CHAPTER 11❤

‘It’s alright. That position was Satin’s to begin with. If your engagement falls apart because of me, I’d never be able to face her again. I know my place. Even if I play the part of a princess on a dazzling stage, in reality, I’m just a commoner. I understand the difference between what I can wish for and what I mustn’t. So please, don’t apologize. Just the fact that you pulled me away from that man… that alone makes you my savior, Lord Giyorn.’

“Delilah…”

‘Just… please don’t abandon me. That’s all I ask.’

Her voice came in a soft, whispering murmur. Gentle and pitiful—sweet enough to melt his ears. Giyorn looked down at Delilah, clinging to his chest.

Their eyes met and spoke volumes. Delilah lifted her head and kissed him again.

It was through her that he first learned the sweetness of a kiss. He had never shared such tender intimacy with Satin.

Despite how radiant her life may have seemed on the outside, Delilah was, in truth, someone with nothing to her name.

Unlike Satin, she had no powerful family to support her. And though she was currently popular, fame was a fleeting illusion.

If even Giyorn let go of her… she would truly have nowhere to go.

He parted his lips and moved his tongue awkwardly. Delilah whispered, her fingers gently threading through the back of his hair.

‘Relax your lips. Just stay still.’

She led him with practiced ease into an entirely new world.

A moan escaped him instinctively. Even as his mind turned hazy, Giyorn held Delilah tightly. He couldn’t let go of this feeling.

He made a vow—he would never abandon her. He meant to keep that promise for the rest of his life.

But fate, decided long ago, could not be defied.

And so, Giyorn found himself forced down the wedding aisle.

Satin, the bride, was visibly miserable, clearly dragged to the ceremony against her will.

Neither the groom nor the bride wanted this wedding, but it was far too late to turn back.

Their parents pressed on, presenting their children before the cardinal, while guests gathered, eager to witness the union of a new couple.

It was unbearable. Giyorn could feel all eyes on him, their stares like needles. He just wanted the whole ordeal to be over.

And then—

“I can’t do this. I can’t go through with this wedding.”

Following the slap to his cheek, Satin now landed a figurative blow to the back of his head.

Her bold declaration caused a stir so great that not a single person refrained from gossiping about Giyorn and Delilah.

He went numb.

Then, another voice spoke up.

“She cannot marry. To wed someone else while loving another would go against the sanctity of the vows.”

It was Lublier who stepped in with a saving hand.

Giyorn knew best that Satin and Lublier were not in any romantic relationship.

Every time Lublier showed up, Satin’s face would harden. If anything, Giyorn was the one closer to Lublier.

He figured Lublier was simply helping out a friend, trying to bring this disaster to a graceful close.

At this point, all Giyorn could hope for was that the mess of a wedding be sorted out as quickly and quietly as possible.

Satin glanced sideways at her and Giyorn’s parents.

The families, stunned at first by the unfolding chaos, were slowly regaining composure as they calculated their next moves.

A flush of satisfaction even colored Satin’s parents’ faces.

The wedding was ruined anyway. But now, in place of the disgraced groom, a far better match had swooped in—none other than Duke Lublier Ka Dillon.

The alliance with the Sel Vio family was a lost cause. Under the circumstances, Ka Dillon had every reason to switch alliances and embrace Satin as one of their own.

The Sel Vio side felt the same. No matter how things played out, Satin had publicly humiliated their son. Even if she changed her mind and agreed to the marriage, she would never be truly accepted.

But now, Lublier had created a story—that Satin and Giyorn were parting ways because they each loved someone else. It allowed both families to save face in front of all these guests.

However, that was the limit.

Even if the marriage was called off, Giyorn could never take Delilah as his wife.

They had already lost Del Mare and watched it ally with Ka Dillon. Letting someone like Delilah—who had nothing but her looks—enter their family? That was too much to stomach.

Because Lublier was the official representative of the Ka Dillon family, there was no one in attendance who could object to the sudden turn of events.

The cardinal, having successfully conducted at least one wedding, seemed satisfied. As for the guests—they couldn’t have asked for a more entertaining spectacle.

Those with no stake in the power struggle between noble houses were on the verge of laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all.

Satin, once destined to be the tragic heroine and disgrace of her family, had now reclaimed her honor and publicly called off her engagement to a cheating fiancé.

It was a happy ending—for everyone.

Except, of course, on one condition: that Satin marry Lublier.

“Satin Del Mare. Will you marry me?”

Lublier proposed again. The pressure to say yes weighed down on her like chains.

What now? What should I do?

Satin looked to her parents, hoping to express her hesitation, but flinched.

Their eyes flashed a warning—refuse Lublier’s proposal, and there would be consequences.

But was this really happening?

Could a wedding like this even be possible?

She couldn’t bring herself to speak. Frozen, Satin hesitated. At that moment, Giyorn’s eyes briefly flicked toward her.

She remembered. Just moments ago, he had exchanged tender, intimate feelings with Delilah during the cardinal’s speech.

Between her and Giyorn, it was those two who had been the ones truly filled with sorrow and longing for each other.

Get a grip. You need to think. How do I make Giyorn Sel Vio pay?

Her mind snapped back into place, and the anger she’d pushed aside began to surge once more.

She wasn’t about to shoulder all the backlash from this broken engagement on her own.

With trembling hands, she accepted the bouquet.

“I accept.”

Half of it was spite. The other half was her attempt to take control of the aftermath.

From proposal to wedding, it was a record-breaking whirlwind.

Was she picking up a man even worse while trying to throw out trash?

“Giyorn. The Sel Vio family’s wedding expenses will be reimbursed by Ka Dillon.”

Lublier whispered in Giyorn’s ear. Giyorn blinked in shock, then gave a dazed nod.

“Th-thanks…”

“You’re welcome,” Lublier said, giving Giyorn’s shoulder a few firm pats.

“One day, you’ll return the favor.”

As Giyorn, filled with a strange feeling, looked back at Lublier, he saw him already holding out his hand to escort Satin.

Finally, Satin and Lublier stood before the cardinal, side by side.

Despite the suddenness of it all, Lublier’s Holy Knight uniform was as splendid as any ceremonial attire—perhaps even more so than Giyorn’s.

“Lublier Ka Dillon. Do you stand here of your own free will?”

“Yes.”

“Do you vow to love and honor your one and only wife until the end of your days?”

“Yes.”

Both answers came swiftly and cleanly. Now the cardinal turned to Satin.

“Satin Del Mare. Do you stand here of your own free will?”

It was the same question—but asked of a different person.

“…Yes.”

“Satin Del Mare. Do you vow to love and honor your one and only husband until the end of your days?”

“…”

She sighed silently.

“…Yes.”

Her response, hollow and lifeless, drifted into the air. The slight delay made the cardinal tense up, but at last, he seemed relieved as he announced the marriage was complete.

“In the name of the divine, I bless this union.”

The marriage was declared.

Satin Del Mare and Lublier Ka Dillon were now husband and wife.

With a faraway look, Satin placed her hand on Lublier’s arm and slowly walked down the aisle.

Even if this was the best way to resolve everything… what kind of farce had this become?

The man she entered with wasn’t the same one she exited with.

And now, her husband was none other than Lublier—the Paladin of the Holy Knights. The aftermath would be far more explosive than Giyorn’s scandal.

Satin made a decision: she would avoid theaters and salons for the foreseeable future.

It had been a wedding for the ages—one for the history books. A complete disaster.