IDHIT C3

Chapter 3

“His office. Shall I escort you?”

Angelina gave a small nod to the attendant.

If she couldn’t say everything in front of the Empress, then she would at least say it to Alexei. She had to ask him—no, confront him. Why, why had he agreed to this marriage?

If she threw a fit, would even the little affection he had for her vanish?

Clinging to that faint hope, she arrived at the Crown Prince’s office.

The attendant opened the door, revealing her dignified fiancé seated behind his desk. His profile, illuminated by a melancholic gaze as he read, looked like a masterpiece sculpted by a palace artist.

She had to admit what was true.

Alexei was handsome. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that half the reason noble ladies envied her was because of him.

“Angelina must be so happy, being friends with the Crown Prince.”

Words she had heard since childhood.

Whether their relationship—never warmer than the doll she used to carry around—could really be called friendship was questionable, but she never denied it.

It was like a brooch pinned to her chest—something dazzling, something she could proudly show off.

Sensing her presence, the handsome Crown Prince lifted his chin and stood.

“What’s wrong with your face?”

“M-my face? What about it?”

“It looks terrible.”

Angelina narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him. His utterly indifferent gaze made her feel less important than the book he had been reading.

“It’s because of you, Alex.”

As she puffed out her lips in irritation, his long fingers brushed against her eyebrow.

Huh?

He gently moved aside the hair covering her brow and asked, his eyes filled with curiosity,

“…Did you cry?”

“A little.”

“Why?”

How was she supposed to explain that it felt like being betrayed by someone she trusted?

Recalling how she had cried face-down on her bed all night, Angelina took a breath.

It was strange. She was loved by everyone, yet the man she was to marry didn’t love her. But if she rejected the marriage for that reason, wouldn’t it seem like she was demanding his love?

Caught in confusion, she asked,

“Are you really okay with marrying me?”

“Yes.”

“So anyone would do, as long as it’s for the succession?”

“You’re the one who said that.”

“Me? When?”

“When we got engaged.”

An engagement sealed not with a ceremony, but with a single document.

“When I asked if you were okay with it, you said anyone would be fine.”

“Did I really say that?”

“You did. You said you loved yourself the most, so it didn’t matter who you married. That you’d never meet anyone more important than yourself.”

Alexei quietly observed her innocent expression. She clearly didn’t remember.

Yet to someone else, it had been quite a shocking memory.

“So even if he’s a beggar, I don’t mind.”

The final remark that sealed the shock. And still, she showed no awareness of it.

It had hurt his pride. Yet he hadn’t been able to call it off. It was decided by our parents, he had told himself, trying to keep things simple.

“I guess I might have said that.”

Though she didn’t remember, Angelina agreed. It sounded like something she might have said.

Whenever she stood before people, all eyes turned to her. With a single word from her, their faces would brighten. Those fleeting moments had been intoxicating.

“It’s still the same, isn’t it? You love yourself the most.”

“Yes.”

“So it doesn’t matter who you marry?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Just think of it as a different stage. You’ll live surrounded by more people than now, and you’ll receive even more attention and love.”

“……”

“The wedding will be held on a ship. The astrologer said that since our marriage might lack ‘water,’ it would be better to hold it somewhere with the energy of water. My mother agreed. Coincidentally, the Aurora is scheduled for its maiden voyage, so we’ll be boarding that.”

Only then did Angelina realize.

The only person who did not welcome this marriage was herself—and her opinion held not the slightest influence over it.

So the wisest choice she could make was not resistance, but—

“…Alright.”

Acceptance.

11:40 AM.

The sky was smeared dark, like ink spilled across it, and an ominous wind blew.

Angelina stared uneasily at the bleak scenery.

It hadn’t been this bad before departure.

Even if it meant clashing with her mother-in-law, should she have stopped the wedding at sea?

The thought of returning and holding another ceremony in a chapel made her chest feel tight.

With belated regret, she went looking for the Crown Prince. He stood at the front of the ship with the captain.

“Shouldn’t we turn back, even now?”

Blue eyes met hers directly.

“Why?”

Look at the sky. Feel the wind.

“The ceremony will begin soon.”

“It might end before it even begins.”

Angelina snapped irritably.

“That won’t happen. We’ll proceed as planned.”

It was the same answer he’d given before departure.

Turning away from her unyielding fiancé, she sighed.

“The weather can be unpredictable. It’ll calm down soon, so please don’t worry.”

At least the captain seemed to understand, raising his voice reassuringly.

Resigned, Angelina walked along the deck.

No one looked at the sky or felt the wind. Everyone was focused on a single purpose—

The wedding of the Crown Prince and Princess.

“My lady, all your preparations will be ruined. Please return to your cabin.”

Is this really okay?

Back in her cabin, she adjusted her attire. Lara placed the crown upon her head. In the mirror, the Crown Princess looked otherworldly in her beauty.

But she couldn’t smile.

“It’s a happy day.”

Lara smiled, but Angelina did not.

There could be no joy in a marriage she was being pushed into.

2:00 PM.

The wedding began.

The sky and wind remained unchanged, and the sea fog only grew thicker. The ship moved at a pace rivaling a turtle.

Stepping onto the red carpet, Angelina stood beside Alexei.

“…Under the guidance of God, these two shall be bound as husband and wife…”

The bishop’s voice was swallowed by the fierce wind.

Something felt wrong. Waves leapt like dolphins.

Even Alexei, who had confidently insisted everything would go as planned, now wore a stiff expression. Sensing that something immense was approaching, Angelina couldn’t focus on the ceremony.

A storm? A sea monster? Or Poseidon himself?

Even so, the ceremony continued.

The bishop stammered with a solemn expression.

“Th-the rings…”

Alexei somehow caught his words through the wind. Taking out the ring case, he firmly grasped her hand.

At that moment—

A ship emerged from the sea fog. A skull flag fluttered from its mast.

“P-pirates!”

The captain shouted.

The royal guards drew their swords and surrounded the couple, but it was useless. Cannon fire rained down, exploding across the deck. Passengers screamed and scattered.

Boom.

Another collision rocked the bow. Chaos erupted. Pirates climbed aboard and seized control of the Aurora in an instant.

A complete defeat.

“I am the great pirate Jean Blasque. Consider it an honor to sail the seas with me.”

The pirate captain rambled arrogantly.

“Throw the soldiers overboard. Lock all passengers in the dining hall. Once we dock, we’ll send ransom letters for every last one of them.”

At his command, the crew moved in perfect coordination. Soldiers were thrown overboard one by one. Passengers were lined up like slaves.

Among them were Angelina and Alexei.

“Say you’re the daughter-in-law of Count Devlia,” Alexei whispered.

“But Count Devlia isn’t married.”

“He’s a notorious pirate. We can’t let our identities be exposed. If word reaches the Tordi Empire that the Crown Prince and Princess of Latria were attacked, it’ll cause even bigger trouble.”

“So we disguise ourselves? Then what about you?”

“His son.”

So they would pose as a married couple.

“And I’ll send the ransom letter to Count Devlia. If it’s him, he’ll see through the false message and mobilize the imperial forces.”

It was a plausible plan. Angelina nodded.

A one-eyed crewman whistled as he playfully swung his sword at the line of hostages. Up until then, nothing seemed wrong—at least to Angelina.

“Hey.”

She tried to ignore it and walk on.

“You there—the blond man and the woman in white.”

The pirate captain pointed directly at them. The gleam in his eye and the smile on his lips were ominous signs.

“Those two—take them to the storage hold of the pirate ship.”

Resistance was futile. The one-eyed crewman dragged them down to the lowest level of the ship.

“Stay put and behave.”

Then maybe don’t tie them up with ropes.

Clank.

With no explanation, they were locked inside the storage room.

Like a proper newlywed couple—alone together.

Angelina met the eyes of her only ally… and her husband.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She had never dreamed of a romantic honeymoon—

But she certainly hadn’t wanted one like this.