You are at the End of the Downfall

Changing dresses twice, altering her hairstyle twice, receiving and giving greetings all day – by sunset, she was already in a daze.

Not being nervous didn’t mean it wasn’t tiring. Being her second wedding didn’t make it familiar. In fact, this wedding was much grander in scale, making her honestly more exhausted and fatigued.

As the carriage door closed with a click and they left behind the waving crowd, heading towards the outskirts of the Royal Palace, the cheers faded away, and silence filled the carriage. It was then that Kaela realized what she had lost again.

‘Hope, that’s it.’

A feeling of resignation weighed her down. With hope gone, there was nothing left to expect.

She sat quietly like a well-decorated porcelain doll as they entered the annex used by the Grand Duke of Lusenford whenever he visited the Royal Palace. Though called an annex, it was merely one of the fine mansions belonging to the Royal Palace.

The Emperor declared a two-day holiday, wishing for the Empress’s recovery and his son’s happy marriage.

Unlike the cheers outside, a quiet peace surrounded the newlyweds’ quarters. Kaela was indifferent to this peace or anything else.

“Rest comfortably.”

Naturally, Kaela was alone in the bridal chamber after bathing her tired body. She knew what would unfold next; it wasn’t new to her.

Peon wouldn’t enter this room tonight. Even when they shared a room, he always slept on the distant sofa, never once joining her in bed.

“Ah, I’m so tired…”

While some have modest ceremonies for remarriage, Kaela, the new bride, flopped face-down on the large bed, disregarding appearances, and chuckled.

What was it like on the first night? Did she cry remembering her late father, or did she have futile hope for her new husband? She might have just tried to stay calm, waiting for a husband who never came.

But now, all she could remember was her father’s joyful smile today. He was so proud, saying it was a father’s natural duty to walk the bride down the aisle.

She had once held a wedding without anyone to show her married life to, but today, with her father present, it was enough to make it a good day. That was sufficient.

After lying face-down for a while and reaching this conclusion, Kaela stirred sluggishly. She crawled across the smooth, unwrinkled bedding, fumbled to pull back the covers, and flopped down again.

Even getting under the covers was exhausting. Although she was used to wearing heavy dresses and shoes all day as a noble lady, today’s fatigue was beyond compare.

‘I’ll rest a bit and then get in to sleep properly.’

As she tried to gather strength to pull back the covers again, the door clicked open and someone entered.

“…Asleep?”

The quietly falling voice was more of a confirmation than a question.

Why is that man coming in? Kaela replied bluntly while still lying face-down.

“No.”

Ah, I should get up. It’s rude to greet someone while lying down. And I should start using formal speech again from now on. But would it be such a big deal to be a little impolite? Her dulled mind moved slowly. Or rather, it lacked the will to move quickly.

“Why are you lying like that? Are you very tired?”

“I only have the strength to move my mouth. No, I mean, I don’t, Your Highness.”

She could hear footsteps approaching. A typical noble lady might feel threatened being alone in a bedroom with a huge man like Peon, but Kaela wasn’t afraid at all.

This man wasn’t the type to directly attack women with his hands. Besides, would he even be interested in her?

So Kaela, who had been completely face-down, was surprised when her body was suddenly lifted. Peon swiftly picked her up, pulled back the covers, and laid her down, leaving only her feet out.

“Take off your slippers.”

“Huh? Why?”

“You’re going to get on the bed with shoes on?”

Of course not. Blinking her eyes, Kaela kicked off her slippers with a light toss. She was about to ask if that was okay, but then she heard a soft chuckle before he tucked her completely under the covers.

After handling her as easily as if she were a very light doll or cat, he slightly furrowed his brow and strode back to open the bedroom door.

“Is there anyone who knows how to give a massage?”

A lower-ranking maid from the Empress’s quarters blinked in surprise.

“The princess’s legs and feet seem too swollen for her to sleep comfortably.”

“Ah. I’ll prepare a basin of hot water, towels, and oil.”

“No, just someone who knows how to give a massage…”

The older maid smiled gently. Having been in charge of practical duties in the empress’s palace for a long time, she was acquainted with Peon.

“It would be best if the new groom did it for the Grand Duchess.”

The new groom was flustered. The change in title from Princess to Grand Duchess was surprising, and he was also embarrassed because he understood what the maid was implying with her smile. As if hot water had already been prepared, the maid quickly gathered and brought the items.

“Have a good time.”

What is this? Kaela alternately looked at the very embarrassed Peon and the firmly closing door.

Although her legs were swollen, she was used to falling asleep in some kind of pain. Her husband usually didn’t care and would just cover himself with the blanket to sleep soundly, so why was this person doing something he never did before?

“I’ll just sleep, um.”

Kaela, who was about to say she’d just sleep, remembered that she had signed the marriage contract alongside Peon today. Now that she was a Grand Duchess, she felt she should raise her speech level again, as she used to.

And that was more comfortable. Lowering one’s speech meant being that much closer. She and Peon, who had erased any trace of the brother-sister relationship they had when they were young as soon as they got married, were not close.

“I’ll just sleep.”

The broad shoulders seemed to flinch at the formal speech she used again. Well, it probably does sound a bit awkward. But what can be done?

Now that she had become a Grand Duchess again, she couldn’t be heard speaking informally to His Highness the Grand Duke. Remembering her time as Grand Duchess when she was almost obsessive about following and maintaining etiquette, she thought, yes, formal speech would be better no matter what.

“Don’t worry about it.”

After saying just that, she closed her eyes, completely cutting off her attention from Peon.

“…Alright, then.”

Along with the hesitant low voice, the room became a little darker.

“Good night.”

Unexpectedly, she heard a greeting she had never heard before. Instead of answering, Kaela shivered as she lay turned away.

Somehow, she had a persistent and ominous feeling that the man she married this time was really strange, but for now, she squeezed her eyes shut. It was irreversible now. She had to walk again on the path of death she had walked before, never to return.