"You've grown up a lot."
After placing a cup of water in front of Tiena, Adelina sat across from him.
"I apologize that we don't have much to serve you in terms of refreshments."
"I can clearly see how your household situation is, so why would I ask for more? There's no need to worry about me."
Tiena had personally come to visit their house, but instead of asking to speak with Scarr, he asked to speak with Adelina privately.
"I hope your father recovers soon. It's been hard on you."
"I know that you're not here because of Father. May I ask what this is about?"
Tiena burst into laughter at her boldness.
Her father had lost his reason after having become drunk with power, and her mother had become a bully. However, Adelina was different from her parents.
While her parents had gone out to wreak havoc with their authority, the one who had weathered her family through the storm was their eldest daughter Adelina. Everyone in the higher circles knew this very well.
If everything had gone according to plan, she would have become the Crown Princess. However, the emperor abandoned the Scarr Family.
"It has been decided that Jiah will become the Crown Princess."
When she heard the word 'Crown Princess', Adelina's fingertips began to tremble almost imperceptibly. Tiena glanced at her to see if he could gauge her thoughts.
However, the wave of emotions only appeared for a second. In the next moment, her expression returned to normal and she replied in a firm voice.
"Congratulations. It looks like you will become the future emperor's father-in-law."
"You're a lot calmer than I expected. Wasn't that supposed to be your seat?"
He was gazing at her casually, but the aura oozing out of Tiena was too dangerous to overlook. Adelina had learned things she didn't want to know as she attended to her father and cleaned up the mess her mother had left behind.
"It was an engagement that His Highness the Crown Prince had pushed for, and it ended without coming to fruition. Two years have already passed. There is no reason for me to be disappointed. I have no need for any lingering attachments to that title."
"It has not ended for His Highness."
Adelina's eyes narrowed at Tiena's statement. After gazing into her eyes, Tiena picked up the cup of water and took a sip.
"Help His Highness let you go."
"I've already let go of him. There is nothing I can do."
"Get married."
Adelina's eyes widened as she was at a loss for words. Before she could open her mouth and ask him what he meant, Tiena cut her off.
"I'll find you a good marriage partner, so we should hurry and…"
"What are you going to do if I refuse?"
"Adelina, do you think I came all the way here to ask you for a favor?"
The anxiety that had appeared with Tiena began to tighten around her throat once again. She didn't want to speak with Tiena anymore, but his eyes were still glued to her.
"This is an order."
Her heart sank inside her chest.
The events that had taken place two years ago had returned to shackled her once more.
She needed to refuse, but the words remained stuck inside her throat and would not come out.
* * *
Sleep evaded her. Adelina picked up her heavy body and sat up.
Three days had passed since she had been notified of her marriage.
"Huu."
Before the Deputy Secretary General's visit, strange things had begun to happen.
The terrible stench of blood, the decapitated corpses, and the bloody man standing in the middle of this scene. Recalling his cold gaze and terrifying voice, Adelina's body began to tremble.
Before she could forget the events of that day, the Deputy Secretary General had visited to urge her to marry.
It could have been a coincidence, but for some reason, she couldn't help but feel that the two events were somehow connected.
"Do we need to run away?"
Either way, all she had left was her father, Doen, and Nisha. The small amount of money she had managed to bring from their ruined house was almost gone. She was making some money using whatever skills she had, but the money required to buy Scarr and Doen's medicine was formidable.
"Not marriage."
She had decided long ago that she would not refuse any help, but it depended on the situation. If she stepped foot in an uncertain situation, things could backfire and she could lose everything.
When the thoughts did not stop, Adelina shook her head.
Thinking some fresh air would do her good, Adelina changed her clothes and went outside. The cold night air blew around her.
Her body trembled at the unexpectedly cold breeze, but it helped settle her chaotic heart.
"Hm?"
The relief only lasted a moment. When she felt a strange presence, Adelina stood up.
"Adelina."
Just as she turned around to go back into her room, Adelina froze.
She heard a voice she had no reason to hear. The man who had embraced her as he asked to live their lives together had brushed off her hand in her time of need as if it were dirty.
"Adelina, it's me."
When she screamed until her throat was sore as she was being taken away by soldiers, he had never turned around.
"Your Highness."
The wound that raged against her difficult reality slowly began to open once again.