—Your Highness!
Her Majesty the Dowager Empress is waiting for you.
Hearing Lina's message, Blair immediately returned to the Princess Palace.
What greeted Blair as soon as she entered the reception room was Katrina's hand.
Phew!
At the unexpected slap, Blair's body staggered.
—Your Highness!
Lina, who came in behind, hugged her to support her.
Katrina raised her hand again, but did not dare to strike again and burst into anger.
—There is a limit to despising your mother!
How can you think of going to see that woman on the eve of your wedding!
And precisely to that woman who tried to kill you!
Although her bruised cheek stung, Blair looked at Katrina with calm eyes, without a single moan.
Katrina, for whom her humble origins were a complex, cared a lot about appearances.
Inside she didn't care, she tried to behave in the most noble and elegant way possible, like an aristocrat.
It was rare that she herself would go to the extent of slapping someone.
Blair had touched his most sensitive spot.
—Your mother is me!
I carried you ten months in the womb, I gave birth to you in pain!
Not that woman!
A vivid madness burned in his scarlet eyes.
Blair watched her sarcastically.
Her mother, who hated her following Esmeralda, actually considered her daughter a mere chess piece to her son.
If she weighed a little more than what was established, she would have the maids of the Princess's Palace punished in her place, hitting their calves until they bled, and would make her fast.
Saying that it was a punishment for not having served his mistress with devotion.
Katrina whispered that this was all for Blair's own good.
«—Think about the end of that woman who was not loved.
Dying consumed by jealousy and envy towards the one she loved… What a pitiful and useless life.”
“—…”
«—You must be a loved woman, Blair.
Like your mother."
And so you must be an excellent support for your brother and for me, for this imperial family that I have built...
On days when Blair felt like she had gained even a little weight, she would stick her fingers down her throat and throw up everything she had eaten.
It was so painful that the nausea brought tears to his eyes, but still, it was okay.
I thought it was fine.
All this is because mother cares about me, because she thinks about me.
If only I can endure, the maids will not be punished in my place, mother will not hate me, and everyone will see me beautiful and pretty.
Everyone will love me.
Yes that's fine.
As long as you are loved, this is nothing...
But the moment he held newborn Aziel in his arms, he understood.
«—Herdin Delmark.
You must make that man fall at your feet.
And so, you must make him a firm ally of your brother.
Understood?"
If he truly loved, he couldn't care more about his son than about his daughter about to get married.
If he truly loved, he couldn't help but find his daughter's way of eating adorable.
No matter what others say, in their eyes he is such a beautiful and precious child.
His heart hurt, but he couldn't deny it anymore.
Katrina's love for her was not love.
That's why.
That's why he could now reply to Katrina's words.
—Since when does he appreciate me so much, mother.
Blair's voice and gaze, calm but full of resentment, were fixed on Katrina.
-You…!
At the sudden change in attitude of her daughter, who had always been hungry for her love, Katrina was speechless and raised her hand again.
At that moment, Blair opened her mouth.
—Wouldn't it be a problem if the bride's face is injured?
Katrina's hand, which seemed about to discharge itself again, stopped dead.
Shaking uncontrollably with rage, Katrina finally lowered her hand.
—You will finish driving the nail into your mother's heart.
Insolent…
Katrina walked past Blair and Lina and out of the reception room.
Blair closed her eyes as she heard the sound of her heels receding.
That sound hurt a little, but on the other hand she felt relieved.
It was the end of a terrible unrequited love.
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The wedding ceremony was held in the Temple located on the outskirts of the capital.
A large crowd thronged to see the wedding of the Emperor's only sister and the Duke of Delmark.
Not only nobles, but also commoners.
In the bride's waiting room, the maids were busy finalizing the arrangement of the day's protagonist, Blair.
—Thank goodness the swelling has gone down a lot.
The maid who was touching up the skin makeup said in relief as she carefully brushed the cheek where Katrina had slapped Blair the day before.
—All thanks to how well you have treated him.
Mother should give you a good reward.
—Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is also too much.
What is this in the face of a girlfriend.
Blair just smiled slightly at the maid who was complaining as if it hurt her more.
At this moment, Lina, who was approaching with the veil, let out a small exclamation as she looked out the window.
—Oh, it's snowing outside.
—It seems that even the Lord has come to celebrate His Highness's wedding.
Looking out the window, small white snowflakes fluttered down.
It was the same snow that fell at their first wedding.
Blair looked with serene eyes at the snow that she had then looked at with hope and fear.
What broke that calm was a knock on the door.
—Are the preparations finished?
Hearing Ivan's voice, the maids hurried to place Blair's veil.
Because only the groom should be the first to see the bride's beauty.
The maids bowed their heads as they saw Ivan enter the bride's waiting room.
—If you're ready, let's go out now.
Ivan approached Blair and held out his hand.
Blair looked at that hand for a moment, then placed her own on top.
As they left the waiting room together, Ivan said:
—The surest way for a woman to strengthen her position in her husband's family is to give him a son.
You know that, right?
Blair showed no reaction.
Ivan was upset that his sister remained silent despite his advice, spoken with concern.
—And as a brother I advise you, you are too rigid a girl.
A modest lady is fine, but in bed you must behave like a seductress to be loved.
—…
—Mother was very worried.
Blair, who had remained silent the entire time, opened her mouth when she heard the word 'mother'.
—Tell mother that her daughter will know how to live well anywhere, so don't worry too much, brother.
Anywhere on this continent.
Blair planned, as soon as this contractual marriage ended, to free herself from the responsibilities as a member of the imperial family and travel freely.
Along with his beloved son Aziel.
When Blair emerged holding Ivan's hand, the crowd waiting in front of her greeted her with enthusiasm.
The nobles could not hide their admiration when they saw Blair's silhouette under the veil.
Because even if she wore a veil, her face was not completely hidden.
—My, he looks like an angel come down from heaven.
—Or a snow nymph.
Herdin listened indifferently to the nobles' praise as he watched Ivan and Blair approach him.
For him, it was a wedding without any emotion.
When Ivan arrived in front of him, he placed Blair's hand in Herdin's.
—She is a beautiful girl that I have raised with care.
I hope you take care of her.
—How could I disobey an imperial order?
The two, holding hands, stood in front of Pope Gerard, who was officiating the ceremony.
He gave them a satisfied smile.
—It fills me with pride to see Her Highness the Princess grow healthy and celebrate her marriage.
He was the benefactor who had saved Blair's life by healing Blair when she was injured in the fire at the Empress's Palace.
Thus, his relationship with both continued to the present, and that is why he had offered to officiate the wedding.
Soon the ceremony began.
In the midst of the crowd more excited than the bride and groom themselves for the wedding of the most beautiful couple in the empire, only the two protagonists remained impassive.
—Now, please, the kiss of the final promise.
Herdin lifted Blair's veil.
At the same time, their eyes met.
At that moment, his eyes, which had been like a calm winter lake all along, stirred slightly as if ripples were forming.
The all-white purity dress and beautiful platinum hair highlighted all the colors on her.
The pale face slightly flushed under the veil, the transparent violet eyes like amethysts located on that face, and the scarlet lips.
And as a backdrop, the snowflakes that fell softly on the other side of the window.
Snow nymph.
A pure white woman to whom that name suited her perfectly.
Herdin thought that the nobles' praise was not entirely unfounded, and he willingly placed his lips on the nymph's.
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After the wedding ceremony at the Temple, a banquet was held at the Imperial Palace.
It was a banquet that the emperor offered with the meaning of sharing the joy of the imperial family with everyone.
Still, out of consideration for the newlyweds, he allowed Herdin and Blair to return early.
Ruth organized the documents that had arrived during the day and opened the door to leave the office.
At the same time, he collided with a large shadow.
—Uah, what a scare!
In front of him was Herdin in a dressing gown.
As if she had just washed, there were still drops of water in her hair.
Ruth put her hand on her chest and looked at him.
—What brings you here at this hour?
"Do I need a reason to come to my own office?"
—No, I don't mean that.
Isn't today your wedding night?
—There are documents to review.
—There is no matter so urgent that it needs to be reviewed on the day of the wedding.
—I see you were hoping I wouldn't come to the office.
—Well, of course.
Who wants to be alone with their boss at these ungodly hours?
And even more so with a boss who just got married today.
A boss who on his wedding night goes to his assistant's office instead of the bride's bedroom.
It was a combination that could easily give rise to strange rumors.
Herdin walked past Ruth, who was writhing at the horrible imagination, sat down at the office desk and lit a cigar.
Wow, how strong.
What a workaholic.
Ruth clicked her tongue upon seeing Herdin actually reviewing the documents, and then asked cautiously.
—…By the way, what do you plan to do from now on?
Although the object was omitted, Herdin knew what Ruth was referring to.
—He said that he would cooperate as much as possible to recover the memories related to the incident ten years ago.
-Really?
-Yeah.
I don't know if he really lost his memory or pretends to have lost it for another purpose.
…To be continued