"Congratulations on your marriage, Lady Westin."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"You look so beautiful today."

"Thank you."

The conversation went smoothly.

Blake stood quietly next to her.

The goddess bestowed her powers upon Blake. Richard was anxious at the possibility of getting caught by Blake, but fortunately, he did not seem to notice.

"But your complexion is quite pale. Your father must have been worried."

"Yes, I haven't slept well lately."

Karan continued the conversation naturally. Connin couldn't have done this well.

Suddenly, Ancia approached Sophia and held her hand tightly.

"You're having a hard time, aren't you?"

"Not at all. I'm fine because Richard is there to support me. It's. Alright. I am. Very happy."

Sophia's way of speaking suddenly became strange. Richard looked at Karan in fright, but she looked just as surprised as he was.

"You're happy?"

"Yes. Very. Happy."

Sophia's strange way of speaking worsened. It wasn't only her words this time, her accent sounded unnatural too.

"I see. That's a relief."

Ancia smiled. Luckily, she did not seem to notice anything strange.

She probably thought Sophia was just nervous.

However, if it goes on like this, Richard will definitely get caught.

"Ugh."

At that moment, a pained groan escaped Sophia's mouth. It was not Karan's manipulation, but her own voice.

At this rate, things will become problematic for him if Sophia speaks on her own. Richard stepped in immediately.

"Sophia seems to be nervous. I'm sorry, but there are still things we need to take care of. Would you please wait in the parlor room?"

Ancia glanced at Sophia.

Did he get caught? Richard's heart pounded on his chest, but Ancia only smiled elegantly.

"We will take our leave then. See you later, Lady Sophia."

Ancia firmly held Sophia's hand once more before letting go.

"Blake, let's go."

"Yes, let's go, wife."

Blake nodded and wrapped his arm around Ancia's waist.

When Richard saw the two of them leaving the room affectionately, he was jealous yet relieved at the same time.

After the door closed, Richard breathed out a sigh of relief. He was lucky not to get caught.

"How did that happen?!"

Richard shouted at Karan as soon as the couple left. Karan, who had fallen on the floor, bowed her head.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm asking you what happened!"

"My mana flow was suddenly disrupted."

Karan said, her face looked as white as a sheet.

"I told you to concentrate!"

If only Domiran was still alive, he would've never made this kind of mistake.

Richard burst into a fit of rage as he looked at Sophia.

"How can you make such a mistake?!"

"I'm sorry, I was interrupted..."

"You were interrupted?"

Did Blake use his power? If so, what should Richard do?

Cold sweat ran down Richard's spine.

Should he proceed with the wedding or should he cancel it?

But he's almost there.

He only needed a day. No, not a day, but just a few hours and he will become the marquis.

Besides, it will be difficult to get another chance if not today.

There was a limit to the magic that prevents the decomposition of the marquis's body while making him look alive. It was no longer possible to stop other people from visiting with the excuse that the marquis was in critical condition.

The marquis's death had to be announced today.

However, if the Marquis of Westin's death was revealed before the wedding, his brother and relatives would fight over the title, and Richard wouldn't have any chances after that.

Nonetheless, if he marries Sophia Westin late, he wouldn't be able to become a marquis easily.

Today only. Today was his first and last chance.

"Are you sure you were interrupted? You probably made a blunder and now you're spouting excuses!"

"...I don't know."

Karan bowed her head.

It was clear to her that she was interrupted. However, because she lacked magic skills, it was hard to know how or who did it.

While Karan was thinking to herself, Richard made up his mind.

"The wedding will proceed as planned."

"Get that woman ready."

Richard pointed at Sophia.

"Yes, master."

"There must be no mistakes this time."

"I will keep that in mind."

"You have to make sure it doesn't happen again. If you're not confident, I will call Connin instead."

"No! I can do it! I won't make a slip this time."

Karan had an inferiority complex due to the fact that Connin's magic skills were better than hers.

She gritted her teeth and replied when Richard threatened to replace her with Connin.

"If you make one more mistake, I won't forgive you."

"Yes, master."

Once again, Karan cast a spell on Sophia.

The bride had to enter with her father, but Richard will walk in with her under the pretext that the Marquis of Westin is still unwell.

Richard checked again to see if Sophia was moving naturally before taking her hand and going outside.

He only had to get wedded. It didn't matter whether they were suspicious of him or not.

Once he acquired the Marquis of Westin's wealth and status, he could do everything he wanted.

Richard was confident. All he lacked was title and wealth.

His ability was good enough. The nobles were all brainless.

On the surface, they pretended to be smart and elegant, but Richard knew better than anyone else how stupid they were.

As long as he becomes the marquis, he can take control of every noble. Even Blake will bow down to him! He will make Ancia his wife too!

Richard opened the door with mixed eagerness and hope.

At that moment, a blade was pointed at his neck.

Blake was pointing a sword at him. Behind him stood the knights and Ancia.

Richard's heart was then filled with despair as the view of his bright future disappeared.

***

Before we arrived at Richard's wedding, Blake kept reminding me.

Even if I noticed that Richard was being suspicious, I mustn't reveal it and back down.

"Ancia, do you remember what I said?"

"Yes, don't worry."

I had no intention of doing anything anyway. I was already trapped behind the door of darkness before which hurt many people.

Of course, it wasn't anyone's fault, but I don't want to make my loved ones worry about me again in the future.

When we showed up at the wedding hall, people flocked to greet us.

Most of them were the Marquis of Westin's relatives and vassals, but no one seemed to know exactly what the marquis's condition was like.

Hearing that the marquis was in a critical condition, they came to check on him, but it seemed that Richard was controlling the access to see him.

They wanted to protest, but they seemed to be holding it in because it was a wedding day.

Anyway, when the marquis dies, the next marquis will be Richard.

It was a pity that the Marquis of Westin was so unpopular that no one was truly worried about his well-being even though he was in a critical condition.

Listening to the people talk, it seemed that the butler refused the marquis's brother's family when they arrived.

The Marquis of Westin was said to have gotten furious upon hearing that his disowned brother had come.

They said he was in a critical condition, but when his brother appeared, did he suddenly come to his senses and chased him away?

The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I got.

"I need to meet the marquis and the lady."

I whispered in Blake's ear. Blake nodded.

"Okay, I'll go with you."

"Sure."

Richard showed up when he heard of our arrival.

He kept making up lame excuses, saying that the marquis had not yet recovered and fell asleep again, preventing us from meeting him.

However, he couldn't stop us from meeting Sophia Westin when we pressured him.

I was surprised the moment we entered the room where Sophia was staying.

Black mana was floating all around the room. The mana was coming from the maid who stood behind Sophia.

She had dark hair and a pair of sharp eyes.

I knew right then that she was a black mage, but I pretended not to know and continued talking to Sophia.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Lady Westin."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

She was being controlled by black magic. Her words were not suspicious, but her eyes were.

I held Sophia's hand tightly. As expected, her body was enveloped by the mana.

They cast a magic spell on her.

"You're having a hard time, aren't you?"

I let some mana of light enter her body.

"Not at all. I'm fine because Richard is there to support me. It's. Alright. I am. Very happy."

Then the spell was broken and her voice began to waver.

Sophia nearly spoke out her true thoughts, but Richard said that she was just nervous and told us to leave.

I wanted to reveal his sins right there, but I had to keep my promise with Blake.

"We will take our leave then. See you later, Lady Sophia."

I held her hand firmly and gave her some mana of light so that her tired body could feel a bit comfortable.