IMTVD| Chapter 4

Episode 4

“You look beautiful, my lady.”

“…Right.”

Even with the maid’s compliment, Emilia couldn’t feel happy.

It was hard to respond when the same people who usually mocked her suddenly started saying nice things.

The maids didn’t seem to expect a reply anyway—they just went on with their work in silence.

Emilia glanced at herself in the mirror.

The beginning of the original story.

In the part she remembered reading, the marriage between Emilia Hermann and Edwin Casper happened early on.

People called it the wedding of a prince and a witch—a pairing so mismatched it became gossip.

They said it was a marriage between a young duke loyal to the beloved emperor, and a “witch” from the Hermann

family, who always clashed with the emperor and fought only for noble rights.

Some even said she was a witch cursing the prince’s future, bringing him nothing but hardship.

And, honestly, Emilia agreed—this marriage didn’t suit either of them.

“Come on, it’s your big wedding day. Can’t you at least smile prettily?”

“Yeah, how could you smile? You’re marrying into a family that’s basically your mortal enemy.”

The servants’ whispers reached her ears loud and clear.

Still, her expression wouldn’t change.

The more she thought about meeting Edwin that day, the more guilty she felt.

A meeting that should never have happened. And now… a marriage.

She wanted to deny the feelings she’d had when she first met Edwin.

“Is Emilia ready?”

“Yes, young master. We’re just finishing up.”

That voice behind her made her shiver.

The maids quickly erased their smiles and turned polite when Henry walked into the bridal room.

“Leave us for a moment.”

“But there’s still—”

“What?”

At his sharp tone, they hurried out, leaving only Emilia and Henry in the large room.

Not wanting to be alone with him, Emilia bit her lip so hard it nearly bled.

“Lovely little sister Emilia,” he said with a smile.

Hearing that word from him made her scowl.

Lovely? From you?

She clenched her fists. If there was anyone responsible for her ending up this miserable, it was Henry.

But he didn’t care—he walked right up to her, smiling like nothing was wrong.

“What are you doing here?”

“Do I need a reason to see my sister?”

“Did you come here to mock me?”

He chuckled, taking a strand of her hair in his hand. “Nothing to mock. I’m just here to give you advice.”

Advice. From someone who wasn’t even married himself.

She turned to glare at him. The sly curve of his lips filled her with unease. She wanted to shove him away, but

memories of past encounters—and the fear of him—kept her still.

“You’re only leaving the Hermann house for a little while, Emil.”

Hearing him use that familiar nickname made her hands tremble. His closeness made her feel sick.

“So don’t do anything stupid. Just follow my instructions over there, then come back here to the Hermann estate.”

She drew in a breath. She wanted to tell him she’d never come back to this hell, that she was a Casper now and their

ties were cut.

But the words wouldn’t come out.

“Your husband will never love you, so don’t get your hopes up. Oh, wait—haven’t you already met him?”

Her eyes widened before she quickly fixed her expression. She swallowed back the urge to ask how he knew and

acted as if she didn’t.

But Henry had already caught it. He smirked as he left.

“Remember, eyes are on you wherever you go. If you don’t want to be humiliated again, keep that in mind.

Congratulations on your marriage, Emil.”

The moment he left, the maids came back in.

“Let’s finish getting you ready, my lady.”

They sat her back down in front of the mirror like a doll.

She closed her eyes, wanting to block out Henry’s words, but they replayed over and over.

He’ll never love you.

It hurt—but it also reminded her of the one time someone had treated her kindly in front of everyone else who

ignored her.

Despite herself, a tiny spark of hope lit inside her.

Maybe, just maybe… you’d accept me as I am.

But that hope wouldn’t last.

She’d wondered how Edwin would look at her when they met again.

But before she could even see him, the Marquis walked in with her, and she could feel the eyes of the entire hall on

her.

The wedding between the leader of the Emperor’s faction and the daughter of the head of the noble faction had drawn

a huge crowd.

Very few of those stares were congratulatory.

Some were full of envy—how dare someone like her marry the Duke?

Others were suspicious—what relationship did she have with him for this sudden marriage to happen?

And some simply hated her.

She walked forward under the weight of those gazes.

The only one who shines here is you.

Ahead, Edwin stood at the altar.

It had been so long since that night on the terrace.

I missed you.

Locked in the dark dungeon for three days, she had thought of no one else.

He was the first person in this world to show her kindness.

But part of her didn’t want to see him—because once they met, that cruel connection between them would begin, and

he’d start looking for someone else.

So she hoped he’d be the same as that day—unbothered by her family name, looking at her the same way he had

then.

“Haha. Please take good care of my daughter, Duke Casper. Or should I call you son-in-law now?”

“I don’t think we’re on joking terms, Marquis Hermann.”

“Oh? I wonder how long I’ll get to see that arrogant look on your face.”

The Marquis’s sly tone met Edwin’s cold voice.

With a scowl, the Marquis shoved Emilia toward Edwin’s side.

Finally away from her father, she stood beside her groom and looked up at him.

She wanted to see—maybe, just maybe, he’d still look at her the way he had before.

But

“…It’s about time.”

“Now that the bride is here, let us begin the ceremony. First, the groom will…”

The look from that night was gone.

Edwin…

Had even he been unable to fight it?

A bitter laugh escaped her.

She’d never wanted to live a scripted life. In the original story, she’d die unloved, branded a villainess to the end.

But what hurt more than that was the man standing right next to her.

I didn’t want us to meet like this.

Her chest ached.

If we’d never met, would this look in your eyes feel normal to me?

Her lips, already raw from biting, had nowhere left to bleed. Tears welled in her eyes.

The priest spoke, but she couldn’t focus.

For most people, a wedding day was the happiest day of their life. For her, it was just another day to fear the future.

“Do you, Emilia Hermann, promise to love Edwin Casper for the rest of your life?”

“…Yes. I do.”

She was terrified of the days ahead—days filled with his hatred.

And now, even the faint crease in his brow made her heart drop like a stone.