Chapter 09
“Miss, is this enough?”
“Yes. It’ll be a simple ceremony, so it’s fine.”
“I’m worried since I can’t go with you.”
“It’s okay.”
Daphne gently brushed Jacquette’s hair while she slept soundly. The child was wrapped securely in a blanket.
Since Jacquette had to leave with Becky first, there was no other choice.
“Are you ready?”
“Of course. Everything is prepared just as you instructed.”
“You and Jacquette should go ahead to Anaxi’s estate first.”
“What about you, Miss?”
“I have to see my father.”
“But what if you get hurt…?”
“The Duke of Anaxi wouldn’t let his bride die on her wedding night.”
In other words, he would be her shield.
“Trust me.”
“…Alright.”
With a small sigh, Becky nodded. She knew her lady well—once Daphne made up her mind, she wouldn’t change it.
As the appointed time approached, silence filled the air, and the ticking of the clock grew louder.
The moment the minute and hour hands aligned at the top, the window clicked open.
A cold breeze swept inside, and along with it, the sound of footsteps echoed.
“I’m here to escort you.”
At the deep voice, Daphne slowly lifted her gaze and observed the man in front of her.
His pink hair fluttered under the moonlight.
“You’re right on time.”
“A man who can’t even keep an appointment with a lady might as well drop dead.”
With a playful tone, Theophanes extended his hand toward her. It was a natural gesture.
“May I have the honor of escorting you?”
“If everything is perfectly prepared.”
“Of course.”
At his words, Daphne gently placed her hand in his.
She had expected his hands to be smooth and delicate, but instead, she felt calluses and small scars—signs of a man who wielded weapons.
Surprised, she looked up at him, and Theophanes responded with a grin.
“If you keep staring like that, you’ll burn a hole in my face.”
“Was I rude?”
“Not at all. You’re about to be my wife, after all.”
Theophanes lightly pulled her hand toward him and pressed a kiss onto the back of it.
As his lips lingered, he held her gaze steadily.
In the end, Daphne was the one who looked away first.
Now noticing the other two men standing nearby, Daphne’s gaze shifted toward them.
Seeing this, Theophanes introduced them.
“This is my lieutenant, Dante, and our knight commander, Phantom.”
Both men gave a respectful nod at the introduction.
“I am Daphne Himonas. This is my maid, Becky, and my daughter, Jacquette.”
“Dante will serve as our wedding witness, and phantom will escort them to safety.”
Daphne nodded at Theophanes’ explanation.
“Jacquette and Becky will leave first under phantom’s protection, while we follow after the ceremony.”
“You’re using the wedding as a distraction to cover their escape?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s a good plan. As long as the child is safe, I have no complaints.”
But something about Dante seemed oddly familiar.
Daphne studied him closely.
‘He looks familiar…’
He resembled the old man she had seen in the bookstore.
Before she could dwell on it further, Theophanes placed a hand on her shoulder, steering the conversation away.
“We should get moving now.”
“Oh, yes. Of course.”
“phantom,” Theophanes called.
“Yes.”
“Take my daughter and keep her safe.”
“I will carry out your command.”
Daphne approached Becky, who held Jacquette in her arms.
She gazed at her sleeping daughter in silence, unsure of what to say.
Instead, she gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind the child’s ear.
Noticing Daphne’s hesitation, Becky spoke first.
“Don’t worry about the little miss. I’m here, and the Duke’s knight will protect us.”
At Becky’s reassurance, Daphne nodded.
“I’ll be there soon.”
“See you later, Miss.”
With that, the three of them disappeared into the night.
“Now, shall we go? We have a wedding to attend.”
The temple was too modest for a noble wedding.
Still, Daphne found it charming.
Despite the snow outside, the place felt warmer than her mansion.
Curious, she turned to Theophanes.
“Where are we?”
“A small temple at the edge of Himonas territory.”
“I didn’t know this place existed.”
“Most people have forgotten about it.”
An outsider knew more about her homeland than she did—perhaps it was because he ran an information guild.
“Once we walk through that door, we’ll be married,” Theophanes said.
“Before that, there’s something I need to ask.”
His expression remained calm, as if ready to answer anything.
“I told you why I needed you, but I still don’t know why you accepted. Do you need me as well?”
She pulled her hand from his and stopped walking.
If he didn’t give her a proper answer, she wouldn’t walk down that aisle.
For some reason, she had an unshakable confidence that he wouldn’t harm her.
“Tell me why you need me. Only then will the deal be valid.”
“If you’re that curious, I’ll explain.”
Theophanes reached into his coat and pulled out a cigar case, showing it to her.
“What is this?”
“A cigar made from Kalea leaves.”
“Kalea?”
“Have you heard of the plant that the World Tree created for Transcendents? It’s both a poison and a medicine.”
“I thought it was just a harmless weed that caused mild stomachaches.”
“For normal humans, yes.”
“But for Transcendents… it’s different?”
“Exactly. For the first Transcendents, it was a powerful painkiller—and a deadly poison.”
Kalea leaves and the first Transcendents…
There was only one conclusion she could draw from that.
“Then… that means…?”
“I am the last of the first Transcendents.”
Daphne forced herself to look surprised.
In truth, she already knew—she had read it in the original story.
But what truly shocked her was that this was the very reason she had planned to propose their alliance in the first place.
The only person who could connect the World Tree and Transcendents was her daughter, Jacquette Himonas.
However, Jacquette wouldn’t awaken her powers for another year.
How did he already know?
“In short, I live with constant pain,” Theophanes continued. “And only you can ease it, Lady Daphne.”
His words made her freeze.
What did he see in her that made him say such a thing?
“That doesn’t make sense. My family lost its Transcendent powers long ago. I can’t use magic or anything like that. What are you basing this on?”
“Do you truly believe that?”
Daphne locked eyes with him.
Her shoulders tensed.
Theophanes was smiling, but something about it unsettled her.
“I believe the gate to the World Tree will open soon,” he said.
“You…”
“How do I know?”
“Yes.”
Theophanes raised a finger to his lips.
“Even I need to keep a few cards up my sleeve.”
She had said something similar to him before.
Now, he was throwing her own words back at her.
Daphne gave up on questioning him further.
Neither of them wanted to reveal all their secrets just yet.
Besides, they had already signed the contract. He couldn’t back out now.
“Shall we?”
With a smile, she extended her hand to him.
Realizing her intent, Theophanes took her hand.
“As my wife wishes.”
He kissed the back of her hand and led her into the temple.
Inside, an old priest stood ready to officiate, along with two witnesses.
One was Dante.
The other was an unfamiliar man.
Since it was a simple ceremony, many formalities had been skipped.
Then—
As soon as they stepped inside, a foul stench filled the air.
It was so putrid that it made her stomach churn.
When Daphne covered her nose and looked up, she saw it—
A massive black archway.
Thick, pulsing vines covered the eerie door.
The vines twitched as if they were alive.
Crack—
The vines snapped as the door creaked open.
A nauseating, squelching liquid seeped through the gap, forming a puddle on the floor.
Daphne gasped as her dress sizzled and dissolved where the liquid touched it.
“This is…”
A terrifyingly familiar sight.
She knew exactly what it was.
Despite herself, her eyes darted to Theophanes—the unpredictable wild card in her plan.
Their gazes met.
His golden eyes held steady.
“Getting married is a real challenge, isn’t it, wife?”
He grinned.
A sword was already in his hand.
“Let’s take care of this quickly and get back to the ceremony.”
