A week had passed since Carlos Ivan last encountered Ines in the hallway.

During that time, Carlos had not sought out Ines, nor had Ines come looking for him.

Because of this, Carlos was convinced that Ines had decided to accept reality. If she had intended to refuse the marriage to the end, she would have protested by now or staged a demonstration like those shouting outside the castle gates.

Believing that one troublesome issue had been resolved, he was able to focus more on his backlog of work.

That was until his attendant brought in a mountain of petitions.

Carlos twisted his lips and irritably tossed the parchment aside.

“They’re all eager to see Ines dead.”

They seemed uninterested in restoring the country, which had been thrown into chaos by the coup. The petitions from the nobles only contained pleas to execute the powerless Ines.

“Tsk.”

Carlos clicked his tongue briefly and ordered, as if the sight of the piled petitions was unbearable.

“From now on, dismiss any matters related to Ines at your level. They’re not worth considering.”

Hesitating at his command, Herman spoke up.

“Do you really intend to make that woman… the lady, your queen, despite the nobles’ opposition? She betrayed Your Majesty and attempted to marry your half-brother. Isn’t that why even the temple opposes this?”

Carlos lifted his head at Herman’s words, recalling the letter he had received from the Pope a few days earlier.

“They called it adultery.”

The temple opposed Carlos and Ines’s marriage, claiming that it was adultery for brothers to share a woman. According to religious law, a couple is only recognized if they have consummated the marriage. Therefore, although Joseph and Ines were not officially a couple, the temple pointed to the rumors that had quietly spread.

“Are they bringing up the rumor that Ines and Joseph were intimate before marriage?”

The temple did not recognize anything as fact unless it was officially confirmed. Yet, they opposed the marriage based on mere rumors without evidence. It was utterly ridiculous.

“Even if they had been intimate, it doesn’t matter. Just 150 years ago, this country had a system called levirate marriage. If it was possible 150 years ago, there’s no reason it can’t be now.”

Herman, who had been silently listening to Carlos, objected.

“The citizens and the temple won’t see it that way.”

“Why should their opinion matter?”

Carlos tilted his head as if to say there was no issue.

“I want it.”

Faced with Carlos’s resolute answer, Herman fell silent. Despite the protests that had gone on for days and the nobles uniting against the marriage, Carlos had no intention of backing down.

“Even if you ignore the citizens’ opinions, you can’t disregard those of the nobles and the temple unless you plan to kill them all or change the state religion.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Your Majesty!”

“But there’s no need to go that far. Just slip the temple some money.”

Despite its holy façade, the temple had long been corrupt. It was laughable. They had taken so much from Duke Claudia, yet now they wanted to cast out his beloved daughter. Such transparent people.

“Then what will you do about the nobles? You can’t simply ignore their opinions.”

Agreeing with Herman’s point, Carlos tapped his fingers on the desk.

“First, inform Priest Michael. Tell him I wish to donate for the development of the temple.”

“A donation?”

“Yes. Then they’ll likely stop commenting on my marriage to Ines.”

Though Herman wasn’t thrilled about Carlos donating to the temple for the sake of marrying Ines, it was better than changing the state religion, so he complied with Carlos’s wishes.

“…How much should the donation be?”

“Make it 300 gold coins.”

At the mention of 300 gold coins, Herman inhaled sharply.

This amount was more than the Claudia family and the previous dynasty had ever donated to the temple.

“That’s far too generous! Why such a large amount…?”

“That much should keep them quiet.”

“Your Majesty!”

Herman couldn’t understand it at all. Why was he going to such lengths for a woman who had betrayed him?

Unable to hold back any longer, Herman added, “Why are you doing all this? You’re the only one in this country who wants this marriage. Even the lady herself doesn’t want it. She’s been refusing food in protest…”

“What?”

Carlos’s cold response made Herman realize he had misspoken, and he clammed up.

“Who is refusing food?”

The fact that Ines was refusing to eat was an unspoken secret within the palace. There were more than a few who hoped she would quietly starve to death.

“Well, it’s just that…”

“Herman Tishi.”

Even though Herman feared the consequences, he had kept silent. But under Carlos’s intense gaze, he couldn’t help but confess.

“…The lady said she would refuse to eat until she withdrew her consent to the marriage.”

“Since when?”

“Today marks the fourth day.”

It was unbelievable. Not a single report had reached him during that time. It meant no one cared about Ines’s well-being.

“Why are you reporting this only now?”

At Carlos’s question, Herman averted his gaze. His reaction was answer enough. They had hoped Ines would starve to death.

“Ha.”

Carlos let out a laugh of disbelief and abruptly stood up.

No wonder it had been so quiet. Ines had already been protesting without his knowledge.

Carlos’s steps were rough with irritation.

* * *

Meanwhile, Ines lay sprawled on her bed all day.

It was because she hadn’t had a sip of water for four days.

Her entire body felt drained, as if someone had sapped all her energy, but she could endure it. She was used to going hungry like this.

‘All I need to do is make Carlos give up on the marriage.’

She had given up on persuading him with words. This was the only way she could show she didn’t want the marriage.

She no longer wanted to be a burden to him. She wanted to relieve herself of the guilt she felt inside. He had lost so much because of her. She couldn’t let herself tarnish the hard-won position he had achieved.

So she hoped. She wished Carlos would let her go at this point.

Lost in her thoughts, it was then that she heard familiar footsteps and a voice echo in the room.

“I heard the lady hasn’t eaten anything for four days.”

“Uh, well…”

It was Carlos. The maid who had followed him in looked anxious, fearing she might be punished for not attending to her superior’s well-being.

However, instead of reprimanding the maid, Carlos issued another order.

“There should be a meal ready in the kitchen. Bring it here.”

“Y-yes…!”

The maid, gauging Carlos’s mood, quickly left. A heavy silence settled in the bedroom with only the two of them remaining.

Carlos quietly approached Ines and examined her closely. Her limp and frail appearance was evident at a glance. As he silently observed her, Carlos furrowed his brow.

“I heard you haven’t touched even a sip of water. Are you staging a protest? Saying you won’t marry me?”

Ines turned her head at the sound of his cool and frustrated voice.

“If it’s the only way.”

Her voice was weak as she replied. Carlos let out a hollow laugh. Just as Ines couldn’t understand Carlos, he couldn’t understand her. He had saved her from death, offering not just life but the same wealth and luxury as before—why was she rejecting it?

“What do you want?”

Ines continued, as if mocking his question.

“You know. I don’t want to marry you.”

“And if you don’t marry me, what do you plan to do then?”

“Send me to a convent.”

“A convent?”

“Yes, if you send me there, I’ll live quietly without making a fuss. So…”

But Carlos’s ensuing laughter silenced Ines.

“What, do you plan to meet a secret lover there and share affection?”

It was an insulting remark. However, Ines didn’t even have the energy to argue.

“Think what you want. I have no reputation to uphold anyway. No one in this world welcomes our union. Even I didn’t want it. This marriage is just your stubbornness.”

“Stubbornness, is it? You have no idea what would happen if I acted unilaterally.”

After a brief silence, Carlos took a step closer to Ines.

“Eat while I’m asking nicely.”

“And if I refuse?”

Ines showed determination not to back down until her opinion was respected.

As the two stared at each other silently, a knock sounded. It was a signal that the maid had brought the meal.

But without giving the order to enter, Carlos continued to gaze at Ines and spoke.

“Every time you refuse to eat, I’ll cut off one of the maid’s fingers.”