Chapter 02
The waiting room became quiet, like it had sunk deep into a sea of silence.
“And stop fixing my makeup. If you put anything more on my face, it will be thicker than armor.”
After saying that, Roshane pushed away the maids’ hands and stood up.
It was her first time wearing such high heels, but because she had a great sense of balance, she didn’t stumble.
‘My ankles feel strange…’
The soft hem of the dress brushing against her ankles felt unfamiliar. It was completely different from the feeling of standing over dying enemies.
Roshane moved toward the door smoothly, like butter melting in a hot pan.
“Duke, then I’ll explain it directly to the young marquis—”
“Roshane! Where do you think you’re going right now!”
The Duke of Leilaten, shocked by her confident walk, grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
“Ah!”
At the same moment, Roshane cried out in pain.
The duke was startled by the loud scream and quickly let go of her shoulder.
Roshane also looked surprised and checked her shoulder.
‘Why… does this hurt?’
Even when she ran across battlefields, she rarely felt pain.
Even when a sword lightly cut her, she had never screamed.
But earlier, when she held the hot cup, and now as well…
It hurt so much that she could barely endure it.
Something was wrong.
“I didn’t even grab you that hard. Why are you acting so dramati—”
“Duke. Hold my hand.”
“What?”
Interrupting him, Roshane turned around and suddenly grabbed the duke’s hand like they were shaking hands.
It looked like a warm family scene from a wedding ceremony—
if not for the complete lack of affection in their eyes.
“Roshane. Since earlier you’ve been acting arroga—”
“You can endure this much, right? Duke.”
“What are you saying—ugh!”
The Duke of Leilaten couldn’t finish his sentence.
Instead, he let out a short cry and shut his mouth tightly.
The pressure from Roshane’s grip kept getting stronger.
The duke clenched his jaw and looked at her. Her face stayed calm, without any change.
Even though he tried to pull his hand away, it wouldn’t move.
There were many people watching, so he couldn’t stomp his feet in pain. His body only trembled slightly.
All he could do was lower his red face.
‘…My strength seems fine.’
Roshane calmly looked at the trembling duke.
‘Maybe only the body’s defense has a problem.’
Perhaps the price of gaining freedom was this weakness.
But Roshane was willing to give up anything for freedom.
She had confirmed that her strength was still there, so she could have let go of his hand.
But she didn’t.
“…Duke.”
The original owner of this body didn’t wish for revenge until the end.
She only wanted love.
Even so, Roshane did not loosen her grip.
“This marriage today was meant to strengthen the duke’s family.”
“You were the one who volunteered to—”
“Yes, I said I would marry. But you were the one who pushed me into saying it. From now on, I hope you stop using me for your benefit.”
“Ro…shane…”
“If you see someone about to die and instead of saving them you push them off a cliff, that’s also murder.”
The Duke of Leilaten glared at her with bloodshot eyes but couldn’t answer.
It seemed to be his fragile pride.
“If someone must marry, it doesn’t have to be me. You’re still young, aren’t you?”
That should be enough for him to understand.
After all, he was known for being very smart.
Roshane slowly relaxed her grip and released his hand.
The duke held his hurting hand and bit his lip.
“I didn’t grab you that hard. You’re exaggerating.”
Roshane repeated the exact words he had said earlier, then turned around.
The atmosphere in the waiting room became tense.
The maids quickly lowered their heads and stepped back.
Thanks to that, Roshane left the waiting room without interruption.
‘First, I’ll deal with this situation, then figure out what exactly happened.’
Roshane walked to find today’s groom, Young Marquis Zichellia.
As she crossed the hallway, warm sunlight shone through the window and hurt her eyes.
At that moment, Roshane suddenly stopped walking, like she had been chained in place.
Chirp, chirp.
She saw birds freely flying in the blue sky.
The last sky Roshane remembered was covered with ashes, with no light—only red sparks flying everywhere, like the end of the world.
But the sky in front of her now was completely clear.
White clouds slowly drifted across the bright blue sky.
It was as beautiful as a painting.
“Ah…”
A soft gasp escaped her lips.
Roshane forgot that she needed to cancel the wedding soon and just stood there blankly.
For the first time—
For the first time, she truly felt alive.
It felt like tears would burst out.
Many emotions swirled inside her.
She felt anger toward the being that had taken this beautiful world away from her for hundreds of years.
But she also felt gratitude for being able to see this sky again.
“Mm…”
Instead of crying, Roshane bit her lower lip and tightly grabbed her dress with both hands.
She couldn’t cry every time she saw something beautiful.
After forcing herself to calm down, Roshane walked toward the hall where the wedding would take place.
As she got closer, she heard cheerful laughter and lively music.
‘Such… beautiful sounds…’
They were completely different from the screams she had always heard before.
In Roshane’s life, there had only been desperate cries for help, anger, and despair.
This harmony felt like light.
‘Someday… could I laugh like that too?’
Today’s wedding would soon be canceled, so she couldn’t join them now.
But maybe she would have a chance next time.
Roshane took a deep breath to calm her regret and opened the doors of the hall.
At that moment, everyone inside turned to look at her.
The music suddenly stopped.
The unexpected appearance of the bride made the hall fall into silence.
“Wow.”
The silence was broken by Roshane’s voice.
She forgot all about elegance and stared with her mouth open.
The chandelier decorated with jewels shone high above like the stars she had long wanted to see.
Fresh flowers were placed everywhere, giving off the warmth of life instead of death.
Instead of the disgusting smell of blood, the sweet scent of desserts filled the air.
Seeing this new scene, Roshane was so moved that she covered her mouth with her hand.
Even though she had often visited the imperial palace when summoned as a hero, it had never been a place prepared for her.
So she had never felt such strong emotions there.
To Roshane, this wedding hall prepared for her looked even more perfect than the palace.
When she stepped onto the carpet, it felt soft, like walking on clouds.
It was completely different from running on rocky ground.
“Oh dear, how pitiful. She must be surprised because the wedding hall is so plain.”
“There aren’t many flowers, the chandelier looks like that, and the jewels too… Marquis Zichellia really went too far preparing such a hall.”
“Even if one side of her bloodline is low, she’s still a duke’s daughter.”
“Look at her smeared makeup. She must have cried earlier.”
“Does the duke’s daughter’s wedding even matter? What matters is that the Duke of Leilaten and the Zichellia family are joining hands. Everyone came here just to impress the duke.”
Lost in the shining hall, Roshane didn’t hear the whispers about her.
When she finally focused again, everyone was smiling politely at her.
‘…They must be enjoying themselves.’
From the memories she inherited, most people usually looked at her with hostility.
But that was on other days.
Today was her wedding, and these people were guests.
At least today, they must be congratulating her.
Roshane, who had never really experienced people properly, came to a simple conclusion.
‘Even if the wedding is canceled, I should thank them for the congratulations.’
“Everyone seems happy.”
Roshane greeted them with a stiff face caused by nervousness.
As a hero who protected the empire, Roshane had always been respected.
Even the emperor who summoned her spoke to her casually.
So she didn’t realize that the way she was speaking right now sounded strange.
Still unfamiliar with this new environment, Roshane looked around calmly.
“To be welcomed in such a beautiful and luxurious hall.”
People around her flinched strangely.
“I will never forget today, even if my whole life passes. I’ll remember it for a long time.”
“…!”
“Never forget… ahem.”
“Lady Roshane, we didn’t mean it like that…”
This was completely different from the usual timid Roshane who always walked with her shoulders hunched.
Her stiff expression somehow felt frightening.
She looked confident, like someone who feared nothing.
People were confused by the sudden change.
‘What’s this? Did she gain some kind of support?’
‘Did she catch a powerful backer?’
‘Did the Duke of Leilaten suddenly realize his daughter’s value?’
‘Maybe she went crazy before the wedding. Listen to how she talks.’
People exchanged glances and guessed among themselves.
Of course, all their guesses were wrong.
“Everyone should go home today. I don’t need any more congratulations.”
Roshane muttered calmly while looking at the crowd.
