My already complicated feelings became even more complex.

My colleagues said they were envious, but Killian found it burdensome and off-putting how Veronia constantly tried to nestle into his arms.

When he saw her rushing at him despite his obvious dislike, he sometimes felt a bit disgusted.

‘Lord Killian! I missed you! Actually, I miss you every single day!’

‘Since we’re engaged, it should be alright to hug once, right?’

‘Why don’t you hug me first, Lord Killian? I feel a bit sad because it doesn’t seem like you want me as much as I want you. I’m restless with desire to hold you and kiss you.’

When Veronia came on so strong out of nowhere, it gave him goosebumps for a moment.

Veronia was the only woman born with the noblest bloodline in the empire.

Veronia was beautiful.

Even to Killian’s eyes, which knew nothing of aesthetic standards, she was beautiful.

Veronia was always kind and affectionate towards him.

Even when he always responded with an expressionless face and indifferent reactions, not knowing affection, she responded with a smile.

He sometimes resented himself for not growing attached to her despite knowing her for so long.

But…

‘I’m not prepared at all. Moreover, I haven’t overcome my terrible memories.’

In any case, they were engaged. Someday they would get married.

Now that they were both adults, perhaps the wedding would take place quite soon.

Of course, he didn’t expect romance that was unsuitable for his position.

But he did have the modest hope of finding a companion he could at least feel comfortable with, since they would spend their lives together.

‘Will affection that didn’t develop over the past 10 years suddenly appear just because we get married?’

That’s unlikely. Killian shook his head.

Hoo, a deep sigh escaped him.

[This is the timeline separator]

‘W-What is this?’

When she opened her eyes, she was in front of the guillotine.

Veronia’s body trembled like an aspen leaf.

The blade hanging high above looked precarious, as if it might fall at any moment.

Veronia turned her head to look at the square.

Despite the gloomy weather with dark clouds, many people filled the square.

They all muttered angrily with enraged faces.

Their anger reached Veronia’s ears clearly.

“How could she do such a thing with that beautiful face? Devilish X!”

“So all her smiles and good deeds until now were just an act? Damn! How could there be such a wretched case?”

Sharp gazes and even sharper voices cut into various parts of Veronia’s body.

“She had everything, was she jealous because she didn’t have holy power? Ugh… it’s creepy!”

“How dare she try to kill the Saint! Is she not afraid of heaven? Is she not afraid of the goddess? If not, is she perhaps insane?”

“May your head be cut off and fall into hell! Become the princess of demons there! That would suit you better!”

The endless criticism and mockery choked Veronia.

She wanted to cover her ears, but her hands were tied with rope.

‘It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it! That wasn’t me!’

She wanted to shout.

She needed to correct this whole situation.

But she had a gag in her mouth and couldn’t say anything.

No matter how hard she tried, the only sounds she could make were “Uu… hup! Ah… uuhup! Ugh.”

‘No! I can’t die like this! Why should I be punished for something I didn’t do? Why should I die? Remove the gag! I have something to say! I can explain everything!’

Veronia struggled with her last remaining strength.

But all she got in return were punches and kicks from the guards.

Thwack! Thud! Thwack!

“Are you crazy? What’s wrong with you?”

“Can’t you stay still?”

“If you want to die peacefully, you’d better stay quiet!”

Veronia’s body collapsed to the ground after being hit squarely in vital spots. It hurt so much she could barely breathe, but she couldn’t even let out a groan.

Tears flowed from her eyes without her realizing it.

‘I’m not Veronia! I’m not the one who should die! Kill the Emperor! Kill the Empress! Kill the Crown Prince!’

Sniff, her small sobs soon turned into wails.

“Look at those detestable tears!”

“Those aren’t tears of apology. They seem like tears of resentment?”

“Crazy X! What are you resentful about? You still haven’t come to your senses! Just cut off her head quickly!”

“Kill the evil woman!”

Through her tear-filled vision, she could see angry faces.

Faces wishing for her death.

‘I want to stop now. I want to die quickly.’

Veronia gave up.

She even thought it would be good to die quickly. She was too tired and weak to endure this terrible situation.

As if reading her mind, a guard lifted her collapsed body and led her to the guillotine.

“Waaah! She’s finally dying!”

“Cut off her head! Cut it off now!”

“Kill the evil woman!”

Led by the guards’ rough hands, Veronia knelt in front of the guillotine and placed her head under the blade.

She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the imminent death.

[This is the timeline separator]

“… It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it! … I didn’t! Aaaah!”

At that moment, Veronia’s eyes flew open.

Her red pupils trembled anxiously. Ha, ha, breathing heavily, Veronia sat up and looked around.

It was her bedroom.

‘It was a dream.’

Unconsciously stroking her neck, she took a deep breath.

That’s when it happened. Tears burst out all at once, like a dam breaking.

“Huuk…”

Was it relief that she was still alive?

Or fear that if she made a mistake, she might have her head cut off on the guillotine just like in the original story?

Once started, the tears showed no signs of stopping.

No, they grew even stronger.

“Sniff… I want to live! I don’t want to die again! Ah… this damn possession! Why Veronia of all people! Sniff…”

Just then, the door to the adjoining room connected to the bedroom opened.

Startled by Veronia’s loud sobbing, a maid rushed out.

“Your Highness! Are you alright? Are you in pain somewhere? Your… Highness?”

“Hu… huuk!”

Veronia suddenly hugged the maid who was looking at her with eyes full of concern.

The maid, even more flustered, asked:

“Your Highness? Should I go call for a physician?”

“Hu… No. I had a nightmare. Just stay with me like this for a little while. I think I’ll be alright then.”

“Oh my. You had a nightmare.”

The maid’s gentle hand patted Veronia’s back.

It was the first time the warmth of another person felt so precious.

[This is the timeline separator]

On the day of the victory celebration, perhaps because it was a day blessed by the goddesses for the knights, the weather was unprecedentedly beautiful.

In the center of the capital, people began to fill Central Street.

The faces of people full of anticipation shone brightly.

Today was the day to commemorate the United Knights’ victory in completely quelling the border unrest and to celebrate their return home.

But in fact, there was a separate spectacle people were waiting to see.

It was the sight of Veronia and Killian side by side!

The engagement of these two people who got engaged in childhood 10 years ago – the Imperial Princess beloved by the entire nation and the son of an ancient ducal family – had heated up the entire empire.

But it was rare to see the two of them together.

“So are the two of them meeting for the first time in 2 years today? How excited they must be! How happy they must be!”

“I was so excited I couldn’t sleep a wink last night! Oh, how wonderful! Even now my heart is pounding!”

“Oh my, me too! It feels like we’re sending off our own daughter and son to get married!”

“It really does!”

Laughter erupted here and there without cease.

That’s when it happened.

The Knights, led by Killian, entered Central Street.

“Waaah!”

“Long live the United Knights!”

“Long live Count Killian!”

“Hurrah! Hurrah!”

Cheers burst from the mouths of the people gathered on the street.

People waved two flags enthusiastically.

There was the flag with the sun, symbol of the Imperial family, and the flag with the world tree, symbol of the United Knights.

The fluttering flags sparkled in the sunlight.

Killian thought it looked like waves rippling in the wind.

The knights’ eyes grew moist with emotion at the tremendous welcome from the crowd, and their mouths hung open.

There were people showing similar symptoms to the moved knights, namely the women who saw Killian up close.

“Oh my, oh my! Look at Count Killian Drea! Can a person’s face be like that? He’s not human, could he be a god?”

“How can his face be so small? How can his features be so distinct? He doesn’t seem to be of this world!”

“He’s really handsome! He’s beautiful!”

“Well, the match for our Imperial Princess should have at least that level of beauty!”

“Of course! Absolutely!”

Finally, Killian at the lead and his fellow commanders arrived at the Golden Square in front of the main gate of the Imperial Palace.

Right on cue, the palace gates opened and two open-top carriages drove out.

The Emperor and Empress were in the lead carriage, and Veronia was in the carriage following behind.

Veronia was nervous.

This was because, unlike the past Veronia, the current Veronia had never stood before so many people even once.

‘No, I have in my dreams.’

Naturally, the dream she had last night came to mind.

When the scene of everyone in the square fervently praying for her death flickered before her eyes like a mirage, goosebumps ran all over her body.

Veronia squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vigorously.

Hoping the terrible nightmare would fall out of her brain.

As she was slowly taking deep breaths and getting her bearings, it happened.

Among the many people looking this way, one person was shining particularly brightly.

‘Is that Killian?’

She could tell at a glance even from far away.

It was as if the bright midday sun was illuminating only his surroundings.

‘He’s handsome. As expected of the protagonist. His aura… wow!’

Aren’t humans originally beings that crave and admire beauty?

Veronia was no different.

Her tightly closed lips parted slightly as her tension eased.

Perhaps thanks to Killian’s soul-stealing beauty, strangely enough, her nervousness and fear melted away like snow.

‘Even though it’s a relationship that won’t connect with me anyway, it’s okay to appreciate it happily, right?’

While Veronia was admiring Killian’s appearance, the carriage stopped in front of the central fountain.

Killian personally opened the carriage door and held out his hand to Veronia.

It was courtesy towards his fiancée.

‘Too… too close! I have to take this hand?’

Veronia looked at Killian’s hand extended before her.

Nervousness rushed in again.