FIH | CH 21

As I entered the wedding hall with a mix of excitement and nervousness, my eyes met a woman in the guest seats wearing a white dress. She was wearing a dress that looked exactly like my wedding gown—almost as if it had been planned. But it seemed I was the only one feeling embarrassed. “She’s always been a bit mischievous. I guess she was trying to play a prank. The ceremony isn’t ruined, so don’t take it too seriously. I’ll scold her later.” My husband added, “Uriel and the people from the Count’s family are like family to me. I hope you can get along with them too.” After that humiliating wedding, the place I went to wasn’t a home — it was a prison. “His Majesty said today that you’ll be sent to a monastery. All the other royal descendants have already been executed, so letting you live is far too merciful.” Then, the woman carrying my husband’s child came to see me — when I had already lost everything. My child, my family, even my face. When I threw myself away from the world, I cursed them with all my heart. If there was another life, I swore I would drag them all into hell. And somehow… that wish came true. *** “Haela, why are you two together?” My husband asked with red, angry eyes. His gaze toward me was full of doubt, anger, and blame — yet he couldn’t bring himself to get angry at the man beside me. Before I could even answer, that man grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. But just as I was about to be dragged away, a strong hand broke my husband’s grip. In front of me stood a strikingly handsome man, wearing a formal outfit that looked almost identical to mine. He reached out his hand and asked, in front of everyone, “Does what you said last time still count? That I’m your person?”