“Have you been burning incense again?”

Staring directly into her unfocused eyes, Varkas spoke in a tone of reproach.

Heat instantly flooded her cheeks.

She had merely used medicine because she was in pain.

She hadn't done anything wrong, so why did it feel as though she was being scolded?

Avoiding his gaze, she lowered her eyes, only for a dry sigh to brush across her forehead.

“...Perhaps this is for the best.”

Muttering bitterly, Varkas dropped one knee to the floor and wrapped an arm around her back.

Talia looked up at the sharp line of his jaw, now right before her eyes, in bewilderment.

He slipped his other arm beneath her legs and slowly rose to his feet.

Instinctively, Talia clutched the skirt of her dress tightly. A chill ran down her spine at the thought that it might ride up.

“I-I can walk on my own.”

“Then simply remain drunk on your medicine.”

Stepping down from the carriage, Varkas spoke dryly.

“That will make enduring today much easier.”

Talia shrank into herself as she caught the sarcasm hidden within his voice.

To him, today seemed to be something that simply had to be endured.

Lowering her head dejectedly, she heard an unfamiliar voice nearby.

“Commander, His Majesty appears to be delayed.”

Talia flinched and buried herself deeper in his arms.

Varkas spread his coat over her body and gave instructions to the man in a curt tone.

“Inform the High Priest.”

Then he strode toward the archway carved from marble.

Unconsciously, Talia clutched his shirt tightly.

Beyond the thin coat carrying the scent of mint, she could see the heavily clouded sky.

The gloomy gray hue, as though foretelling her dark future, cast eerie shadows upon the faces of the saints carved into the pillars and stone walls.

As those faces drew closer, the fear pooled inside her stomach slowly crawled up her throat.

Impulsively, she spoke.

“The weather is too gloomy today.”

Blue eyes flecked with silver dropped onto her forehead.

Avoiding that gaze, she stammered,

“No one gets married on days like this.”

So let's stop. She was about to say that, but his lips parted first.

“Then we'll be the first.”

His voice sounded as though he were soothing her.

Talia swallowed the words rising to her throat.

He was already accustomed to her whims.

Those words were only meant to placate her.

She tried to convince herself of that, but her shameless heart beat wildly on its own.

Lowering her head to hide her burning face, she remained silent.

Before long, the enormous mouth of the Grand Cathedral swallowed them whole.

Cold, heavy air pressed down upon the body wrapped in a thin dress.

Hunching her shoulders, Talia peeked outside through the opening in Varkas's coat.

Hundreds of people filled the corridors.

The sheer number of guests made her mouth go dry. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

They had not gathered to celebrate this marriage.

They were here only because they feared Senevier.

Or perhaps...

They had come to see what had become of the bastard princess.

Lowering her gaze, she checked whether her leg was properly concealed beneath her dress.

Even after repeatedly confirming that the layers of fabric covered her feet, her anxiety refused to subside.

With sweaty hands, she gripped the hem of her skirt and tugged it lower, glancing toward the audience seats in case anyone was looking at her leg.

Instead, she saw hundreds of eyes opened wide.

Thinking that her appearance must truly be that hideous, her spine stiffened.

Suddenly, the dark coat blocked her vision.

“It seems we will have to wait until His Majesty arrives.”

His voice was strangely gentle.

Passing through the crossing, he headed toward a quieter side wing.

“Until then, perhaps you should get some sleep.”

Talia stared blankly at the tip of his chin.

Today, he was saying an unusual number of strange things.

What bride in the world slept during her own wedding?

Just as she was about to say so, a familiar voice sounded behind them.

“Lord Siorcan.”

Talia peeked over his collar.

The knight who always followed Varkas like a shadow was hurrying toward them.

“Marquis Oristein is looking for you. He says he would like to speak with you before the ceremony.”

Marquis Oristein was Gareth and Aila's maternal grandfather.

Why had someone like him come to the cathedral?

Looking up in confusion, she saw Varkas's face stiffen ever so slightly.

After a brief silence, as though weighing something, he set her down upon the choir seats.

Removing his coat, he draped it over her shoulders.

“Wait here for a moment. I'll return shortly.”

Talia reached out to stop him, only to hurriedly lower her hand.

He had only accepted her because he was forced to by the Emperor.

She had to become accustomed to being pushed aside.

“Watch over her carefully.”

After giving the instruction to his knight, Varkas departed the side wing with graceful steps.

Watching his retreating back, Talia bit her lips anxiously.

Marquis Oristein had undoubtedly come to stop the marriage.

How would he try to persuade Varkas?

She was blankly lost in thought when she felt a burning stare upon her cheek.

Turning abruptly, she froze.

A pair of dark brown eyes were staring directly at her.

The knight, who had been secretly observing her with an odd expression, flinched and turned his head away.

Cold sweat formed down her back.

Why had he looked at her like that?

Had something happened not only to her leg, but to the rest of her appearance as well?

She looked down at the body wrapped in flowing layers of dress.

Perhaps the outline of her twisted leg was visible beneath the fabric.

“Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

The knight cleared his throat awkwardly.

Suppressing her anxiety, Talia deliberately adopted an arrogant tone.

“N-No need.”

But her tongue, loosened by the medicine, refused to obey her.

Moistening her dry lips, she looked around.

Besides the knight standing beside her, priests and attendants waiting for the ceremony lined the walls of the side wing.

Not only them, but even those gathered at the crossing cast furtive glances her way.

Those sticky gazes grated on her nerves.

Biting her lips, she wanted to scream and ask what they were staring at.

Ugly things are mocked and trampled for no reason.

Senevier's voice echoed in her ears.

She wanted to # Nоvеlight # run out of the cathedral immediately.

But if she did, she would surely collapse in front of everyone.

And laughter would pour down upon her like a torrential rain.

Bastard.

Cripple.

The worst bride.

“Your Highness, your complexion doesn't look well. Shall I summon a priest?”

The knight approached with concern written across his face.

Talia shook her head.

“No.”

“At least some healing magic—”

“Are you deaf? I said no.”

At her sharp retort, the man fell silent.

But he still wouldn't stop looking at her.

His very presence was becoming unbearable.

Every gaze directed at her felt disgusting.

Anxiously, she stared at the place where Varkas had disappeared.

‘Just when is he coming back?’

What conversation could possibly take this long?

Suddenly, Aila's voice echoed in her mind.

You'll regret it.

Perhaps that woman had encouraged her grandfather to interfere.

Yes.

That had to be it.

A marriage between Varkas and herself had been absurd from the beginning.

Perhaps the entire thing had been a play meant to humiliate her.

Varkas had already left the cathedral.

And she—

She would become not only a bastard and a cripple, but a miserable bride abandoned at the altar.

“I want to go home.”

The knight looked at her in confusion.

Talia pulled off the coat Varkas had draped over her shoulders and threw it to the floor.

Then, staggering to her feet, she headed toward a small side door at the end of the wing, desperate to escape those hateful eyes.

The knight, watching in alarm, hurriedly blocked her path.

“Where are you going? The ceremony is about to—”

“Move!”

She reached out to shove him aside.

But no knight clad in armor would be pushed back by her feeble strength.

She glared at him with hostility.

“Didn't you hear me? Move!”

She stretched out her arm again, but her legs gave way and her body tilted to one side.

Instinctively, Talia grabbed his arm.

She felt his body stiffen.

But she felt the same horror.

Touching a man disgusted her.

That large body, impossible for her to control, made her skin crawl.

The only person she could bear to touch was Varkas.

But he had abandoned her here.

Suddenly, tears spilled out.

“Let go!”

She violently shook off the hand trying to support her shoulders.

Then—

Her body suddenly rose into the air.

Talia widened her eyes and turned around.

Varkas's cold eyes met hers.

He stared at her face as though he wanted to tear something apart, before shifting his gaze toward his subordinate.

The knight's face turned scarlet, and he immediately bowed his head.

Varkas watched him silently for a long moment before turning around with an arm wrapped firmly around Talia's waist.

“All of the guests have arrived. The ceremony is about to begin.”

His icy voice rang clearly above her head.

“It is too late to turn back.”