SEM 19

#019

“……”

Eliana fell silent under Gredy’s emotionless gaze. But Gredy didn’t seem to care about her silence—or her feelings.

“I was clear about the path you had to take. Yet despite that, you’re the one who chose to take my hand.”

“I know.”

Eliana lowered her head. A deep fatigue—far beyond what she felt during the nights she was beaten and forced to repent—weighed down on her.

“Good. I’m glad you understand. But it would be troublesome if this continues.”

After speaking, Gredy gently took her hand. Just then, people who had been turning the corner of the hallway froze when they saw them.

Gredy casually wiped his lips with the back of his hand. A dried scab cracked and made the wound more noticeable.

The corridor, covered in a red velvet carpet, felt especially long today.

“Announce us.”

Gredy addressed the attendant standing guard at the office. Unlike the man who had just been threatening Eliana, he now smiled as he patted her head.

Eliana swallowed dryly at his sudden change.

She knew—this path wouldn’t be easy. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had avoided the fox’s den only to end up in the tiger’s lair.

‘I should’ve just drowned back then.’

The regret came too late. There was no miracle that would let her return to the past.

“Come in.”

While pretending to be a loving couple, they must have received permission, because the tightly closed doors swung open. Unlike the dim corridor, the inside of the office was flooded with sunlight from large open windows.

“We greet the sun of the Empire.”

At Gredy’s greeting, Eliana bowed deeply.

“That arrogant fool—so he’s finally decided to disgrace the imperial name.”

The Emperor’s voice, coming from the head seat with the sun at his back, drew everyone’s attention.

“A dress embroidered with the crest of House Cryber… You haven’t even held a wedding yet, and already you act so shamelessly.”

Sharp gazes turned to Eliana. But Gredy offered no defense.

“A shield made of flowers… Quite fitting for your current situation.”

Duke Lloyd, seated beside the Emperor, adjusted his monocle.

“You did say yourself that she suited a scoundrel like you, so I suppose there’s nothing more for me to add.”

The Emperor turned his head.

“How could the Archduke possibly understand Your Majesty’s concern? Please don’t let it anger you.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. Birds of a feather flock together, as they say. Better this than sacrificing some noble young lady.”

The nobles surrounding the Emperor all chimed in, as if Eliana and Gredy weren’t even present.

“Useless things!”

The Emperor waved his hand. His ice-cold tone was not approval, but indifference. Gredy, as if expecting nothing more, silently stepped back without protest.

The documents and wedding invitations he brought were not even handed over to the Emperor.

Eliana stared blankly at the invitations and papers lying neatly on the floor.

Even here, the only thing she could do was hide in Gredy’s shadow and pretend not to exist. A wave of self-loathing made her shiver.

* * *

It was after breakfast.

Golden sunlight streamed through the open window, reaching the spot where Eliana sat.

“What is this?”

“It’s an invitation to a tea party. His Majesty the Emperor is inviting the nobles of the capital to celebrate the start of the new season.”

Emma, who handed her the invitation, wore a deep frown. Seeing her worried expression, Eliana opened the invitation.

“…The start of the season? Oh no, it’s Wednesday.”

“Yes. The day of Your Grace’s wedding.”

Emma’s sigh filled the drawing room.

Had they been too relieved when the Emperor seemed to accept the wedding plans without much fuss?

Never had they imagined he would try to sabotage it like this.

“What should we do? It’s far too late to change the date now. We’ve already made so many preparations.”

Emma sighed heavily and pressed her temples hard, as if trying to fight off a headache.

“……”

The fact that the Emperor had sent a tea party invitation even to Eliana—who was clearly getting married that day—meant he had every intention of ruining the wedding.

Surely every noble staying in the capital had received the same invitation.

Just as Emma’s sighs were growing deeper, Gredy entered the room. Despite the early hour, he was as dazzling as ever.

He too held a gold invitation from the Emperor.

“Well, looks like I’m late.”

Removing his gloves and slumping onto the sofa with a weary sigh, Gredy looked exhausted. Eliana let out a soft sigh as well.

“So, you’ve been invited too.”

“It’s the first invitation I’ve ever received from my brother.”

He waved the golden card before tossing it onto the table. It was easy to understand his frustration—after all the effort they put into the wedding, it was now on the brink of collapse.

Only one week remained until the wedding.

The Emperor’s tea party versus the Archduke’s wedding—it wasn’t even a contest.

No noble would dare refuse an invitation from the Empire’s highest authority.

What’s more, if anyone ignored this very obvious ploy and attended the wedding instead, they’d surely earn the Emperor’s displeasure. It was a battle where the winner had already been decided.

“What should we do?”

Emma fretted and glared at the Emperor’s invitation. She desperately wanted to tear it up, but since both Eliana and Gredy would need to attend, she couldn’t.

“There’s nothing we can do.”

No matter how hard they thought about it, refusing the Emperor’s command wasn’t an option. On the surface, it seemed like a generous invitation, but no one was foolish enough to miss the hidden meaning.

Eliana and Gredy’s wedding was effectively ruined.

Biting her lip at the Emperor’s petty move, Eliana narrowed her eyes.

“Maybe we should reschedule?”

Emma asked cautiously, looking back and forth between Eliana and Gredy.

Eliana, who had been chewing her lip, raised her head.

“…No. We shouldn’t.”

“What?”

Emma blinked in surprise. Even Gredy, who had been sitting in a daze, looked at her in shock.

“This is just the beginning. If we let ourselves be pushed around now, this will keep happening.”

Gredy, who had been half-slouched on the sofa, now looked at Eliana with renewed interest. His black eyes sparkled as he watched her.

“So you have a plan?”

“Your Grace seems to forget who you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are the heir with the highest claim to the throne.”

Gredy nodded at her words. Though he had been demoted to Archduke, he had once been a prince of the Empire.

“……”

“So, holding your wedding at the Imperial Palace isn’t strange at all.”

Eliana’s calm tone made Gredy ask in surprise:

“Are you a cat with nine lives?”

He tapped the unhealed wound on his forehead playfully.

“As long as it’s not you or me making the arrangements, it should be fine, shouldn’t it?”

“What?”

“If His Majesty gives his tacit approval, and your father hosts the wedding… then isn’t it legitimate?”

Eliana turned to him. Her cheeks, glowing like peaches in the sunlight, were radiant.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking… but this is going to make my wedding a lot more interesting.”

Gredy grinned with satisfaction. Eliana averted her gaze, swallowing dryly at his bright smile.

“I should make it worth the money. Just like Your Grace said.”

Her tone was oddly cold, and Gredy stared at her silently.

“Emma.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Gredy didn’t take his eyes off Eliana as he spoke to Emma, standing behind him.

“From now on, consult Eliana about everything related to the wedding.”

“Yes, understood.”

Eliana swallowed hard.

Though her first two weddings were little more than hollow ceremonies, she had still seen and learned a lot.

In the first, she had played the baroness—pleasing other noble ladies.

In the second, she was a marchioness—commanding others from above.

Even if all of it was a facade.

“You’ve taken on my burdens—so what should I do to repay you?”

Gredy asked playfully as he took the teacup Emma handed him. His demeanor now was far more relaxed than when he first entered.

“…Please meet my father. Give him the push he needs to prepare our wedding.”

“Gladly. I’ve been meaning to see him anyway.”

At his answer, Eliana licked her lips in relief. Her trembling hands relaxed now that the tension had subsided after his agreement.