#106

At the sudden mention that Cersia was in danger, Zerakiel’s face hardened. As Ella gasped for breath, Zerakiel urged her on.

“Explain properly. Why did you come here alone?”

“Haah… That is… Hoo… On the way to Jabis territory, our carriage was attacked. While trying to escape—huff—Victor Orban got caught too, and Lady Cersia sent me ahead.”

Though her words tumbled out in a mess, Zerakiel’s mind worked fast.

“So you’re saying she ran into Victor where she was captured, and chose to stay behind?”

“Y-yes! I think he was captured while trying to flee as well.”

If that were the case, it was a relief. If the bandits and Victor had been working together, then Cersia might truly have been in danger.

Just as Zerakiel was struggling to maintain his composure, Ella poured oil onto the fire burning inside him.

“But something about the bandit was strange…”

“Strange how?”

“He suddenly proposed to Lady Cersia. Said they should get married, and even talked about divorcing and remarrying her—just spouting nonsense…”

KWAAANG—!

At that moment, a large tree near Ella collapsed, its trunk withered and darkened from taking a direct hit of Zerakiel’s pheromones.

“Eek!”

Ella flinched in terror and began trembling, but Zerakiel had already snapped.

“Marriage, huh. Now even a filthy thief is getting seduced?”

“L-Lord Zerakiel…”

She’d clearly said the wrong thing. He was radiating more bloodlust toward the bandit than even the traitor Victor.

Ella tried to fix the situation with a hasty explanation—but unfortunately, it only made things worse.

“L-Lady Cersia didn’t do anything wrong! She actually kicked the thief in the jaw!”

“What? She even hit him?”

“Pardon?”

“She promised she’d only ever hit me.”

“Pardon…?”

Ella failed to grasp the meaning behind his words and repeated herself. What Zerakiel meant as proof of rejection only fueled his jealousy.

‘What is going on? Why is he even angrier about the kick?’

This reaction was nothing like the Zerakiel she used to know. Ella was bewildered—it made her question whether he was even the same beastman anymore.

“This is why I can’t let her out of my sight, not even for a second.”

Meanwhile, Zerakiel let out a quiet sigh. If he’d known it’d come to this, he wouldn’t have sent Ivan with the search party—he’d have gone himself.

Of all people, why did Victor have to flee in that direction? And Cersia’s sense of justice was troubling him too.

Victor was Victor, but she should have put her own safety first. The way she sent Ella ahead while she stayed behind filled him with unease.

He feared that one day, in an even worse situation, she might still choose to sacrifice herself.

Zerakiel, still trembling, gave a command to the shaking Ella.

“Lead the way.”

“Ah—this way!”

Ella turned back the way she came and began to move.
* * *

Not long after Ella was sent off…

A guard came and dragged Victor out of the prison.

“W-where are we going?”

Victor asked, his face pale with fear. He looked terrified at being pulled away without so much as an explanation.

But as someone who had already fully adapted to this place, I was calmer than I would be on a stroll through the village. I knew by now—they had no intention of killing me.

Then the guard snapped gruffly.

“Lord Keinhrih is calling for you. If you want to keep your head, you’d better follow!”

“Eek!”

It was clearly meant to be threatening, but it only seemed to work on Victor. I, on the other hand, blinked and asked with curiosity.

“Why is he calling me?”

The guard looked visibly exhausted. After being harassed by me day and night, even hearing my voice seemed to drain him.

“Ugh, you’ll find out when you get there!”

With a grumble, the guard dragged me along.

At some point, I was separated from Victor and led into what looked like a dressing room.

Just as I was wondering what this was about, I saw a beastkin walking in with a ridiculously flashy dress and I nearly jumped.

“Wait, don’t tell me you expect me to wear that?”

“This is a dress Lord Keinhrih specially prepared for his future bride.”

He still hadn’t given up on that damn remarriage idea.

But… what the hell is wrong with this dress?

It was way too bold for a wedding gown—more like something you’d wear to a wild party.

“A wedding dress… in red?”

“Well, red is Lord Keinhrih’s favorite color. Isn’t it perfect for a remarriage ceremony?”

Perfect, my foot.

I shouted at the group sitting around, spewing such nonsense without shame.

“I’m not wearing it!”

I crossed my arms into a big X to show my refusal, but I couldn’t stop the swarm of beastkin rushing in.

In the end, they succeeded in forcing me into the red wedding dress and began dragging me toward the wedding hall.

Seriously, who locks their bride-to-be in a prison? He had to be mentally unstable.

‘Th-this wasn’t part of the plan!’

If I’d known this was coming, I’d have escaped first and worried about Victor later.

So that whole time I was in prison… it was all to prep for this wedding?

Who the hell throws their fiancée into a dungeon?

I felt a chill run down my spine as I looked around the room. Everyone was dressed exactly the same. It was eerie.

The creepiest part of all? Keinhrih in a tuxedo… and Victor acting as the officiant.

Wait—why the hell is Victor Orban the officiant?!

When I looked at Victor in disbelief, one of Keinhrih’s subordinates leaned in and whispered proudly.

“He’s the most educated one among us.”

…That’s it? That’s the reason?

Victor looked just as confused and dazed as I was. He kept glancing at me with pleading eyes, which I stubbornly ignored.

“Oh, the bride has finally arrived,”

Keinhrih appeared in front of me and reached out his hand. His cheeks were even blushing, for crying out loud.

“Shall we, my bride?”

If it were you, would you go?

This situation was scarier than anything that guard had threatened earlier. My body froze like ice.

I stood there in protest, stiff as a post, and he just scooped me up and strode straight to the officiant.

“Put me down!”

I struggled as hard as I could, but Keinhrih didn’t let go. He marched right up to Victor and set me down, grinning like a fool.

Refusing to back down, I snatched the veil off my head and flung it aside.

“This marriage is invalid!”

I already told you—I’m married! And I have no intention of divorcing!

I have a terrifying, unhinged black lion husband the world can’t handle. If he finds out about this, it’s over for all of us!

I stomped on the veil furiously, grinding it under my heel, huffing in rage. Keinhrih looked at me like a kicked puppy.

“You’re throwing me away now?”

“I never had you to begin with, so how can I throw you away?!”

That pitiful look on his face was infuriating enough to make me lose it.

“Either way, I’m not doing this!”

Turning my back on Keinhrih, I grabbed the hem of the gaudy dress and made for the end of the aisle.

Just as I reached the edge of the virgin road—

KWAANG—!

A thunderous crash rang out, and smoke billowed in from the entrance. A figure burst through the shattered doors, and the whole room turned to look in shock.

“Wha—Lady Cersia?!”

Ivan blinked in surprise as he walked through the smoke and spotted me. He looked like he hadn’t expected to find me here at all.

“Ivan!”

I waved with genuine joy. I’d never been so glad to see him in my life.

I had just narrowly escaped being forced into a second marriage.

At that moment, Keinhrih stepped in front of me protectively and barked,

“Who are you?! How dare you interrupt my wedding?!”

“Wedding? Sorry, but that lady is our young madam.”

“She’s my wife now.”

“Eh? Gasp—wait, Lady Cersia! Don’t tell me… you’ve been cheating?!”

Ivan covered his mouth in shock, eyes wide in disbelief. His over-the-top reaction pushed me over the edge.

“No, I haven’t!!”