Chapter 5: The Snow Fairy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: The Snow Fairy
“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager is waiting for you.”
At Lina’s summons, Blair returned at once to the Princess’s Palace.
The moment she stepped into the drawing room, Katrina’s hand met her cheek.
Smack!
The sudden blow sent Blair stumbling.
“Your… Your Highness!”
Lina, who had followed her in, rushed forward to steady the staggering princess.
Katrina raised her hand once more, but unable to bring herself to strike again, she let it fall and burst out in fury.
“There is a limit to ignoring your own mother! How could you go see that woman the day before your wedding? That woman, who tried to kill you!”
Though her cheek stung, Blair didn't so much as whimper. Her gaze remained calm as she looked at Katrina.
Katrina, deeply insecure about her humble origins, was obsessed with her public image. No matter what she felt inside, she always strove to appear noble, elegant, and refined. For her to resort to violence was a rare occurrence.
Blair had clearly struck her last nerve.
“I am your mother! I am the one who carried you for ten months and suffered through childbirth to have you. Not her!”
A vivid madness flickered in Katrina’s violet eyes—so much like Blair’s own.
Blair watched her and gave a sardonic smile.
Her mother, who so despised Blair’s affection for Esmeralda, saw her own daughter as nothing more than a pawn for her son’s benefit.
From the moment Blair began to develop a woman’s figure, Katrina had started to strictly manage her daughter’s weight.
If Blair gained even the slightest amount, Katrina would punish the maids of the Princess’s Palace on her behalf, whipping their calves until they bled and starving them. It was a punishment, she’d claim, for their lack of devotion to their mistress.
And Katrina would whisper that it was all for Blair’s own good.
‘Think about the fate of that unloved woman. Consumed by jealousy and envy of the beloved, she destroyed herself—what a pathetic, useless life.’
‘…’
‘You must become a woman who is loved, Blair. Like your mother.’
And in doing so, you must become an excellent support for your brother and for me, for this Imperial Family that I have built…
On days when Blair felt she had gained even an ounce, she would stick her fingers down her throat and throw up everything she had eaten.
The agony of the rising nausea brought tears to her eyes, but she told herself it was okay. She thought it was fine.
Mother is only doing this because she’s thinking of me, because she’s worried.
If I just endure it, the maids won’t be punished for my sake, Mother won’t hate me, and everyone will see me as beautiful and lovely.
Everyone will love me.
Yes, it’s okay.
As long as I can be loved, something like this is truly nothing…
But the moment she held the newborn Asiel in her arms, she realized.
‘You must make Herdin Delmark fall for you. You must make him a steadfast ally for your brother. Do you understand?’
If you truly loved someone, you couldn’t worry about your son before your daughter on the eve of her wedding.
If you truly loved someone, you would find it adorable when your beloved child was munching on their food.
No matter what others said, in her eyes, this child was so lovely and precious.
It was heartbreaking, but she could no longer deny it. Katrina’s affection for her had never been love at all.
And that was why.
That was why she could finally talk back.
“Since when have you ever cherished me so, Mother?”
Blair’s voice, calm yet filled with resentment, pierced Katrina.
“You…!”
Struck speechless by the sudden change in the daughter who had always clung to her, desperate for affection, Katrina raised her hand again.
At that moment, Blair spoke.
“It would be a problem for you if the bride’s face was scarred, wouldn’t it?”
At Blair’s words, Katrina’s hand froze in midair. Trembling with a rage she couldn’t contain, she finally lowered it.
“You insist on driving a nail through your own mother’s heart. You insolent girl…”
Katrina swept past Blair and Lina and stormed out of the drawing room.
Blair closed her eyes, listening to the fading click of her mother’s heels.
The sound was a little heartbreaking, and yet, a relief.
It was the end of a wretched, one-sided love.
* * *
The wedding was held at a temple on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
A massive crowd had gathered to witness the marriage of the Emperor’s only sister and Duke Delmark—not only nobles, but commoners as well.
In the bridal waiting room, a team of dedicated maids was fervently putting the finishing touches on Blair, the star of the day.
“It’s a relief the swelling has gone down so much.”
The maid tidying Blair’s makeup gently stroked the cheek Katrina had slapped, sighing in relief.
“It’s all thanks to the measures you took. Mother ought to give you a handsome reward.”
“Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager is really too much. To do such a thing to a bride’s face.”
Blair simply smiled faintly at the maid, who sounded more upset than she was.
Just then, Lina, who was approaching with the veil, glanced out the window and let out a small gasp.
“Oh my, it’s snowing.”
“It seems the gods themselves have come to celebrate Your Highness’s wedding.”
Looking out the window, Blair saw that small, white snowflakes were indeed fluttering down. It had snowed during her first wedding, too.
Back then, she had watched the snow with a mix of excitement and fear. This time, she watched it with calm eyes.
A knock on the door broke the tranquility.
“Are the preparations finished?”
Hearing Ivan’s voice, the maids quickly placed the veil over Blair’s head. The bride’s beauty must first be seen by the groom.
The maids bowed their heads as Ivan entered the waiting room.
“If you’re ready, let’s go.”
Ivan approached Blair and held out his arm.
Blair stared at it for a moment before placing her own hand on his.
As they walked out of the bridal waiting room together, Ivan spoke.
“The surest way for a wife to secure her position in her new family is to give them a son. You know that, don’t you?”
Blair gave no reaction.
Ivan was displeased that his sister remained silent even after his thoughtful advice.
“And as your older brother, let me give you some advice. You’re too stiff for a young woman. It’s fine to be a demure lady, but in the bedroom, you need to be more of a seductress if you want to be loved.”
“…”
“Mother was very worried.”
Blair, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke at the mention of her mother.
“Brother, please tell Mother not to worry. Her daughter will live well no matter where she is.”
Anywhere on this continent.
Once this contract marriage was over, Blair planned to free herself from the responsibilities of royalty and live freely, traveling with her beloved son, Asiel.
When Blair emerged on Ivan’s arm, the massive crowd that had been waiting for her erupted in cheers. The nobles couldn’t hide their admiration as they gazed at Blair’s silhouette behind the veil.
Though she wore a veil, her face was not entirely invisible.
“My goodness, she looks like an angel descended from heaven.”
“She’s like a snow fairy.”
Herdin let the nobles’ praises wash over him as he watched Ivan and Blair approach.
This wedding held no meaning for him.
Ivan, having reached the altar, placed Blair’s hand in Herdin’s.
“She is a precious child, raised with the utmost care. I trust you will cherish her.”
“An imperial command leaves no room for refusal.”
Hand in hand, the two stood side by side before the Pope, Gerard, who was officiating the ceremony.
He smiled with satisfaction as he looked at them.
“It warms my heart to see the Imperial Princess grown up safely and celebrating her marriage.”
He was the one who had saved Blair’s life, having treated her injuries during the Empress's Palace Fire Incident. He had also attended the funeral of the late Duke and Duchess in his capacity as Pope and had personally delivered the eulogy. Their connection had continued to this day, leading him to officiate their wedding himself.
The ceremony soon began.
Amidst a crowd that seemed more excited about the wedding of the empire’s most handsome man and beautiful woman than the couple themselves, only the two of them remained impassive.
“Now, please share the kiss of vows.”
Herdin lifted Blair’s veil. At the same time, their eyes met.
In that instant, his eyes, which had been as still as a frozen winter lake, rippled.
The pure white dress and her fine, platinum-blonde hair made every other color on her stand out: her pale face, slightly flushed beneath the veil; her translucent, amethyst-like violet eyes; and her crimson lips.
And framing it all were the snowflakes drifting gently past the window.
A snow fairy.
A woman in white who perfectly embodied the words.
Perhaps the nobles' praise wasn't baseless after all, Herdin thought as he leaned in to kiss the fairy.
* * *
After the ceremony at the temple, a banquet was held at the Imperial Palace.
It was a banquet hosted by the Emperor to share the joyous occasion with his people. Yet, as if to show consideration for the newlyweds, he permitted Herdin and Blair to leave first.
Ruth finished organizing the documents that had arrived for Herdin throughout the day and opened the office door to leave.
At that same moment, he collided with a large shadow.
“Agh, you scared me!”
Herdin stood before him, dressed in a robe. Droplets of water clung to his hair, as if he had just washed up.
Ruth clutched his startled chest and stared at him.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
“Do I need a reason to come to my own office?”
“No, that’s not what I mean. Isn’t it your wedding night?”
“There are documents to take care of.”
“But there’s nothing so urgent that it needs to be handled on your wedding night.”
“You sound like you were hoping I wouldn’t come to the office.”
“Of course. Who wants to be alone with their boss at this ungodly hour? Especially a boss who got married today.”
A boss who, on his wedding night, sought out his aide in the office rather than his bride in the bedroom. It was a combination that could easily start strange rumors.
Ignoring Ruth, who was shuddering at the terrible thought, Herdin sat down at his desk and put a cigar to his lips.
Ruthless. Absolutely ruthless. The man’s a workaholic.
Ruth shook his head in disbelief as he watched Herdin actually begin to review the documents, then cautiously asked, “…So, what are you going to do from now on?”
Though the subject was omitted, Herdin knew what Ruth was talking about.
“She said she would cooperate fully in recovering her memories related to the incident from ten years ago.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Though I don’t know if she’s truly lost her memory, or if she’s just pretending to for some other purpose.”
Although he had accepted Blair’s proposal and married her, he still couldn’t trust her.
…I suppose it doesn’t matter.
Whatever her purpose was, she was now in his hands. All he had to do was use her as much as possible to uncover the truth.
Watching the pensive Herdin, Ruth asked carefully, “But are you really not going to the bedroom?”
An image of the woman who had stood beside him all day with the same doll-like expression flashed through Herdin’s mind. As he pictured that white face, a cool glint entered his blue eyes.
She was probably exhausted and had passed out by now. The day’s schedule would have been a grueling march for such a delicate woman.
Besides, there was no need to perform a ritual like a wedding night for a contract marriage. She would surely feel the same.
As his thoughts reached that point, he had a sudden change of heart.
Herdin, who had been lost in thought while stroking his lips, stood up.
“You’re going?”
To Ruth’s question, Herdin replied nonchalantly, “I’ve suddenly become curious.”
Curious what kind of expression that doll-like woman would make at the visit of her unwelcome husband.