One day before the wedding.
I stood in front of the cathedral.
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
This place was meant for eternal vows.
A place where sacred love became everlasting.
But to me—
It felt like a place to bind myself… to a heart that was no longer mine.
Just thinking about it was almost laughable.
At myself.
At this twist of fate.
I never thought this would be the beginning of that kind of love…
I remembered what Alasto said the first time we met—
"Love is a beautiful thing… but to me… it is nothing more than a few lines written to lead into a life that has already been arranged."
I shook my head, trying to steady myself.
I took a few steps.
Then stopped at the stone stairs.
The discomfort rose again.
I stayed there for a long moment, trying to suppress it.
"Rosa."
A voice called from behind.
Miren walked up beside me.
Her hand landed on my shoulder.
Warmth passed through the fabric.
I turned to her.
She tilted her head. Narrowed her eyes. Studied me for a moment.
Then leaned closer and whispered—
"Scared?"
She didn't wait for an answer.
"Go on. Admit it. You're just a weak, crybaby girl."
"The great hero here can take you and run away right now."
I glanced at her.
"…Be quiet."
Miren let out a soft laugh.
She patted my shoulder once.
That single pat—
like a push that grounded me.
I took a breath.
Then stepped forward.
—
The cathedral was silent inside.
Two long rows of seats stretched forward.
Still empty.
But I could feel them.
They were there—
All the vows that had once been made in this place.
Stacked. Silent.
As if they were sleeping. Waiting for a bell to wake them.
Light passed through the stained glass.
Spilled across the stone floor.
A solemn, sacred beauty—
as if reminding everyone that this place was filled with pure, holy love.
At the front—
off to one side—
Vangell Alasto sat there, resting his chin on his hand, gazing out the window.
His outfit today was different.
Neat.
Dark.
Not flashy—
but every detail was precise.
Too precise.
The kind of perfection that felt… irritating.
As if—
it was unclear whether he was truly serious about this ceremony…
or simply playing his role perfectly.
A stack of documents rested in his hand.
It looked like he had been working while letting his thoughts drift.
A few people stood near him.
Whispering among themselves.
When Alasto noticed me looking—
he smiled.
Then gave a soft whistle.
Our eyes met.
Just for a moment.
Nothing emotional—
just something like a greeting.
He glanced down at the documents.
Then placed them neatly on the nearest table.
The stack was aligned in a clean, precise motion.
The people beside him immediately gathered the papers and stepped back to the rear seats.
Like supporting actors fading into the shadows—
leaving the stage to the lead.
He adjusted his collar.
Then the monocle over his right eye.
And walked toward me.
Not fast.
My reflection appeared briefly in the glass of his monocle.
He stopped one step away.
Then smiled at me—
like he was evaluating an object.
Amused.
His hand lifted slightly, brushing his chin.
"Even a goddess can be late, huh?"
His voice rose slightly—
as if he wanted others to hear.
"Or is it that today—"
"the goddess has fallen for a mere mortal like me?"
I didn't answer.
I simply looked at him.
Expressionless.
Without blinking.
After a moment—
my gaze left him.
Not worth it.
Endure it.
Just three years.
The silence passed between us like a sharp gust of wind.
Because I didn't respond—
the corner of his lips twitched.
His eyelid flickered slightly.
He clicked his tongue.
Then leaned slightly to the side.
A gesture of invitation.
This time—
no teasing.
I stepped past him.
—
The prayer began.
The voice of the priest echoed from above.
Each word—
deep.
Measured.
Ancient phrases followed one after another.
I wasn't sure if I was truly listening—
until his voice asked:
"Do you accept of your own will?"
"I do."
"…And you?"
I didn't answer immediately.
I looked at him.
Alasto tilted his head slightly.
His eyelids fluttered—
clearly teasing me.
"Do you truly wish to bind yourself to me… for three years?"
A brief silence between us.
Alasto let out a soft laugh.
"Who wouldn't want—"
I stepped hard on his foot.
"—to be with a go—"
"—ugh…!"
A very faint sound.
I let out a soft snort.
Alasto stiffened.
Like he had bitten his own tongue.
He glanced down at his foot.
Then looked back up.
The same perfect smile remained.
"…goddess."
From above, the priest looked down at us.
A gaze that clearly asked—
are you two going to finish this ceremony?
At the same time—
we both smiled in response.
When that gaze moved away—
Alasto leaned slightly toward me.
"That hurts… my dear bride-to-be."
I didn't look at him.
I simply pressed my toes down again.
A warning.
He shifted to the right.
Just enough to avoid it.
Answer quickly.
"…What do you think?"
I shot him a glance.
That face—
wearing a sly smile.
Obvious.
He was asking for it.
He smiled again.
A clear provocation.
Then flicked his eyes toward the priest.
Try it again.
"...Do you accept of your own will?"
The priest's voice came down once more.
A reminder of the seriousness of this place.
"…I do."
And then—
I noticed.
Baron Alasto's hand extended—
without hesitation.
But—
that wasn't what caught my attention.
It was—
his smile.
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
But it was enough to make the other person pause.
A smile like a hunter—
watching prey walk into a trap.
"Trust me."
He spoke softly.
Only for me to hear.
And in that moment—
a strange feeling surfaced.
As if he was guiding me.
Not forcing.
Not rushing.
Simply—
placing me exactly where he wanted—
on a chessboard.
If I wasn't careful—
I would become a piece for him to move as he pleased.
I looked at him.
For a long time.
Without looking away.
…What exactly are you planning?
That thought clung to me.
The prayer continued above.
Steady.
Unbroken.
But I could no longer hear it clearly.
Not because I was distracted—
but because—
I was trying to read him.
Trying to understand—
trying to check again—
had I already stepped into his rhythm?
And if I made a mistake—
I might fall.
Hard.
A thought flashed through my mind—
…Was I already a piece moving exactly as he intended from the very beginning?
—
His hand took mine.
A cold sensation crept up my spine.
I flinched slightly.
My awareness snapped back.
But—
too late.
The ring was already in front of me.
Sliding in.
Slowly.
Bit by bit.
As if he wanted me to feel every second of it.
Metal touched skin.
Slid past the knuckle.
My fingers tightened instinctively.
A delayed resistance.
At that moment—
I looked up at him.
And I saw—
a faint smirk.
Just for an instant.
But enough.
The expression of someone who had won.
Like a man who had just gotten exactly what he wanted.
The ring pressed through.
Into place.
Perfect.
Like a lock sealing shut.
But—
a tightening spread.
Not in my hand.
But deep inside.
As if—
something had just been bound.
Not my body.
But—
something important.
I froze for a split second.
Too short for anyone to notice.
But enough for me to understand—
I had just crossed a line.
There was no going back anymore.
I lifted my head.
Alasto had already let go of my hand.
That victorious smile remained as he looked straight at me.
Then—
he turned away.
A soft whistle left his lips.
His usual expression returned—
careless.
Playful.
As if what had just happened…
meant nothing.
He tilted his head slightly.
His voice dropped.
"Well now… it seems I've just committed the crime of capturing a goddess…"
"And even bound her with the laws of this world. Should I confess, my goddess?"
I didn't answer.
Inside—
something was screaming.
To wipe that expression off his face.
To crush those words he just said.
But—
I didn't even know where to begin.
Something tightened in my throat.
I couldn't disgrace House Mariel.
And besides—
it was already too late.
I stepped past him.
Light from the stained glass reflected across his monocle.
A brief flash.
Hiding his eyes behind it.
But I could feel it—
his gaze locked onto me.
As if—
once targeted, there was no escape.
I paused.
At that moment—
a light touch.
His fingers brushed against mine.
But as they passed—
they touched the ring.
Light.
So light—
that anyone else would think it was accidental.
But I knew.
It was a reminder.
I didn't turn back.
I didn't pull my hand away.
I only tightened my fingers slightly.
The ring felt a little colder.
…as if it had just been pressed deeper.
I kept walking.
As if nothing had happened.
—
The bell rang.
Not loud.
But enough to cut through everything.
The priest closed the scripture.
A dry snap echoed.
No one made any announcement.
But everyone understood—
the ceremony was over.
Movement began.
Chairs shifted.
Fabric brushed against fabric.
Whispers spread.
Low.
Quick.
In the distance—
groups of nobles stood together.
Watching.
Evaluating.
They believed they had seen everything.
Even though none of them heard the vows.
Even though none of them knew—
what had truly been exchanged.
To them—
it was just a ritual.
Just the exchange of a ring.
A mutual nod.
Enough to conclude—
they were now bound as one.
But—
was that really enough to understand?
The cathedral was full of people.
Yet no one truly understood—
what had just happened.
—
I stopped.
The ring on my finger—
felt heavier.
Not in weight.
But in meaning.
Like an invisible chain.
Locked.
I tightened my fingers slightly.
Instinctively.
As if—
if I tried hard enough—
it might loosen.
But the ring didn't move.
To everyone else—
it was a symbol of love.
To me—
it was nothing more than a debt.
Three years.
I had a feeling…
I was walking down into something deep.
One step.
Then another.
No one pushed me.
No one forced me.
But by the time I realized—
I was already in the middle.
No way back.
No retreat.
The only option—
was to keep going.
Downward.
Slowly.
Step by step.
Into a bottomless mire…
—
But then—
a faint voice echoed.
Pulling me back.
"Trust me."