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Chapter 13
It was the white fur coat that had been matched with the wedding dress. After coming to the North, I couldn’t find it anywhere, and when I asked about it, I was told that Iswen had taken care of it separately.
“The outer coat was taken by Young Lord.”
That coat, with gold buttons engraved with the imperial crest, had now returned.
Not from Iswen—but through Aiden.
“His Highness the Crown Prince said this,” the attendant continued. The sound barely registered in my mind. Blinking, I tried to piece together what on earth was happening.
Did Iswen send the coat to Aiden separately?
Suddenly, I remembered the day before leaving for the Lasset territory, when Aiden had visited the Roen estate in the capital.
Back then, he had said all sorts of incomprehensible things before abruptly leaving his seat.
“Your Highness, may I ask if you could spare a moment before Lord Roen returns to the Imperial Palace?”
Because Iswen had requested a meeting.
Coincidentally, that was the same day all the clothes—except the unfinished wedding dress with its final embellishments—had arrived at the estate.
That morning, I had personally checked every single item.
No matter what, it was a wedding. It was the day I would officially mark my first impression in the place I would now live. I couldn’t believe Iswen would be involved in something like this.
But the evidence was too clear.
It was shocking, to the point that I began to wonder what my family even wanted from me.
“Your brothers will extract what is needed from Lasset. You just need to avoid doing anything foolish.”
Father had said that.
And yet, what could possibly be more foolish than implying an improper relationship with the Crown Prince on the day of my wedding?
Or perhaps this had all been Father and Iswen’s plan from the beginning. They had always acted without considering my position.
So maybe even this—was part of their calculations.
But what possible benefit could they gain?
While my thoughts were spiraling, the attendant continued speaking.
“Even though you are being sent far away, may He always be able to warm your shoulders. To my dear Ela.”
The words were so absurd they didn’t even register.
What snapped me back to reality was the cold laughter above my head.
“Hah.”
As if finding it ridiculous, Sioden let out a scoff and turned toward me. His usually composed expression now carried a sharp, cold mockery.
“So that’s why you said you didn’t need a coat.”
His voice was icily sarcastic.
“You two must have been quite close.”
I should have said it was a misunderstanding. That it wasn’t true. But my lips wouldn’t move. I couldn’t think of how to explain this.
Sioden looked down at me, frozen stiff, for a moment before turning away. He gave an order to the servants around him.
“We can’t waste His Highness’s sincerity. Cover the lady’s shoulders.”
At his words, a servant stepped forward and placed the white fur coat over my shoulders.
A chill ran through me.
I could feel it vividly—how everyone in the hall now saw me and Aiden, the way their eyes interpreted this gesture. The soft white fur only made it worse, making the perception even more vivid.
“But I wonder if His Highness even knows.”
“….”
“Too much sincerity can look like lingering attachment.”
I wanted to scream that there was no attachment, no sincerity, nothing between Aiden and me—but I couldn’t move.
“If you are loyal, you should ensure the message is properly delivered.”
Perhaps realizing there was no point in continuing, the imperial attendant bowed and withdrew.
Sioden watched them with cold eyes before rising from his seat. The others nearby stopped moving. Once one of the bride or groom stood, the remaining gifts would be delivered only after the ceremony ended.
I sat there, unable to move, watching him.
But Sioden didn’t even look at me before turning away.
He walked off without hesitation, and a servant carrying a black fur coat followed him.
I remained seated, staring blankly at the space he had left behind.
Just before he turned away, the self-mocking smile that flickered on his lips rooted me in place, unable to do anything.
After Sioden left
After Sioden departed, the guests began whispering even more openly.
Countless eyes swept over me, filled with hostility. I could barely breathe under their gazes.
I wanted to hide somewhere—anywhere. Even in the Roen estate, there had been nowhere I truly belonged, but I still wanted to escape.
My legs trembling, I stood up, and a maid—not Apple—approached me.
I handed her the fur coat.
“Take it away.”
My chest already felt nauseous. If I kept wearing it, I felt like I might throw up.
I entered a nearby lounge without caring where, hiding in a shadowed corner. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest.
While I was crouched in a small armchair trying to steady my breathing, I heard the door open.
Several people entered the lounge in a group.
One of the voices was familiar.
“How can she be so shameless?”
Sezna.
“Not only did she take the young lady’s place, but she’s now displaying scandal on the day of the marriage ceremony… She has no shame.”
Sezna, who had always disliked me, was speaking as if denouncing me to others.
Curled up in the shadows, I turned slightly to see who had come with her.
There were four in total: Sezna, Merwen, and two men dressed as knights.
Perhaps because I had no maid with me, none of them noticed I was already there.
They sat near the fireplace.
“Sezna, don’t say that. Complaining isn’t good.”
Merwen tried to calm her with her gentle voice.
“Lady, don’t hold back. I can’t stand it.”
Only then did I begin to understand.
They were talking about me.
When Sezna said I had “taken the young lady’s place,” the “lady” she referred to was Merwen.
So they were saying I had taken Merwen’s place.
I frowned, unable to understand.
As if sensing my confusion, Sezna continued.
“The Lord is also careless. Lady Merwen has spent years in this estate. He kept her until she was of marriageable age, and yet he ends up with another woman…”
“Sezna.”
Merwen cut her off sharply, letting out a sigh.
“You’ve had too much to drink.”
But even in her drunkenness, there was a precise malice in Sezna’s expression. Even from my hidden position, her intent was clear.
She was carefully watching the reactions of everyone present.
“If the former Lady had seen this, she would never approve. Lady Merwen has always taken care of the Lasset household so well…”
“And she was dearly loved by the previous Duchess.”
Others began to agree.
“Sezna is right. No matter what else, starting scandal on the first day of marriage—who knows how far she’ll drag the family name down.”
And then—
Before her words could finish, the door opened again.
A man stepped inside.
“Enough.”
Just that single word was enough.
The room, once heated with gossip and drunken malice, instantly froze. Their faces turned pale as if doused with ice water.
Merwen widened her eyes in surprise.
The man didn’t even look at them.
His deep blue eyes, like the sea before dawn, pierced through the darkness.
And then, as if he had already confirmed my presence, his gaze locked directly onto me—who had been trembling silently, unsure whether I had been noticed or not.
