After speaking, Janet surprised herself. Her mouth had blurted out an answer before her thoughts were complete.

“Really…? Well, um, I see. Why are you so determined to marry Rihanel? Is it because he’s a duke?”

“Because I like Duke Rihanel.”

This time, a prepared answer.

To the outside world, it needed to appear that commoner Janet and noble Rihanel were marrying because they liked each other.

But… was it really just a prepared answer?

Janet touched the ring on her right ring finger inside her glove again.

Yes, Rihanel had every reason to be disgusted with her.

He’s a man who hates her so much that he would inflict wounds on her body for fun, and yet.

Marriage to Rihanel.

Like the young girl from long ago, she couldn’t see any other option.

So foolishly.

“I see. Everything I said was just to check how you feel. You understand, right?”

“…Yes.”

“I meant no harm, so don’t misunderstand or feel hurt. Congratulations on your marriage. I’m happy that you’re becoming Rihanel’s partner. Could you tell Rihanel that I wish for both of your happiness?”

Panianna stared at Janet until she answered. Though it was phrased as a request, Janet knew it was an unspoken command, so she nodded.

“Thank you for your congratulations. I will do that. I should be going now.”

Janet rose from her seat. Selize was looking at Janet with clear, bright eyes.

Seeing those eyes suddenly reminded Janet of Rihanel’s voice telling her not to lower the standards of the ducal house.

Had he wanted to marry such a flawless young lady too?

Well, who would want to marry a woman who had been in prison for five years?

Thinking this, Janet left the gathering as if escaping.

***

The wedding was held at Bedamio Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the capital. An intimidatingly large crowd gathered around the cathedral.

The wedding of the noble Duke Reynes and the criminal Janet Wilton, who had been the subject of countless gossip whenever possible.

People whispered in disbelief until the ceremony began. Those who had bet money weeks ago on whether the two would actually marry or not came to witness the outcome with their own eyes.

“Sharing noble blood with a witch will ruin this country! Please sign the petition against the marriage of Duke Reynes and the witch Janet Wilton!”

There were protest marches against their marriage. While people clicked their tongues at this, regardless of degree, about 90% of those viewing this marriage held negative opinions.

The nobles invited inside the cathedral were no different.

“A woman who set fire to a cathedral getting married in a cathedral…… This is, well, won’t God be angry?”

“I know. I can’t believe the pope approved this marriage.”

“I wonder what the duke wants from this marriage, I mean…… Doesn’t Tailey Wilton hold the actual power in the Wilton family, not Janet Wilton?”

“They say it’s for love. Young people are romantic, not thinking about regrets. And divorce can’t happen unless both parties agree.”

“By the way, did that person come?”

“Who?”

“You know…… the one who publicly humiliated that woman at the Marquis Greyden’s party, asking if she’d been abandoned by the duke. He had such an entertaining way of speaking, it would be fun to sit next to him.”

“Didn’t you know? That man was caught for illegal exports and even bringing in slaves. I heard all his crimes were recently exposed.”

“R-really? I also thought… he seemed like a strange person. Hmm, hmm.”

“Shh, it’s starting.”

Grand music announced the beginning of the ceremony. Following Bendar’s tradition, the groom in white ceremonial clothes and the bride in a plum-colored dress appeared.

The sight of the bride and groom facing a new beginning was so dazzling that even those who had been whispering lost themselves in watching them.

Standing side by side, they marched toward the pope with majestic music in the background. Their appearance conveyed both excitement and solemnity.

“After the wedding, there’s somewhere we need to go together, Janet Wilton.”

And at the center of everyone’s attention, with a happy smile on his lips, Rihanel whispered so only Janet could hear. Janet also responded quietly while looking straight ahead.

“Where?”

“Father Lapel’s grave.”

Janet faltered. Her heart suddenly sank, and her legs almost gave way, but Rihanel firmly held her.

“Don’t ever stop walking. You should greet him as Janet Reynes.”

His gentle voice enveloped her.

“Father Lapel, whom you killed.”

Janet’s eyes wavered.

But Rihanel continued walking steadily as if nothing had happened. Janet also moved her trembling legs to match his pace.

She couldn’t remember how the ceremony passed.

Janet tried to calm her racing heartbeat by taking shallow breaths. Her exhaled breath trembled.

By then, they had arrived before the pope. After the pope finished a short prayer and blessing, the couple’s vows proceeded.

“Do you both marry of your own free will, and will you respect and love each other for the rest of your lives?”

“Yes.”

“……Yes.”

Despite the delayed answer, the ceremony proceeded without any hitches. It was perfect, hard to believe it had been prepared in such a short time.

It seemed that the only thing not properly prepared here was Janet.

***

“You should have said you’d hold it at your house! I’m truly embarrassed… Where on earth does the groom’s family host the wedding reception?”

After the reception ended, Panianna, who had returned home, vented her frustration at the Tailey Wilton couple who had entered with her.

She continued to grumble discontentedly, fanning herself vigorously though the heat wouldn’t subside.

“I don’t like any of it. Even Rihanel, his lack of proper upbringing shows in these matters……”

“Pardon?”

“No! Rihanel is a child who handles outside affairs, so he probably didn’t know about these things. Janet, didn’t that child ask you to act as his family?”

Realizing she had inadvertently spoken her true feelings, Panianna hastily redirected her arrows toward Janet.

“What can we do? We were invited at the same time as everyone else.”

“How much dowry did you provide?”

“That’s also well……”

“Oh my, it’s infuriating!”

“But my lady, Janet isn’t our daughter.”

Janet’s aunt, Vanessa Wilton, timidly retorted. When Panianna gave her a piercing look, Tailey tactfully asked Panianna.

“Didn’t you also say you would take responsibility and have Duke Reynes marry someone else?”

“Don’t blame me. Your niece is truly extraordinary. Even when I offered to introduce her to other nobles, she refused with such a sullen look that I thought she would devour me.”

“Why didn’t you try to persuade Duke Rihanel……”

“Do you think I didn’t want to? Your niece must be some kind of seductress. I had spent years working on Rihanel without success, so I targeted him instead. I thought it would be easier to talk to him……”

Panianna sighed deeply. Vanessa looked anxiously at Tailey.

“So now… will all management rights be transferred to Janet?”

“It’s fine. Do you think business works so easily just by getting rights? One must leave behind achievements worthy of recognition, like when I introduced passenger cars.”

“That’s right, you were truly remarkable.”

“Anyway, I’ve aligned the story with the shareholders to maintain management rights. Since her credibility is rock bottom, everyone should easily go along with it. So for now, we’ll do our best on our side, and you, my lady, please keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t wander outside unnecessarily.”

“Understood. Don’t forget to give me my share if things go well?”

“Of course.”

As the first underground deal had failed, a second deal began.

Thinking what trouble this was all for one insignificant woman, the three people cursed Janet once more.

***

The moonlight entering through the slightly parted curtains was unusually bright. Elaborate plum-colored curtains, similar to the wedding dress, hung from the bed’s canopy illuminated by moonlight.

Janet couldn’t sit on the bed or anywhere else, anxiously pacing the dark room. She was too nervous to stay still.

Just looking at that canopy made her heart pound. Whether it was ticklish or painful, she now felt even afraid.

As soon as the wedding ended, Rihanel left Janet behind and mingled with others as if he had been waiting for this moment. Throughout the reception, Janet had gazed blankly at the garden as if attending someone else’s wedding, then returned to the room.

The servants’ gazes were unkind as they watched her enter the mansion.

Even though she had been staying at the duke’s residence for about a month, the wall between being a guest and becoming a true member seemed high.

“Oh! Your hands are so cold. Would you like some warm wine?”

At least Letsy’s concern was appreciated. Although Janet didn’t enjoy alcohol, she felt she needed to drink something, so she sipped wine to endure the silence in the room.

But even after finishing a glass of wine, Rihanel didn’t return.

Perhaps Rihanel wouldn’t come tonight?

If so, that would be fortunate….

However, making such thoughts meaningless, after a long while, the sound of the door opening and closing was heard. Janet swallowed dryly and turned around.

“It’s dark.”

In the unlit room, the silhouette of a man illuminated by moonlight appeared. Janet watched him silently as if playing hide and seek.

But naturally, she standing by the window was more visible than Rihanel. Rihanel walked leisurely toward Janet.

“A gift for you.”

Rihanel smiled languidly and held out something to Janet. He seemed to be in a good mood even though they were alone, and as he stood close, a strong smell of alcohol emanated from him.

“……What is it?”

“Something you need.”

“Thank you.”

Janet took the box Rihanel handed her. The well-packaged box, slightly larger than both her palms combined, was heavier than expected, though she didn’t know what was inside.

“Aren’t you going to check it?”

“It’s dark. I’ll look at it later.”

“You’ve always had poor night vision, haven’t you? Why not turn on the light?”

Rihanel reached for the shelf behind Janet’s shoulder to get matches. As his body drew closer, a fresh woody scent mixed with the smell of alcohol wafted toward her.

“Please don’t turn on the lights.”

Janet unconsciously clutched the front of her nightgown slightly.

She had no special meaning behind it. She was concerned about the few scars on her body, afraid they might be visible if he came too close. That’s why she had kept the lights off in the first place.

But it seemed the other person interpreted it differently.

“What?”