without a groom.

This marriage meant nothing to her.

Though she had been shocked by the bad rumors about her supposed husband, Count Bill Ford, she could accept it—because she had never had any expectations for this marriage in the first place.

She didn’t want to burden Lawrence any longer, so when he suddenly told her one day that she would need to get married, Rabiana had no other option.

All she could do was accept it.

“Is it true the count is already sixty?”

“Is that all? He’s notorious for being a lecher. Always harassing the maids.”

“Heavens, how disgraceful. Why would Lord Lawrence marry the lady off to such a strange man?”

“Why else? The man’s filthy rich.”

“Surely not for money? Still, hasn’t Lord Lawrence taken care of her ever since she was orphaned?”

“Is that all? He’s been nothing but devoted. But really, how long can he keep supporting a woman who’s only a friend? What does he lack to marry her himself? He’s done more than enough just by looking after her for ten years. Since no one wants a blind bride, he’s probably marrying her off to some old man just to get something in return. A good deal, right?”

“That’s true. Even if Lord Lawrence is acting as head of House Selden now, the young lady has to leave someday.”

Without any prior notice, Lawrence decided on Rabiana’s marriage.

He gave her no real explanation.

Rabiana had no idea why this marriage had to happen, but she never voiced her doubts.

She didn’t want to burden him any further.

Rabiana was already greatly indebted to him.

From the moment she lost her sight, Lawrence had taken full responsibility for her over the years.

Just because she was a distant relative of House Selden, with whom he’d had close ties.

Out of a sense of duty from the memories of having grown up together since childhood.

So flaws in her future husband didn’t really matter to her.

Of course, the huge age gap—Rabiana had only just passed twenty—was a concern,

but since she couldn’t see anyway, she thought such things didn’t matter.

As long as someone took her in, that was enough.

Whether her husband was ugly, old, or ill-tempered, she was prepared to endure it all.

Once she was married, she would finally be freed from the guilt of dragging Lawrence’s life down with hers.

Yes, that was enough. Rabiana had no other wish but for Lawrence to reclaim the life he had lost because of her.

And yet, when she thought about parting with him, her throat tightened.

“Lawrence. There’s something I want to ask…”

“Yeah, Rabiana.”

She thought she had spoken calmly, but the words came out, trembling with emotion.

Lawrence turned to face her. Though he couldn’t see her expression behind the veil, he immediately sensed her tension from the deep breath she took.

“Will you still come see me even after I get married? You won’t forget me, right?”

Lawrence’s lips curved into a soft smile at the unexpected question. He nodded without hesitation, suppressing his laughter.

“Of course. I’m your only family.”

“Yeah…”

“Even after you’re married, that won’t change. You only have me, and I only have you.”

Yes. That was enough. Rabiana and Lawrence would live their own lives.

She couldn’t make him stay just because she was afraid to marry someone she had never even seen.

“Thank you for taking care of me all this time. I could endure it because you were there. Take care, Lawrence.”

Rabiana gave a small smile. Lawrence didn’t answer.

He had stopped walking, and it was as if even his breathing had disappeared—there was no sound, no presence.

Rabiana’s heart grew restless. Ever since losing her sight, she was often swept by anxiety.

Unable to see expressions, she found it hard to trust others’ words.

What kind of expression did Lawrence have now? Was he smiling?

Was he hurt, thinking she sounded too indifferent?

“You’re always so easy.”

At that moment, Lawrence’s hand slipped away.

Rabiana stopped walking with him.

They had reached the end of the virgin road.

Easy? What did he mean by that?

Confused, she turned toward where he stood, but Lawrence gently held her shoulder for a moment before releasing it and walking away.

Rabiana clenched the bouquet tightly.

She wanted to grab him, to beg him not to go.

To say she didn’t really want to marry, that she just wanted to live quietly and asked him to take her away—

But she held it in.

She mustn’t be a burden to him anymore.

Rabiana already occupied a significant place in Lawrence’s life. Even when attending balls or gatherings, he would either return early or not attend at all, thinking about her being left alone.

When she heard rumors that he was becoming isolated from society, Rabiana felt both relief and guilt.

Lawrence was not her guardian. He was merely a kind benefactor who had rescued her after the accident, yet she had become someone who shackled his life.

No different from a leech.

As she stood on the virgin road, memories from the past suddenly surfaced.

Rather than erase them, Rabiana let them return.

‘I’m never going to get married.’

A spring day when cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Under petals fluttering in the breeze, she recalled the face of a boy sitting lazily, a leaf in his mouth.

It was a realistic and pessimistic statement for a ten-year-old boy to make.

Rabiana, who had always dreamed of marriage, was puzzled and asked why.

The boy stared at her in silence. Just as she was getting bored, he gave a simple answer.

‘Because I won’t be able to marry the one I want.’

‘Why not? I mean, I understand why I can’t, but you can, right? I’m a noble, but you’re a commoner.’

‘That’s why I can’t.’

‘Vel, you’re really strange.’

At the time, Rabiana, only ten years old, couldn’t understand the boy’s words.

She had become friends with the commoner boy after he pulled her out of a stream.

Since then, even when they were together, there were countless things she couldn’t comprehend.

Their lives were different, their values misaligned, and they never fully matched.

Even so, she liked being with him because it made her feel at ease.

‘But maybe someday, you’ll be able to marry the one you want. Don’t give up already.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Yes! I’m sure it’ll happen.’

‘If that happens, maybe I’ll try something like marriage too.’

But the boy who had once held onto such hope never became an adult.

His season had ended, and it was entirely Rabiana’s fault.