Chapter 0

“Prepare to leave for Irugo.”

The hall stirred at the emperor’s words. He didn’t say why she was to leave but everyone in the hall knew why.

An arranged marriage.

It was an arranged marriage with not just anyone but Irugo, their enemy. It was called a marriage in-name but who knew when she would be killed.

Perhaps that was what the Emperor was hoping for.

Aristine’s death.

However, Aristine, the person concerned, simply stood still with an elegant expression on her face like always. Despite the noisiness in the hall, she was the only one who seemed to be in a different sphere.

The emperor looked at Aristine’s behavior with displeasure and his mouth distorted.

“Isn’t it fortunate, my daughter?”

His tone seemed kind at first. But his voice was soon laced with poison.

“You might be useless but the blood flowing in your veins is noble so you can at least serve some purpose.”

Even when she was insulted, Aristine’s expression did not change at all. Whether it was her fluttering long lashes, her eyes which were as calm as a lake, or her lips which were sculpted like the moon, nothing so much as flinched.

The emperor sneered.

“Then again, having something so useless next to me was making me sick so this is perfect.”

He looked around the hall and laughed.

“You can take out the trash, be helpful to your country, and have an excuse for your existence, even if it’s rubbish. I suppose we can call this killing three birds with one stone.””

People chuckled scornfully at her as if they were agreeing with the emperor’s laughter.

Aristine stood as before, not showing any reaction.

Her slightly lowered eyes seemed to be showing obedience to her father.

* * *

And one month later, Aristine was on her way to Irugo. A few people sighed, feeling pity for her circumstances but Aristine was determined as she climbed into the carriage.

Her unwavering, elegant figure left a deep impression even on those who were ridiculing her.

The moment the carriage door closed, and the curtains went down, “You can fuck right off, you waste of air.”

Aristine changed as if her appearance so far had been a lie. She raised her middle-finger high towards the emperor’s abode.

She smiled sweetly, looking like an angel who had just descended to earth.