CHAPTER 213: THE WEDDING [3]

[Sephrina’s POV]

The carriage rattled as it slowly moved towards the church.

Sephrina quietly sat alone within it as she looked down at her dress.

It was a beautiful white gown covered with distinct white flowers over it.

It covered over half of the carriage making her uncomfortable within it.

’....Why am I doing this again?’

Sephrina let out a sigh as she leaned back on her seat.

She followed Akamir’s plan because she didn’t have any other choice.

’...I will never get married to Lewin no matter what.’

She thought grumpily as she rubbed her temples.

A marriage to an elf was a sacred thing.

They only live once, love once and marry once.

And Sephrina wasn’t someone who would like to marry her uncle.

’...Why do I have to be in this situation?’

She couldn’t help but wonder...where did things go wrong?

Was it her blind faith in Lewin?

Was it her negligence as the empress of the kingdom?

....Or was it her curse?

’...No, I can’t push my lack of awareness to my curse.’

She let out a sigh as she rubbed her eyes that felt tearful.

Her childlike body wasn’t fully in control and so were her emotions.

’...Why am I crying like a stupid girl.’

She thought as she wiped the tear off her face.

’For now, I should focus on the plan.’

She clenched her teeth as she revised the plan once again.

’I will get inside the church and so will Akamir... He will then distract the others and I will go inside the door with the key.’

She thought grimly as she took out the key from her hairpin.

She clenched it in her hand as she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

The plan may sound easy but there were hundreds of things that could go wrong.

’...Hmm?’

Sephrina jolted in surprise as a fairy zapped inside the carriage.

"Lili?"

"Sephrina!!" Lili exclaimed as she floated in front of her face. "We have a problem."

Sephrina grew uneasy as she looked at her terrified face.

Sephrina’s breath caught. "What happened?"

"It’s Akamir," Lili said, wings buzzing in agitation. "He... he spoke with Lewin. I overheard their conversation just now."

Sephrina stiffened. "Lewin? Why would he talk to him?"

"I think he wanted to confirm something," Lili said, lowering her voice.

"He asked Lewin about the door. The one you’re supposed to open with the key."

Sephrina slowly reached for the hairpin holding the key, her fingers trembling.

"What about it?"

Lili hesitated before answering. "Akamir found out the truth... the key alone won’t work."

"What?" Sephrina’s voice cracked, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest. "But that’s what he told me. That I just needed to get to the door!"

"Yes," Lili nodded quickly, "but there’s more to it. Lewin placed a restriction over it."

Sephrina’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

She looked directly into Sephrina’s eyes. "To open it... you have to get married."

Sephrina froze.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

And then, as if the weight of the revelation slammed into her chest, her body slumped back against the cushioned seat.

"No," she whispered.

Her grip on the key weakened.

"No... no, that can’t be right."

"It is," Lili said softly, her tone apologetic. "That’s why Lewin pushed so hard for the ceremony."

"I... I can’t," she muttered, clutching her dress. "I can’t marry him, Lili."

"I know," the fairy whispered, landing gently on her knee. "I know you don’t want this but if you want to reach that room..."

"No," Sephrina interrupted, shaking her head violently. "There has to be another way. Akamir said he would handle it—he said—!"

She stopped, her voice cracking.

Tears welled in her eyes again, uninvited and uncontrollable.

She clutched the key in her hands, pressing it to her chest.

"...I trusted him."

Lili stayed quiet.

Sephrina’s breath grew shallow, her thoughts racing too fast to follow.

’Marry him? Just to reach the room?’

’Just to save my kingdom?’

She bit her lip so hard it nearly bled.

Even though it wasn’t a real world... an elf can marry only once.

It was something that had been going since they were alive.

"I would rather die cursed," she whispered, "than live married to Lewin."

The carriage jolted slightly, reminding her how close they were.

"Then we’ll change the plan," Lili said gently, her wings fluttering once more. "We’ll find a way, Sephrina. Even if you don’t open that door today."

Sephrina looked out the window, the looming spire of the church now in sight.

She knew Lili was trying to comfort her but... Sephrina’s heart wouldn’t calm down.

’If we don’t get outside today then everyone in the kingdom will die... including Akamir.’

But... Would she?

Would she sacrifice herself for the sake of her kingdom?

Sephrina didn’t know if she had the will to do so.

The door of the carriage opened up making her come out of her thoughts.

Lewin stood there with a bright smile as he looked at her. "....You look beautiful."

Sephrina glared at him but didn’t say anything.

Lewin extended his hand and grabbed her wrist pulling her out.

Sephrina didn’t speak anything as she was dragged inside the church.

The inside was filled with hundreds of people, who gathered for the wedding.

They didn’t look happy but didn’t dare to voice their problems.

Lewin dragged Sephrina to the altar where a priest was already standing.

The door was just behind the priest, that was guarded by two soldiers.

Lewin made Sephrina stand in front of the priest.

"...Why are you doing this?" Sephrina asked, gritting her teeth. "Why would you—."

"When you were three, I remember seeing you bathing." Lewin cut in her words. "...It was when I first fell in love with you."

Sephrina froze in place.

For a moment, everything went quiet.

Even the noisy whispers from the gathered crowd blurred into silence.

A wave of disgust crashed through her chest, twisting her insides.

"You..." Her voice came out hoarse, almost broken. "You’re sick."

He smiled like what he said was the most normal thing in the world.

"Love knows no boundaries, Sephrina. Even gods understand that."

Sephrina took a small step back, her hands trembling by her sides.

The priest cleared his throat awkwardly but remained silent.

The guards behind him stood still, unmoving.

’No one will save me.’

Her eyes darted toward the back of the church.

’....But I will never marry this man.’

The priest spoke up, his tone dull, almost robotic. "Shall we begin?"

Sephrina shook her head slowly. "No."

The priest looked conflicted as he looked at Lewin.

Lewin gestured to him. "Continue."

The priest nodded as he once again cleared his throat. "In the presence of all," he said. "I commence the marriage—."

A loud crash echoed through the church as the main doors slammed open.

Everyone turned.

Akamir stood there, breathless, chains still hanging loosely from his wrist.

"Ahh, thank God, I am not late." Akamir said, smiling as he stretched his body.

"Lewin!" Akamir yelled, looking at Lewin. "I came to bargain."

Lewin didn’t give a damn as he pointed at him. "Kill him!!"

Sephrina stared at Akamir for a second before her gaze shifted towards the door.