5.

The archbishop stood at the small altar with a devout expression, offering prayers. Rockfort stood facing Elia, who sat in a chair, waiting for the prayer to end.

“At this moment, with the rightful authority bestowed upon me by God, I intend to bind the fate of these two people to each other forever.”

Even the archbishop didn’t know how this marriage would turn out. Perhaps even God wouldn’t know.

What was certain was that in this world, marriage bound two people’s fates together.

“If you accept each other’s destiny, promise to God with a devout and sincere vow.”

Even though this was just an engagement ceremony, once the vows ended, they could never return to being strangers.

Whether the end of their relationship would be unhappy or happy, it would be forever.

“I, Rockfort Petrion, now stand before God’s name, devoutly and sincerely……”

As his low voice flowed out without hesitation, Elia’s trembling breath made her veil flutter slightly.

“I vow.”

Thump, her heart ached as if it had sunk.

At the same time, her large eyes looked up at his violet eyes from beneath the veil.

“I take Elia Theon as my wife……”

These were his vows that she never heard in her previous life.

As these words, which she had desperately wished and hoped for, came from his noble lips, her chest ached unbearably.

“To cherish and live with for life.”

If only she could have heard these words before everything went wrong.

No, such wishes were now useless. Elia decided to focus on the present.

“Also, I promise to never part under any circumstances and to understand your heart even when difficult times come.”

A promise wasn’t an obligation. Yet he deliberately promised.

Elia suppressed the unnecessary expectations rising in her chest and calmly opened her lips.

“I, Elia Theon……”

The violet eyes illuminated by moonlight stared only at Elia’s lips. For the first time, only Elia was reflected in his eyes.

“Vow to become Emperor’s empress and fulfill my role with a gentle heart……”

For a moment, his purple eyes wavered. Could he feel even a little of what Elia had felt in her previous life?

She thought she had no lingering feelings, but human emotions weren’t so simple.

“Then…… I, in the name of God……”

The archbishop, sensing the cooling atmosphere, carefully continued his words, but Rockfort raised one hand to stop him.

“I.”

He emphasized.

“I, Rockfort Petrion……”

The most noble man in this empire took Elia’s hand.

“Will not let go of this hand I hold.”

She felt an unfamiliar warmth from his large hand. Unlike what she had imagined, cold blood didn’t flow through him, and she felt a heartbeat identical to her own.

“Ever.”

He looked directly into Elia’s eyes as he spoke. As if signifying an eternal bond.

“Vows made before God cannot be reversed. Your destinies are now bound as one.”

The archbishop’s voice seemed distant.

“Now that you have formed the bond of marriage, you may kiss the bride’s forehead over her veil.”

It was customary not to lift the veil during an engagement ceremony. But Rockfort, who stepped forward, bent down and lifted the veil himself.

“……!”

As Elia opened her lips to protest, they briefly touched Rockfort’s before she froze.

Clearly, his lips held a warm temperature. Just as Elia had imagined countless times in her past life, they were soft and supple.

So this was a kiss. In her previous life, Rockfort had hated even brushing fingertips with her, so she couldn’t even dream of this.

He had embraced Elia only when she was dying after drinking deadly poison. By then, her body was already numb with pain, and she couldn’t feel his warmth.

This was the first time. Elia now knew Rockfort’s warmth for the first time.

“With this, I declare your marriage in God’s name.”

The archbishop deliberately averted his gaze and hurried to end the engagement ceremony.

“May God’s blessing follow this marriage……”

The archbishop hastily finished the closing prayer and tactfully left.

Until then, Rockfort stood right in front of Elia, firmly holding her hand and not taking his eyes off her.

“The vows and promises I didn’t receive today will surely be mine in a year.”

Unlike his arrogant words, there was warmth in his gaze.

“It’s unfair if only I give.”

Elia realized the identity of the discomfort she had been feeling.

When Rockfort made his vows, he didn’t refer to himself as “we” or call himself “emperor.”

He simply made his vows as a man, “Rockfort Petrion.”

“Silence?”

Elia quietly shook off his hand. He let go willingly but continued to stare at her as if he would devour her.

“It’s much better than when you speak impertinent words. I understand when you’re quiet.”

Rockfort’s large hand cupped Elia’s cheek. She grabbed his wrist, but no matter how hard she tried, he didn’t budge.

“I didn’t realize it before, but your eyes are especially beautiful.”

Elia’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t miss her cold gaze.

“Why do you hate me? I’m purely curious now.”

Finding it difficult to endure his intense gaze, she deliberately changed the subject and turned her eyes away.

“There are many reasons, but right now, I hate this aspect of you the most.”

“What aspect?”

“Your arrogance in finding it strange that I hate Your Majesty.”

Rockfort’s hand, which had been cupping her cheek, gripped her delicate chin and lifted it. This forced their eyes to meet again.

“Did you bear a grudge against me in a past life?”

“……Perhaps.”

Rockfort couldn’t understand Elia’s meaningful words.

“A woman who offers her life is more remarkable than I thought.”

Still holding her chin, he brought his face closer. His hot breath touched Elia’s cheek.

“Will you bite my tongue if I kiss you again?”

“Yes…… probably.”

The sensation of his lips pressing against hers still felt vivid.

She didn’t want to admit it, but her heart had been racing madly since then. She didn’t have the confidence to handle his lips again.

With a slight chuckle, Rockfort’s lips twisted.

“Don’t worry, I don’t force myself on women.”

“Someone as noble as Your Majesty wouldn’t do such a thing.”

The heat that had briefly risen cooled at Elia’s pointed reply.

Rockfort released the chin of the woman who showed only thorns to him.

“It might be good to have someone who speaks the truth to me, even if that truth isn’t always pleasing.”

For someone who had ascended to the position of emperor, he had flexible thinking. It was remarkable compared to most monarchs who proclaimed that their words or intentions were the truth.

And that very fact confused Elia. Why would the Rockfort who always doubted others and judged them within his predetermined framework say such things? Where did his true intentions lie?

“Even those eyes that always seem to see through me…… might not bother me someday.”

Who was seeing through whom? Elia unconsciously lowered her gaze.

“Though impertinent and outrageous, I’m not yet tired of looking at your blue eyes.”

Elia thought nothing had changed in this world, even though she had died and returned.

“But I’m getting tired of suspecting you might run away.”

However, Rockfort showing such interest in Elia’s existence was very different from what she had known before.

Had the situation changed because she had confessed the truth?

He was now looking at Elia with sincere eyes.

If that was the case, was his coldness in her previous life because Elia hadn’t been truthful?

No. These thoughts no longer had meaning.

“Won’t you come to the imperial palace?”

“……I will.”

Thud, the answer escaped her lips without her realizing it. She knew it would be difficult to continue living in this ducal residence, but she was surprised by her unconscious response.

Even the violet eyes watching Elia showed surprise.

“This is the first time you’ve answered so readily.”

Rockfort, who had narrowed his eyes for a moment, regained his composed expression.

“You vowed to be a gentle empress who obeys me, so come to the imperial palace and learn from the beginning what kind of being I am.”

An authoritative gaze looked down at Elia, and she sensed that now was the time to step back and follow his will.

“There are no parents here to say goodbye to, so there’s no excuse to delay. I’ll send a carriage tomorrow.”

He issued a selfish and self-centered command as always.

“Yes.”

His cold expression or commands no longer hurt her heart. She had resolved not to hang on his every expression anymore.

With that mindset, living indifferently and without being swayed would make it easier to endure.

She didn’t want him, of all people, to discover how much her heart had been shaken by just one kiss. If she abandoned a woman’s heart, she wouldn’t need to suffer because of it again.

“You accept your fate because you vowed to God?”

Rockfort asked with one corner of his lips raised.

“No.”

But Elia remained calm, provoking his stubbornness.

“I don’t believe in things like fate.”

Rockfort narrowed his eyes as he looked at Elia.

Yes, once he admitted it, her figure was truly beautiful and elegant. Even her lips, which only spoke hateful words, were lovely.

“You were destined to be my empress. Soon, I’ll make you believe it.”

Even her face, which was turning cold, and her calm eyes that seemed to show no interest, remained beautiful.

“Tomorrow, I’ll expect you to enter the palace.”

Rockfort turned away with reluctant steps. If only he had looked less intently,