– I think it's a fraudulent marriage

After we hooked our pinky fingers together, Blake kissed me.

It wasn't the kind of kiss that barely touched the lips, rather, it was a real adult's kiss.

We shared each other's temperature for a long time, and as soon as we stopped, a huge firecracker exploded with a loud sound.

The dark sky shone brightly.

The splendid firework show was suitable for the big festival.

As the twinkling lights slowly disappeared, the atmosphere became quiet.

"It's over."

By the time we were done kissing, the fireworks had ended. How long had we been doing that for?

"I didn't see it properly..."

"Should I ask them to start the fireworks again?"

Blake asked affectionately.

"It's alright."

"Tell me if you want to see it again. I'll do whatever my wife wants."

Hearing him speak so confidently, I was deeply moved.

It seemed like yesterday when we saw the fireworks in the attic of the small palace, but now his status had risen to the point where he could conduct a festival as he pleased.

He was the Crown Prince of the Empire, who was acknowledged by all.

"It's okay. Let's see it again next year."

After the fireworks ended, people left one by one. But even after everyone left, we stood there.

We had made this promise seven years ago.

I looked at the pitch-black night sky while I leaned into his embrace.

"Blake, when you married me, wasn't it a bit disappointing?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Your marriage partner was me."

"What does that mean?"

"I know that Diana was your first love."

Back then, even if I knew it, I pretended not to know. But I said it this time. I didn't know myself why I suddenly brought this up.

"Diana?"

Blake sounded angry. I looked at him in amazement

"Blake...?"

"My first love is Diana?"

"...isn't that right?"

"Since when have you been thinking about such nonsense?"

Since when...

That was what I thought from the beginning. After all, that was what it said in the original story.

Blake liked Diana, and after finding that out, Tenstheon let him marry the Bellacian family.

Gilbert Bellacian did not want to send his beloved Diana to the cursed crown prince, but he wanted the huge wedding gift.

That's why Ancia was sent to the palace instead.

"Didn't you marry me because you failed to get married to Diana?"

"No, it was you from the beginning. Ancia, I got married because it was you. If it were someone else, I would have refused."

"It wasn't Diana, but me...?"

Come to think of it, the Emperor didn't really specify whom to marry in the original story.

Considering the situation, I naturally thought it was Diana, since she was the same age as Blake and she was cherished by the Count of Bellacian.

Furthermore, Diana was the main character, so I never doubted it.

But that wasn't it...?

"I told you I like you from the beginning. I told you that you were the only one. You didn't believe me? Did you think I liked Diana? Is that why you wanted to leave?"

I had never seen Blake be this angry. It must've been a big misunderstanding.

As soon as I tried to apologize to him, cold drops of water dripped on my face.

Huh? Is it raining?

As soon as I realized that it was raining, the raindrops that had been dripping down slowly one by one began to pour heavily.

The heavy rain soaked our clothes in an instant.

The wind was cold and the temperature dropped as it rained. At this rate, we would get stuck before we even reached the Imperial Palace.

"Let's go over there."

Frustrated by the sudden situation, Blake pointed at the hotel next to the square.

That was the biggest hotel in the capital city.

I nodded and we entered the hotel without wasting any time.

***

As we entered the hotel, the manager led us to the suite on the top floor as if he had been waiting.

"Did you make a reservation?"

All the accommodations were fully booked because of the festival. There couldn't have been such a nice room left.

"Yes. If there were too many people and the VIP seats were uncomfortable, we would watch it here."

I looked out the window. The night view was beautiful since it was the best hotel in the capital city.

Although it was now covered by the heavy rain, the square was still slightly visible.

Blake held my hand firmly as soon as we arrived at the square.

He remembered that I said crowded places were scary, so just in case, he reserved a hotel right next to the square.

"Should we have seen it from here?"

I shook my head.

"I like it here, but I'd still prefer to see it in the square."

We could enjoy fireworks comfortably if we saw them at the hotel, but we would've missed the festive atmosphere.

"That's a good thing."

"...Blake, are you angry?"

Blake's expression had been stiff ever since I brought up Diana's topic.

He shook his head at my question.

"No, but you are my first and my last love. Don't forget that."

"Okay, I won't forget it."

Blake's stiff expression relaxed and he smiled brightly.

"You're going to catch a cold. Go ahead and wash up."

Now he didn't have any curse. However, I was still worried about him.

I pretended to rub Blake's face to see if he had a fever, but he took my hand.

"It's cold. Go inside first."

Unlike when he was young, now his hands were warm.

He was no longer a fragile little boy.

"Alright."

I went into the bathroom first. After taking a quick shower, I told Blake to wash up.

Blake went into the bathroom, and I was left alone in the large hotel room.

I sat on a chair in front of the window in my bathrobe and looked down at the view.

The rain was stronger than before, so there was nothing to be seen except the darkness, rain hitting the windows, and dim street lights.

The stalls and shops were closed and people left the square.

I was surprised by the sudden rain, but I was glad that the fireworks were over.

Creak-

I could hear the door open.

When I turned my head, I saw Blake wearing a black bathrobe.

"......"

I was at a loss for words.

Blake felt really different.

This was not the Amoria Palace where we spent our childhood together.

It was not the Foren Palace that was full of things I picked when I was a kid either.

Is it because this place is completely disconnected to my memory?

When I was young, I often saw his naked body when I helped him take a bath.

I used to check his body every day, worrying that the curse might have spread.

However, when Blake appeared in front of me wearing only a bathrobe, it felt really different.

The silver-haired man stood tall and faced me with an indescribable gaze. I met his gaze but quickly looked away without realizing it.

"Why are you avoiding my eyes?"

"......"

Blake came close to me.

"......"

And then he touched my hair.

"It's wet."

Originally, I should have dried it in the bathroom.

But Blake was also soaked in the rain, so I hurried out because I wanted him to warm up with a hot shower as soon as possible.

"Ah, I'll go dry it."

As soon as I was about to get up from the chair, he grabbed my shoulder and made me sit down again.

"I'll dry it."

"It's alright..."

"I want to do it."

I ended up sitting on the chair. Blake stood behind me and dried my hair.

His long fingers swept through my hair slowly.

"Today wasn't a very good day, was it?"

"No, it was like a dream."

I got up at dawn and was busy preparing for the dance. But even though it was raining heavily, the day felt really good.

It's just that my body felt a little weird.

I was extremely conscious of Blake's presence and my head went blank every time his fingers touched my hair or the back of my neck. My body was also heating up.

In order to hide my condition, I answered curtly and quickly shut my mouth.

Both of us became silent, and the sound of rain outside the window filled the room.

This time, Blake broke the silence.

"Ancia, how much longer do I have to wait?"