The Grand Duke of Exepsion officially declared his marriage to Odelie Kardel.
That day, the entire Empire erupted in chaos.
Was it a political marriage? A threat?
Could there be some massive conspiracy hidden behind it?
All manner of rumors swirled.
Such was the weight of Ludvil’s infamy.
He was an undisputed war hero, and every battle under his command ended in victory.
Yet none of those who fought beside him ever called him a hero.
A merciless commander who could cut down even his own men if necessary.
Ideals and honor were nothing more than tools in his hands.
Some days he executed every prisoner of war.
Other days, he let traitors walk away unharmed.
Why?
Because every choice he made was dictated not by emotion, but by cold, calculated gain.
Ludvil Exepsion.
The name itself was like a war machine without feeling, leaving behind nothing but the result: victory.
Thus, once the Grand Duke of Exepsion decided on this marriage, no one could stop it—
Not even the prestigious House Kardel.
“Your Grace, how could you commit such an outrageous act? This is nothing short of abduction! Return my daughter to me!”
Duke Kardel protested furiously.
“Abduction? If you believe it so, you are welcome to raise the matter formally in court.”
“…”
“Then all will learn exactly where and in what state I encountered her.”
“…”
“Is that what you want?”
Though Duke Kardel ground his teeth in anger, he ultimately had no choice but to retreat without reclaiming Odelie.
While gossipmongers whispered and speculated , the wedding proceeded in a flash , as sudden as lightning.
Duke Kardel and his heir, Gawin, sat silently in the guest seats.
Yet their pale faces and rigid expressions revealed all their feelings.
They had lost the Purifier who upheld the family in the most hollow way imaginable.
Even so, they could only choose silence.
The family’s honor, glory, power, and reputation…
They had to protect the delicate web of lies that had been carefully woven over centuries.
“In the name of God, these two souls have become one. May they find love in suffering and hope in despair.”
The High Priest read the final line, then raised both hands over the bride and groom, blessing their union.
Curiously, the exchange of rings was omitted.
After all, a single worn silver ring already rested on his left ring finger.
A simple, elegant band with a faint silver gleam.
For a Grand Duke, it was absurdly modest.
‘Could he… already have someone in his heart?’
If that were true, it would make sense.
She had wondered why, among all the noble ladies in the Empire, he would choose Odelie.
He must have been seeking an appropriate fake wife to shield his real love from pressure.
Being a lady of House Kardel, her status was not beneath his, and her known frailty meant she would not need to appear in public often.
Moreover, her circumstances left her in no position to negotiate the terms of a contract marriage.
In the end, this too was just a play.
She was a supporting actress stepping onto the stage to protect the Grand Duke’s true love.
‘… Well, that’s not so bad.’
In fact, it was something to be grateful for.
At the very least, she had a chance to escape her family before she died.
There was no reason to feel disappointed.
“And lastly, a proof of love before God…”
Before the High Priest could finish his words, a firm hand lifted her chin.
The gaze she met for that brief moment showed no emotion whatsoever.
A formal kiss.
A cold kiss that lingered without warmth, as Odelie closed her eyes amid the roaring cheers.
***
After the funeral, she lost all sense of time.
When Odelie suddenly came to her senses, she found herself in a conference room.
‘When did I come here again?’
Her memories were fragmented, cut to pieces.
“This will cannot be accepted!”
“They were divorced, were they not? They’re strangers! And they had no children—what of the succession?”
“To hand over the Grand Duchy to someone without the Council’s approval or legal succession? This is unprecedented!”
“Even if she is of House Kardel, she was frail and never once stepped outside the estate before marriage! Her health and ability are questionable at best!”
The chamber was chaos.
Not a single vassal sat quietly.
They shook documents and slammed the table, their throats bulging with rage.
Odelie sat in her chair, letting the noise wash over her like a dull echo.
Tap , tap—
“Lady. Lady!”
Someone snapped their fingers right in front of her face.
A man in a black ceremonial suit, his gaze cold, spoke.
“Are you listening?”
Marquis Belgrave.
The most politically powerful of the Grand Duchy’s vassals.
Lost in her thoughts, Odelie answered a beat late.
“Ah … I didn’t hear you.”
“…”
“Could you repeat that, please?”
The marquis sighed, clearly restraining his irritation.
His voice was low and hard.
“In accordance with the late Grand Duke’s will, all assets, lands, fortresses, estates, merchant shares, and his title itself are to be transferred entirely to Lady Odelie.”
“I see.”
“Of course, if you do not wish to accept them, you may refuse. That would, naturally, be a decision everyone could understand.”
It sounded very much like: if she didn’t refuse, they would stop at nothing to obstruct her.
“I will give you time to think. Please reach your decision as soon as possible.”
With that, the marquis withdrew. The vassals followed in his wake.
The once-rowdy chamber fell into silence.
Odelie regretted coming here at all.
‘What glory or wealth could I possibly want?’
She didn’t care about titles or property.
The reason she had rushed here upon hearing that her paper husband was dead…
The reason was…
‘…Even I don’t know.’
Leaning back in her chair, Odelie let out a sigh.
When she closed her eyes, she could still see him lying peacefully among the white flowers.
As she tilted her head back and rubbed her face with both hands—
“Lady.”
When she opened her eyes, the aide who had brought her here stood before her.
His eyes were red as he held out a box.
“In accordance with His Grace’s will, I kept this personal item separately… but I think it is best that you see it for yourself.”
Odelie accepted the small box.
It was incredibly light.
“He strictly forbade anyone from opening it. He repeatedly ordered that it be buried deep in the earth and never allowed to fall into anyone else’s hands.”
“But you disobeyed.”
“I will accept that sin.”
He seemed loyal, yet his quiet disobedience to a command he couldn’t agree with was so very like Edwin.
Carefully, Odelie opened the box.
Inside lay the very ring Ludvil had always worn on his left ring finger.
“Why this?”
It didn’t seem like something that required a solemn delivery.
Odelie picked up the ring, worn with the marks of time, and fiddled with it.
Somehow, she felt a strange twinge in her chest.
She had always assumed this ring meant he had a hidden lover.
As she turned it in her hands with mixed feelings, she suddenly felt something engraved on the inside of the band.
‘An inscription?’
Puzzled, she held it up to read the letters.
Her eyes widened.
[Odelie]
Her own name was carved inside the faded ring.
