The hem of the white wedding dress brushed against the marble floor, making a sound.
Under the massive golden chandelier symbolizing the empire’s grandeur, Iris stood.
Her red hair flowed over the pure white dress, like red blood flowing over white snow.
“Iris, this is a joke, right?”
My voice trembled. Even though I knew, I wanted to brush it off as a joke.
“When have I ever joked?”
A smile appeared at the corner of her lips. It was the cold smile typical of the Leonhardt family. The very smile she wore when eliminating countless silences.
“But this… it’s too sudden.”
“Too sudden? I’ve been waiting for five years.”
Iris took one more step closer.
The hem of her wedding dress swept across the marble floor.
“Do you know how long I’ve been watching you?”
A dangerous gleam flickered in her scarlet eyes.
“Since the moment you chose me… I’ve always needed you.”
A chill ran down my spine. I finally realized it. The obsession hidden beneath her calculated demeanor.
“But still, this…”
“Don’t even think about opposing it.”
Her voice rang out coldly.
“The empire’s parliament and the nobles have already agreed. The marriage of a hero and a princess… it’s the perfect political move.”
Iris tilted her head slightly and continued speaking.
“Do you want to run away? Then go ahead and try.”
Iris took a step back, provoking me.
“But you know very well, don’t you? They’ll find you.”
Her scarlet eyes glinted coldly.
“The dragon and the cat, the elf and the saintess… they’ll come for you. And when that happens, it’s war. An unavoidable war.”
Iris took another step closer. Now, she was close enough for me to feel her breath.
“But you don’t want that, do you?”
Her cold smile pierced my ears.
Iris’s finger brushed against my cheek. It was one of her signature seductive gestures.
Her red lips gleamed dangerously.
“Well, if you understand, how about we start with the oath kiss, even though it’s not part of the ceremony?”
Iris laughed. But in that smile was a dangerous resolve, one that would not accept any rejection.
Behind me stood the imperial palace’s guard, and in front of me was Iris. The nobles filled the sides.
Now I understood. It was a beautifully crafted prison, built to trap me.
“Why are you doing this, Iris?”
In that moment, her smile deepened.
“I told you I’d help, didn’t I? I’ve prepared the perfect solution for you.”
Iris grabbed my arm. The strength in her grip was clear, even through the white wedding dress sleeves.
“Think about it. If you marry the princess of the empire… even the elf queen or the saintess won’t dare to covet you. No crazy love can stand against the authority of the empire.”
Her scarlet eyes glinted coldly.
“Even if that glittering dragon reveals its greed… with the empire’s power and the hero’s strength, we can easily fend it off.”
She paused for a moment, then chuckled.
“Oh, and speaking of which, there was also that cat, wasn’t there? If you want, you can keep it as a pet. But of course, you’ll need to put it on a leash.”
“Iris, wait a minute.”
I tried to speak as calmly as possible.
“I appreciate your intentions, but… marriage is a bit…”
“Why? Don’t you like me?”
In an instant, her gaze sharpened. I quickly continued.
“It’s not that, it’s just… marriage isn’t something that can be decided so easily…”
“Easy? Heh…”
Iris burst into laughter, but the sound didn’t feel joyful at all.
“I’ve waited for five years. Since the day you saved me… all this time.”
Her hand brushed my cheek.
“How could I not love the person who saved my life so many times?”
Iris’s voice trembled. It was the first time I’d seen her so emotional.
“If you hadn’t been there that day… I would’ve died on the frontlines. Even if I had made it back alive…”
Her eyes wavered.
“I would’ve been sold off to an old noble for a political marriage. That’s the fate of the weak third princess.”
That’s not true…
I muttered inwardly. The Iris from the original story was more than capable of surviving on her own. Even without me, she would’ve dominated the empire.
“Besides…”
Iris’s finger brushed against my chest.
“You’re even my type. I can understand why everyone wants you.”
Iris whispered into my ear.
“If you hadn’t been there, I never would’ve gotten this far. So… now it’s my turn to protect you. Forever, I’ll never let you go.”
The cold smile, typical of the Leonhardt family, flashed again. The madness hidden behind it was slowly beginning to show.
“Wait, Iris. Think about this rationally.”
I knew I couldn’t persuade her through emotions. To deal with someone as calculating as she was, I had to appeal to reason.
“You’re about to become emperor. But I… I’m just someone from another world. I don’t have a family or a lineage…”
“What does that matter?”
“I just need one thing, one day. If you’re by my side…”
Her voice trembled. It seemed as though tears were gathering in her scarlet eyes.
“Anyone who sees us would think I’m a pure girl. Is that really all there is? Doesn’t family or status matter? Should we run away and escape, in the name of love?”
I deliberately kept my tone serious. For a moment, Iris’s expression subtly shifted. A fleeting discomfort crossed her face. Then, a cold smile spread.
“Heh… I can’t resist.”
The cynicism typical of the Leonhardt family returned. The tears that had flowed just moments before vanished as if they were an illusion.
“Someone from another world? Without family or lineage? That makes it even better.”
The surrounding nobles didn’t make a sound, all of them listening to our conversation as though they were mere spectators.
“Don’t you realize that the title of ‘Hero’ can overpower all the families and titles in the world? You’re a hero chosen by the gods.”
The high-born nobles, who would usually be so proud and dignified, were acting so obediently. I guess Iris is really intimidating. Then again, nobles who had been sent to the execution block…
“The fact that you have no family… actually makes it a better condition.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means there’s no power that could oppose my authority. As history shows, relatives by marriage have always been a troublesome existence.”
Then again, if you take away power from Iris, she wouldn’t be Iris anymore.
“The issue with your lineage is simple. I’ll grant you imperial territory and a title. That’s all. I can make all the nobles bow their heads before you.”
Her scarlet eyes gleamed sharply.
“Most importantly… we can keep the Goddess Church in check.”
“The Church? Why?”
“You know it better than anyone. The influence the Church had during the war with the demon race. Now, they’re starting to demand more and more. They’re even trying to meddle in the empire’s internal affairs, in the name of the pope, in the name of the saint… in the name of the goddess.”
A chill seeped into her voice.
“But what if the Hero, chosen by the goddess, is by my side? Then I’ll have a legitimate reason to reject their unjust demands.”
For a moment, I was speechless. Her cold calculation was flawless. She…
Iris walked toward me again. There was a dangerous aura hidden beneath her graceful steps.
“This is the ideal choice for both of us. You’ll be free from the obsession of your party members, and I…”
A victorious smile curved at the corner of her lips.
“I can complete the future of the empire.”
This… was a fight I couldn’t win with words. Her logic was flawless. Each point she made was like a sharp blade, tearing my rebuttals to shreds.
In battle, and in politics, it had always been this way. Her calculations left no room for error.
“You might feel disappointed, but even after we marry, I have no intention of involving you in the affairs of the state.”
Iris smiled gently, as if her victory had already been confirmed.
“Having the Hero background is too dangerous.”
She continued in a soft voice, as though speaking to a lover.
“Everyone praises you even now, but once you defeat the Demon King… your fame will soar even higher. You’ll be powerful enough to replace the emperor at any time. Of course, I know you wouldn’t do that. But as a ruler… that’s too great a risk.”
A seductive smile lingered at the corner of her lips.
“In return for that… I’ll be sure to let you win at night.”
Iris took another step closer. Her voice whispered sweetly into my ear.
“As the noble daughter of the Leonhardt family, soon to rise to a position higher than anyone else, I, Iris, will allow you to… no, feel free to crush me as you wish.”
In the silence, my mind raced.
Let’s check my inventory. The Holy Sword “Dawn,” along with… a few legendary artifacts I’ve hidden. I’d prepared all the best equipment for the final battle with the Demon King.
With this, maybe I can force my way out of this, right?
But in that moment, as I looked around, I felt a wave of despair.
The armor of the Imperial Guard glimmered faintly in the corners of the room. The staffs of the court mages shimmered with magic at their tips. The Maid Knight Order, the princess’s personal guard, concealed deadly intent beneath their elegant maid uniforms.
“Well then, I suppose you have nothing left to say?”
Iris’s smile glinted coldly.
Before I could answer, the Archbishop of the Imperial District stepped forward, walking toward the altar.
The bald, gleaming head reflected the chandelier’s light. The pure white robes of the Goddess Church swept across the floor, the symbol of the Church of the Goddess.
“In the name of the Goddess, I bless this sacred union…”
A doubt suddenly struck me. As Iris had mentioned earlier, the Church should be opposed to this marriage. If the Hero becomes the Emperor’s consort, the Church’s influence would rapidly diminish.
How much has she paid them off…
“If anyone opposes this union, speak now. Otherwise…”
The Archbishop’s voice echoed through the hall.
“Accept the will of the Goddess in silence, forever.”
For a moment, there was a thick silence. It felt as though even the breathing of everyone present had ceased.
Bang!
Suddenly, the doors burst open as if they were exploding. Sacred light poured in like a waterfall. White feathers fluttered through the air, weaving like threads.
“I oppose.”
A familiar voice rang out. Seraphine’s violet eyes glowed brighter than the lights themselves.
“This is definitely not the will of the Goddess.”
“An uninvited guest, I see.”
Iris’s smile grew even colder. Her scarlet eyes flashed dangerously.
The two gazes clashed in mid-air. It was a moment where sacred light and the empire’s majesty collided.
Behind that cold killing intent, hidden away, was… a burning obsession aimed at me.
In Seraphine’s violet eyes, there was pure faith and a maddened, obsessive love. In Iris’s scarlet eyes, there was cold calculation and relentless obsession.
Between their gazes crossing, I could only remain silent.