Chapter 10

“Sniff… sob…”

All the way to the flower garden, Grizel clung tightly to Arntetert like a lost child.

She kept her head lowered, shoulders shaking intermittently. At a glance, she looked like she was crying bitterly.

But it was all a calculated performance.

Not a single tear existed in Grizel’s crimson eyes. Instead, she scanned every corner of the imperial palace with an ambitious gaze.

So all of this will belong to Sillia, huh?

Grizel gritted her teeth, swallowing her frustration. Everything that entered her sight was overwhelmingly luxurious.

The marble floors gleamed like mirrors, and the glass of the massive windows was so transparent it felt almost nonexistent.

Ornate statues—things she had never even seen in Gideon—appeared everywhere she turned in the palace.

This is too good for Sillia.

Grizel tightened her grip on Arntetert’s jacket.

When she heard that Sillaria was getting engaged—and that her fiancé was the Second Prince—anger surged deep within her chest.

I should have met the Second Prince first.

On the surface, she congratulated Sillia. But inside, she was consumed by jealousy.

How cruel God was.

Why had Sillaria been the one by the Second Prince’s side when the monster appeared in their town?

Because of that, not the smart and rational Grizel, but the gentle and foolish Sillia had ended up as the Second Princess.

But God had not abandoned Grizel.

This is my chance.

Now that foolish Sillaria had thrown away her own blessing, it was the perfect opportunity. Grizel intended to lure Arntetert away at all costs.

The Second Prince was exactly her ideal type. She had fallen for him at first sight.

Fiery red hair like blazing flames. Handsome features and a confident demeanor.

He was fundamentally different from the country bumpkins of Gideon—a noble existence from birth.

Yesterday, Arntetert had called her rustic and crude, but that was only because he didn’t truly know her yet.

Just wait. The Second Prince will fall for me soon enough.

Grizel was certain. Arntetert just hadn’t realized it yet—they were destined.

Sillaria was nothing more than a stepping stone toward Grizel’s future.

“Now, Lady Willowby. Sit here and compose yourself.”

Arriving at the rose garden, Arntetert peeled Grizel off and seated her on a bench. As he looked like he might leave immediately, she quickly lifted her head.

Then she put on a pitiful expression and spoke to the Second Prince.

“Your Highness, you’re not leaving me, are you?”

“Eh…?”

“You’re not going to abandon a poor lady who doesn’t even know where she is, are you?”

Grizel clasped her hands together desperately and continued in a trembling voice.

“You wouldn’t, right? I know. The First Prince would have found me annoying, but you’re not like that, are you?”

“Hah, of course not!”

Arntetert, who had been about to leave her behind, reacted sharply. Then, slightly embarrassed by his own outburst, he ran a hand through his hair.

“You’re a guest invited to the engagement ceremony and a friend of the bride. Of course I can’t be careless with hospitality. I’ll stay until you’ve calmed down…”

As he was speaking, Arntetert suddenly stopped mid-sentence, staring into space.

“Your Highness?”

Confused by his frozen expression, Grizel followed his gaze.

And then—

“Kyaaahhh!”

She let out a piercing scream, horrified by what she saw.

Above Grizel and Arntetert’s heads—

The clear, sunny sky was slowly beginning to split open like a mouth.

“Cian.”

Euclid stepped out of the carriage and immediately called for his aide. After giving him a whispered order, he finally turned to the priest who had come to greet them.

“Linder.”

“High Priest Linder greets the First Shield of Daoud.”

The High Priest, who had been waiting for his turn, stepped forward and bowed formally at Euclid’s call.

Dressed in a white robe embroidered with golden thread, he smiled as he raised his head.

Linder briefly glanced at Sillaria, then turned and began walking ahead.

“I have received your message. Please follow me.”

Euclid seemed to frequently interact with the High Priest, as he followed without complaint, guiding Sillaria and the First Prince.

I’m nervous.

Sillaria swallowed quietly. Her heart pounded faster with each step.

The matching rate was determined deep within the temple—in a room only the High Priest could open.

There was a small waterfall of holy water there.

Inside the waterfall floated a transparent crystal orb. When the two people seeking their compatibility entered, the water would reverse its flow.

The orb would react, and the rising water level would determine their compatibility rate.

When she had checked it with Arntetert, she hadn’t been nervous at all.

Even though it had been a moment that determined whether she would be engaged to a prince, she had strangely felt calm.

But now, her heart was pounding so loudly she worried Euclid might hear it.

It’ll be fine. The First Prince—Euclid said so too.

Sillaria took a deep breath and glanced at Euclid. Walking expressionlessly through the temple corridor, he met her gaze and slightly narrowed his eyes.

Before getting off the carriage, she had asked him to help with her sister.

The request had come right after receiving the necklace from Euclid.

Since her regression, she had been constantly worried about Elenia.

Elenia had been told she could live a long life if she avoided straining her heart. Yet she had died in the imperial hospital.

So Sillaria had to take Elenia out of that hospital. No one could be allowed to harm her sister.

“Is that all? You want me to bring your sister?”

Euclid had asked in mild confusion, but without waiting for an answer, he gave orders to Cian.

Watching him issue commands immediately after stepping off the carriage, Sillaria felt a deep sense of relief.

Elenia would be safe now.

And at the same time, she realized she truly trusted Euclid.

If Arntetert had done the same thing, she would have doubted him first—wondering if he was just putting on a show and planning to betray her later.

“This way.”

Linder finally stopped walking.

The three of them arrived before a massive white wall. Linder stood in front of it and waved his hand.

A line of white light traced through the air following his gesture.

Completing a large circular magic formation, Linder focused and moved his lips in a chant. The magic circle sank into the wall.

A large outline appeared, forming the shape of a door. Then it slowly opened, revealing the sound of flowing water beyond.

“Please enter.”

Linder gestured toward the doorway with a gentle smile. Sillaria, tense, placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath.

If the matching rate appeared here—if they received the temple’s official confirmation—

Then it would begin.

From that moment on, she would live a life completely different from her previous one, ensuring that tragedy would never repeat.

So—

She had to succeed.

As Sillaria trembled, a warm, large hand wrapped around hers.

Holding Euclid’s hand, she stepped into the sealed chamber.

The confirmation ritual was simple.

Following the High Priest’s instructions, Euclid and Sillaria entered the holy water where the crystal orb floated.

At first, the water level was low. It barely reached their ankles.

But as soon as both of them stepped fully inside, the surface began to ripple violently.

“In the year 30 of Baltazar, on the 16th of September. I, High Priest Linder Casimir, as the representative of God, hereby confirm the compatibility of Euclid Baltazar and Sillaria Rainier.”

At his declaration, the crystal orb burst into radiant white light. The gently flowing water suddenly surged upward with a roaring sound.

The waterfall, which had been flowing at Euclid’s waist level, reversed violently.

Linder’s expression turned serious as he observed the level.

“…This is…”

The rising water suddenly fell like rain.

Caught off guard, Euclid instinctively pulled Sillaria into his arms from behind.

“What is happening?”

His voice trembled slightly with confusion, soaked from the sudden downpour. Sillaria was just as shocked.

For the rising holy water to suddenly fall again—

Could it be… the compatibility rate…?

Was it too low?

Was it so low that it couldn’t even be measured?

“I have never seen anything like this before, Your Highness.”

Linder’s uneasy voice reached Sillaria’s ears as she stared at the scattering droplets. He looked at her in disbelief, as though unable to comprehend what he was witnessing.