She scratched the floor in terrible pain. It felt like her intestines were burning, and all her nails were falling out.

Poisonous wine killed her in a long-suffering struggle.

Foresight is the most horrible of gifts to bear.

Rurutia had been obedient to her father all her life. She thought she was being punished for killing her mother.

I dont want to put up with this anymore.

If you keep your mouth shut as always, you will learn to regret it, she told herself.

Rurutia was very strong. It felt like another lifetime ago when she was lying in the hospital room, waiting for death.

I hate Count Hyde.

What? What did you just say? Rurutia. I think I misheard you.

Father! I just became an adult. I hate Count Hyde because hes too old.

You are trash, born of the Brucke family, and unable to properly use magic. Youre a girl who couldnt even be chosen by Count Hyde himself!

I know I am.

After feeding and raising you for nothing, are you now rebelling against my orders?

Thank you for raising me, but I want to decide for myself who I marry.

Rurutia!

Boom! Gael, who hit the desk hard, got up from his seat. Scared, Rurutia shrugged but did not stop speaking.

I would rather be cast out of my family, then marry Count Hyde.

Gaels expression was as terrifying as a fierce beast.

She had no regrets because she had said what she wanted to say.

If I get married, I will die, right?

Suddenly, she wanted to close her eyes, being once again comfortably surrounded by her favorite things.

Silence continued. She felt weighed down by the heavy atmosphere.

The weak body was vulnerable to stress. Her breathing, exposed to Gaels blatant life force, gradually faded.

She shuddered away as though she was about to fall.

Gael, who was gritting his teeth, gave out a warning.

Dont think of running away without my permission. Theres no place in this land where my hands cant reach!

Gael was the Duke of Brucke, one of the three most prestigious families of the East Empire. He had the largest territory and was allowed to have soldiers.

In addition, though sales werent the same after Gust left, the Top of Bruque continued to remain on top.

Wherever people lived together, the Top of Bruque existed. All the upper echelons were a-buzz over their exceptional inventory. Due to the Top of Bruques success, it was such that Duke Bruckes influence was felt all across the realm.

If anyone hides you, I will tear them apart and kill them all. No one will help you because Im the most feared man in the empire.

Unfortunately, Gaels words were true.

The Duke of Brucke had nothing to fear. No one in their right minds would lend a hand in helping Rurutia Brucke after knowing about her insolence.

She struggled for her life, but she couldnt beat Gael by her own sheer will alone.

She knew from the head and the heart that she didnt have what it takes. She held back her tears and clenched her fist.

Gael issued his last warning to his disobedient daughter.

Anyway, a wrecked body with a mana will help no family in the end.

She swallowed her tears and looked straight at Gael.

Not afraid of his weak daughter, who had no strength, he looked away and went back to his work.

Having no power to postpone the wedding, she chose to hold out, but couldnt keep back the inevitable.

Eventually, she burst into tears and was put into the wedding hall like a cow being dragged into the slaughterhouse.

***

Only

Congratulations on your marriage, Sir!

Rurutia had learned a few days before the wedding that the dream of unknown meaning that she often had was from the future.

She didnt have time to make plans, so she kissed the officiant, not her prospective husband.

As a result, Count Hyde, who was supposed to be a husband, rolled on the floor with swollen hands.

Something fell on the floor because of his violent movements.

Its a wig!

How could there be so little hair?!

Thanks to the Counts smooth bald head, which was revealed to the whole world, the guests opened their mouths and laughed. The red-faced Count Hyde slowly got up and picked up his wig.