TSMMT Ch 72

Lies

She stood shocked, yet she approached and greeted him.

[Dianna] "I greet Your Majesty."

Guiscard signaled Mable with a glance, and the head maid bowed before slipping out of the room.

A heavy silence descended over the chamber. This event also carried no precedent in her past life. Back then, the servants forced the bridal gown onto her frame. Facing this unfamiliar situation, she shifted her gaze.

[Dianna] "They say looking at a bride in her wedding gown before the ceremony brings misfortune."

At those words, the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

[Guiscard] "So, is my bride currently happy?"

The question choked the breath from her throat, leaving her unable to answer. He extended a hand, gently touching the exaggerated puff of her sleeve.

[Guiscard] "I am well aware that My Lady detests garments like this."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "Compared to your refined taste, the attire of the Lodbrog Kingdom must look wretched."

Guiscard studied the gown that emphasized Dianna's emaciated upper body.

Unlike neighboring realms that bordered the Holy Empire and engaged in constant cultural exchange, the fashions of the Lodbrog Kingdom lagged behind the trends. The delay occurred because the establishment of their kingdom happened much later than other nations. The fact that the founding king offered a mere flower crown to his queen proved it.

[Dianna] "You overestimate my taste."

He offered no reply, staring at the miserable bride reflected in the mirror as he spoke.

[Guiscard] "You will not wear this garment. I shall command the tailors to bring new choices."

[Dianna] "It is fine, this is……"

[Guiscard] "Wearing an ill-fitting dress will only make you look far more miserable, will it not?"

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "Furthermore……"

His gaze drifted down her thin frame. The look pierced straight through her attire, causing Dianna to flinch and avert her gaze.

[Guiscard] "I shall summon a Panborough chef to the palace."

[Dianna] "That is unnecessary as well."

What kind of insults will I face this time?

Although the cuisine of the Lodbrog Kingdom offended her palate, she managed to find a few edible items. She preferred to focus strictly on those alternatives.

[Guiscard] "If you intend to endure punishment by my side, do so in a more perfect condition."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "You must do so, My Lady."

He reached out and brushed her hollow cheek. Dianna started to turn away, then locked eyes with him.

Ah, so that was his motive in my past life as well—summoning a Panborough chef just to ensure I received my punishment properly.

The current reality mirrored the past perfectly.

Watching vitality drain from her face, Guiscard ground his teeth and spoke.

[Guiscard] "Are you a fool, My Lady?"

Dianna widened her eyes.

Why brand me a fool all of a sudden?

Studying his dark expression, he let out a sigh.

[Guiscard] "I am not demanding you to suffer punishment. I merely……"

Resembling someone forced to take charge of a sick kitten, Guiscard stood utterly at a loss. Irritation and anxiety marked his shifting features. In an instant, the hand brushing her cheek dropped. His hand brushed against her collarbone. As if touching fire, Guiscard pulled his hand away instantly.

[Guiscard] "I remember the kindness you showed by bringing me bread."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "From the moment I stayed by your side, I rarely endured hunger."

[Guiscard] "If you wish to view this as a penalty, then do so. However, I have absolutely no desire to inflict such a punishment."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "I want you to tell me plainly when you dislike something."

Dianna stared blankly at his words. She blinked repeatedly.

Ah, he has changed a little.

Regardless of his past cruelty, he remembered the kindness she once bestowed. The King declared with his own lips that he refused to inflict punishment.

If only he held that kindness close to his heart and abstained from forcing this marriage entirely……

Dianna nodded. For some reason, heat rushed to her face.

[Dianna] "However, don't command them to bring Panborough-style attire. The reaction from your nobility is entirely predictable if I wear such garments."

Guiscard nodded. The exchange felt both awkward and strangely natural.

The exact instant the King prepared to depart, Dianna sought confirmation for the lingering doubt that tormented her mind—the fear that he might eventually produce a restraint collar.

[Dianna] "Ah, wait……"

Guiscard spun around with startling speed. Dianna opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat.

Is it wise to voice this? Did he not already state such things would never occur?

Terror gripped her out of fear that she might provoke his wrath unnecessarily.

[Dianna] "Has Grand Duke Blake returned to his territory?"

Strangely, this inquiry turned out to be the worst alternative. Intense fury instantly filled the King's eyes.

[Guiscard] "You appear remarkably close to him."

The hand he previously hesitated to extend slammed onto her shoulder. Perfectly rigid, Dianna raised her gaze in surprise.

[Guiscard] "Did you secure a betrothal with him, mirroring your arrangements with the two princes of Panborough?"

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "It seems my bride would gladly settle for the title of Grand Duchess instead of Queen. Hmm?"

[Dianna] "Your Majesty……"

The crushing force tightening around her shoulder was immense. Guiscard flinched and pulled his hand back. A passing glance revealed a bright red mark blooming on her skin.

Yet rather than the physical ache, the meaning behind his words struck her clearly. Biting her lip to steady her trembling jaw, she finally spoke after a long silence.

[Dianna] "Your Majesty…… considers me a loose woman."

The unexpected insult forced a tremor through her voice. Her logic screamed at her to yield and submit, yet the profound humiliation made her blood boil.

[Dianna] "And what about you……"

Realizing her thoughts had slipped past her lips, Dianna clamped her mouth shut instantly. She wanted to demand if he had engaged in disgraceful acts with Lady Levian.

Dianna had absolutely never committed a shameful deed. To be precise, she never had the opportunity to do so.

[Guiscard] "What?"

He spoke in pure disbelief. She ground her teeth and pressed forward.

[Dianna] "Can you declare with absolute certainty that you never touched a woman from the moment you escaped, slew the dragon, and ascended the throne as prince?"

His features contorted violently. Grinding his teeth, the King snarled.

[Guiscard] "I have never held another woman in my arms!"

[Dianna] "……I have no interest in your affairs."

[Guiscard] "You were the one who asked!"

Ah, I should avoid this. Why do I let anger drive my actions?

Guiscard glared at her, his expression looking strangely wronged. She possessed absolutely no desire to hear an abrupt declaration of celibacy.

Am I supposed to match his claim with my own purity?

Engaging in this conversation felt utterly foolish. Dianna turned away to sever the exchange. In response, the heavy, furious breathing of the King filled the silence.

Guiscard extended his arm toward her multiple times before hesitating.

Recognizing his movements, Dianna flinched. He had never raised a hand against her in her past life. Yet she now understood the reality of raw violence far too well. Her body and mind already lay shattered. If he intended to beat her for the next three years, she would endure it, yet the fear of physical pain remained.

Squeezing her eyes shut, a hollow sigh reached her ears. Dianna opened her eyes wide and stared at the door. Her brow felt cold, a sensation triggered by a sudden layer of cold sweat.

---

The culprit responsible for destroying the flower crown turned out to be a maid—a recently hired young woman. Upon learning the maid had merely dropped the arrangement after trying it on because it looked beautiful, Dianna let out a sigh and dismissed her from service.

The wedding preparations proceeded rapidly without a single hitch. Logaple stopped by occasionally to chatter away. The boy checked repeatedly to ensure she suffered no discomfort. Possessing unexpected authority, the young knight successfully improved Dianna's living conditions.

[Logaple] "Is there no one you wish to invite, My Lady?"

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Logaple] "Friends, or…… well, family is out of the question, but surely someone exists."

He spoke with a smile.

[Logaple] "It is your wedding, after all. I can deliver your letters personally."

Dianna's eyes brightened. Yet she gestured a refusal as she stared at Logaple. In her past life, this youth had perished because of her escape attempt. Furthermore, she knew the sheer capacity for cruelty Guiscard possessed.

Recalling Mirva's demise, Dianna knit her brows. While fleeing never crossed her mind in this life, what if a bizarre misunderstanding drove the King to execute the boy? She gestured a refusal.

[Dianna] "Thank you, Sir Knight, but I shall merely accept your kind intent."

[Logaple] "But it is your wedding day……"

[Dianna] "Do you believe the surviving nobles of Panborough will celebrate my marriage?"

Her soft question caught him off guard. When a sudden look of pity filled the boy's features, Dianna felt puzzled. Did this marriage really deserve celebration?

[Logaple] "I shall become your friend, My Lady."

[Dianna] "……."

[Logaple] "Therefore, please don't harbor such sorrow."

He spoke with deep sympathy. Perhaps because he grew up with older sisters, his emotions were far richer than those of the hardened knights. Dianna nodded with a complex expression.

Across the snow-blanketed fields, people rushed their winter preparations. On a day when heavy snow blanketed the earth, her wedding took place. The timing differed completely from her past life, when the ceremony occurred during the season of blooming white flowers.

Dianna inspected her bare neck. A pearl necklace wrapped around her skin instead of a restraint collar. She wore a pure white gown that formed clean, elegant lines. She ensured the neckline felt neither suffocating nor overly bold, and the tailors readily accepted her preferences.

The simple, understated gown perfectly matched her refined taste. Even the attire differed from her past life. The instant snowflakes drifted down, it felt as though Tali, the goddess of winter, pressed a firm kiss against her brow.

Covering herself with the white veil, reality snapped into focus. Because she wore no restraint collar, the nobles tracked her with scanning gazes. She displayed no look of humiliation, nor did she weep in sorrow. The event was bound to transpire anyway.

Dianna stared ahead with a calm expression. In an instant, Adelheit entered her sight. Relief washed over her. Seeing the Grand Duke attend the ceremony suggested he had avoided a catastrophic clash with Guiscard.

Taking another step forward, a young man with blonde hair and green eyes passed by. Shock gripped her, prompting her to spin around instantly. Right then, a warm touch met her skin. Dianna looked up to find Guiscard watching her. He had intentionally come forward to escort her along the wedding path. Dianna surrendered to fate.

The priest's words rang out, and Guiscard turned her around to lift the veil. His purple eyes locked onto her. Her porcelain face resembled smooth marble, and the light makeup lent her features the vibrant color of a fresh peach.

The gown Dianna selected traced sleek, straight lines rather than ballooning outward. While the style was trending in Panborough, similar designs emerged occasionally within the Lodbrog Kingdom, making it look natural.

Unlike an extravagant gown decorated with heavy lace, she wore a silk dress with gems sewn strictly along the hem. The garment avoided looking bulky, allowing her thin frame to carve an elegant curve.

His gaze lingered on Dianna for a long moment. She focused entirely on when this ceremony would conclude, planning to ask Logaple to verify if Philip had arrived.

Yet in that exact moment, she snapped her eyes open wide as his lips suddenly pressed against hers. The priest had not finished speaking, nor was it time to exchange the vows' kiss.

Their lips met. In that fraction of a second, Dianna caught a distinct tremor in the hand clamping around her waist.

---

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