The Price of Saving a Vicious Beast - Chapter 44

Moreover, the position of Crown Princess was never something a mere count’s family could dare to aspire to.

From a political standpoint, especially when compared to the Grand Duke’s son who was actively competing for the throne, this marriage brought Killian virtually no advantage at all.

That was the second problem, he had a rival in the succession.

Now that Killian had come of age, the undercurrent struggle for the throne had grown fiercer. In the midst of that tension, Adelaide was like prey that had suddenly fallen from the sky. There was no way Fabian’s faction would simply leave her alone.

Although the incident of that day had been quietly suppressed under the Crown Prince’s orders, several high-ranking nobles had already grasped the truth. That on the day of his so-called proposal, Killian had not visited the Eport estate out of purely romantic intentions.

Duke Bildem shook his head lightly. It wasn’t a problem he could solve by worrying over it.

There was no need for him to understand the intricate details of their private affairs. What mattered was how the balance of power currently stood.

Encouraged by the Duke’s response, the young nobleman spoke again, clearly pleased.

“Still, thanks to that, it earned quite a favorable impression in society. You know how noble ladies are, they swoon over stories like that.”

As he spoke, he glanced toward Adelaide.

“Truly remarkable, the Crown Princess. To endure all those rumors for so long and remain devoted to His Highness… But whether she truly understands what it means to become Crown Princess—that’s another question.”

Duke Bildem followed his gaze.

Adelaide was smiling, but unlike Killian, who stood beside her radiating vitality, her expression seemed strangely lifeless.

The Duke arched a brow and nudged the man next to him.

“Careful with your words. Have you forgotten this is a wedding celebration?.”

The younger noble winced and fell silent.

“Their Highnesses must be happy and they must appear happy. Otherwise, it will cause trouble for many.”

A royal marriage was never decided by emotion alone. It was the result of a complex web of political calculations.

Whether Adelaide Eport possessed the qualities of a Crown Princess no longer mattered. The wedding had already taken place. From this point forward, she would bear the weight of that life until the day she died.

‘If she didn’t want this, she should have run with everything she had—rather than getting caught like this.’

With that thought, Duke Bildem turned his gaze to the window.

Outside, a fierce snowstorm raged, so thick it was impossible to see even a step ahead.

* * *

The wedding banquet stretched deep into the night, showing no signs of ending.

Surrounded by the noise of countless voices, Adelaide felt as though she might suffocate. She struggled desperately to keep her composure.

In the distance, she spotted Count Eport, encircled by guests. He looked utterly exhausted.

The Countess and Roem looked no different. This isn’t a wedding… It feels more like a funeral.

Throughout the ceremony, the Emperor’s warning echoed relentlessly in her mind. It felt as though a noose had been slipped around her neck, tightening little by little.

She could breathe, but everything felt unreal, as if her mind were clouded in fog.

Killian had placed the ring on her finger. He had sealed their vows with a kiss. They had shared their first dance at the center of the ballroom.

And now all of it felt impossibly distant. Like a dream. No, a nightmare. A cruel, suffocating nightmare.

Each day since has been like stepping onto thin ice. She forced herself to cater to Killian, who now felt nothing short of insane.

For her family, she endured the revulsion.

She smiled. Acted. Wore a mask before everyone, pretending this marriage filled her with anticipation and joy.

Sometimes she thought she had grown used to it, but then, without warning, the nausea would surge again.

And each time it did, she would think of her parents—the Count and Countess—whose expressions looked like those of people forced to live when they would rather die.

The more she suffered, the more it seemed to torment them as well.

She couldn’t pretend to be happy in front of them. But at the very least, she had to pretend she was fine.

Perhaps she had pushed herself too far. The exhaustion she had ignored under sheer tension came crashing down all at once.

Noticing her pale complexion, Killian glanced at her briefly, then got up from his seat.