A heavy silence fell between Ivnen and Bjorn.

Bjorn said nothing, only watching her quietly. His eyes, as always, were an inscrutable shade — impossible to read any emotion from.

And Ivnen——

“……”

The corners of Ivnen’s tightly pressed lips trembled, just barely. But that was the only movement she made. She sat straight, her gaze fixed on Bjorn alone.

Bjorn in his formal attire looked exactly as she remembered.

Black hair swept back without a single strand out of place. The characteristic line of his face, smooth as something sculpted. Blue eyes that held her reflection without the faintest flicker of feeling.

Bjorn Balder — breathtakingly beautiful, as he always was, even now in this very moment……

Every last shred of reason she had fought to hold onto on the ride over was gone without a trace.

The feelings she had felt on this day in her past life surged back all at once and swallowed her whole.

Just as Dek had said — the night before the wedding, clutching her pounding heart, unable to sleep.

Dressing in her pure white gown, swollen with the dream of becoming the wife of the man she loved, checking her reflection in the mirror again and again.

And, just like now…… the moment she had faced Bjorn in his formal attire — the sound of her heart pounding wildly through her whole body, and the happiness that had come with it.

And then, when the last memory surfaced, the rising fury made her want to scream.

She felt as though she might lose all reason and cry out like something wild. Why did you do it. Why did you go that far.

Did you truly have to kill me — me, who had so little time left, who begged for your affection like a dog……

“Ivnen.”

“……”

“Ivnen Denia.”

At the low fall of Bjorn’s voice, Ivnen’s restless, drifting eyes came to an abrupt halt.

“Um…… Co — Count. Our miss seems quite nervous.”

It was Dek, not Ivnen, who parted her lips at Bjorn’s call.

“She was like this the whole way here.”

Dek shot a quick glance at Bjorn and pressed on.

“Our miss always goes quiet like this when she’s nervous. A little rest and she’ll be just fine.”

The corners of Bjorn’s eyes as he studied Ivnen lifted ever so slightly. For some reason, he wore an expression that seemed faintly puzzled — even though Dek’s excuse had been perfectly convincing.

“All right, see to it. There’s still a little time.”

But before long, Bjorn shifted his gaze away from Ivnen and answered.

“Maid, take Ivnen with you.”

“Yes, yes. Come along, Miss——”

The moment the words left his mouth, Dek dropped to the ground. She took Ivnen’s hand and helped her down from the carriage.

“Some warm water will help settle you. I’ll be right by your side, so don’t you worry about a thing……”

Dek kept murmuring something as she led Ivnen away, but none of her words reached her.

Ivnen only trembled faintly, swallowing the scream she had fought to keep down.

“……”

And Bjorn, left alone before the carriage, stood perfectly still and watched his bride grow smaller in the distance without a word.

For a very long time.

No matter how much time she was given, Ivnen’s emotions would not settle easily.

Warm water did nothing. Dek’s careful, attentive massage did nothing.

Bjorn, for his part, didn’t so much as show his face in the waiting room. Submerged in a wave of feeling she couldn’t name, Ivnen could only fight desperately to collect herself.

But the hour of the ceremony drew near without the slightest regard for her circumstances.

“……”

Ivnen’s face was still rigid as stone as she walked beside Dek toward the hall where the ceremony would take place.

“The Count apparently told them in advance to keep the ceremony as brief as possible, Miss. How thoughtful of him. Don’t you think?”

Dek had been beside herself trying to offer neatly wrapped words of comfort to Ivnen since some time ago.

“It may be a little modest, but I actually think this suits it better. A crowd of people only makes everything feel chaotic anyway.”

The only guests were a maid, the Count’s estate steward, Bjorn’s guard knight, and the officiant priest.

But Ivnen didn’t mind in the least. Not in her past life, and not now that she had returned.