The Summer Solstice Festival was nearing its end.

On the final day of the festival, the Emperor personally conducted a ritual offering sacrifices to the Sun God and receiving an oracle.

This ceremony, which comforted the waning sun and sought advice for the upcoming long nights, was essentially the highlight of the festival.

Unlike the imperial family members, who were obligated to attend the ceremony, it was not mandatory for nobles.

However, since it was an opportunity to witness the Sun God’s power firsthand, people tried not to miss it unless they had unavoidable circumstances.

The day before the ceremony, the Emperor invited several nobles to the palace.

It was customary for the men to socialize with the Emperor and the women with the Empress, divided by gender.

I thought only my parents would go, as they did last year, but this year I was also invited, so I had no choice but to enter the palace.

Due to recent events and the festival, my visits to the palace had become frequent.

Although it was unavoidable, I couldn’t feel entirely at ease as talks of breaking off the engagement with the Crown Prince were ongoing.

Nobles took their seats one by one in the vast garden.

On the left, women gathered around the Empress, while the right was the men’s domain.

Looking around, I noticed I was the only unmarried woman among the invitees.

After conversations about husbands, children, divorce, and property distribution, which I couldn’t participate in, the topic finally changed.

“I wonder what oracle will be given at tomorrow’s ceremony. That’s always the most intriguing part.”

“I agree. Countess Clermont, do you remember last year’s oracle?”

“Of course. It said we would meet a girl of unchangeable destiny. I still don’t know what that means.”

“Who could that girl of destiny be? The expression was grand, but no real girl of destiny appeared all year.”

I also knew the contents of last year’s oracle.

That girl of destiny was, of course, Lina.

Originally, by now, Lina should have been awakening her healing powers and gradually becoming known.

However, with her escape, the oracle only brought confusion.

It seemed even the Sun God hadn’t foreseen Lina’s escape.

As a result, there were thousands of impostors claiming to be Lina across the country.

“Oracles are always ambiguous. Perhaps it was just a metaphor?”

The Empress, who had been quietly listening, interjected.

“One thing is certain: the Sun God has never given a false oracle.”

“That’s right. The Sun God always guides us on the right path.”

Countess Clermont agreed.

The Empress continued.

“Perhaps the Sun God wanted to teach us that destiny is something we create with our own strength. Don’t you think so, Lou?”

While I was lost in thought, the Empress suddenly addressed me.

Startled, I replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I also believe there is no destiny that cannot be changed.”

“Perhaps there is someone here who will shape their own destiny. I believe such a person is the true girl of destiny. If I had someone like that around me, I would want to pass on the position of the imperial mother to her as soon as possible.”

I almost spilled my tea.

‘How did it come to this conclusion so suddenly?’

All eyes turned to me at once. I could only manage an awkward smile.

There was no need to ponder who the Empress was referring to.

I was the only one here who could be called a girl.

Whether by intuition or sheer luck, the Empress had accurately identified me as the subject of the oracle.

However, there should be an additional adjective before my title: the ‘failed’ girl of destiny.

Maintaining a smile that was barely there, I stirred my tea with a teaspoon.

I planned to ask the Empress to delay the marriage after the festival ended, but with the atmosphere constantly being pushed in this direction, I felt increasingly uncomfortable.

“Young as they both are, isn’t it too early to speak of such things? May you both govern Kebrenia for many more years.”

My mother also gave a vague answer to defuse the situation.

The Empress raised her eyebrows.

Just as she was about to speak, a loud noise came from the men’s side.

It sounded like a quarrel had broken out.

Naturally, all the ladies’ attention turned that way.

Relieved to be out of the spotlight, I realized the voice was very familiar.

Startled, I looked over at the men. Then I checked on my mother. Her already large eyes were wide open in shock.

My expression must have been no different.

Without a second thought, I ran towards the men.

The Emperor and my father were standing, glaring at each other.

It was the first time I had seen the two, who usually maintained a facade of loyalty, in such a tense standoff.

I sensed something serious had happened.

“Father…!”

But it seemed neither of them heard my voice.

Not knowing what was going on, I anxiously shifted from foot to foot until the Empress intervened.

“What is going on here?!”

The Empress, usually calm and elegant, now exuded an imposing presence.

But even she couldn’t completely hide her bewilderment.

Only after the Empress stepped in did the Emperor and my father calm down a bit.

“I apologize for causing a commotion, Your Majesty the Empress. But I cannot accept this treatment.”

“What treatment?”

“My wife and I have not even received a proposal letter. Yet you suddenly want to announce the marriage, and it’s to happen tomorrow? Even commoners don’t handle marriages this way!”

Listening up to that point, I realized why my father was arguing with the Emperor.

My heart sank.

Clearing his throat, the Emperor explained more calmly than before.

“I apologize for not informing you in advance. However, isn’t this a marriage that must happen? We have already conveyed our intentions through your daughter, and the procedures do not take long. Exchanging the proposal letter and gifts can be done within a week.”

“Haven’t you delayed such procedures for ten years? You say you treat her like your own daughter, yet you’ve been weighing other families’ daughters against her all this time. Do you think I didn’t know?”

‘Was that it?’

I looked at the Emperor and the Empress with a sense of betrayal.

“Ahem, why such hurtful words? As you know, unexpected situations have made things difficult. We need a breakthrough to ease the citizens’ fears. Please understand.”

“At the cost of my daughter’s dignity? If that’s the case, let’s just call the whole thing off!”

‘Dad, I love you so much!’

But openly siding with my father here would indeed sever ties with the imperial family.

“Please calm down, Your Majesty.”

A cold, calm voice spoke. The Crown Prince was standing next to me, though I hadn’t noticed his arrival.

He glanced at me before stepping forward.

“I also think this is too hasty. If we do not follow proper procedures in welcoming the Crown Princess, it could damage the imperial family’s prestige.”

With even the Crown Prince saying this, the Emperor finally relented.

I hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to take my side, so it was a bit surprising.

In any case, rumors would surely spread far and wide, even before tomorrow’s ceremony.

My head already ached.

***

“How dare they look down on our family like this!”

When we returned home, my father exploded with anger.

“Thank you, Father. It was reassuring to see you stand up for me. But please don’t do that next time.”

“I’ll do the same next time. I can’t tolerate them using my daughter like this!”

I gave a bitter smile.

While the Emperor’s demand was indeed rude, it wasn’t something to argue about in front of others.

If I hadn’t mentioned wanting to delay the marriage, my father would have reluctantly agreed.

I felt sorry for unnecessarily burdening my parents.

In any case, it was clear that the Emperor and Empress were eager to hasten the marriage. Though they backed down today, it was obvious they would push for it as soon as the festival ended.

‘Well, it’s not like the male leads don’t know I’m a prospective bride.’

I tried to comfort myself by thinking that nothing would change immediately. But the frustration wouldn’t go away.

I even considered seducing Iscallion and fleeing to Pontos. He seemed to like me.

But I quickly dismissed the idea.

Iscallion’s affection was not romantic love.

I remembered the curse that constantly tormented him and the pain I felt when I touched him, even if it was only brief.

The pain I felt for just a few minutes, which was already greatly reduced, was so excruciating. He had endured that pain for years.

‘He must have thought of me as a stroke of luck.’

In other words, I was nothing more than a human painkiller to him.

Besides, doing so would undoubtedly cause my parents great trouble, which I could never allow.

‘Other novel heroines get divorced in a day, so why can’t I even break off my engagement…!’

Was there really no way to avoid this marriage other than being disowned by my family?

That night, I once again dreamt of the world’s destruction.