IGCHPM 04

Chapter 4

The dress brought in a hurry from the Marquis of Ruth’s residence — Evangeline’s dress — was far more elegant and beautiful than I expected.

That was only natural, since it had been specially prepared by the Empress herself as a birthday gift for her only daughter.

“Good. If we remove the green shawl that comes with it, it’ll be perfect.”

The light green shawl adorned with emeralds had been designed to give it a more formal look. Once removed, the dress appeared silver, nearly white.

It was covered in clear jewels and crystals, sparkling under the light like snowflakes.

It was clearly not a dress meant for a wedding guest.

“Wow, Evangeline really had the guts to wear this to my wedding multiple times.”

Incredible nerve, really.

“Yes, Your Grace. Just a few adjustments, and it will fit perfectly.”

“……”

Ludwig silently stared at me as I tried on Evangeline’s wedding dress, clearly relieved.

He purposely avoided looking at Evangeline’s face, which was tight with anger and betrayal.

“Great. Then we can proceed with the wedding without issues tomorrow.”

“That’s… really a relief.”

I swallowed the urge to curse and smiled weakly, as if comforted.

But my inner rage didn’t even come close to how Evangeline looked.

Her face had turned stone-cold and dark with fury.

I walked up to her, eyes still glistening with tears, and grabbed her hand — just to twist the knife a little deeper.

“Thank you so much, Eva. Thanks to your ‘generous’ gift, we can have a safe wedding tomorrow.”

“!”

Evangeline bit her lip — hard.

But she quickly forced her expression back into a smile.

“…I’m glad it could be of help.”

Ludwig smiled and came over to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

“My sweet cousin is so kind, after all.”

“That’s right, Ludwig.”

Neither his compliment nor my response seemed to comfort Evangeline in the slightest.

Their exchanged glances were cold and sharp.

It was easy to guess the vibe:

‘Did we really need to go this far?’

‘Well, if you hadn’t suggested the initials, none of this would’ve happened.’

After glaring at Ludwig with blame in her eyes, Evangeline quietly excused herself.

“I’ll head back to my room first. I need to prepare for tomorrow’s wedding.”

Once the dress fitting was over, Ludwig also slipped away.

“Probably went straight to her.”

A shame.

“I would’ve liked to see them fight a bit more.”

But I couldn’t waste any more time.

I hadn’t pinned all my hopes on just derailing the wedding through the dress scandal.

Ludwig was going to do anything to get his hands on my family’s wealth.

And Evangeline? She’d tolerate any humiliation now to secure Ludwig for herself later — when he’d have everything.

“So of course, I had a backup plan.”

Something even stronger than a ruined dress.

I removed Evangeline’s dress and sent everyone away.

“I have something very important to do tonight.”

Just then, the door opened, and a tearful voice called out.

“Miss… Are you alright?”

It was Annie, the only maid who had remained loyal to me.

She walked in with a cold towel — worried about my crying.

Finally, I was able to smile genuinely.

I was surrounded by Ludwig, Evangeline, and servants who pretended not to know about the initials on the dress.

Annie was the only one who’d shown real outrage about it.

Even if that hadn’t been the case, I still would’ve trusted her.

“In all three of my past lives, Annie never abandoned or betrayed me.”

Tonight, two people would come to see me — people who had never failed me, no matter the timeline.

Annie was one of them.

She was the daughter of my deceased wet nurse, raised alongside me — practically my sister.

“She died several times protecting me.”

Annie gently laid the cold towel on my swollen eyes and whispered,

“The wedding’s tomorrow… What’ll we do if your face stays puffy, miss?”

“It’s okay…”

Honestly, if ruining my looks could cancel the wedding, I’d go for it.

“But Ludwig married me even when I ran away before. This won’t be enough to stop him.”

He was only after the Delphin family’s territory and wealth.

“If only Father hadn’t died…”

But there was no use crying over what I couldn’t change.

“Small things won’t break this marriage. I need something big.”

Annie then whispered,

“Miss… the initials on the dress… They match the name of Lady Ruth, don’t they?”

“……”

“It can’t be a coincidence. You’ve always said that woman was suspicious.”

“……”

“I’m just glad you’re finally seeing it too.”

“Thank you, Annie.”

I reached up and squeezed her hand tightly over the towel on my eyes.

“I won’t lose this warmth again.”

Later, after judging the time, I sent Annie away.

Simple reason:

“The second person I’m waiting for is about to arrive.”

Neither Ludwig nor Evangeline would come unless I called them.

But two people always came no matter what changed — Annie and…

Knock knock.

A familiar voice followed.

“May I come in, miss?”

“…Yes. Come in.”

The door opened silently, and in stepped a tall, solid-built man.

I softly called his name.

“Sir Beltane.”

He was the only knight of House Delphin who never betrayed me.

And in my third life, he was the one who ran away with me.

“Ludwig’s marrying me for the title! Please take me and run, Sir Beltane!”

There were dozens of knights in House Delphin.

But after my father died three years ago and the emperor named himself my guardian — most pledged loyalty to Ludwig, not me.

It was practically a transfer of my house to the emperor’s nephew.

“Only Beltane remained loyal to me.”

He warned me many times:

“Miss, Duke Ludwig is not trustworthy.”
“And there’s something suspicious between him and Lady Ruth.”

He was right.

But I was foolish — I didn’t believe him.

I even pushed him away.

Still, the night before the wedding, he always came back to try and save me.

“Ludwig doesn’t love you. He wants your family’s power and title. It’s not too late to cancel the wedding…”

He and Annie were the only two people on my side.

“A man who truly cared and gave me honest advice.”

Just like before, he knelt before me and spoke sincerely.

“Miss, I know you don’t want to hear this, but please reconsider. For your sake.”

“……”

“There were other initials on the wedding dress — and Ludwig isn’t even investigating. That says everything, doesn’t it?”

“Because he did it himself — with his mistress.”

If that truth came out, so would his shame.

Not knowing what I was thinking, Sir Beltane pleaded with all his heart.

“Please… think about what’s best for you.”

“……”

Even across all my regressions, he was always the same.

A noble knight who’d risk his life to protect the daughter of his fallen lord.

I was filled with both gratitude and guilt.

Especially because… in my third life…

“He suffered horribly because of me.”

I slowly shook my head.

He seemed to take it as rejection.

“Miss!”

I knew he would obey anything I asked — no matter what.

“He ran away with me last time and died horribly. He never blamed me.”

But that sacrifice didn’t save me from Ludwig.
It only wasted his life.

“I won’t ask him to do it again. Not for me — not for him.”

I answered calmly.

“It’s too late, Sir Beltane. The wedding is tomorrow. Ludwig will never accept breaking the engagement.”

“Miss!”

As I stood, he noticed something strange.

“Why… are you dressed for going out?”

This was my bedroom. It was late — I should’ve been in nightclothes.

But I was in a simple outfit, like something a commoner would wear.

Instead of agreeing to his plea, I gave him a command.

“Sir Beltane. As the sole heir of House Delphin, I command you — accompany me tonight as my escort.”

He stared at me, stunned — then immediately knelt and saluted like a knight.

“At your command.”

Even in my fourth life, it was the first time I’d seen him like this.

“So I was just a girl he protected… not his lord.”

But now — that would change.

Sir Beltane was the strongest knight in House Delphin.

Which meant — even with me, a “burden,” he could get us out of the mansion without being caught.

“That’s why I asked him to escort me.”

If I went alone, I’d likely get caught.

He chose quiet paths and moved quickly.

As we passed through the garden, we unintentionally passed under Evangeline’s bedroom terrace.

SLAM!

The window burst open with a loud bang.

Evangeline’s furious scream echoed through the garden:

“How could you give my dress to Hilia?! That was a gift from Mother — I haven’t even worn it properly yet! How could you do this to me?!”