The man, who displayed an excessive affection and a strange possessiveness without reservation, doggedly followed my gaze. The thought occurred to me that he had come to me not for his father's will, nor for the Queen's, but solely out of his own volition.
I don't know if it was because he saw the baby change and knew it wasn't me, or if he had some kind of connection with this body in the womb or something.
The pale, short-haired woman reflected in those calm, maddening eyes. This is what he's eternally pursuing. For now, there's only one way to deal with this dangerous man: to continue taming him and suppressing his instincts. I can't give up on him now.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards me, telling him in a soft voice what I wanted to say.
"From now on, lover, friend, husband, family. You'll do it all. I told you before. I'm enough with just you, Noah."
Noah's cold, expressionless face slowly relaxed and soon formed a pretty smile.
“Yeah, okay.”
"Because everything but you is just a hollow pretense. Only if I don't hate you."
I pushed him with a combination of persuasion and threats, a carrot-and-stick strategy that spans the ages.
"If you doubt me, pressure me, or try to suppress me, I might end up hating you. I won't smile or respond to you, ever. I can do that."
My sharp gaze and cold voice effectively subdued and soothed his sudden outburst of bizarre madness. Even if I protested unconditionally, it would only provoke him, and he would inevitably try to bind and restrain me even more.
I didn't want to live a life of devastation, emotionally exploited by an obsession and possessiveness that transcended limits. But I also didn't want to leave this man's side. So, with the scent of blood and the urge to sway a beast, I spoke with clarity and purpose.
"Your looks, your talent, your kindness. There are many things I like, but there's one thing I dislike that's even more fatal."
He lowered his eyes and sighed deeply. His mysteriously colored eyes, beneath his slowly rising eyelids, turned to me.
Noah returned to his usual gentlemanly, kind self and gave a bewitching smile.
“Don’t hate me, Princess. I hate that word.”
I thought that perhaps the devil does not exist separately, but rather hides in people's hearts like another instinct.
Isn't it the difference between controlling it and not controlling it?
Anyone can become a devil. Noah, me. Good people can become villains, and that villain might be good to someone else.
Erita paced frantically around the room, biting her fingernails. The click-clack of her heels on the marble floor echoed nervously.
In the end, all she could do was collapse onto the red satin quilt on her bed and stare at the Marchioness Rosalia Wales, who sat on the sofa opposite, desperate for answers.
"Madam, I don't understand why the Admiral's daughter came. Did Admiral Claire betray me?"
"The daughter of a high-ranking military officer entering a truce-bound Allied nation means she risked her life, Princess. That means something is up to her."
"Then it was a betrayal. I guess I trusted him too much."
The Marchioness's amber eyes were kind and gentle.
"Oh, Princess. Please don't be upset. Frogen's illegitimate son is doing a great job. It would be safer to postpone wedding plans for a while."
“Should I just let them get married? I can’t stand seeing that.”
"After all, isn't a Princess destined to become Queen? A broken engagement might offer the possibility of reunion, but divorce is essentially the end of a true relationship."
Erita began to worry and ask questions, tapping her delicate fingers on her knee.
"Divorce? You two might already have a child. He was feeling nauseous a while ago. And isn't Madam unable to divorce because of the child?"
The Marchioness's lips were momentarily pressed together, but soon a gentle smile returned.
"Don't worry, Princess. I'll take care of everything. Ayla will do very well in the future. She has no choice but to follow the orders of Frogen's illegitimate son."
Erita's face, lacking patience, twisted into a vicious grimace, and she clenched her fist and slammed it hard against the bed sheets.
"You and that bastard aren't in league with the admiral, are you? You said you'd cooperate with me, but nothing ever came of it."
The Marchioness's elegant face momentarily fell into a blank expression. She rose, walked lightly to Erita, and took her hand.
"Isn't it the Princess who couldn't tell her about that man's past? For fear that if it were known, you wouldn't be able to connect with him. Isn't that right?"
"That..."
An unfamiliar chill passed through the Marchioness's warm-colored eyes.
At Erita's words, the Marchioness covered her mouth and sneered.
"Princess, why are you so fixated on such formalities? Just because you can't get married, does that mean your relationship will end?"
Erita, who had been thinking for a moment, nodded as if she understood.
“I see. So you’re saying the sense of betrayal is even greater after marriage?”
She nodded with her mouth, but showed every sign of displeasure on her face.
Stupid thing.
'You only listen to what you want to hear, oblivious to the fact that you're being used, and you only choose to do things that will ruin your country.'
I don't know if it was because he saw the baby change and knew it wasn't me, or if he had some kind of connection with this body in the womb or something.
The pale, short-haired woman reflected in those calm, maddening eyes. This is what he's eternally pursuing. For now, there's only one way to deal with this dangerous man: to continue taming him and suppressing his instincts. I can't give up on him now.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards me, telling him in a soft voice what I wanted to say.
"From now on, lover, friend, husband, family. You'll do it all. I told you before. I'm enough with just you, Noah."
Noah's cold, expressionless face slowly relaxed and soon formed a pretty smile.
“Yeah, okay.”
"Because everything but you is just a hollow pretense. Only if I don't hate you."
I pushed him with a combination of persuasion and threats, a carrot-and-stick strategy that spans the ages.
"If you doubt me, pressure me, or try to suppress me, I might end up hating you. I won't smile or respond to you, ever. I can do that."
My sharp gaze and cold voice effectively subdued and soothed his sudden outburst of bizarre madness. Even if I protested unconditionally, it would only provoke him, and he would inevitably try to bind and restrain me even more.
I didn't want to live a life of devastation, emotionally exploited by an obsession and possessiveness that transcended limits. But I also didn't want to leave this man's side. So, with the scent of blood and the urge to sway a beast, I spoke with clarity and purpose.
"Your looks, your talent, your kindness. There are many things I like, but there's one thing I dislike that's even more fatal."
He lowered his eyes and sighed deeply. His mysteriously colored eyes, beneath his slowly rising eyelids, turned to me.
Noah returned to his usual gentlemanly, kind self and gave a bewitching smile.
“Don’t hate me, Princess. I hate that word.”
I thought that perhaps the devil does not exist separately, but rather hides in people's hearts like another instinct.
Isn't it the difference between controlling it and not controlling it?
Anyone can become a devil. Noah, me. Good people can become villains, and that villain might be good to someone else.
***
Erita paced frantically around the room, biting her fingernails. The click-clack of her heels on the marble floor echoed nervously.
In the end, all she could do was collapse onto the red satin quilt on her bed and stare at the Marchioness Rosalia Wales, who sat on the sofa opposite, desperate for answers.
"Madam, I don't understand why the Admiral's daughter came. Did Admiral Claire betray me?"
"The daughter of a high-ranking military officer entering a truce-bound Allied nation means she risked her life, Princess. That means something is up to her."
"Then it was a betrayal. I guess I trusted him too much."
The Marchioness's amber eyes were kind and gentle.
"Oh, Princess. Please don't be upset. Frogen's illegitimate son is doing a great job. It would be safer to postpone wedding plans for a while."
“Should I just let them get married? I can’t stand seeing that.”
"After all, isn't a Princess destined to become Queen? A broken engagement might offer the possibility of reunion, but divorce is essentially the end of a true relationship."
Erita began to worry and ask questions, tapping her delicate fingers on her knee.
"Divorce? You two might already have a child. He was feeling nauseous a while ago. And isn't Madam unable to divorce because of the child?"
The Marchioness's lips were momentarily pressed together, but soon a gentle smile returned.
"Don't worry, Princess. I'll take care of everything. Ayla will do very well in the future. She has no choice but to follow the orders of Frogen's illegitimate son."
Erita's face, lacking patience, twisted into a vicious grimace, and she clenched her fist and slammed it hard against the bed sheets.
"You and that bastard aren't in league with the admiral, are you? You said you'd cooperate with me, but nothing ever came of it."
The Marchioness's elegant face momentarily fell into a blank expression. She rose, walked lightly to Erita, and took her hand.
"Isn't it the Princess who couldn't tell her about that man's past? For fear that if it were known, you wouldn't be able to connect with him. Isn't that right?"
"That..."
An unfamiliar chill passed through the Marchioness's warm-colored eyes.
Once again, I just say: with power, anything is possible. Long ago, King Medea loved his eldest daughter so deeply that he abolished the ancient Salic law—a customary law preventing daughters from inheriting titles and the throne—and passed the crown to his eldest son instead.
"That's because our promises have changed. In exchange for helping me, I agreed to become Queen and secure power for your son. And on top of that, I'll even deal with the Marquis and the government."At Erita's words, the Marchioness covered her mouth and sneered.
"Princess, why are you so fixated on such formalities? Just because you can't get married, does that mean your relationship will end?"
Erita, who had been thinking for a moment, nodded as if she understood.
“I see. So you’re saying the sense of betrayal is even greater after marriage?”
She nodded with her mouth, but showed every sign of displeasure on her face.
Stupid thing.
'You only listen to what you want to hear, oblivious to the fact that you're being used, and you only choose to do things that will ruin your country.'
The Marchioness, inwardly scoffing, assumed the kind and generous motherly expression the Queen never showed to the Princess.
"Just trust me, Princess. I'm simply helping you for the sake of my son's future. This is how I feel about family. You, Princess, are like family to me."
'Foolish young lady, they're planning a safe marriage. You have to become an incompetent Queen to overthrow Medea. My son will one day occupy a high position in the Frogen Empire. I can be free, too.'
Celine and the lieutenant colonel had already left the ballroom and returned to the mansion. I returned immediately to the mansion, dragged Celine into the room with the force of a hawk snatching a rabbit, and threateningly demanded of her.
“Tell me everything you know.”
Celine sighed softly and ran a hand through her platinum hair.
"I can't tell you this. Dad might die. And the man who's going to be your husband won't leave me alone."
"You'll die if you don't say anything now. Why not just tell me everything and save your life?"
"I can't say it, but I know it, and not saying it is a weakness to someone. I can help you."
"I know that Maid, Mastiff, and Erita are connected. What on earth is that bastard thinking? He helped that maid. I mean, Ayla."
Celine smiled faintly at the continued questioning.
"An illegitimate child can never inherit the throne through normal means, right? He's just using Erita to pretend to be on her side. All the people around her are illegitimate children, and that's all you need to know. I'll guarantee your marriage and a comfortable life."
This is something Mastiff had already told Noah during the kidnapping. He described it as treason and likely meant a revolution to change the country's ruling structure or take over Frogen by any means necessary.
She didn't seem to have any more to say. She just kept saying this.
"Go forward, pretend you didn't see it, pretend you didn't hear it. Live selfishly. Even if you did know, it wouldn't be of any benefit. There are many things in this world that you'd rather not know."
“Is this something I can avoid getting hurt by?”
"That's right. Now that the Princess has heard my story today, she won't come and make a fool of herself on your wedding day. She was stopped by me. This isn't just about saving my life."
For the first time, Celine showed a sad expression, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.
“What is it then?”
"Well, actually, my purpose is the biggest reason. Is it empathy or pity? It's because I've experienced the inevitable trials of loving someone. I also want to marry someone like you."
Did she even feel any resentment? Celine seemed to deeply sympathize with my situation. Empathy is easier to understand based on one's own experience than to project the emotions of someone else you haven't experienced.
“How much hardship have you been through?”
"Anyway, just know that. If I truly help you, there will come a day when you will help me in return."
I stared at Celine with uneasy eyes and sighed. She chuckled and blurted out words I couldn't quite place.
“Congratulations on your wedding, my sister. I mean it.”
Returning to the bedroom, I gazed at Noah's broad back as he sat on the sofa reading the newspaper. Perhaps sensing my presence and gaze, Noah slowly turned to me, narrowing his eyes and smiling.
“Go wash up and come back.”
After showering, I changed into cotton pajamas and collapsed on the bed. I was exhausted. To live a lazy life doing nothing, I had to work hard. There's no contradiction like this.
Noah put down the newspaper, came over, lay down next to me, put his arm under my neck, and asked.
“Are you tired?”
"Yes."
“I’m not tired.”
“You're in good shape.”
"We'll be getting married in just one day. I think I'll be fine even if I don't eat or sleep."
Actually, this is my first time getting married, so I'm really nervous as the wedding day approaches.
Even the calmest man is bound to feel nervous.
“I’m also nervous about getting married.”
“It won’t work. I
"Just trust me, Princess. I'm simply helping you for the sake of my son's future. This is how I feel about family. You, Princess, are like family to me."
'Foolish young lady, they're planning a safe marriage. You have to become an incompetent Queen to overthrow Medea. My son will one day occupy a high position in the Frogen Empire. I can be free, too.'
***
Celine and the lieutenant colonel had already left the ballroom and returned to the mansion. I returned immediately to the mansion, dragged Celine into the room with the force of a hawk snatching a rabbit, and threateningly demanded of her.
“Tell me everything you know.”
Celine sighed softly and ran a hand through her platinum hair.
"I can't tell you this. Dad might die. And the man who's going to be your husband won't leave me alone."
"You'll die if you don't say anything now. Why not just tell me everything and save your life?"
"I can't say it, but I know it, and not saying it is a weakness to someone. I can help you."
"I know that Maid, Mastiff, and Erita are connected. What on earth is that bastard thinking? He helped that maid. I mean, Ayla."
Celine smiled faintly at the continued questioning.
"An illegitimate child can never inherit the throne through normal means, right? He's just using Erita to pretend to be on her side. All the people around her are illegitimate children, and that's all you need to know. I'll guarantee your marriage and a comfortable life."
This is something Mastiff had already told Noah during the kidnapping. He described it as treason and likely meant a revolution to change the country's ruling structure or take over Frogen by any means necessary.
She didn't seem to have any more to say. She just kept saying this.
"Go forward, pretend you didn't see it, pretend you didn't hear it. Live selfishly. Even if you did know, it wouldn't be of any benefit. There are many things in this world that you'd rather not know."
“Is this something I can avoid getting hurt by?”
"That's right. Now that the Princess has heard my story today, she won't come and make a fool of herself on your wedding day. She was stopped by me. This isn't just about saving my life."
For the first time, Celine showed a sad expression, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.
“What is it then?”
"Well, actually, my purpose is the biggest reason. Is it empathy or pity? It's because I've experienced the inevitable trials of loving someone. I also want to marry someone like you."
Did she even feel any resentment? Celine seemed to deeply sympathize with my situation. Empathy is easier to understand based on one's own experience than to project the emotions of someone else you haven't experienced.
“How much hardship have you been through?”
"Anyway, just know that. If I truly help you, there will come a day when you will help me in return."
I stared at Celine with uneasy eyes and sighed. She chuckled and blurted out words I couldn't quite place.
“Congratulations on your wedding, my sister. I mean it.”
Returning to the bedroom, I gazed at Noah's broad back as he sat on the sofa reading the newspaper. Perhaps sensing my presence and gaze, Noah slowly turned to me, narrowing his eyes and smiling.
“Go wash up and come back.”
After showering, I changed into cotton pajamas and collapsed on the bed. I was exhausted. To live a lazy life doing nothing, I had to work hard. There's no contradiction like this.
Noah put down the newspaper, came over, lay down next to me, put his arm under my neck, and asked.
“Are you tired?”
"Yes."
“I’m not tired.”
“You're in good shape.”
"We'll be getting married in just one day. I think I'll be fine even if I don't eat or sleep."
Actually, this is my first time getting married, so I'm really nervous as the wedding day approaches.
Even the calmest man is bound to feel nervous.
“I’m also nervous about getting married.”
“It won’t work. I
You can’t postpone the wedding.”
He shook his head so much that his silver hair swayed slightly, knowing that I was trying to put it off because I was too lazy to do it.
“No, it’s just that it’s starting to feel real now.”
“Me too. Diana, marry me forever.”
“What is that?”
“Even before I was born, and even if I were to be born again, I said I would marry only you.”
"Is it so?"
“Then this wedding will be just one of many, right?”
He is realistic, but very rarely does he say anything unrealistic.
He had flawless, well-sculpted features and a graceful smile. He possessed a mysterious air of elegance and decadence, and the man who had made the bizarre suggestion that he marry me in his past life would become my husband two days later.
I would spend my life taming this man, who hid a cruel demon within his abyss. If that was my fate, I was willing to accept it. After all, we belong only to each other.
“Mr. Rotsilt, it is forbidden to see the bride’s face before the wedding.”
Whenever she didn't like something, Molly would call him Mr. Rotsilt instead of the Count and would scold Noah as he tried to enter the room.
Two voices could be heard muttering outside the door.
“Can’t I preview it? I can’t wait.”
“No, you can’t. Look at the food.”
“Wow, you’re really strong. Don’t you plan on enlisting again?”
The faces of the maids who were helping the new bride get ready were also sparkling with happiness.
“Young lady, you are truly beautiful, as befitting today’s star.”
“That’s because the dress is quite expensive.”
Celine, who was helping me with my dressing and arranging my veil, looked at my dress with curious eyes.
“Where did you buy it? Please introduce it to me.”
“Don’t even think about following along.”
“That’s fatal to my sister.”
The Princess line wedding dress I'm wearing is a platinum dress from Francia, said to be the most expensive. The voluminous skirt has delicate, floral gold threads, making the entire dress look like it's shimmering with gold.
I was worried whether I could pull off the alluring, elegant, and splendid dress, but surprisingly, it suited my cold impression well.
Looking at the woman in the mirror, with her hair neatly tied up and pinned up, wearing a tiara and veil, the fact that she is getting married feels so real that it hits me.
With the sound of the door swinging open, Noah came in, holding Molly on his arm, who was being dragged around with all his might.
A flicker of surprise crossed Noah's blue eyes as he saw me in my wedding dress.
“Princess, you are beautiful.”
Noah, dressed in a fancy ceremonial uniform with an eglet and medals, smiled at me.
The moment she thought the man in the white uniform was very well-received, Molly, whose face flushed red, pulled Noah's arm as if she were carrying a large load.
“I said no!”
“Yeah, I saw it, so that’s good.”
Noah, who had been standing there without moving, slowly stepped back while keeping his gaze fixed on me.
“See you later. I’ll wait like a knight.”
The scent of spring was strong in the air, with the fragrant scent of flowers and a heart-teasing breeze blowing through the slightly open window.
I was a little worried about the rainy weather in Medea, but I thought it would be a perfect day to get married as I looked at the flower petals fluttering in the wind as if blessing the unrealistically blue sky without a single cloud.
Today, May 1st, is the day Noah and I had our outdoor wedding in the rose-filled gardens of Tempshire Palace.
[ We will be reborn again and again, and we will still be married. This day is just one of those countless weddings, and we call it eternity.
- From the Noah and Diana Rotsilt wedding invitation ]
He shook his head so much that his silver hair swayed slightly, knowing that I was trying to put it off because I was too lazy to do it.
“No, it’s just that it’s starting to feel real now.”
“Me too. Diana, marry me forever.”
“What is that?”
“Even before I was born, and even if I were to be born again, I said I would marry only you.”
"Is it so?"
“Then this wedding will be just one of many, right?”
He is realistic, but very rarely does he say anything unrealistic.
He had flawless, well-sculpted features and a graceful smile. He possessed a mysterious air of elegance and decadence, and the man who had made the bizarre suggestion that he marry me in his past life would become my husband two days later.
I would spend my life taming this man, who hid a cruel demon within his abyss. If that was my fate, I was willing to accept it. After all, we belong only to each other.
***
“Mr. Rotsilt, it is forbidden to see the bride’s face before the wedding.”
Whenever she didn't like something, Molly would call him Mr. Rotsilt instead of the Count and would scold Noah as he tried to enter the room.
Two voices could be heard muttering outside the door.
“Can’t I preview it? I can’t wait.”
“No, you can’t. Look at the food.”
“Wow, you’re really strong. Don’t you plan on enlisting again?”
The faces of the maids who were helping the new bride get ready were also sparkling with happiness.
“Young lady, you are truly beautiful, as befitting today’s star.”
“That’s because the dress is quite expensive.”
Celine, who was helping me with my dressing and arranging my veil, looked at my dress with curious eyes.
“Where did you buy it? Please introduce it to me.”
“Don’t even think about following along.”
“That’s fatal to my sister.”
The Princess line wedding dress I'm wearing is a platinum dress from Francia, said to be the most expensive. The voluminous skirt has delicate, floral gold threads, making the entire dress look like it's shimmering with gold.
I was worried whether I could pull off the alluring, elegant, and splendid dress, but surprisingly, it suited my cold impression well.
Looking at the woman in the mirror, with her hair neatly tied up and pinned up, wearing a tiara and veil, the fact that she is getting married feels so real that it hits me.
With the sound of the door swinging open, Noah came in, holding Molly on his arm, who was being dragged around with all his might.
A flicker of surprise crossed Noah's blue eyes as he saw me in my wedding dress.
“Princess, you are beautiful.”
Noah, dressed in a fancy ceremonial uniform with an eglet and medals, smiled at me.
The moment she thought the man in the white uniform was very well-received, Molly, whose face flushed red, pulled Noah's arm as if she were carrying a large load.
“I said no!”
“Yeah, I saw it, so that’s good.”
Noah, who had been standing there without moving, slowly stepped back while keeping his gaze fixed on me.
“See you later. I’ll wait like a knight.”
The scent of spring was strong in the air, with the fragrant scent of flowers and a heart-teasing breeze blowing through the slightly open window.
I was a little worried about the rainy weather in Medea, but I thought it would be a perfect day to get married as I looked at the flower petals fluttering in the wind as if blessing the unrealistically blue sky without a single cloud.
Today, May 1st, is the day Noah and I had our outdoor wedding in the rose-filled gardens of Tempshire Palace.
[ We will be reborn again and again, and we will still be married. This day is just one of those countless weddings, and we call it eternity.
- From the Noah and Diana Rotsilt wedding invitation ]
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