I Refuse This Life, Your Highness!

A wedding overflowing with flowers—a dazzling display. But how many people here are truly celebrating this union? I gazed quietly at the groom’s place through my veil.

Before long, the orchestra began to play.

The other main figure of the day made his entrance to the melody. Like me, his face was veiled—Grand Duke of Isser, Isis Perion.

We approached each other slowly, in time with the music. It wasn’t a beautiful or emotional scene.

Amidst a shower of flower petals, applause, cheers, and exclamations, a priest with a pleased expression delivered his blessing. The Grand Duke and I stood close enough that our hands could touch.

When the blessing concluded, the Grand Duke slipped a ring onto my finger. I repeated the gesture. His hand was firm, large, and warm. The moment I slid the wedding ring onto his finger for the second time felt drier than the first, yet my heart raced even more.

I glanced at him. Though unlikely, a flicker of hope stirred within me. In a voice barely audible—even to the priest before us—I asked:

“Your Highness, is this your second time?”

Though my voice was faint, a warrior’s ears are sharp, and he caught it. He chuckled softly.

“A second time? What nonsense.”

“…It was a joke. I thought you might be nervous.”

“I am nervous, but that’s not a very amusing joke.”

“My apologies.”

As expected, he didn’t remember. Relief—or something else—washed over me.

The priest then declared the marriage official.

“I now pronounce these two beautiful individuals as a family, bound to share their lives together.”

I was married to the Grand Duke once again. Though the declaration would not hold true for long.

I glanced at my family to see if any of them were shedding tears. At every wedding I’d attended, families always cried. But my family, as always, wore cold expressions. My parents looked indifferent, and even Rebien and Rision maintained their composure.

For some reason, the sight amused me, and I laughed quietly. But then, I felt someone’s gaze.

“…?”

When I turned my head, the Grand Duke was looking at me.

“Your Highness?”

I asked, puzzled, but he quickly turned away. What was that? As I tilted my head in confusion, the ceremony came to an end. The Grand Duke turned and exited the hall.

After the wedding, the bride and groom separated, each going with their respective families to greet the guests—those who had helped arrange the marriage or had been of service.

In the empire, it was customary for the bride and groom not to meet again until entering the bridal chamber after the ceremony.

“Yuraine.”

“Brother!”

Rebien and Liss were waiting for me. Since the whole family couldn’t move together, only one attendant and one family representative accompanied me. As always, Rebien was our family’s representative for matters concerning me.

“Are you tired? Here.”

He pulled out a small pouch from his pocket. When I tugged the string to open it, colorful candies appeared inside. It was the same gift I had received in my previous life. Smiling as I had back then, I looked at Rebien.

“Brother, do you think I’m a child?”

“You are a child… Let’s not resent our parents too much. I’m sure they have their reasons.”

In truth, it wasn’t me who failed to understand our parents—it was Rebien. But, as always, I agreed with him.

“Sure, they must want the best for me.”

I popped one candy into my mouth. The sweet candy had a thin outer shell that, when bitten, released a rich sugarcane syrup. It was so delicious that I ate three in a row, earning simultaneous scoldings from Rebien and Liss.

Liss held up the long, voluminous hem of my gown from behind, while Rebien supported me as if escorting me. It made walking much easier. Our first destination, naturally, was the Emperor.

The Emperor’s audience chamber was indescribably splendid. They say that among all the emperors throughout history, the current imperial palace is the most beautiful and luxurious.

Stepping onto a crimson carpet embroidered with gold thread that reached down to the floor, I approached the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, the great Emperor, I, Yuraine Sierra of Airden and Isser, humbly greet you.”

“I, Rebien Sierra of Airden, greet Your Majesty.”

The new title still felt a little strange to me. I was no longer solely of Airden; I now belonged to the Grand Duke’s domain, Isser, as well.

Liss wasn’t allowed inside the inner chamber of the audience hall. The Emperor, seated on his throne, extended his hand toward me with a smile. His dark golden hair shimmered under the light. At thirty-five, he was a young and energetic ruler, far more handsome than his predecessor. The youthful Emperor called me closer with a booming voice.

“Come forward, newlywed bride. Your presence brightens this entire chamber.”

Dragging the long train of my gown, I approached the Emperor, knelt before him, and kissed the hem of his robe. Rebien followed slightly behind me, kneeling on one knee.

The Emperor, clearly in high spirits, spoke cheerfully.

“To think you are so beautiful even with your veil on. I’ve truly done the Grand Duke a great favor, haven’t I?”

“It is an honor beyond measure, Your Majesty.”

“I hope you don’t think my words are empty. A bride as stunning as you—how many rivals would the Grand Duke have had to face to win you? Myself included!”

I placed a hand on my chest and bowed my head.

“Your words are far too generous, Your Majesty. I am humbled.”

“Too generous? You know well how highly I regard the Lamia. You are the jewels and purest flowers of this land.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

The Emperor’s words proclaimed reverence for the Lamia, yet his obsession often bordered on fetishism. After all, how many of his concubines were Lamia? Even his current tone made it clear: his so-called adoration was simply a thinly veiled infatuation.

“And now the Count of Airden can rest easy. His most beautiful youngest child has married so splendidly.”

I offered only a silent smile. From this close, my face and expressions were clearly visible to the Emperor; I couldn’t risk offending him with any show of discontent.

My father was surely relieved. After all, wasn’t it his enthusiasm that had propelled this marriage forward?

The Emperor continued with a few more compliments—though, to me, they felt more like meaningless chatter. Smiling politely for so long made my face ache. Listening to the same nonsense twice was sheer torment.

“Bride, raise your head.”

“How could I dare…?”

“It is an imperial order. Raise your head.”

I had no choice but to lift my gaze. The Emperor studied me intently through the veil. His gaze was long, direct, and almost oppressive. Being stared at so unflinchingly by someone like him was unnerving. Without realizing it, I lowered my head again. The Emperor chuckled softly.

How pleased he must be. This marriage had taken away the Grand Duke’s chance to strengthen his ties to the central power.

As I thought about it, something struck me as odd. Even with the Emperor’s involvement, the Grand Duke could have refused. Our families were of vastly different ranks: his was a royal household, and mine merely a count’s family. Add to that my Lamia bloodline.

Even in an arranged marriage, it wasn’t a life-or-death matter if he declined. Yet the Grand Duke had willingly accepted. Why?

A possibility came to mind.

“…Could he already be seeing Reia?”

In a marriage as one-sided as this, it would make sense. Reia, too, was a Lamia, but as the second son of a baron’s family, he was currently known only as an illegitimate child.

Two years from now, the dramatic revelation of his true parentage would grant him the status needed to marry the Grand Duke.

For now, though, as an illegitimate child—a commoner—the Grand Duke couldn’t openly meet him. And that’s where my family came in, perfectly suited to the role. Even if the Grand Duke committed infidelity, regardless of his lover’s status, the Count of Airden wouldn’t dare raise a complaint.

He had chosen me as the ideal partner to appease the Emperor while avoiding scandal with his true love.

“I’ve kept you too long. You may go.”

I bowed deeply and left the audience hall, feeling a surge of bitterness. That’s all I was—a disposable figure, unable to utter a word even if my spouse was unfaithful, and instead destined for the chopping block.

Well, it wasn’t the Grand Duke who sent me to the gallows in my past life; it was Erma.

But this time, everything would change. As I moved mechanically through the endless greetings, my mind churned with thoughts of how to reshape my future in the most realistic and flawless way.

Divorce.

I would divorce the Grand Duke. Just before—or shortly after—the revelation of Reia’s true parentage, I would propose ending our marriage. I’d claim I wished to return to the countryside and live quietly.

Of course, I would have to prepare meticulously. I needed to establish myself as a perfect duchess—earning public favor and the Grand Duke’s trust.

I could do it. I had been raised to manage a prestigious household. Without Erma’s interference, I wouldn’t have fallen so far in my past life.

A fleeting worry arose—what if Erma sabotaged me again? But no. Having faced death and returned, I felt an unshakable confidence.

By the time I completed all the greetings, the sun had set completely.

Liss and Phea, who had been tending to my attire all evening, had prepared a light snack for me: dried fruit, biscuits, and tea brimming with milk.

The sugar eased my fatigue, and the tea soothed my sore throat.

After lifting my veil briefly, I lowered it once more and stood up. Now, it was time for the final act of the wedding.

The bridal chamber with the Grand Duke awaited me.

However… my task ended as soon as I arrived at the chamber. The Grand Duke would not step inside. I planned to feign waiting for a while, undo a few buttons on my dress, and then collapse onto the bed.

By dawn, the attendants and maids would come to change my clothes and prepare a bath. Until then, I could rest soundly.

For three days following the wedding, neither the bride nor groom was expected to make a public appearance. If events proceeded as they had in my previous life, we would spend those three days at the Grand Duke’s castle. Afterward, there would be a grueling carriage journey to Isser that would take several days.

The trip might be tiresome, but once we arrived, I planned to spend the next three days indulging in rest and sleep. After that, my new life in the Grand Duke’s castle would officially begin.

Following the prescribed protocol, I entered the bridal chamber first, accompanied by Liss and Phea.

A faint, heady scent lingered in the air. Candles flickered on the walls, silk adorned the floor, and heavy drapes hung over the bed. Everything was exactly as I remembered.

I sat at a table where a golden pitcher and two cups had been set.

There was no clock in the chamber. My eyes were drawn to the bed sprinkled with flower petals and the thick silk curtains drawn tightly over the windows.

The room was designed to be timeless—a perfect retreat for newlyweds to consummate their love.

But for the Grand Duke and me, it couldn’t have been more ill-fitting.

Seated on the plush chair, I glanced down at my adorned body, each fingertip carefully embellished.

Even in the Grand Duke’s castle, I would always be dressed in splendor—though perhaps not to this extreme. Such was the life of a Lamia. The very elegance of my attire only served to bind me further.

A Lamia… Yes, a Lamia. The Grand Duke was such a peculiar man.

For someone who dismissed and scorned me so thoroughly, I had assumed he despised Lamia. Yet, one day, he had unexpectedly brought a Lamia mistress into the picture.

I was lost in thought when suddenly—

Step, step.

“…?”

Startled, I instinctively lifted my head. My veil and ornaments swayed with the movement.

Someone was approaching.