“I’m thinking of making you my secondary wife.”
These words, spoken by my fiancé the day before our wedding, left me breathless.
“Yulia will be the primary wife. But she only has the education of a baron’s daughter, so fulfilling the duties of the primary wife will be difficult for her. You wouldn’t want the seven years of Crown Princess training to go to waste, would you?”
I glanced at the king on the throne and my father standing beside him. It seemed the negotiations between the royal family and the duke’s family were already settled. Neither of our fathers appeared concerned.
I had known my fiancé was having an affair. His close relationship with Yulia was no secret, and recently, he had even escorted her to important soirées instead of me.
But I never imagined he was so infatuated that he’d want her as his primary wife.
I felt the urge to glare at him, but acting on impulse would only make me a fool. I took a slow breath and plastered the smile of a refined lady I had been trained to wear over the past seven years.
“That would be quite difficult. I can handle the duties, but I fear the support of the nobility would be lacking… After all, if I were reduced to a secondary wife, I’d become the subject of ridicule.”
“Why?”
I never imagined the crown prince could be this ignorant. He should have understood the political implications.
“Ufufu. A baron’s daughter becoming the primary wife while a duke’s daughter is relegated to secondary status? That’s unthinkable in noble society. And, to make matters worse, I’ve been your official fiancée for seven years, only to be demoted at the last moment. The nobility would undoubtedly look down on me, wouldn’t they?”
I turned my gaze away from the speechless crown prince and decided to negotiate with the king instead.
“Your Majesty, if you have even a shred of pity for me, or if you wish for me to fulfill the duties of a crown princess smoothly, I humbly request that you grant me the ‘Tear of the Spirit’ for tomorrow’s wedding.”
“What nonsense is this!? The ‘Tear of the Spirit’ is a national treasure!”
“That’s precisely why I’m asking. If I wear the ‘Tear of the Spirit’ at the wedding, the nobility will not dare mock me. It will be proof that the royal family does not disregard me. Moreover, it would emphasize the importance of tomorrow’s wedding.”
The king pondered deeply. He, more than anyone, understood the dangers of making a baron’s daughter the primary wife, given the delicate balance among the nobility.
Even though he cherished his only son, agreeing to such a reckless request was tantamount to lighting the fuse of a powder keg. And I would be left to clean up the mess.
Thus, the king could only say, “—It cannot be helped. I will make an exception.”
Though I was filled with joy at his begrudging words, I maintained my beautiful smile and bowed gracefully.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s generosity.”
It was no wonder the king was so conflicted.
The ‘Tear of the Spirit’ is a royal treasure, worn by the king himself during critical ceremonies, such as coronations or royal funerals.
Yes, the king himself.
If tomorrow’s bride could simply be swapped out for Yulia, it would make things easier. But, with the wedding between the royal family and the duke’s house attracting so many attendees, presenting Yulia would undoubtedly incite outrage.
Moreover, the royal family could not afford to let me go.
My true value lay not just in being a duke’s daughter or in my ability to fulfill the duties of a crown princess, but in the fact that I was the kingdom’s greatest mage.
For the past seven years, I had resolved to faithfully support you, bound by my duty as a noblewoman.
I had obediently followed all along.
But even in this male-dominated kingdom, I am not a flower arranged in a vase—I have a heart.
“And so, I’ve decided—I’m going to get angry.”
In my room at the duke’s house, I spoke to my bodyguard. We were alone in the room.
Despite his handsome features, my bodyguard was stoic, emotionless, and expressionless, the embodiment of silence. Like a quiet rock.
Ten years ago, I found him on the brink of death, saved him, and nurtured his natural talent. Now, he is the kingdom’s greatest swordsman. Whether it’s the sword, spear, bow, horsemanship, or martial arts, he’s won every combat tournament without once cracking a smile or showing emotion.
His loyalty to me is so steadfast it borders on obsession. The crown prince couldn’t even steal a kiss from me due to the ever-present and silently intimidating bodyguard, which might explain why he ran to Yulia. The prince was utterly terrified of him.
But do they think that after being treated this way, I’ll remain obedient?
Being trampled hurts, and being oppressed is painful. Do they really think I can keep my heart intact after all the contempt?
The crown prince is smitten with his beloved Yulia, the king grants his only son’s wish, and the duke’s family acts in their own interests. So why is it that those who act selfishly find happiness, while I alone must endure and be miserable?
“Tell me, can you swear eternity to me?”
My bodyguard glared at me sharply, as if to ask whether I was doubting his loyalty.
“I’m sorry, that came out wrong. What I mean is, I want you to pledge eternity to me.”
When he understood my meaning, his face turned crimson, and he nodded vigorously, over and over. Seeing my normally silent bodyguard so flustered, I was genuinely pleased and extended my hand to him.
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