“What… what did you say?”

All the plans he had organized in his mind on the way here were now completely invalid. He tried to make sense of the situation somehow, but it was so baffling he couldn’t grasp it at all. Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t the only one caught off guard.

“L-Lady?”

Even Havalde, who was one of the few people privy to her secrets, looked utterly shocked by this bombshell announcement.

“When was that decided?” he asked.

Kyla, linking arms with Roberic without a care in the world, explained nonchalantly,

“Yesterday. Oh, Roberic might not know since he’s always in the temple, but he’s Maryville’s older brother.”

Everyone knew that name. But what shocked them more was that she had sided with the temple, not the royal faction.

Haiden felt like the back of his head was going numb.

‘Seriously…’

He felt thoroughly played. As expected, her actions never disappointed. He sighed in defeat, wondering if he should just surrender now.

“Congratulations,” he said, even adding a polite greeting.

“But… is a priest even allowed to go through with such a rushed marriage? I’m genuinely concerned.”

She really was something else. She must have made this hasty decision to block the prince’s proposal scheduled for tomorrow, but there were so many holes in the plan. Though she had succeeded in shocking him, marrying a priest would mean Kyla had much to lose.

The Temple of Teracanis strictly upheld neutrality. Anyone who married a priest would be severed from society—giving up their family name and personal wealth. They’d live secluded in the temple for life, only allowed out with permission for specific duties like healing.

‘Kyla Bailey, living like that?’

Not a chance. There was no way someone like her could endure such a life.

‘She’s just laying a trap to pull me in.’

He believed firmly that it was all an act and resolved not to fall for it.

But when that damned Roberic gently kissed Kyla’s forehead, his thoughts wavered. His blood pressure inexplicably spiked, and his fists clenched tightly. He told himself there was no need to feel this way, yet every time that guy smiled slyly and mouthed sweet words, a violent impulse stirred inside him.

“I was shocked when I saw the letter yesterday. I wasn’t even sure if this marriage was legally possible,” Roberic said.

That’s the issue? Haiden let out a short sigh.

“But now I understand. Since the temple claims neutrality, as long as representatives from the noble and royal factions approve, the marriage can go through.”

The noble faction was represented by the Bailey, Yoker, and Oberic families. The royal faction had the Blanverque and Blake families. Even if Kyla’s father, Count Bailey, didn’t approve, the consent of Count Yoker and Duke Blake would be enough to legitimize the marriage—even if rushed.

‘She really used her head.’

Haiden took a deep breath and ran a hand down his face.

***

She had simply changed course. After all, love wasn’t necessary in a marriage. She just desperately didn’t want to marry Gellensid. She tried to seduce the Duke, even threatened him, but failed in the end. He was unshakable—like a fortress.

Meanwhile, Gellensid, newly released from house arrest, moved quickly and received the wedding date from the king. Those afraid she’d run away didn’t inform Kyla of this development. The Duke was no different.

He had promised to help her, but only showed up the day before the proposal.

‘He must’ve known in advance.’

Kyla recalled Everett’s warning that the Duke was just using her, and she smiled bitterly.

She didn’t trust that he’d help her unless it benefited him. So she had no choice but to force his hand—like this.

When he called her out to a nearby tea shop, the Duke wore a troubled expression as he questioned her intent.

“I’m asking because I’m genuinely concerned. Is this marriage something you want? What’s your relationship with that man? Is he trustworthy?”

Why was he asking that? As if he were her guardian or something. His demeanor oddly overlapped with how Haiden used to act when they were kids, which only made her more irritated.

“Do I really have to explain all that to you?”

“Well, I do have to approve the marriage, for now.”

Meaning, he didn’t want to approve a marriage that made him uncomfortable.

Kyla tilted her head with a sarcastic smile and looked him square in the eye. As she crossed her legs, the hem of her dress rose slightly, exposing the skin of her thigh, but Haiden didn’t even flinch.

“Don’t mix any personal feelings into this. Even if something happens to me, I won’t blame you.”

It was a way of drawing the line.

“If you approve the marriage, you might take some criticism from others. But at least you won’t be branded as the scoundrel who stole the prince’s fiancée.”

In addition, the duke would get the necklace he wanted, and Kyla—who knew his weakness—could be quietly dealt with. After all, once she married a priest, they’d never have to see each other again. Wasn’t this a win in every way for the duke? She was handing him the perfect opportunity to use her and then discard her—so what was he hesitating for?

Kyla didn’t avoid the green eyes staring straight into hers. Those eyes, which had been silently watching her for a while now, didn’t waver in the slightest—as if fully aware she was testing him.

Finally, he opened his mouth.

“I’ve thought about it… How about we put on a play? You seem to like that kind of thing.”

She lifted her head. Outside the window, Roberic could be seen busily preparing the stage, trying to grant her request.

The Yoker family was always like that. From childhood to now, they had always given her whatever she asked for, always trying to soothe her. But there was always a strange sense of distance.

Whenever she tried to get closer, an invisible wall would rise between her and the people around her. That was the same with Lady Yoker and Maryville. A hollow feeling—lonelier when surrounded by others.

“A play…”

It wasn’t a hard request. She’d been doing that all her life—except now the co-star was the duke. Kyla hesitated, then raised her head.

***

Two days later, in the late afternoon as the sun was setting—

“Wow, I never thought I’d set foot in the royal palace garden!”

Excited people clutched hands and gathered in groups, flooding into the palace. Inside the palace, Queen Renezielle presided, while outside, a grand festival had been organized by Kyla and many others. This year, part of the royal gardens had even been opened to commoners, making the festival more vibrant than ever.

As was tradition, the opening was led by the king and the priest with the highest divine power that year—this time, Roberic. As the pretty, pink-haired man stepped onto the platform, gasps of awe rose from the crowd. He smiled gently and stood beside the king.

The stage had been set at the very center of the royal garden. Havalde pushed his way through the crowd, trying to get as close to the stage as possible.

“Hey, watch it!” 

A woman standing next to him frowned in irritation.

“Sorry.”

Havalde, squinting, pulled glasses from his pocket and put them on. The first thing he checked was Roberic’s hand on the stage.

“…It’s not there.”

No ring.

No approval.

No marriage!

“What the hell is going on!”

Confused, Havalde clutched his hair in frustration, only for the woman beside him to bump his shoulder, glaring.

“Excuse me, could you move your foot?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry!”

Startled, he stepped back, and the woman—Mary—gave him a strange look.

“Havalde?”

She recognized him and was about to say something when the opening bell rang.

The king gave his speech, followed by a long orchestral performance, and then the priest launched fireworks into the sky. They hadn’t done this last year.

It was a breathtaking sight. As the sun fully set, fireworks burst across the night sky, more dazzling than jewels.

“Did you come alone?” Mary asked.

Havalde nodded dryly.

“Yeah.”

“I came alone, too.”

“…What?”

Still dazed, Havalde turned his head—and saw Mary not in her maid’s uniform, but in a beautiful beige dress.

“Oh, Mary!”

Now recognizing her, he grabbed her hand.

“You must know what’s going on, right?”

“Huh?”

As Mary blushed and looked flustered by his grip—

The dazzling fireworks show ended, and a man strode onto the stage, amplifying his voice with a magic spell.

“There will now be an important announcement!”

As the man in a black tailcoat spoke, Gellensid rose from his seat. Everyone—royalty, nobles, and even some commoners—was watching. Kyla sat beside the platform as the prince’s fiancée, and Gellensid reached out his hand toward her.

To others, it looked like a sweet gesture between a couple about to be wed.

***

But contrary to what the public believed, Kyla shook her head in disbelief.

“Please don’t do this.”

She sent him a pleading look, but it didn’t reach him.

As time passed and she still didn’t respond, Gellensid’s mood soured. He leaned in and whispered in her ear:

“Come with me now—unless you want to be dragged out.”

“Gellen…”

There had been no prior notice of this event. She had never wanted such a public spectacle, and it was so horrifying she wished it were a dream.

She looked toward the central nobles’ seats—her father, the Yoker couple, and many others were all watching her silently. On the royal family’s side sat Queen Renezielle, who shook her head when their eyes met.

If only she could run away.

Annoyed, Gellensid reached out and, pretending to stroke her head, roughly grabbed the back of her hair.

“Ugh!”

His ragged breath and crazed glare crawled down her neck like poison.

“When I say come out, you come out. Why are you just standing there like you didn’t hear me? I’ll make sure to pay you back for this humiliation—on the bed. Look forward to it, Kyla Bailey.”

Grinding his teeth, he yanked her to her feet by the arm. Kyla had no choice but to let him pull her forward, toward the stage.