FIH | CH 17

As I entered the wedding hall with a mix of excitement and nervousness, my eyes met a woman in the guest seats wearing a white dress. She was wearing a dress that looked exactly like my wedding gown—almost as if it had been planned. But it seemed I was the only one feeling embarrassed.“She’s always been a bit mischievous. I guess she was trying to play a prank. The ceremony isn’t ruined, so don’t take it too seriously. I’ll scold her later.”My husband added,“Uriel and the people from the Count’s family are like family to me. I hope you can get along with them too.”After that humiliating wedding, the place I went to wasn’t a home — it was a prison.“His Majesty said today that you’ll be sent to a monastery. All the other royal descendants have already been executed, so letting you live is far too merciful.”Then, the woman carrying my husband’s child came to see me — when I had already lost everything. My child, my family, even my face.When I threw myself away from the world, I cursed them with all my heart. If there was another life, I swore I would drag them all into hell.And somehow… that wish came true.***“Haela, why are you two together?”My husband asked with red, angry eyes. His gaze toward me was full of doubt, anger, and blame — yet he couldn’t bring himself to get angry at the man beside me.Before I could even answer, that man grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. But just as I was about to be dragged away, a strong hand broke my husband’s grip.In front of me stood a strikingly handsome man, wearing a formal outfit that looked almost identical to mine. He reached out his hand and asked, in front of everyone,“Does what you said last time still count? That I’m your person?”