Chapter 33.
When I spoke softly, both of them quickly shut their mouths.
I rose from my seat and took Friedrich’s hand.
Friedrich looked up at me with wide eyes.
“It’s the night before the wedding, so why don’t you yield a bit, Duke?”
Joachim wore an openly regretful expression, and I chuckled as I pulled Friedrich to his feet.
As we stepped outside, a cool breeze blew. Even at night, it wasn’t particularly cold anymore.
We strolled slowly through the garden, but Friedrich was unusually quiet. I subtly asked him,
“Are you troubled?”
Friedrich turned to look at me.
“Tomorrow, we’ll really be married.”
“…I’m nervous.”
Friedrich replied softly.
“If that’s what being troubled means, then yes.”
“Do you remember what I said at the beginning?”
I stopped walking and told him.
“That once I achieve my goal, I’ll set you free.”
“…”
“It’s still valid. So you don’t need to take it too seriously.”
“What if I want to take it seriously?”
I expected him to just nod, but an unexpected question came back.
Startled for a moment, I turned to Friedrich, and he bit his lip hard before suddenly kneeling on one knee before me.
“In Kill, no one marries as a joke. I was born and raised in Kill too.”
Friedrich looked straight up into my eyes and said.
“I mean I want to take this marriage seriously.”
“It’s a forced marriage for you, after all.”
“It’s not forced.”
Friedrich smiled bitterly and suddenly pulled something from his chest. It was a ring. Not one with jewels, but made of thread.
More precisely, it was a ring knitted from thread, woven like vines. I stared at it with bewildered eyes.
“No man prepares a ring for a bride he’s forced to marry.”
Friedrich murmured in a low voice as he took my hand.
My left hand, suddenly grasped, felt burning hot, and I flinched reflexively.
But he held on gently, as if he wouldn’t let go, without breaking his gaze from mine.
As if pleading with me not to pull away. Trapped by those beseeching eyes, I couldn’t move.
He carefully took my ring finger and slipped the ring on.
The soft, unique texture of the thread tickled all the way to my heart. I slowly lifted my hand to examine the ring.
Up close, the craftsmanship was even more delicate. How had he thought to knit with ordinary thread?
The white thread was woven like vines, with orange flowers reminiscent of my eyes dotted throughout—an exquisite touch.
“…I’m sorry.”
Friedrich spoke cautiously.
“For not giving you something more expensive.”
“What are you talking about?”
I burst out laughing right away and crouched down to meet his eyes at the same level. Friedrich gazed at me with dazed eyes.
“No one else will have received such a heartfelt wedding ring. Thank you so much, Friedrich. I’ll wear it carefully.”
“You can wear it roughly.”
Friedrich replied quietly.
“You can lose it too. I can make another one.”
“I have to treasure it. You must have put so much effort into making this.”
I shook my head as if the idea was absurd and looked into Friedrich’s eyes.
It was only then I noticed, but the moon was unusually bright that night, making Friedrich’s face appear even paler than usual.
In contrast to his snow-white skin, his eyes were rimmed with red, as if dusted with pigment. I stared at that contrast for a moment.
Then, my gaze drifted up and met his. His eyes, deeper than a lake, were utterly transparent before slowly taking on a different light.
As I watched that change quietly, a strange feeling suddenly washed over me. It wasn’t my soul, but Rene’s body moving on its own, my shoulder tilting forward.
With my gaze still fixed on one spot, my face drew close enough for our breaths to brush each other’s lips. My body grew hot inside, my breathing quickened.
Without realizing it, I wrapped my fingers around the back of Friedrich’s neck, and he trembled. In that instant, reason returned like a splash of cold water.
‘…Snap out of it.’
Not forced?
I couldn’t take Friedrich’s words at face value.
He was originally the prince of a defeated nation who should have been executed long ago, and I was the princess of the victorious empire who held his life in my hands.
This marriage alone gave him a chance to survive. How could he dare speak his true feelings to me?
“…Here.”
I laughed shortly and pretended to brush something off the back of his neck.
“Something was stuck.”
“…”
Friedrich looked at me with slightly dazed eyes. I smiled nonchalantly and teased.
“I’ve got good eyes, huh?”
Friedrich gazed at me with an inscrutable look.
His eyes were like water droplets—so transparent they seemed to reveal everything, yet sometimes so clear that their depth was impossible to fathom.
What was he thinking? Was he relieved? Or… disappointed?
I took his hand and helped him to his feet. Friedrich’s gaze remained fixed on me.
“Let’s head in. We need to sleep early.”
I was curious about his true feelings, but there was no way to know now. And really… did I even need to know?
***
The morning of the wedding day dawned. The preparations weren’t much different from those for a triumphal banquet.
The one change was the dress and accessories.
The wedding dress and veil that Friedrich had made for the doll last time now appeared before me in full size.
The real thing was far more intricate than the doll version, and just putting it on took a considerable amount of time.
“How do I look, Elsa?”
I waited for Elsa’s response with a slightly flushed face.
Elsa stared at me steadily before giving a faint smile.
I widened my eyes and looked at her.
“Did you just smile?”
“…Is that so surprising?”
“Yeah, it’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”
Elsa’s expression turned a bit embarrassed, and I grinned.
“Anyway, that means you approve, right?”
Of my beauty today. As I lifted the veil and struck a smug pose, Elsa chuckled softly and nodded.
“You look beautiful.”
My expression grew even more triumphant at the positive response.
“Your Highness, Prince Friedrich’s preparations are all complete.”
“Ah… really?”
I froze momentarily at the sudden mention of his name.
“Th-then, shall we head to the carriage? The stars should arrive late, but I can’t be late to my own wedding.”
“There’s still plenty of time.”
“Ah… really?”
As I smiled awkwardly, Elsa gave me a suspicious look.
To avoid raising more suspicion, I headed to the carriage I’d share with Friedrich.
Emerging into the corridor, I saw a man standing with his back to a pure white carriage.
His height rivaled the carriage, dressed in black formal attire—it was unmistakably Friedrich, even from behind.
Damn, why does that man have to look so unnecessarily handsome even from the back?
“Friedrich.”
I called him, managing my expression carefully, and he turned immediately. At the same time, the sun behind him cast a halo-like glow around his head.
His face shone blindingly white, like a reflector, leaving me momentarily dazed. The maids behind me all fell into a brief silence too.
“Your Highness.”
Friedrich called me with a fresh smile.
His attitude, as if last night’s events meant nothing, made me feel a bit odd, but I soon smiled back and spoke casually.
“You look incredibly handsome today?”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course. I’m worried because it seems like it’ll appeal to more than just me.”
At my added quip, Friedrich smiled as if he didn’t quite understand, then extended his hand to me.
“In the end, I’m yours.”
I flinched and looked at him, then realized it was for escort and took his hand.
“How about me? Was making the doll worth it?”
Friedrich shook his head. Surprised by the unexpected response, I felt a bit awkward.
“I thought I’d anticipated today’s look and wouldn’t be surprised, but I was wrong.”
Friedrich stared at me without blinking and said.
“Your Highness is always more wondrous than I imagine.”
Even though I knew it was flattery, it didn’t feel entirely unwelcome—trouble…
I wondered if this was how the tyrants felt, who ruined their countries bewitched by legendary beauties.
