Chapter 3. Bride? What Do You Mean?

As soon as evening fell, Axia was dragged from her holding cell, having only been given enough time for basic grooming before her audience with the Emperor.

Not that it amounted to much—just washing up and changing into fresh clothes.

‘So, they’re not planning to kill me after all.’

The fact that he had said he found me meant he had business with her.

No matter how much he might be in pain or pissed off about being stabbed, there was no way he’d have her executed just like that.

‘They even let me have a private meeting with the Grand Duke.’

Surrounded by imperial guards, Axia walked steadily down the long corridor when, suddenly, her eyes caught the vast night sky through a large window.

It might be a while before she saw the sunlit sky again.

‘Judging by the moon’s phase, it really has been three days.’

She recalled what she had learned—

The full transformation into a vampire typically took about a week.

‘They say the body undergoes complete reconstruction, purging impurities and restructuring all the blood in the system…’

But today marked only the third day since her failed assassination attempt.

Perhaps because her transformation wasn’t complete, she still didn’t feel the overwhelming strength vampires were supposed to have.

Or maybe it was because of the damn heavy clothes and the five layers of shackles weighing her down, but even walking felt exhausting.

She glanced up at the knights surrounding her.

Each one was massive, towering over her with their broad frames.

‘Still, I’m a vampire now, and they’re just humans…’

And yet—

Not a single one of them looked like someone she could overpower.

‘…Though not all of them are human.’

Axia narrowed her eyes at the knight leading the procession, focusing on his deep indigo-blue hair.

This man was none other than the Emperor’s closest confidant and the Captain of the Imperial Guard.

His name—Corinth.

Also known as that bastard.

Not because he had a rotten personality (which, to be fair, he did), nor because he was an obedient mutt who would play dead if the Emperor commanded it (which was also true), but because—

He was quite literally canine.

‘He’s a werewolf.’

Even now, under the moonlight streaming through the corridor, the shadows cast by the guards remained steady—

Except for Corinth’s.

His silhouette wavered and swelled, shifting unnaturally.

“Are we headed to the Emperor’s bedroom?”

“……”

“How is His Majesty’s condition? Is he in critical shape?”

“……”

What kind of strict orders had they been given?

Not a single one of the knights had spoken a word since dragging her out of her cell.

“If he just up and died, wouldn’t that be entertaining? Don’t you think so too?”

“……”

Silence.

Neither her questions nor provocations got a reaction.

They didn’t even comment on her appearance—despite the fact that she was dressed in a way begging for ridicule.

It wasn’t until they reached the Emperor’s bedroom doors that that bastard finally spoke, addressing the chamberlain.

“The prisoner is here. Announce her.”

‘He only says what’s absolutely necessary.’

Then, as if planning to escort her inside himself, Corinth grabbed Axia by the arm and started dragging her forward.

It almost looked gentle, like he was politely leading her in.

Axia smirked as she was pulled along.

“My, how charming of you to link arms with me. Entering like this almost makes it feel like we’re about to get married.”

“…I was warned about you, but you really are something else.”

Surprisingly, the amused voice didn’t come from Corinth—

It came from inside the room.

“So, after breaking my heart so cruelly, you disappear for a mere two days and return as a married woman?”

‘What the hell is this bastard saying now?’

The sheer absurdity of his words threw Axia off, and she missed the timing to lift her head.

Before she could recover, the amused voice came again, pressing further.

“And yet, your husband isn’t even the man you’re linking arms with right now.”

“Well, what can I say? I seem to be quite popular these days. It’s becoming a problem. May His Grace be upon you, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Without missing a beat, Axia kept her head bowed and knelt in greeting.

A low, pleasant chuckle crossed above her head.

“Corinth, you may leave us.”

“…She possesses an ability that ignores both Iron Fortress and Imperial Commands—and now she’s a member of the Pyro Clan.”

‘That bastard’ delivered his warning with heavy suspicion, but the Emperor only snorted in response.

“Enough with the nagging. She won’t die so easily. That’s all you need to worry about.”

“…By your command.”

With clear reluctance, Corinth released her arm and stepped back.

Thud—

The massive golden doors closed behind him, sealing the room.

The Emperor wasted no time, dropping his next question the moment they were alone.

“Your outfit suits you. Did Arcas choose it for you?”

“I wouldn’t know. Someone threw it at me and told me to wear it.”

Axia finally lifted her head as she answered—

And there he was, sprawled lazily across a daybed.

A loose white linen shirt hung off his frame, the bandages beneath faintly visible.

For the first time, the reality of her attempted murder fully sank in.

‘So he really was injured.’

A faint, golden radiance seemed to exude from his relaxed form, an effortless halo draping over him.

‘Damn it… It’s frustrating, but I have to admit—he’s so stunning, it’s almost criminal.’

Axia swallowed back a curse.

His beauty was so otherworldly, it felt like she was being scammed with her eyes wide open.

Watching him lounge there like a peacock flaunting its feathers, Axia had to admit—

The air around him was completely different from the man who had killed Kang Jinhee.

And yet—

She knew.

‘It has to be him.’

The eerie discrepancy that clung to him was far too strong.

Even if she wanted to deny it—she simply couldn’t.

Axia clenched her jaw, forcing herself to swallow the seething resentment bubbling inside her.

And then—

An Imperial Command fell upon her.

“I want to hear what you discussed with Grand Duke Arcas before coming here. Speak.”

“Isn’t it obvious? My outfit alone should be enough of a message.”

“You should say it yourself. Where’s the fun in anything else?”

* * *

“…Bride?”

“Is there something you don’t understand? You’re entering the Pyro Clan as my bride.”

‘What kind of millennium-era cult leader nonsense is this?’

Was this some kind of “Join our group, but first, become my wife” requirement?

Axia shot him a disgusted look, as if he were a particularly vile insect. The Grand Duke, clearly offended, shuddered and quickly defended himself.

“The only ones I personally turn become my children. But your case is the opposite. And since I was already a Bloodline member before you turned, I obviously can’t become your child!”

“If I’m weaker than you and carry your blood, doesn’t that make me your kid?”

“No.”

“…Can’t we just pretend I’m your kid? Why does this even matter…?”

“It does matter. Bloodline hierarchy is determined by who inherits whose true blood and how much they inherit. It’s a very big deal.”

The Grand Duke let out a long sigh.

“You now hold more true blood than anyone in the Pyro Clan—except me. That means you can’t be ranked below my children. And if you’re above them… the only remaining position is as my spouse—even if it’s just a title.”

“……”

Finally, Axia understood why he had been so reluctant about this.

‘Oh. He just really doesn’t want to get married.’

Maybe he thought her silence meant she was offended, because the Grand Duke frowned, looking a little irritated.

“If you hate the idea, then refuse. I have no interest in forcing some ridiculous political marriage.”

“No, let’s do it.”

“…What?”

“I mean… it’s not like Bloodline marriages involve anything like a wedding night, right?”

“……!”

“A bride is just a title, like any other rank. I’ll still just be a clan member in the end. It’s the same with the ‘children’ thing—it’s not like they’re actual children. Nothing really changes, does it?”

“…Ha. Fine.”

The Grand Duke shook his head in exasperation, still looking thoroughly displeased. Then, he picked up a box that had been sitting at his feet and placed it on the bed beside her.

“Now that you’re awake, you’ll be summoned for an audience with the Emperor. Get changed. You can’t meet him covered in old blood and filth. This should send him a clear enough message.”

* * *

The Emperor, who had been listening while stroking his chin, finally spoke as if sealing the conversation with a final remark.

“So, in the end, you really came here draped in that extravagant wedding dress.”

The gown Axia wore now was an overwhelmingly beautiful creation—pure white lace, delicate and intricate.

It was the complete opposite of the jet-black dress she had worn on the day of the investiture. The stark contrast made her look like an entirely different person.

“Not my choice.”

“Oh? I’d say you chose well.”

“…….”

“And in such a short time, you managed to tame that unfeeling Arcas, too.”

The Emperor smirked before shifting upright.

“Well… fine. I’ll use one of the Pyro Clan’s immunity privileges. I had no intention of killing you anyway, so you can keep your life. But you do understand that this doesn’t mean you’re forgiven, right?”

“Like I care.”

Axia’s response was utterly defiant.

“Then kill me. Just like last time.”

“……!”

The Emperor’s eyes widened, surprise flashing across his features.

Then, his lips curved into a deep, knowing smile.

“So… you remember your past life with me?”

‘Your past life with me’—

‘Oh, so you’re just confirming it outright, huh?’

The final proof crashed down on her.

Any lingering doubt evaporated.

Grinding her teeth, Axia spat out her fury.

“So it was you… Wasn’t it?”

* * *

In the most secluded corner of K University’s campus stood the Life Sciences Research Lab—a place completely cut off from the bustling festival preparations happening elsewhere.

While other students were busy planning pub nights and reveling in the excitement of the season, Axia’s past self—Kang Jinhee—was toiling away like a dog in this very lab, running yet another experiment.

There was no other choice.

She wasn’t a free woman.

She was a graduate student.

And to graduate?

She had to pass her thesis defense.

To pass the defense?

She needed her advisor’s signature.

But her advisor—her slave master—had made it clear:

No signature. No freedom.

Not because she lacked achievements.

Not because she failed to meet graduation requirements.

None of that.

Kang Jinhee knew she was good.

Hell, she had three first-author SCI journal papers to her name—

…Not that it mattered.

‘What’s the point of bragging if I can’t even graduate?!’

She could still hear her advisor’s smiling words, sweet as poison.

“Jinhee, wouldn’t you feel much better about graduating if you finished all the other projects we’ve been working on in the lab?”

“I don’t need to feel better about it—I just want to leave!”

Under the blinding fluorescence of the lab—unnaturally bright even in the dead of night—Kang Jinhee gritted her teeth as she snapped a new tip onto her pipette.

She knew the real reason.

Her professor simply didn’t want to let go of a competent lab slave.

These extra projects might boost the professor’s lab productivity, but they had zero relevance to her graduation.

‘But there’s still hope.’

She had exactly two months until her thesis defense.

If she finished the lab projects before then—

She could escape.

And so, clinging to that tiny shred of hope, Kang Jinhee kept working past 3 AM, handling project after project without rest.

‘Damn it. These pipette tips are acting up again.’

She bent down to grab a fresh box—

And then—

Flicker—

A strange feeling crept over her.

Something was off.

The lab was brightly lit as usual—

But the hallway outside was pitch dark.

‘Wait… was that light always off?’

She stiffened.

No—

‘It’s a power outage.’

The UPS backup system had kept the lab’s equipment running, but everything else had gone dark.

Under normal circumstances, protocol dictated she should leave the lab immediately.

But—

Kang Jinhee crouched there, staring at the fresh pipette tip in her hand.

‘…Ugh. Too much hassle. Maybe I should just stay put.’

The lab contained -80°C freezers, preserving precious research samples.

If the power completely failed, the entire collection of experimental data stored inside would be destroyed.

The lab’s electricity was supposed to be untouchable—no matter what happened.

‘I don’t have time to waste. I should just stay and keep working—’

Clink—

“……?!”

She didn’t know why.

The moment she heard the lab door creak open, an icy chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively ducked under the desk.

Only after curling up did Kang Jinhee realize how strange her reaction was.

‘It’s not like no one ever comes to the lab late at night to check on their cell cultures… So why am I acting like this?’

Maybe the power outage had just spooked her.

It was probably someone she knew.

Feeling embarrassed, Jinhee cautiously peeked out—

And saw a hooded figure scanning the lab.

“……!”

She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream and immediately ducked back down.

The figure was completely covered in black—some kind of cloak or long coat obscuring both their face and build.

But they were tall.

And their movements…

‘They’re searching for something.’

A thief? No—this wasn’t just mindless rummaging.

As soon as the figure disappeared deeper into the lab, Jinhee took her chance.

Keeping her body low, she slipped out through the slightly open door.

The hallway was packed with large lab equipment—gas cylinders, liquid nitrogen tanks, and stacks of supplies.

Squeezing into a space between them, Jinhee panicked.

‘Who do I call? Campus security? They never show up, even during power outages… 911?’

She reached for her phone—

Only to realize she hadn’t brought it with her.

Her expression twisted in frustration as she turned back toward the lab.

There was a small window built into the lab’s metal door.

If she looked through it, she could at least see what the intruder was doing.

“……!”

That bastard—he’s opening the freezer?!

Of course.

Of course something felt off!

Jinhee stomped her foot in silent frustration as she watched the hooded figure recklessly shove their hands into the samples.

Just two shelves below—

That’s where her project samples were stored.

If they messed up even once, her entire thesis would be ruined.

Her graduation would be gone. Again.

‘What do I do? What do I—?’

As she anxiously chewed her nails, her eyes caught a glimmer of red on the opposite wall.

‘That’s it!’

Crash!

Jinhee slammed her elbow into the glass panel, shattering it as she hit the fire alarm with all her strength.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP—!!

WEEEOOOOO WEEEOOOOOO WEEEOOOOO—!!

The ear-splitting alarm rang through the entire building.

Jinhee finally exhaled, turning away from the broken panel.

‘Good. That should scare him off or at least—’

Thud—!

“…Hhk.”

A sharp pain suddenly pierced her chest.

The agony was so overwhelming that instead of screaming, she let out a silent gasp.

Shlick—

The hooded figure ripped the dagger from her chest.

Jinhee collapsed onto the floor, her vision spinning.

That’s when she finally got a clear look at the intruder.

A dagger in one hand.

A small vial—stolen from the lab—in the other.

“…Ah… ngh—”

His face was still hidden under his hood, but she could see his mouth.

His bitten lip trembled, revealing hesitation.

He looked…

Surprised.

Conflicted.

A laugh bubbled up from her throat, even as her body crumpled.

What the hell was that expression?

Was he seriously about to say “I didn’t mean to” after stabbing her in the chest?!

…But none of that mattered anymore.

Neither the project nor graduation meant anything anymore.

Jinhee’s entire body locked up, and her vision began dissolving into darkness.

She couldn’t…

breathe.

No way… Is this… really it?

…….