Chapter 01
The Princess’s Marriage
If you are born as a princess of a kingdom, it is only natural to marry for the sake of the country.
So, I am truly blessed.
Because I can marry the person I love from the bottom of my heart.
Holding my brother’s hand, I stepped into the grand cathedral.
At that moment, countless eyes turned toward me.
Today was the wedding of King Feliks of the Starling Kingdom.
The bride was the fifth princess of the great Diablo Kingdom, Rupia Diablo—me.
Under so many gazes, I straightened my back, trying to look as graceful as possible.
My long white hair, reaching down to my waist, was neatly tied up. Under a tiara decorated with purple jewels—the same color as my eyes—it shone beautifully.
I have an average body, and because I am short, I don’t look as delicate as noble ladies who treat thinness as beauty—but today, dressed in a pure white gown decorated with lace and jewels, I looked surprisingly refined.
Feeling happy about that, I smiled gently with the same face as my mother, who is known as “the most beautiful woman on the continent.”
At that moment, the nobles lined up nearby let out soft sighs of admiration.
Outside the cathedral, the citizens were celebrating wildly, cheering for the bride who came from a powerful kingdom that would become their strongest ally.
Their excitement reached its peak when they saw that the bride’s escort was the crown prince of Diablo Kingdom—her brother.
This was the first time the crown prince of the great Diablo Kingdom had attended a foreign royal wedding. It showed just how important the bride was.
The nobles reacted the same way. The moment they realized who was standing beside me, they gasped in disbelief, and then bowed their heads deeply to show respect to the bride.
Watching the nobles of Starling Kingdom, my brother spoke in a teasing voice.
“Well, well… it seems the new queen is already very popular. But it’s not too late. If you cancel your marriage with King Feliks and marry a noble of our Diablo Kingdom instead, I’ll take you back home right now.”
I glanced at him.
Even though he looked like he was joking, his eyes were serious.
…Even now, he still wants to stop me from marrying into another country.
I glared at him and answered in a voice only he could hear.
“Brother, I will marry King Feliks. Please give up on me.”
It was an answer he already knew.
But when he heard it, my brother looked shocked and stumbled over the flat floor.
“…Then give me your daughter as my son’s bride!”
He said that in a very stubborn way.
I looked at him with exhaustion.
Even Bado, who was in his chest pocket, sighed in annoyance.
The sacred beast Bado—my guardian spirit shaped like a small squirrel that fits in one hand—always stays by my side. But today, he couldn’t cling to me openly, so he insisted on watching my wedding and pretended to be a stuffed toy inside my brother’s pocket.
Bado looked at me with a teasing expression.
“Good for you, Rupia. It seems your unborn daughter already has a perfect marriage arranged.”
I glared at both Bado and my brother.
They really say whatever they want, even though they know about the nature of a witch.
“No one can know the future. And you both know such promises are meaningless. The Witch of the Substitute chooses her partner by her own will.”
“Ahhh, I made a mistake! Letting King Feliks attend your party was a huge error! I should have kept you only meeting people from our country—to keep you here!!”
My brother shouted in despair.
…He really never gives up. And yet, he is a caring brother.
Even if he speaks as if trying to restrain me as a “witch,” I can see it clearly—he is thinking of me as a person.
Still, I know that if I stayed in our country, he could always watch over me and ensure my happiness…
I looked up at him and gently squeezed his arm.
“I love you, brother. Even after I marry, I will still be your sister. I will come visit sometimes.”
“…I don’t think any man who has seen you once would ever let you go, even for a moment.”
He turned his face away, sulking.
A crown prince acting like a child—it was almost unbelievable.
He was extremely popular, handsome, and of high status… but inside, he was just a worried, family-loving brother.
At the end of the long aisle, I could finally see King Feliks.
My brother gently stroked my hand as if reluctant to let go.
“Seems like I really have to give you away. Be happy, Rupia. If not… I might have to destroy this country to take you back.”
I smiled to calm him down.
“As you know, the Witch of the Substitute only marries the one she loves. So I am already happy.”
“…I see.”
He smiled back, relieved.
But later, when I thought back on this moment, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.
How simple my world was back then.
Just because I married someone I loved… it didn’t mean I would be happy.
But at that time, I believed it completely.
I looked only at King Feliks standing before me.
My future was here.
I truly believed I would be happy with him.
King Feliks took my hand and looked into my face.
It was the first time bride and groom met each other face to face.
I watched his reaction nervously.
He widened his eyes in surprise.
Then he quickly changed his expression and gave a beautiful smile fitting his appearance.
“This is truly… just like the portrait. White hair shining like the snow of the Restrea Mountains, and purple eyes like the national flower. Welcome, my bride. You have the colors that symbolize our kingdom.”
His kind words made my heart overflow with emotion.
So I answered with a full smile.
“Thank you very much, Your Majesty Feliks. I look forward to our long future together.”
——Ah, I will be happy in this country.
At that time, I believed it with all my heart, and smiled at King Feliks…
