Chapter 7
Kael treated Aela as she had known him only in front of his father, Hans Bluwanz.
His subtly changed gaze could be felt by no one but Aela.
In just five days, Aela would transform from the daughter of the Bluwanz Count family into the Duchess of Hormons.
It had been a dream she longed for ever since she realized she loved her childhood friend Kael—but now, that dream filled her with endless fear.
She knew better than anyone how the staff of the duke’s household worshipped the previous Hormons duke more than the emperor himself.
“They will probably… especially that Rency.”
The staff had been unusually kind to Aela. The maids treated her as if she were the daughter of the house, but there was one exception: Rency, a maid who had the trust of the head maid, openly showed her dislike for Aela.
Of course, no one else knew.
“Haa…”
Just thinking about entering the duke’s household and being tormented by that woman made Aela anxious.
Worse, she worried about Kina the most—because Kina would never stand idly by if Aela were mistreated. She called her.
“You called, Miss?”
“Kina, I need you to promise me something.”
“Please tell me.”
“No matter what happens to me, don’t interfere.”
“What do you mean!”
“Don’t cause any trouble for Kael… or the duke… or the staff.”
“Not for the duke! But the staff? I won’t let them! Miss!”
“Kina.”
Tears welled up in Kina’s eyes as she met Aela’s earnest gaze.
“I’m begging you. For my sake, please endure it.”
“Sniff… Miss! I really can’t! I… I want you to be happy! Your late lady would want that too! Just run away! It’s not too late, okay?”
Aela shook her head, and Kina burst out in frustration.
“How could anyone! Miss, what wrong have you done? And the others, it’s the same! You didn’t choose to be born the daughter of that devilish man!”
“Kina! Lower your voice!”
Sniff… sob… sniff.
“I’m sorry for shouting. I’m sorry, Kina.”
“Miss…”
Aela held Kina, who was trembling like a leaf, and stroked her back.
“I’m really okay. I can endure anything. As long as I have you, Laura… and Charlotte, I can endure it all.”
“Sniff… ohh… Miss, I wish… I wish someone could save you, our poor Miss…!”
Aela silently listened to Kina’s pitiful cries, closing her eyes and letting tears quietly fall as she stroked her back.
Outside the firmly shut door, Laura exhaled deeply and took a step toward the place.
The disgusting villa of Hans Bluwanz, which she had no desire to approach.
As she neared it, unwanted moans and cries echoed from inside.
Inside the villa, a nauseating stench made Laura wish she could just remove her nose.
Knock knock.
“Master.”
In that place filled with harsh breathing, cries, pain, and groans, Laura knocked harder, desperate to get out.
Bang!
“What?”
A repulsive man appeared, completely naked. Laura bent her torso in reaction.
“In two days, Miss’s—”
“Ah! Who doesn’t know that already, you damn wench!”
Every time his rough hand struck her head, a ringing filled her skull.
“Sorry.”
“Since you ruined my mood, bring me a fresher one! More, if possible. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Squeak.
Laura lifted her head and saw through the closing door the women staring at her with eyes full of hatred.
She closed her eyes tightly and vowed once again.
“I will make you pay for your crimes. Even if it costs me my life.”
She clenched her fists and stepped outside.
Looking up at the clear sky, she closed her eyes and clasped her hands.
“God, I beg and beg of you. Please let the end of that demon in human skin be the cruelest possible.”
Her woman’s spiteful prayer was drowned out by the painful screams echoing from the villa.
Julius was on the verge of madness at the thought that the woman he loved—no, adored—would become Duchess of Hormons in two days.
Why she would willingly walk into such hell like a moth to a flame was beyond his understanding.
He wanted, with all his heart, to stop her with the authority of the crown prince, but doing so would only earn her resentment.
“Haa… Ella! Why! Why would you let that! That man destroy you for no reason! Why?”
Julius pounded his chest in frustration, then flung open the door to confront his father.
Slap! Slap!
In an instant, both of his cheeks burned red.
“You are making your father and the royal family look like fools!”
“…”
“Julius Albazar!”
“I’m not deaf.”
“When will you ever wake up, you pathetic son! Do you even know how Princess Roden is being treated in this empire because of you?!”
Julius couldn’t hold back a laugh at his father’s shouting.
“You bastard!”
“Then why did you put Princess Roden by my side as my fiancée without permission?”
“…”
“If you hadn’t called her my fiancée from the start, she and the nobles…”
Before he could finish, another sharp slap struck him.
Thud.
Blood began trickling from his nose.
“No matter how much you struggle, Princess Roden will become your bride and the empress of this empire.”
“Yes, do as you wish.”
“You ingrate!”
Julius stopped his father, who was storming out, and met his gaze with icy resolve.
“Father, I beg of you. That princess will slowly wither and die from my indifference. Know that it is entirely your greed that has caused this.”
“You’re insane.”
The emperor cursed and left, slamming the door, while Julius walked to the window, wiping the blood still dripping from his sleeve, staring up at the clear sky.
“Yes, I am insane. Aela… that cruel woman who doesn’t understand my heart.”
Closing his eyes, tears quietly slid down his cheeks.
The day had come to enter the fire of hell.
In the early morning, Aela entered her mother’s room, where her mother was no longer.
Everything was as it had always been: the portrait on the wall, pictures, and paintings full of memories.
“Mother… today I will become Kael’s wife. And I will become the Duchess of Hormons.”
The marriage she had longed for, with the man she loved, and the future she would spend as his wife filled her with fear. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.
“Don’t worry about me. Even though you’re far away, I have Laura, like a mother; Kina, like a friend and sister… and my little sister Charlotte… by my side. So… please rest easy.”
Trying not to cry, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
“Just today… just today, I will cry. Mother… mother… mama…”
She wished, even in her dreams, to see her mother.
Although she had longed for her mother’s presence, Aela was a little hurt that her mother had never appeared. She wiped her tears and looked at her mother’s smiling portrait.
“I love you, Mama. I will live my life earnestly from now on.”
“I will endure. I will atone to Kael until my very last breath.”
Stepping outside, she met Kina’s worried gaze and smiled.
“Today is the only wedding in my life, so please help me, Kina.”
“Yes, Miss. I will make you the most beautiful bride in the world. Just trust me.”
“Thank you, Kina.”
Even seeing her try to smile tore at Kina’s heart.
If only I could, I’d kidnap her and run far away.
Unable to do so, Kina swore again and again:
I will dedicate myself to protecting Miss… no, my lady!
At Albazar Cathedral, a massive crowd had gathered.
Today, Kael Hormons—having inherited the ducal title after losing his father—and Aela Bluwanz—the only daughter of the Bluwanz Count, suspected of conspiring to kill the late Hormons duke—would be wed in the sacred cathedral.
Those attending the wedding already knew this marriage would not be happy.
Some pitied Aela, while others looked down on Kael for marrying the daughter of the man who may have killed his father.
Clack, clack.
“The Duke of Hormons has arrived first.”
“He always rides a horse, I hear.”
“Same as the late duke.”
“Since the late duchess died in a carriage accident, and the Duke lost his mother before his eyes, it’s understandable.”
Kael, annoyed by the whispers, dismounted his white horse.
Hasn’t she arrived yet? Or did she run away?
Part of him, however, hoped she had run.
Then—
Neigh~
At the loud sound of a horse, he turned and saw a familiar carriage arriving.
She hasn’t run away.
Turning around, Kael saw Aela stepping out of the carriage.
A pure white wedding dress and veil. Everyone present admired her.
“….”
Kael nearly lost himself at her unparalleled beauty and clenched his brows.
Get a grip.
Biting his tongue to control himself, Kael approached Aela, smiling, and offered his hand.
“Shall we go in, Ella?”
Aela smiled softly and placed her hand over his.
Just days ago, his hand had been warm and large, but now it felt as cold as ice.
Creak.
Slowly, they entered the cathedral, Aela walking alongside Kael in step with him.
Thus, she stepped into the crucible of fire, surrendering herself completely.
