***

Valetta and Eric’s marriage progressed quickly under the guidance of the Rigius family.

A wedding date was set within a week, and a month later a wedding dress was delivered to Valetta’s home.

Irmina stared at the gown with envious eyes. Made of the finest silk and adorned with lace so rare that even the Imperial Court could hardly obtain it, the gown was breathtaking.

More than that, it was a clear sign of how warmly the Marquessate of Rigius welcomed Valetta.

News of the marriage of the most beautiful woman in the Empire spread quickly throughout the capital. As preparations for the long-awaited wedding continued, a letter of great importance arrived at Count Dampierre’s estate – from Leonard Carnies.

After reading it, Count Dampierre quietly called Irmina and his wife into the study.

“Read it.”

Irmina and the Countess sat side by side and opened the letter the Count handed them. It was a proposal of marriage – Duke Carnies asking permission to marry Valetta.

Irmina’s face fell in despair.

“Valetta again? Why is it always Valetta…”

Irmina couldn’t finish her sentence, choked with grief.

“Irmina, think carefully. This is an offer of marriage from that monstrous duke.”

“But she’s already engaged to the Marquis of Rigius. The wedding is next Saturday.”

“Oh, my daughter. Carnies is a ducal house. Even His Majesty, the Emperor, cannot easily defy his will. How can we oppose the ‘wish’ of such a powerful man? The wedding hasn’t happened yet, and there’s been no formal engagement. So, technically, nothing is set in stone.”

Understanding the Count’s intentions, the Countess beamed, her smile widening.

“And most importantly, he’s a monster.”

Only Irmina sat there blinking, looking lost as she tried to process what was happening.

“And I heard the Duke offered us a million Berks as a bride price!”

“Heavens! A million Berks? He must really want to get married!”

A million Berks was an enormous sum – enough to buy a whole small area. The Countess went on.

“But why Valetta?”

They all knew of the rift between Leonard and Valetta caused by Friedrich’s death. And if he really wanted to marry, Duke Carnies could easily have found someone in better circumstances. For him to insist on marrying someone who clearly hated him…

“No noblewoman would willingly marry a man of such monstrous appearance – unless she had no parents or protectors. But how many such women are there? Besides, the Irpman may have fallen, but their bloodline is still one that rivals even the Imperial family.”

“That’s true, dear.”

“Um… Mother? Father? What exactly is going on right now?”

To Irmina’s bewildered question, the count replied with a calm, almost mocking innocence.

“If we now announce that the wedding has been cancelled, the reputation of the Rigius family will be in tatters. So we’ll offer the guests another bride instead – one even sweeter than the one who disappeared.”

“The dowry… Leaving Valetta without one – how could that be acceptable?”

He gave a dismissive wave.

“As a gesture of goodwill, we’ll send her the generous compensation she received in His Majesty’s name, in honour of Friedrich. That will be her dowry.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. As expected, you’re quite clever.”

“N-No way…!”

Irmina’s eyes widened in shock. The Countess affectionately pinched her beloved daughter’s cheek.

“Who made you so happy, I wonder? That’s right, my dear. You will be the one to marry Eric Rigius in Valetta’s place. And that girl will be married to Duke Carnies, who has even better prospects!”

“But… will Valetta really agree to marry Duke Carnies?”

“That’s why we must all keep our mouths shut. I’m going to negotiate with the Marquess’ family today, so keep it a secret from Valetta. She won’t know her groom has changed until she’s at the altar.”

“Oh… that’s quite…”

Irmina’s lips curled in a sly smile.

“What a delightful idea, Father.”

***

Unaware of her aunt and uncle’s plan, Valetta was busy packing for her new home. Truth be told, she didn’t have much to take with her – just a few sets of clothes and a few pairs of shoes.

And even then, after sorting out the ones that were too old or too worn to use, it all fit easily into a single bag.

Watching her from behind, Irmina let out a mocking laugh.

“Hey, Valetta.”

Irmina had been so busy with the last minute preparations for the wedding that she had barely had time to breathe.

She spent almost every day at the dressmaker’s, constantly urging the tailors to hurry up with the fittings.

“When will you be back?”

“Tomorrow? Your wedding.”

“Yes. It’s already tomorrow.”

“So that’s our goodbye too.”

Irmina lowered her eyebrows in a sign of sadness. Valetta frowned slightly – Irmina’s sisterly tone was strangely unfamiliar.

“I will miss you. I hope your marriage is blessed by the gods.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Irmina found it ridiculous that Valetta still thought Eric Rigius was hers. Valetta’s groom was no longer him, but the hideous, cursed Duke Leonard Carnies – now known throughout the capital for his monstrous appearance.

So when Irmina asked for God’s blessing on Valetta’s marriage, she meant it. No matter how high his status, the mere sight of the man made her want to vomit.

How could anyone live their whole life as husband and wife with someone like that?

And then there was the duty of marriage – to have children and carry on the family line. The mere thought of Valetta in the same bed, performing such duties with that beast of a man, was enough to make Irmina gag – although the thought also made her want to laugh.

But the unsuspecting Valetta hesitated for a moment and offered her cousin a sincere blessing.

“I don’t know who you’ll end up marrying, but… I hope you’ll always be happy.”

Valetta didn’t want to part with bitterness. Then she realised that the book she had just picked up actually belonged to Irmina.

“Oh, this is your book.”

Irmina glanced at the title and shook her head. Reading Academic Journals in Advanced Archaic Language. It was a book she’d bought just to decorate the study—she never needed it anyway.

“I don’t need it. You take it.”

“But—”

“Think of it as my wedding gift.”

Twisting a lock of her long brown hair around her finger, Irmina smiled broadly. Valetta didn’t notice the pity in her cousin’s crescent eyes.

Even if it was a loveless marriage, the fact that the wedding was the very next day made her too nervous to notice anything else.

“Then… I’ll read it. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

After all, Valetta was going to be living far away in the northern territory of the Carnies. A book like this was the least she could do.

Irmina swallowed her next words and glanced over at the wedding dress Valetta had carefully laid on the side of the bed.

The reason she had a new dress made was because this one had been given to Valetta by Eric. While she was genuinely excited and happy to be marrying Eric, taking the dress would have hurt her pride – so she’d held back.

‘Well, I found something even prettier than that anyway.’

Her diamond-studded gown was the most beautiful in the world. This plain old thing was better left to someone like Valetta Irpman. For tomorrow’s wedding, Irmina offered Valetta a casual goodnight.

“Well, Valetta, I’m off to bed. Sleep well.”

Enjoy your last night without the monster duke in your life.

Irmina swallowed the last thought with a sly, wicked smile.

“Hoo…”

Valetta looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath. No matter how much this marriage was a means of escape rather than love, she couldn’t help feeling nervous. After all, this marriage would change Valetta Irpman’s life completely.

“You can do it. Whoa… It’s okay, Valetta.”

She clenched and unclenched her hands to relax, then turned to check the dress.

It saddened her to know that she would be walking down the aisle holding her uncle’s arm instead of Friedrich’s. Still, the thought of saying goodbye to House Dampierre made her feel surprisingly relieved.

Valetta stepped out of her room, which had once been a converted storeroom. The household staff seemed to be quite busy, probably with the wedding.

She stopped one of the passing maids, Laura, and asked.

“Laura, when will the bouquet arrive?”

“Miss, Hans should be bringing it soon. He’s picking flowers in the garden to make it. I’m in a hurry, miss – things are hectic because of Miss Irmina’s wedding!”

“Irmina is… getting married?”

“Ah.”

Noticing her slip, Laura glanced around quickly, looking for an excuse.

“The Count is busy arranging a match, you know.”

“I see. But did you say my bouquet would be made from flowers picked in the garden?”

“They are making it with roses – it will be beautiful. Anyway, I really have to go!”

With that, Laura fled in a hurry. Left alone, Valetta let out a hollow laugh, stunned. Even on the last day, the House of Dampierre still treated her like a joke.

Determined not even to look back at the Dampierre estate after marrying Eric Rigius, Valetta checked the time and waited for her carriage.

Just then her aunt and uncle appeared, dressed in their finest clothes. Valetta was surprised – they had gone to the trouble of wearing their best clothes for the sake of the niece they treated like a burden.

But what she didn’t know was that the Count and Countess of Dampierre had dressed in all their glittering jewels not for her, but to avoid any gossip at Irmina’s wedding.

“Ahem, Valetta. You should go to the chapel first.”

Valetta’s and Irmina’s weddings had been set for the same day, at the same hour. The Count and Countess had, of course, decided to attend Irmina’s. They didn’t care that Valetta would be walking down the aisle alone – or that she was being tricked into a sham marriage.

“Don’t worry. You’ll arrive on time.”

They had even hired people to guard the entrance to the cathedral, just in case Valetta tried to run away. By the time she realised something was wrong, it would be far too late to escape.

In the end, her beloved daughter Irmina would marry Eric Rigius, the man she loved, and Valetta would be married off to the cursed Duke, bringing them a huge bride price and disappearing into the northern territory of the Carnies.

If only they could get through today and tomorrow, everything would be perfect.

“Valetta.”

Her aunt, the Countess, took her hand with a touch of sympathy and guilt.

“You must live well.”

She patted the back of Valetta’s hand and wiped away the faintest trace of tears. In her mind, she had done enough – fed, clothed and raised the girl.

She never once thought about how they had abused Valetta or stolen the compensation for Friedrich’s life.

“Stay… well, Aunt.”

“Of course, of course. Of course.”

A strange feeling of dread crept up Valetta’s spine. When the carriage finally pulled away, the Countess turned to her husband and said cheerfully.

“Darling, let’s go and see Irmina now! She’s probably nervous – it’s best to arrive early!”