Chapter 17 – The Wedding (1)

The pure white dress gently draped over Seilia’s shoulders, concealing any scars. Its lack of excessive adornments only enhanced its elegance.  

Her hair was left loose, lightly secured with a tiara, and as Seilia took each step, her hair seemed to ripple like waves in the wind, cascading beautifully.  

Finally, the red cloak embroidered with the golden emblem of Belton added an air of dignity to her appearance.  

Even Seilia herself was astonished. After her bath, when she sat in front of the mirror, she had looked pale and disheveled, like someone who had just woken up. But now, she looked so radiant that it felt almost excessive.  

“It’s time to head to the venue, Empress.”  

Although Seilia had been nervous on the day of her Selection, she had managed to maintain her composure. But today, it seemed even she couldn’t help but feel anxious.  

This was her first official public appearance since that day.  

As Seilia stepped outside, the first thing she saw was Leo, dressed in the same pure white ceremonial uniform and wearing a red cloak.  

She had seen him in formal attire many times before, but today, his perfectly groomed appearance made his already handsome face even more captivating.  

As Seilia stood frozen in surprise, Leo extended his hand and slowly guided her down the steps.  

His hand, cool yet warm enough to be comforting, brought back memories of the sensations she had felt before.  

Leo, looking at Seilia as they descended together, casually remarked,  

“You look beautiful today.”  

For some reason, her heart fluttered slightly, as if it were straying from its usual rhythm. 

Was he teasing me again?  

She gave him a sidelong glare at his well-shaped head and replied,  

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”  

“But it’s true.”  

Leo’s faint smile, as if he had expected her reaction, began to ease the tension that had been building up inside her.  

Since their argument a few days ago, they hadn’t seen each other, and the air between them seemed to grow increasingly awkward.  

The path to the Eastern Palace venue, being a sacred route, was not one anyone dared to block or linger on.  

As they approached, the cheers and murmurs of the expectant crowd grew louder, almost deafening.  

When they arrived at the venue, Seilia was taken to the waiting room behind the entrance. Surrounded by maids who were busy fixing the minor disarray caused by her walk, she felt her throat growing drier with nervousness.  

A noblewoman, speaking clearly but sounding muffled to Seilia’s ears, pleaded with her,  

“Your Majesty, please stay still. The tiara keeps coming loose.”  

Even though she tried not to move, her body trembled ever so slightly.  

Meanwhile, inside the venue, the crowd was far larger than the one at Leo’s birthday banquet.  

The seats, which had been generously prepared, were all filled, and attendants were rushing around with extra chairs to accommodate the standing guests.  

From the waiting room on the opposite side, Leo could be seen looking unusually tense.  

He kept nervously asking Neir what he should do if he made a mistake, repeating himself until Neir, mixing exasperation with sincerity, told him to stop asking. Leo then sat in silence.  

It was a sight unfamiliar to Neir, who was used to seeing the Emperor as always confident and dignified.  

The tension and weight of the moment in both waiting rooms seemed to seep into the venue, leaving the crowd holding their breath.  

“Your Majesty, it’s time to go.”  

A priest from the High Temple, responsible for overseeing the wedding, informed them that it was time to proceed.  

Leo and Seilia stepped out of their respective waiting rooms and stood side by side, waiting for the doors to open.  

Seilia, half-dazed from the overwhelming emotions, stared blankly at the door. Leo leaned in and whispered softly in a voice that was almost soothing enough to lull her to sleep,  

“I hope you won’t be too nervous.”  

“You seem more nervous than I am.”  

Her retort, intended as a casual remark, was met with a nod of agreement from Leo, surprising her.  

“What? You’re serious?”  

“I don’t know why, but I’m incredibly nervous right now.”  

His expression showed he was just as puzzled by his own feelings.  

Seilia, staring at him in disbelief, quickly turned her head to face the door as the sound of triumphant trumpets echoed through the air. She straightened her posture and lifted her chin, focusing on the now-opening doors.  

As the doors swung open, the venue revealed itself, packed to the brim with people.  

She had hoped her nerves would ease once the ceremony began, but instead, she found herself wondering if she’d even be able to breathe properly until it was over.  

Leo and Seilia walked along the separate paths designated for the bride and groom, paths that gradually converged.  

The audience craned their necks to get a better view of the couple entering from the back.  

Given how much buzz their wedding had generated, it was no surprise that thousands of eyes were fixed on them.  

As Seilia walked, trying to calm herself by focusing on other thoughts, a bitter realization struck her.  

This might be the only time in her life she’d walk this path, yet she was doing so with a man who had once loved her but no longer did.  

For the first time, she regretted the contract she had made with Leo.  

Though she had never once regretted their arrangement before, the thought of spending the next two years with a man who didn’t love her now filled her with regret.  

Even if she still had feelings for him, they would amount to nothing if they weren’t reciprocated.  

Was I clinging to him out of lingering attachment?  

But now that she had come this far, it was too late to turn back, no matter how much she regretted it.  

When they finally reached the High Priest, Seilia and Leo looked at him with resolute expressions.  

The High Priest, with a stern demeanor, began to speak.  

“These two have met by chance and are now bound by fate. To believe that the rest of their lives together was destined, do you, Leo Ares Belton, Emperor of the Belton Empire, and Seilia Estelle Ernian, Empress of the Belton Empire, accept this marriage?”  

“I do.”  

“I do.”  

Without hesitation, they both answered in unison. 

“Sign here.”  

The High Priest declared their union as the two signed the marriage register of the Belton Empire, closing the book to signify the completion of their vows.  

Somewhere among its many pages, Leo and Seilia’s signatures were now etched.  

A louder cheer erupted in the venue.  

Even if Princess Blair hurled curses from some corner of the venue, Seilia wouldn’t have heard it over the noise.  

***

The wedding reception began.  

After Leo and Seilia, the stars of the first dance, finished their performance and returned to the head table, they began watching the others take to the floor for the next song.  

Seilia, whose throat had been dry for some time but hadn’t managed to drink even a single drop of water, finally took a glass of wine offered by an attendant moving around the hall.  

As she sipped the wine, Leo, who had been resting his chin on the armrest and staring intently at her, spoke up.  

“I heard something rather pitiful yesterday. I thought I’d share it with you, Empress. Would you like to hear it?”  

What was he scheming now?  

Although she couldn’t guess his intentions, the curiosity in his words piqued her interest. Even if he was teasing her, she wanted to know what he had to say.  

“Let’s hear it.”  

“Apparently, something very unfortunate and disgraceful happened in the Western Palace garden yesterday.”  

“…What was it?”  

“A man tried to confess his feelings to a woman, only to be completely rejected. Poor guy.”  

“…!”  

The moment he mentioned the Western Palace garden, Seilia had a sinking feeling. She didn’t even care how he found out.  

It was obvious—one of Leo’s informants must have eavesdropped under his orders.  

Whoever the culprit was, she would make sure to deal with them later.  

Seilia, startled, almost dropped her wine glass, but Leo smoothly took it from her hand and continued speaking.  

“Prince Eselyn’s confession wasn’t enough to sway your heart, was it, Your Majesty? To be rejected so coldly.”  

Seilia, flustered, could only stare at Leo without saying a word. Leo, on the other hand, was gazing at her with a sly smile, though his eyes carried an eerie chill.  

Just then, Prince Eselyn approached the head table and spoke.  

“Your Majesty the Empress, may I request the honor of the next dance?”  

Why now, of all times?  

It wasn’t unusual for guests to request a dance with the Emperor or Empress during the reception. It was a common, casual practice, regardless of marital status.  

But… if the person making the request was Prince Eselyn, things were different.  

Very different.  

Seilia couldn’t help but regret agreeing to his earlier request to remain friends. The regret came flooding in like a broken dam.  

Awkwardly laughing, she glanced at Leo, who was seated beside her.  

This is really a misunderstanding, I swear! Please believe me!  

“So, are you going to accept Prince Eselyn’s request?”  

Leo, who had been smiling, suddenly hardened his expression, and the oppressive aura emanating from him wrapped around Seilia like a vice.  

There was no reason or need to ask for his permission, yet, strangely, she felt compelled to seek his approval.  

“…Should I refuse?”  

“No, do as you wish, Your Majesty.”  

Though his words sounded indifferent, the faint smile on Leo’s face carried an unmistakable message: ‘If you do, I’ll kill him.’  

What am I supposed to do?  

Caught between Eselyn’s crescent-eyed smile and Leo’s murderous glare, Seilia felt completely trapped.  

As she stood frozen, glancing back and forth between the two men, an unexpected savior appeared.