After practicing magic, the whole greenhouse turned into a strawberry field.

"What do I do with this?"

"I'll give it to Sir Ron as a wedding gift tomorrow."

Blake said calmly. The fruits were made using the magic of light, so they'd be good for his health.

"Hey, tomorrow's wedding..."

"Yes?"

"Can I go a little late?"

"Why? What's wrong?"

Blake's expression immediately changed to worry.

I added quickly, "Did you hear that Richard Cassil's wedding was moved ahead to tomorrow?"

"Yes, I heard it."

"I want to go there."

"No."

He said quickly. I expected that he'd oppose it, but his opposition was much stronger than I'd expected.

In 'The Beast and the Lady', Sophia Westin was one of Richard's women.

Marquis Westin was a greedy father who wanted to make his daughter, Sophia, the Empress by marrying her to Frank.

However, the Duke of Cassil didn't give him a definite answer even though he pretended to let Sophia get engaged to Frank.

Frank was next in line to the throne, so there were many women who wanted to marry him. Naturally, Duke Cassil wanted to keep his options open until the very end.

However, thanks to Marquis Westin's efforts, Sophia eventually became engaged to Frank.

Sophia was happy to fulfill her father's wish. However that was before Frank shamed Sophia for her appearance and verbally abused her. He also had flings with other women.

Instead of apologizing to Sophia when he was caught cheating, he'd yell at her, saying, 'If you don't like it, then you should break up with me.'

Sophia had a hard time, but Marquis Westin repeatedly told her that Frank would change when he grew up.

Sophia also believed her father, praying that Blake would die as soon as possible and that Frank would become the real Crown Prince.

"Goddess, please kill that monster. He's a monster that everyone hates. The Goddess doesn't like him either. Let the monster die so that Frank can become the Crown Prince. I only ask this of you: Please kill him as soon as possible."

Blake didn't die, but the Duke of Cassil still became the Emperor in the original story because Richard killed Tenstheon.

Arnold Cassil was very fond of his eldest son, Frank, so he'd definitely instate him as the Crown Prince. However, nothing changed for Sophia.

Or rather, she became even more unhappy.

Not only did Frank delay the marriage day after day, he also swore at Sophia, demanding her to break up with him.

Even if he became the Emperor, Sophia would never become his Empress. He threatened her to give up before he did something to her in a fit of rage.

Sophia was exhausted, but her father would never allow a break up.

Richard approached the depressed woman.

After struggling for so long between her father and her fiance, Sophia eventually fell in love with Richard.

Richard also pretended to love her, but of course, he didn't really mean it.

Richard used Sofia to extract information on Frank so that he could trap him. And once Frank died, he mercilessly abandoned Sophia.

Even though that was how it went in the original story, the two people who were intertwined in such a terrible relationship were really going to get married.

Of course, there was no guarantee that it would turn out the same way this time.

A lot of things had changed, so it was possible that they were really getting married to each other out of love.

According to the gossip in the aristocratic circles, Sophia had become noticeably brighter since she met Richard, and Richard also treated her with utmost devotion.

However, it was still hard for me to believe it, and kept bugging me.

I asked Blake once again.

"It won't take long. I'll stop by just for a moment."

"Ancia..."

I honestly didn't like Sophia.

The scene of Sophia praying desperately for Blake's was so creepy, yet it was considered one of the best scenes in the original story.

The people who hurt Sophia were Marquis Westin and Frank, but she turned the tip of her blade towards Blake who hadn't done anything to hurt her, and prayed sincerely for his death.

She couldn't do that just because she was helpless.

"I really want to go."

Blake sighed when I said it again.

"You'll go even if I stop you, right?"

"Yes, sorry..."

I didn't want to worry him or give him a hard time anymore, but I couldn't help it this time.

Then, Blake shook his head and wrapped an arm around me.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. Do whatever you want. I'll protect you."

"Thank you."

I leaned my head on his shoulder with a big smile.

***

The next day, we headed to Marquis Westin's residence.

Blake and I got out of the carriage and headed to the garden where the wedding was being held. There were far fewer people than expected.

I had expected to see Marquis Westin's relatives attending Richard's wedding, but it seemed that even they had chosen to attend Ron's wedding instead.

A lot of people didn't attend the ceremony as a form of protest, saying they could not accept someone with Roum blood as the next Marquis.

"Ancia, remember what I said?"

Blake held my hand tightly as he whispered in my ear.

"Yes, don't worry."

I clearly remembered what he said before I came here. I also whispered quietly to him, when suddenly, we heard an angry voice.

"Why are you stopping his own brother from entering?!"

The butler bowed his head when Marquis Westin's brother roared.

"His Excellency is in critical condition. It's hard for him to attend to guests."

"Guest?! How am I a guest? We are blood brothers! I'm a lot closer to him than that Roum!"

"This is Lady Sophia's command. Please wait until the ceremony is over."

"What's wrong with her? What the hell is Sophia thinking?!"

"Sophia, what does she know? She's become so enamoured by that Roum that she's gone crazy. I have to stop him before he devours the entire Westin family!"

His son, who was standing next to him, shouted as well.

"Get out of my way! I have to see them right now."

"No!"

"A mere butler like you dares to block Marquis Westin's own brother!"

"The battle for the title has already begun."

Blake spit coldly. It was as he said.

Marquis Westin was said to have fought fiercely with his brother for the Marquis title.

I even heard that he kicked out his younger brother who lost the title fight without giving him a single penny.

Let alone being acquainted, they were more like enemies. But he seemed to be acting like that now because he'd heard that Marquis Westin was in critical condition.

If Richard and Sophia got married before his death, then Richard would become the next Marquis.

However, things would get complicated if Marquis Westin died before they could get married.

If the Marquis' brother claimed his rights and brought the people into his side, the position could just as easily fall into his lap.

Originally, the vassals would naturally have supported Sophia since she was the daughter of the Marquis, but she couldn't guarantee them victory any longer because she was getting married to Richard who was a Roum.

They thought Richard was in a hurry to get married to prevent that from happening.

Blake also agreed, and the people at the wedding were probably thinking the same thing too.

The Marquis wasn't dead yet, so they couldn't rush into the fight and take sides just yet.

Marquis Westin had lived his entire life enjoying wealth that ordinary people could not even dream of.

However, there was no one who was genuinely concerned about him when they heard he was in critical condition.

"I don't think he's in a hurry to get married simply because of the title or inheritance."

I said to Blake as I looked around the garden. On the whole, the atmosphere was very chaotic.

The guest chair wasn't comfortable and the decorations were terrible. Furthermore, the number of servants was quite insufficient, so even the few guests had not been welcomed properly.

Was he really in a hurry because the Marquis was sick? Or did he want it to look like he was in a hurry?

They said they suddenly moved up the date, but Richard and Sophia didn't have to prepare everything themselves.

It would've been better to ask relatives or servants to help, or to hire outside personnel.

The Marquis Westin's family was not struggling with financial difficulties, but it felt rather contrived because it was so chaotic.

There must be something wrong.

It was not just the matter of succession to a title. Richard was up to something.

I thought it was suspicious from the beginning, but I was even more convinced now.

"Oh my, Your Highness!"

In the midst of this chaotic atmosphere, one of the guests exclaimed when he saw us. Others were surprised and turned to our side.

"Your Highnesses!"

"I didn't expect you to come."

Originally, the groom was supposed to greet the guests and act as the host, but Richard was nowhere to be seen.

The butler had his hands full blocking the Marquis' brother, so no one noticed that we had also come.

People who belatedly found out that we had arrived rushed to greet us.

The younger brother and nephew of the Marquis, who had been shouting loudly, were also surprised and bowed their heads.

However, even in spite of this tumultuous situation, Richard didn't come out...

***

"There are very few guests. Most of the relatives just notified us of their absence."

The woman in the maid's uniform reported to Richard.

Her name was Karan and she was one of Richard's black mages.

"They're all going to Ron's wedding. Those jerks."

Richard spat coldly.

One of the Emperor's most cherished servants, Sir Ron, was also having a wedding ceremony, so most of them ran there.

In addition, the Emperor and Imperial couple would also attend the event.

If it were another day, he'd be seething with rage, but today was different.