Estelle immediately agreed with the condition of the emperor.
The young merchant's life was spared and Estelle herself escorted him outside the palace.
"Thank you so much, Your Highness. You are exactly like her"
The young merchant timidly said.
"Who?"
Estelle curiously asked but the merchant just shook his head.
"Nothing, Your Highness"
"Anyways, in exchange of saving your life, you must not tell to anyone what really happened. Okay?"
Estelle said and the young merchant nodded his head. After Estelle gave him an extra gold, he immediately took it and sneaked a kiss in the cheek from her. She saw a smirk on the young merchant's handsome face as if he is saying that he is so satisfied with it.
The young merchant has light blonde hair and silver eyes as if he is a prince came out from a fairy-tale.
"Y-You--!"
She was about to punch his handsome face but he immediately run away in a black horse.
"Until we meet again, my Princess!"
The young merchant happily said before he left her dumbfounded and she even wondered where the hell did that black horse came.
"I-If I see you again, I'll kill you!"
Estelle shouted in frustration after she realized what the young merchant did. She even picked a small stone and threw it to the direction of the young merchant even if the shadows of him has already disappeared.
"So annoying..."
She mumbled and wiped her cheek. When she turned around, she screamed at the top of her note because the Duke is waiting for her without her realizing it.
"You scared me..."
She said and heavily sighed.
"We need to talk"
The Duke coldly said.
"S-Sure"
She nervously replied and followed Jerome in the pavillion where she poisoned herself.
"Princess..."
Jerome stopped as if he is disgusted in saying that word.
"Estelle"
The duke gently called her name and her heart skipped a beat. Her world somehow stopped for a few seconds.
"Y-Yes...?"
She asked trying to hold her breath.
"Let's get married before you go to the temple"
The duke said and Estelle was shocked since the storyline is deviating from the original story. Jerome, the male lead, will never propose marriage to anyone except for Camilla, the female lead.
The only change she wants is escaping her death. That's all, but she never expects any romance from any of the male leads, especially the main male lead.
"I-I am sorry... Duke Blanchett. Few days from now, I will no longer be the Crown Princess of this Empire but a mere priestess in the temple"
Estelle replied as she thought that the Duke will concede and just let the matter go but he did not.
"Then, let's get married now while you are still the Crown Princess of this Empire"
"Duke Blanchett, let's not make this hard for us. I am sure you will like Princess Camilla once you know more about her. Also, she has better personality than me. I know that I caused you many troubles before and I am really sorry for that. I hope you could forgive me..."
She continued praising Camilla in order to convince the Duke but he slammed the table that made Estelle stopped talking.
"If you are really sorry, then just say yes and marry me! Why do you keep talking about your damn sister?!",
The Duke angrily said that made Estelle so shocked because he called the female lead, a damn.
"I just want to--"
"You just want to, what?! Go and have fun with that close friend of yours?!"
"Don't tell me, you're jeal..ous.."
"I have the right to. I am your fiancee"
The Duke seriously said.
"First of all, I am going to the temple to repent for my sins and I am planning to spend the rest of my life in that sacred place. I do not have any plans to become a wife of anyone"
Estelle calmly and confidently blurted it out.
"And whose permission?"
The emperor asked and stepped in inside the pavillion. The two paid their respect.
"Answer me, Crown Princess Estelle"
He demanded her daughter who is now having cold sweats.
"Um... I thought Your Majesty allowed me to enter the temple and--"
"Seems like the Crown Princess and heiress of this empire is having decisions all by herself"
He coldly stared at Estelle.
"That is not my intention, Your Majesty!"
Estelle immediately replied while trembling.
"Stay in the temple for a month only. After that, go back to the palace to perform your usual duties as the Crown Princess of this Empire. Do you understand me?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty..."
She obediently replied.
"Your royal marriage with Duke Blanchett will be celebrated after your return"
He added but Estelle just stayed silent.
"Do you hear me?"
The Emperor asked her but she continued to stay silent.
"You are bound to be his wife no matter what happens"
"A marriage without love is bound to fail. Just like you and the dead Empress"
Estelle replied that made the emperor lose control of his anger that he heavily slapped his daughter for the first time.
"Go back to your room, now!"
He shouted. Estelle was about to leave but she turned around.
"I will escape this hell of a destiny of mine and do the things that I love! I will not become a coward like you, Your Majesty"
She courageously said while smiling despite the bruise on her lips. She did not know where she got that courage but all she know is that she is now less afraid of the Emperor who she thinks is her 'grim reaper'.