TSMMT Ch 67

Three Years and Four Months

Dianna pondered the situation. Why did Guiscard Lodbrog resolve to marry her? It was to torment her. It was to punish her by remaining at her side. She revisited this reason repeatedly.

Guiscard had brought deep suffering to her in the past life, and the reason for her miserable past life was punishment—the crime of carrying the bloodline of those accursed people.

Paradoxically, in this second life, Dianna understood his pain clearly. She had no choice but to understand his revenge.

Even I would have done so. Even I. Therefore, he is enacting revenge on me.

Inside her distorted thoughts, her past and present lives blurred together. Because she had already experienced that past, she accepted it as absolute truth, a reality confirmed by the constant misfortunes of her current life.

Therefore, she viewed this marriage as a punishment. If she had to endure the same fate again, she wanted at least a little peace. If Guiscard flew into a rage and killed her, that would be even better.

[Guiscard] "Three years?"

[Dianna] "……Yes."

[Guiscard] "Why?"

[Dianna] "That is the exact amount of time my family sinned against you."

She smiled gloomily.

Upon hearing her words, he said nothing. Only the rage filling his eyes reflected the weight of those years.

[Dianna] "I shall gladly accept the punishment you impose."

[Guiscard] "Punishment……"

[Dianna] "No matter what painful tasks await, I will endure them. But…… I refuse to die like this."

[Guiscard] "Painful tasks……"

He watched her tremble. She shook violently, like an abused puppy.

[Dianna] "Every sentence has an end. I know I am being shameless. This sin can't be repaid even in a lifetime."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Dianna] "I understand you."

He remained silent at her words. An icy smile settled on his face. He fell into thought for a brief moment. His purple eyes locked onto Dianna, measuring her. Those eyes brought fear to her, yet she possessed no hidden motive.

Continuing down this path meant suicide. The torment awaiting her would be identical anyway, because Guiscard refused to forgive her.

If things continue like this, I will bear a child. If I have a child, I might lose it to Lady Levian. Is there no way to kill her? Can't I just change fate? Does fate change that easily?

Dianna refused to act to change anything. She had already suffered deep despair. Her previous attempts to alter the future had caused her ruin, leading to horrific betrayal and absolute misery.

Suddenly, phantom pain wracked her body. The memory of fracturing bones flashed back. Her mind reeled to the time she was trampled and shattered.

Knowing a reward existed—that all this suffering would eventually end—would allow her to breathe.

[Guiscard] "And if I refuse your terms?"

[Dianna] "Then death is my only option."

She spoke calmly. Beyond this choice lay only death. Even as she spoke, fear gripped her.

What if his mood twists? If they sever my limbs and gag me, I will never be able to die.

In her past life, her captors had issued those exact threats, even forcing her to look at such victims.

Dianna refused to meet that horrific end. Regret filled her for the words she had just uttered.

Her life held no value at all. Why did she try to use it as a threat? Her desire was incredibly modest. She wanted to live a better life and avoid the miserable death of her past life. That was all.

She watched him with a terrified expression.

Guiscard opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. The King stared intently at Dianna, his gaze radiating intense rage.

What if this gamble only makes my situation worse? What if Guiscard turns to violence against me this time?

Dark thoughts slowly consumed her mind. Terrified, she quickly added more words.

[Dianna] "I asked you never to forget the kindness I showed you."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Dianna] "But you ignored my words."

Her tone sounded like a desperate plea for her life. Dianna shrank back. Bracing for a sudden blow, she remained perfectly still. Though she feigned composure, she detested physical pain. A beating was preferable to wasting away inside an inescapable lifelong prison, yet the fear remained.

This was the gamble of a lifetime. With only death waiting at the end, she had to make this final attempt.

[Guiscard] "It shall be exactly three years and four months."

She snapped her eyes open at his words.

What did he just say……?

[Guiscard] "Keep your promise."

A spark of life returned to her hollow gaze.

Could it be……?

Her expression shifted. Guiscard stared directly at her and spoke.

[Guiscard] "During that time, you belong entirely to me as my wife."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "Do you understand what that means?"

She nodded.

[Dianna] "I have no intention of neglecting my duties as a wife."

She had fulfilled those marital duties in her past life as well. In fact, she intended to perform them even more diligently this time. Three years—exactly three years and four months—and freedom would be hers.

[Dianna] "You don't intend to kill me after that time expires, do you? Or treat me even worse……"

I tried to alter my fate again, so what if an even worse ending unfolds this time?

An ominous thought flashed through her mind.

[Guiscard] "What do you take me for……?"

A low growl escaped the King. His face twisted with rage at her petty insult.

Ah, thank goodness. He is serious. He has no intention of killing me.

Color returned to her face.

[Guiscard] "I won't give a single damn about a creature like you after that. I shall erase you from my life as if you never existed."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "Therefore, for these three years and four months, My Lady, you belong entirely to me."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "You must not cast a single glance at any other man. Look only at me, and consider only me your husband."

Guiscard strode forward and gripped her wrist as she instinctively tried to step back. A massive hand clamped around her waist, his powerful arm tightening as he pulled her into a sudden embrace.

[Guiscard] "And mark my words. Never dream of committing suicide again."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "If you die, I have no idea what I might do."

Confronted by the threat, Dianna quietly nodded.

---

Her expression grew much brighter as a shred of hope emerged. In three years and four months, Guiscard promised to release her from this marriage. Three years—she only needed to endure for three years.

Should I write a letter to Alexa?

While fleeing, I couldn't send her a single word. I managed to ask Grandfather to smuggle her out during the war, but how has she grown?

She used to beg so desperately to debut in high society…… yet now, she is no longer a noble.

A sudden wave of intense longing washed over her.

What happened to Philip? During the war against the Lodbrog Kingdom, I urged him to surrender, warning him that victory was impossible anyway.

The newspapers contained no mention of the prince, nor any records concerning Count Kilcos.

Their house wasn't annihilated, was it? Please, let that not be the case.

Can I establish contact? If I ask Guiscard, he will surely fly into a rage.

Endless questions swirled through her mind.

[Mable] "My Lady, please select a gown."

Mable shattered her thoughts. When she turned to look, several maids stood holding garments. Every single piece was a pristine, snow-white gown. Cinched tightly beneath the bust with cords, the fabric billowed outward like a bell, possessing an utter simplicity that contrasted sharply with the luxury of Panborough fashion.

[Dianna] "Is there a special occasion?"

The garments resembled everyday attire yet bore more elegant details, though they were far from formal evening wear.

[Mable] "Well…… you must become Flucer…… Ah, it seems you don't know."

Dianna assumed a puzzled expression at Mable's words.

Is there something I am unaware of?

As she narrowed her eyes, Mable explained.

[Mable] "My Lady may be unaware, but a tradition exists here. When our founding king, Arunkel, proposed to Flucer, the Lady of Flowers from the Dragon's Valley, he placed a flower crown upon her."

[Dianna] "A flower crown, rather than a ring?"

[Mable] "Yes. Unlike Panborough, the lands of the Lodbrog Kingdom were barren and lacked wealth."

True. The Lodbrog Kingdom had failed to develop its culture as rapidly as Panborough due to its harsh environment and frequent civil wars.

[Mable] "Furthermore, because the founding king was a man who possessed nothing, he had no treasures to offer the Lady of Flowers."

[Dianna] "……."

[Mable] "Therefore, the founding king plucked blossoms with his own blood-stained hands, carefully weaving a crown to place upon her under a mistletoe tree."

The tale sounded vaguely familiar. Yet why share it now?

What do I have to do with Flucer……?

[Dianna] "Wait, could it be that Guiscard intends to offer a flower crown to me?"

Overcome with surprise, Dianna committed a rare slip, uttering the King's name instead of his title. Mable's expression turned icy at the disrespect, highlighting her mistake.

[Mable] "This ritual binds every man in the Lodbrog Kingdom. His Majesty is no exception."

[Dianna] "……But."

He never performed this ritual in my past life.

She furrowed her brow.

Is this junk merely designed to mock me?

Then, the memory of her past self surfaced—a broken woman who had savagely trampled the delivered flower crown.

Ah, I remained ignorant of this tradition because my past self destroyed it completely before the ritual could even begin. I even crushed the wedding bouquet back then. I must refrain from such outbursts this time.

[Mable] "Normally, friends of the bride and groom gather to offer congratulations, but for a royal ceremony, the Vargrhati Order and high nobles close to the crown will attend."

In essence, the event served as an arena to display one's spouse. It differed very little from Panborough traditions. Panborough aristocrats proposed with extravagant gems and diamond-studded rings to flaunt their vast wealth. For both men and women, weddings amounted to a grand spectacle of vanity, exposing their high status and boundless riches.

Nevertheless, receiving a hand-plucked flower crown felt preferable to wasting fortunes on useless vanity. Having completely stripped away all emotion regarding this marriage, Dianna found she could tolerate the tedious ordeal.

[Mable] "The crown is already complete. You only need to select a gown that complements the arrangement of flowers."

Mable brought forward a decorative box.

What sort of crown did he prepare?

Driven by pure curiosity, she opened the lid.

[Dianna] "……."

Instantly, a heavy silence choked the room. No gasps of admiration arose; only a freezing stillness lingered.

The crown itself was simple, woven with white blossoms decorated with tiny, delicate blue flowers.

However, a glaring problem lay before them: someone had completely trampled the flower crown.

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