* * *
Once preparations were complete, we headed straight to the waiting room at the engagement hall.
Perhaps because it coincided with the festival, the imperial palace was bustling with people.
Busy maids, attendants running with items, and a plethora of nobles in extravagant attire filled every corner.
The number of guests was incomparable to any party I’d attended before.
“I heard nearly every noble in the capital is here,” Anna said with a soft smile when she noticed my wide eyes at the crowd.
“It’s not even a wedding. Why is it so grand?”
“Well, His Highness is guaranteed to be the next emperor. No matter what the second prince does today, if the emperor collapses, he’ll have no moves left.”
True. If the emperor died, Baek Yigang’s ascension was inevitable.
Whatever schemes Piel had wouldn’t pose much of a threat.
Still, should I consider this a relief?
“Don’t stray too far from His Highness. The more chaotic the situation, the more advantageous it becomes for the second prince,” said Asel, who had been silently listening to our conversation.
“But Piel doesn’t know the emperor is dying, right?” I asked.
Baek Yigang shook his head slowly, his clasped hands cold against mine.
“He doesn’t know. But if he’s truly made a pact with a demon, he might suspect it.”
“…That’s possible.”
Demons couldn’t see the future, but sensing that the emperor was nearing death wouldn’t be difficult.
Just like Baek Yigang could see the shadow of death.
“We’ll escort you to the bride’s waiting room.”
When we arrived at the waiting room, I let go of Baek Yigang’s hand to follow Anna.
His gaze lingered on me instead of heading to his own waiting room.
“Groom, see you later,” I said, offering him a playful parting word.
His violet eyes, heavy with reluctance, softened as the corners of his lips curved upward.
He’d seemed upset earlier about Delcia, so I’d thrown in a little gesture to lighten his mood—and it seemed to work.
At times like this, I realized Baek Yigang could be just as simple as I was.
Anna stationed herself outside the waiting room to stand guard, leaving me alone inside.
“Ta-da!”
A sudden bright figure popped out in front of me.
I’d sensed someone’s presence before entering, so I wasn’t entirely surprised.
“Gah, you scared me!” I exclaimed, feigning shock.
Unlike Baek Yigang, I was good at humoring others.
“Surprised? I promised to see you before I left, didn’t I?”
“Haha… I don’t recall agreeing to that promise.”
“Well, I’d love to stay and watch your entrance, but I need to hurry and rally the delegates. So I came early.”
Ignoring my interjection, Delcia smiled radiantly and grabbed my arm.
“By the way, you look amazing. Absolutely stunning.”
…Should I thank him? Being called “stunning” never felt this aggravating before.
Flustered, I wanted to bite my tongue, but enduring Delcia’s intense gaze was an entirely different level of embarrassment.
I suppose you get used to humiliation when it happens every day.
“Hey, Dowoon… We’ll see each other again, right?”
His cautious tone felt almost certain that we wouldn’t.
His green eyes trembled with unease, as if he already knew.
Women’s intuition is scarily accurate, after all.
But to cut to the chase—we wouldn’t.
When Baek Yigang becomes emperor, all my wishes will be fulfilled, and the unfair contract we signed earlier will come to an end.
And Baek Yigang will thank me. Just because the probability is low doesn’t mean he won’t express his gratitude.
The probability displayed by the system was merely an additional factor—the higher it was before fulfilling the wish, the better.
Once I grant all his wishes, I’ll receive his thanks, and that will send me back to Korea.
I won’t see Delcia ever again.
“Yeah.”
But I couldn’t say that out loud.
When I nodded, Delcia smiled prettily, her eyes filled with relief.
“Actually, I don’t have any friends. In Arthe, everyone approaches me just because of my brother… I’ve never had someone I could truly call a friend.”
Delcia paused, then slowly took hold of my fingertips.
“I’m happy to have a wizard friend now. I hope we can meet again someday. Maybe at a wedding, or, you know, a wedding.”
…What on earth did Baek Yigang say to Delcia to make her so convinced that I’d marry him?
The kid was completely brainwashed with the wrong idea!
“Haha…”
No matter how many lies I tell, I absolutely cannot—no, will not—say I’m going to marry Baek Yigang.
Even as a joke.
My life depends on it.
“Sir Dowoon, the ceremony is about to begin. Please prepare to enter. Oh, and here’s your bouquet.”
Anna, who had appeared out of nowhere, handed me a massive bouquet of purple flowers.
Hmm.
Do I really need this?
As soon as I enter, the emperor will collapse.
That means the bouquet, meticulously crafted by Rata and the designers, won’t get thrown.
If I’m not even going to toss it, why bother carrying it?
On impulse, I handed the bouquet to Delcia.
“Huh? Why are you…?”
“You said you have someone you love. Make sure you get married. They say catching the bouquet at a wedding guarantees that.”
Delcia blinked at me in surprise, then gingerly accepted the bouquet I offered.
“A surprise gift? Thank you. But I have something for you too.”
With a gentle smile, Delcia pulled something out from her pocket—a tiny vial that fit snugly in one hand.
Inside, a green liquid, the same color as Delcia’s eyes, shimmered.
“What’s this?”
The vial felt even smaller in my hand, no larger than my pinky finger.
“Sometimes, when your mind is overwhelmed, or when you’re too nervous, this potion will help you calm down. It’s still in development, but I guarantee its effectiveness in the name of the Royal Family of Rietri.”
So, basically, a western version of cheongsimhwan—a calming tonic.
Well, cheongsimhwan is indeed a miracle remedy.
I carried it everywhere on exam days, my enlistment day, and even during interviews.
“Sir Dowoon, we must go now.”
Anna’s expression turned slightly impatient, as if there was no more time for small talk.
At her words, Delcia stepped back, urging me to go.
“Let’s meet again.”
Unable to respond to Delcia, I nodded lightly and followed Anna.
“For a brief moment, everyone will think you’re the princess. But they’ll soon realize you’re not.”
As we walked down the corridor leading to the ceremony hall, the air heavy with tension, Anna broke the silence.
“…Do you think the emperor will collapse on time?”
“He will. His Highness will ensure it.”
Through Anna’s round glasses, her unwavering trust in her master was evident.
A belief that her lord never fails.
The knights guarding the entrance to the hall bowed their heads.
Despite knowing I wasn’t Delcia, they showed no reaction, clearly having been briefed beforehand.
Asel had joined us at some point, standing nearby.
“Sir Dowoon, you’ll enter now. Once the emperor collapses, leave the hall immediately.”
“When the emperor collapses, we’ll escort you. Please wait for us.”
They must have been instructed by Baek Yigang because Anna and Asel explained everything calmly, as if to reassure me.
When I nodded, they signaled to the knights at the entrance.
Slowly, the gilded doors, once tightly shut, began to open.
A few maids, who had appeared unnoticed, held the trailing hem of my wedding dress as I walked.
I could feel the dress dragging, even with the maids’ help.
The weight made it sag, and it was driving me insane. I wanted to rip it off immediately!
To make matters worse, the veil obscured my vision.
It had been pushed down as far as possible to hide my face, but now I could barely see ahead.
Just as my mind started to go blank, Baek Yigang’s words echoed in my head.
“When you walk into the hall, just look at me. I’ll be right in front of you.”
Raising my stiffened head, I spotted Baek Yigang standing at the front through the hazy veil.
Was he looking at me?
I couldn’t make out his expression.
Then I noticed the rows of guests lining the hall, all staring at me.
Wait, what?
They’re looking at me?
Wasn’t the emperor supposed to collapse when I entered?
When is that going to happen?
Who will collapse first—me from embarrassment, or the emperor?
“But doesn’t the princess seem a bit…?”
“Was the princess always that tall?”
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, my internal despair reached its peak.
* * *
