**Episode 2**
*Gulp.*
Sharie instinctively swallowed the liquid as her chin was tilted back.
“Haa… Haa….”
As the liquid slid down her throat, the faintly sweet scent of wine rose through her nose.
While she gasped for breath, the finger that had brushed against her damp lips—almost in praise—finally pulled away.
“Continue.”
Caissa’s low voice urged her on, as composed as ever, in stark contrast to the chaos he’d stirred among the witnesses.
The officiant, still reeling, felt a sudden chill and hastily cleared his throat.
“Ahem. With this, the marriage is officially complete.”
Behind them, the waiting musicians blew their horns in fanfare.
Hundreds of attendants threw petals into the air.
Barhad—the land of ice.
In the vast snowfields ruled by the Serpent Tribe, days like this—when vivid flower petals fluttered down—were a rarity.
It was a breathtaking scene, one that drew every gaze. And yet Sharie’s heart felt heavy.
*What happens to me now?*
The wedding ceremony was over—but that was only the beginning.
Her worries stretched far beyond this moment.
Not a soul in the hall truly believed this union was forged for peace between their tribes.
“At last, I can rest,”
Caissa muttered beside her, sounding almost cheerful.
Sharie, her thoughts bleached white with confusion, blinked up at the tall man towering over her.
She didn’t even remember how she’d walked to the bridal chambers. Her legs had moved as though pushed by the crowd.
“We weren’t sure of your tastes, but we tried to prepare the chamber as best we could. I hope it’s to your liking.”
The bridal chamber was, in a word, overwhelming.
It was so vast and opulent it looked more like a grand banquet hall than a place to sleep.
The side tables and sofas, intricately carved, bore the unmistakable polish of fine wood. Gold decorations gleamed everywhere she turned.
And the canopy bed that dominated one side of the room?
It was massive enough to hold several grown men at once.
Sharie, raised among the egalitarian Rabbit Tribe where everyone shared equally, had never seen such extravagance. Especially not as the family’s outcast.
Yet no matter how luxurious a place was, it became hell when your heart was anxious.
Then—
Caissa extended his hand toward her.
“This way.”
It was a large hand, with thick fingers and calluses born from years of wielding weapons.
There was nothing small or soft about Caissa.
Even when he stood still, he radiated menace.
And it wasn’t as though they had built any trust between them—not yet.
Sharie couldn’t bring herself to move.
*How is someone like this even real…*
She stared at his body, solid and unmoving like a mountain, her mind drifting into escapism.
Sensing the stalemate, Caissa stepped forward.
The problem was—he was too big.
“Eep!”
Startled by the looming shadow overtaking her, Sharie let out a sharp gasp.
Caissa halted in place at her reaction.
*I shouldn’t have done that…*
She realized she’d shown open fear—too late to take it back.
Even the sound of his calm breathing from above terrified her.
*What should I do?*
One wrong move could shatter the fragile peace they had just forged and ignite another war.
Her vision dimmed with fear.
“I’m sor—!”
She tried to drop into a full bow, like a frightened animal exposing its belly in submission.
“Do I frighten you, my bride?”
Caissa spoke first.
His voice was low but calm, devoid of hostility—yet it sent a chill down her spine.
“I understand. You didn’t even get a proper look at my face before the ceremony.”
Sharie trembled, her head bowed like a rabbit burrowing into the ground.
Caissa’s golden eyes narrowed as he watched her.
“But we made vows before the Creator, Gaia. I am your husband now. From this day forward, we share our lives. We must get to know each other.”
He gently lifted her veil.
“Don’t be afraid.”
The sheer veil that had clouded her vision lifted, and the world came into focus.
Her eyes were drawn first to his jet-black hair—dark enough to swallow light—and then, to his face.
Sharie gasped involuntarily.
She’d read in books that he was handsome.
But this… This was something else entirely.
His sharp, sculpted features looked as though carved by a master artisan. The line of his jaw was bold and sensual.
With a high nose bridge and deep-set brow casting shadows over his eyes, his face held a haunting, almost religious beauty.
His godlike visage was at odds with his powerful physique.
When he felt her gaze, Caissa looked back at her.
“Do you like my face?”
“W-What? Y-Yes.”
He blinked, seemingly caught off guard.
Then he chuckled, a quiet sound that snapped her from her daze.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she belatedly realized what she had just said.
*What did I just do…?*
She had gone from trembling in fear to blurting out that she liked his face.
Still, his looks were breathtaking enough to drag a soul to the heavens.
Thankfully, Caissa didn’t seem offended.
“In that case, dressing up was worth it.”
He looked pleased, not insulted—which was a relief.
But her moment of peace didn’t last.
Caissa suddenly shrugged off his outer robe.
“Ah—! I-I’m sorry!”
With a panicked yelp, Sharie slapped her hands over her eyes.
There was no reason to apologize, but her shock was so intense it burst out reflexively.
“You may look if you wish.”
Caissa was unfazed.
But even with his permission, Sharie was too modest to stare at a man’s bare body.
*What is happening…?!*
Her hands trembled, fingers trembling apart of their own accord.
Through the cracks, her gaze locked on his physique.
Broad shoulders. Long limbs. A chest sculpted by years of war.
The strength beneath his skin was even more formidable than she’d imagined.
His body wasn’t just attractive—it was a work of art.
Before she knew it, her fingers were spread wide open.
Sharie stared in awe, completely entranced.
Then—reality struck her.
*What am I doing…?!*
She’d gawked so blatantly that if he decided her gaze was offensive, he could tear her eyes out.
As expected, Caissa had noticed.
“Have you seen enough?”
Her hands clenched shut instantly.
“I’m so sorry! I swear on the gods it wasn’t on purpose! I won’t look again, so please, go ahead and change!”
“I already have.”
With practiced efficiency, Caissa had finished changing into his nightwear and now held out a soft white robe for her.
“I’ll turn around. You may change as well.”
Despite the blazing hearth and thick tapestries, the cold northern air seeped in.
For someone like Sharie—born in the warm southern continent—the thick fur robe looked inviting.
And after removing the heavy bridal gown, she’d surely feel more comfortable.
Yet the situation made the offer feel less like kindness and more like a warning.
“W-Why are we changing…?”
“Why?” Caissa tilted his head. “It’s nearly time for bed.”
A chill ran down her spine.
No matter how political the union, they were now husband and wife.
The servants were gone. The chamber sealed.
*Is it… time?*
It was clear what Caissa would want next.
“How long do you intend to keep standing there?”
Though his tone was light and teasing, Sharie was too tense to notice.
*Can I really… with someone I just met today?*
For someone as shy as Sharie, it was an impossible situation.
Her gaze drifted.
The glimpse of his chest through the loose collar—
His broad chest, the way water might pool there if it trickled down…
Oddly, her nerves began to settle.
She took a deep breath—and began to undress.
Layer after layer of fabric slipped from her body, cascading to the floor.
