All those who blessed my future and were kind to me.
Still, let's not be weak-hearted.
It was at that time that I clenched my fists and steeled my resolve.
The door opened as soon as the carriage's rattling stopped.
Then Ernest, who was standing in front, extended his hand to me.
“Come on, Ellie.”
But, unlike the usual Crown Prince, his voice was stiff.
Since it was a big event, he might have been a little nervous.
If not that...
'It must be because of what happened that day.'
I have not seen Ernest since hearing his confession that he knew about my relationship with Carsis.
We were both busy preparing for the wedding.
Because we avoided each other, not knowing what kind of face to make or what kind of conversation to have.
I took Ernest's hand, who seemed a little hesitant in response.
Then the Crown Prince smiled at me with the same smile he had always shown me.
“It’s been a while, Ernest.”
A warm smile like sunlight.
Today was the last day I would face Ernest.
It may be my greed, but I wanted the last image of him in my memory to be that of a happy bride.
'Ernest probably wasn't at ease either.'
Because he was originally a man with a gentle and affectionate personality.
I said enough, knowing the relationship between Elizabeth and Carsis and not being able to say anything and just groaning.
I wonder if he was embarrassed by my smile.
As if it was a completely unexpected reaction, his eyes opened wide and then narrowed. Then, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Before starting the main meal, the two entered a small room.
Originally, we were supposed to head straight to the banquet hall together, but when the attendant guided Ernest and me to an unfamiliar place, I tilted my head in confusion.
Then the attendant who guided us bowed his head.
“His Majesty the Emperor has not arrived yet. Please wait here for a moment and I will guide you there shortly.”
After saying those words, the servants and maids left and an awkward silence fell between us.
Ernest licked his lips as if he had something to say.
"That..."
After hesitating for a while, he carefully opened his mouth.
“That day, I think I... was a little excited. I’m sorry.”
I knew what he was talking about without him having to say anything.
I smiled faintly as if to tell him not to worry.
“No, I would have done the same.”
In fact, Ernest's reaction was rather mild.
If it had been someone else, there would have been an uproar and the marriage would have been called off already.
'I almost made a movie about love and war.'
I shook my head.
Ernest's expression relaxed slightly, perhaps somewhat relieved by my reaction.
'It's really amazing.'
How could a man with such a personality be born to a father who was like an Emperor?
It was when I, recalling the Emperor's face, trembled as if in a bad mood.
“Don’t worry about Carsis. I’ll get him out of there somehow.”
I raised my head at Ernest's unexpected words.
“...Really?”
“Yes. I promise.”
It was a situation he swore I never expected.
Of course, he can't keep that promise because of the rebellion that's going to happen today...
Still, it was good.
That the Crown Prince made that decision for me.
It must have been a difficult decision.
I expressed my heartfelt gratitude.
And the Crown Prince asked the question he had never been able to ask before.
“Did you love Carsis?”
Even though those words were his own, he looked as distressed as he had that day.
Sincerely?
The last words, in the end, were not spit out.
I stared at Ernest quietly.
Well.
Elizabeth may have truly loved Carsis.
But I...
I was silent for a moment as if trying to decide on an answer.
However, the Crown Prince seemed to think that seeing me like that was a silent approval.
Ernest's face turned pale.
And just when he was about to tell me not to answer.
I opened my mouth.
"No."
Still, let's not be weak-hearted.
It was at that time that I clenched my fists and steeled my resolve.
The door opened as soon as the carriage's rattling stopped.
Then Ernest, who was standing in front, extended his hand to me.
“Come on, Ellie.”
But, unlike the usual Crown Prince, his voice was stiff.
Since it was a big event, he might have been a little nervous.
If not that...
'It must be because of what happened that day.'
I have not seen Ernest since hearing his confession that he knew about my relationship with Carsis.
We were both busy preparing for the wedding.
Because we avoided each other, not knowing what kind of face to make or what kind of conversation to have.
I took Ernest's hand, who seemed a little hesitant in response.
Then the Crown Prince smiled at me with the same smile he had always shown me.
“It’s been a while, Ernest.”
A warm smile like sunlight.
Today was the last day I would face Ernest.
It may be my greed, but I wanted the last image of him in my memory to be that of a happy bride.
'Ernest probably wasn't at ease either.'
Because he was originally a man with a gentle and affectionate personality.
I said enough, knowing the relationship between Elizabeth and Carsis and not being able to say anything and just groaning.
I wonder if he was embarrassed by my smile.
As if it was a completely unexpected reaction, his eyes opened wide and then narrowed. Then, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
***
Before starting the main meal, the two entered a small room.
Originally, we were supposed to head straight to the banquet hall together, but when the attendant guided Ernest and me to an unfamiliar place, I tilted my head in confusion.
Then the attendant who guided us bowed his head.
“His Majesty the Emperor has not arrived yet. Please wait here for a moment and I will guide you there shortly.”
After saying those words, the servants and maids left and an awkward silence fell between us.
Ernest licked his lips as if he had something to say.
"That..."
After hesitating for a while, he carefully opened his mouth.
“That day, I think I... was a little excited. I’m sorry.”
I knew what he was talking about without him having to say anything.
I smiled faintly as if to tell him not to worry.
“No, I would have done the same.”
In fact, Ernest's reaction was rather mild.
If it had been someone else, there would have been an uproar and the marriage would have been called off already.
'I almost made a movie about love and war.'
I shook my head.
Ernest's expression relaxed slightly, perhaps somewhat relieved by my reaction.
'It's really amazing.'
How could a man with such a personality be born to a father who was like an Emperor?
It was when I, recalling the Emperor's face, trembled as if in a bad mood.
“Don’t worry about Carsis. I’ll get him out of there somehow.”
I raised my head at Ernest's unexpected words.
“...Really?”
“Yes. I promise.”
It was a situation he swore I never expected.
Of course, he can't keep that promise because of the rebellion that's going to happen today...
Still, it was good.
That the Crown Prince made that decision for me.
It must have been a difficult decision.
I expressed my heartfelt gratitude.
And the Crown Prince asked the question he had never been able to ask before.
“Did you love Carsis?”
Even though those words were his own, he looked as distressed as he had that day.
Sincerely?
The last words, in the end, were not spit out.
I stared at Ernest quietly.
Well.
Elizabeth may have truly loved Carsis.
But I...
I was silent for a moment as if trying to decide on an answer.
However, the Crown Prince seemed to think that seeing me like that was a silent approval.
Ernest's face turned pale.
And just when he was about to tell me not to answer.
I opened my mouth.
"No."
I had the same reaction as when I had smiled at him a moment ago when I had gotten out of the carriage.
“At least it’s not love.”
Whatever Elizabeth's mind was like in the past.
Because now I was the master of this body.
“At least it’s not love.”
Whatever Elizabeth's mind was like in the past.
Because now I was the master of this body.
I confessed my current feelings honestly.
“...Then what was it?”
“Well, I can’t really define this feeling in one word. But one thing is for sure.”
My focus was on Ernest's eyes.
“It’s different from how I feel about you.”
“Your feelings towards me.. .”
Ernest repeated my words for a long time.
At first glance, it seemed as if the corners of his ears were turning red.
Maybe if we, if I had a little more time.
I might have truly fallen in love with Ernest.
No. I'm sure I fell in love with him.
A bitter smile spread across my lips.
But I didn't know.
In a place where I thought there would be only two people.
That someone else was with us.
And. that someone's fist was clenched tightly as if trying to hold something back.
The wedding has begun.
The Great Hall, which also served as a chapel, was filled with people gathered to celebrate the future of the Crown Prince and his wife.
'I think I saw it in a book.'
I don't remember the details of the book though.
Sometimes when I experience a certain situation, I keep getting a sense of deja vu, as if I've seen it somewhere before.
Just like the situation right now.
Clang...!
The archbishop, who was officiating at the wedding, dropped the chalice he was about to hand to the newlyweds to wish them happiness.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I...!”
At a wedding, dropping the Holy Grail, which symbolizes happiness, was considered an ill omen.
This was an act that was no different from throwing ashes on the future of both people.
The archbishop also seemed very embarrassed and hurriedly picked up the Holy Grail that was rolling on the floor.
'It was a foreshadowing.'
The Crown Prince patted my hand, perhaps because he thought I was watching him calmly and anxiously.
And then he reassured me silently, just with the shape of his lips.
He said not to worry, it was nothing serious.
'Unfortunately, something bad will happen, Your Highness.'
I smiled as if I was deliberately reassured.
'Isaac should have prepared well.'
It was an opportunity to prepare for the banquet held in the evening after the main meal.
I was then planning to leave the palace alone, under the pretense of resting in my room, and follow the person Isaac had prepared for me.
'It would be nice if I could find Carsis before that...'
Even if I can't find it.
It seemed unlikely that the rebels would harm Carsis, who was imprisoned in the basement.
'Yes, everything will be okay.'
Only then did my hands begin to feel real and they began to get wet.
The archbishop spoke to the two of us, whether he knew my feelings or not.
“...I now declare that you two are husband and wife. Now, please kiss.”
I turned and faced Ernest.
I saw the face of a man looking at me, completely unaware of the terrible things that were about to happen.
Ernest gently wraps his hands around my shoulder.
And his face gradually gets closer.
It was the moment when I was about to lower my eyelids, following the man's eyes that were slowly closing.
Behind the Crown Prince.
I made eye contact with a man who was mingling with a large crowd of people.
'Uh?'
Black hair reminiscent of the night.
Intense brown eyes on a subject with plain colors.
It was Carsis.
“...Then what was it?”
“Well, I can’t really define this feeling in one word. But one thing is for sure.”
My focus was on Ernest's eyes.
“It’s different from how I feel about you.”
“Your feelings towards me.. .”
Ernest repeated my words for a long time.
At first glance, it seemed as if the corners of his ears were turning red.
Maybe if we, if I had a little more time.
I might have truly fallen in love with Ernest.
No. I'm sure I fell in love with him.
A bitter smile spread across my lips.
But I didn't know.
In a place where I thought there would be only two people.
That someone else was with us.
And. that someone's fist was clenched tightly as if trying to hold something back.
***
The wedding has begun.
The Great Hall, which also served as a chapel, was filled with people gathered to celebrate the future of the Crown Prince and his wife.
'I think I saw it in a book.'
I don't remember the details of the book though.
Sometimes when I experience a certain situation, I keep getting a sense of deja vu, as if I've seen it somewhere before.
Just like the situation right now.
Clang...!
The archbishop, who was officiating at the wedding, dropped the chalice he was about to hand to the newlyweds to wish them happiness.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I...!”
At a wedding, dropping the Holy Grail, which symbolizes happiness, was considered an ill omen.
This was an act that was no different from throwing ashes on the future of both people.
The archbishop also seemed very embarrassed and hurriedly picked up the Holy Grail that was rolling on the floor.
'It was a foreshadowing.'
The Crown Prince patted my hand, perhaps because he thought I was watching him calmly and anxiously.
And then he reassured me silently, just with the shape of his lips.
He said not to worry, it was nothing serious.
'Unfortunately, something bad will happen, Your Highness.'
I smiled as if I was deliberately reassured.
'Isaac should have prepared well.'
It was an opportunity to prepare for the banquet held in the evening after the main meal.
I was then planning to leave the palace alone, under the pretense of resting in my room, and follow the person Isaac had prepared for me.
'It would be nice if I could find Carsis before that...'
Even if I can't find it.
It seemed unlikely that the rebels would harm Carsis, who was imprisoned in the basement.
'Yes, everything will be okay.'
Only then did my hands begin to feel real and they began to get wet.
The archbishop spoke to the two of us, whether he knew my feelings or not.
“...I now declare that you two are husband and wife. Now, please kiss.”
I turned and faced Ernest.
I saw the face of a man looking at me, completely unaware of the terrible things that were about to happen.
Ernest gently wraps his hands around my shoulder.
And his face gradually gets closer.
It was the moment when I was about to lower my eyelids, following the man's eyes that were slowly closing.
Behind the Crown Prince.
I made eye contact with a man who was mingling with a large crowd of people.
'Uh?'
Black hair reminiscent of the night.
Intense brown eyes on a subject with plain colors.
It was Carsis.
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