The Princess Consort of the northern fortress was at a loss when she was unexpectedly seated in a cart and taken somewhere. Despite Hannes's offer to merely escort her, the girl had a strong feeling that she didn't really have a choice. Looking at the snowy streets passing by the window, she grew more and more bewildered by what was happening.

  "Why do we need to go to the temple?" Remesis kept asking throughout the journey.

  The knight just shook his head and replied laconically:

  "When you get there, you'll see for yourself."

  "......"

  Remesis exhaled angrily when everyone around, as if in conspiracy, refused to answer her questions. She couldn't stand uncertainty. Hannes only said it was a surprise, and Asil had prepared it. Remesis, who had never before thought to connect these two concepts, couldn't even begin to imagine what it might be. To her recollection, the princess was nowhere near being a devout believer.

  It would be absurd for a mass murderer to believe in God.

  But then why had she chosen this particular place?

  In the end, Remesis gave up and stopped questioning those around her. It seemed she really had no choice but to wait. The girl turned to the window and silently watched as the high spires of the cathedral grew larger and larger. There were surprisingly few people on the streets today.

  "Maybe because it's a day off?"

  When they arrived, the knight offered her his hand and helped her down to the ground. Remesis was still frowning. She stepped forward with a bad feeling. But, as it turned out, what she saw was not at all what she had expected. The usually empty church hall was filled with people. Workers, servants, and the few representatives of the northern nobility mingled together and completely occupied the long benches.

  It seemed, for the first time in a long while, such commotion reigned in the temple.

  Remesis froze at the threshold, not quite understanding what was happening. One by one, those gathered noticed her and whispered quietly. Someone even clapped their hands. Because so many people were looking at her at once, the Princess Consort involuntarily grew anxious. But the knight following her confidently whispered: "Go ahead, Your Highness."

  "Huh?"

  The girl hesitated but still took the first step. Only then, making her way through the rows of people, did she notice that someone was standing before the altar. That someone was looking directly at her. And Remesis looked back. From one end of the aisle to the other, two pairs of eyes absorbed each other without blinking.

  It took only a couple of moments for Remesis to recognize this person. The semidarkness of the church hall was illuminated not by candles, but by a girl with dazzling silver-ash hair. Beneath it, the gaze of amber eyes was entirely fixed on her wife. She was dressed in modest but well-tailored clothes. And her hair was carefully combed and styled.

  This was strikingly different from her usual appearance, when the princess didn't particularly bother with her looks.

  Although Remesis still didn't fully understand what was happening, she intuitively felt she needed to keep walking forward. The Princess Consort's gait became more and more uncertain.

  Finally, the girl reached the edge of the platform, and they stood opposite each other. Asil silently looked at her. Remesis also didn't know what to say.

  "Your Highness…" she finally uttered hoarsely. "What does all this mean?"

  "Wedding."

  "What?"

  "We… We didn't have a wedding."

  Remesis stammered and stared at her in amazement. A wedding? So, her previous strange behavior was connected to this? The girl looked around and froze.

  "But why…? Why is this necessary?" she muttered uncertainly.

  Remesis was so taken aback by what was happening because — she had never thought about a wedding before. Honestly, she saw no point in it. Just extra fuss and a waste of money. It was one thing when real lovers wanted to seal their union with a beautiful ceremony. But another thing… Them.

  There was no point in throwing a grand celebration for a fake marriage. Especially since they would divorce in a few years anyway. Remesis especially didn't expect this from Asil. She didn't think she could be concerned about such things at all.

  The princess replied:

  "U-uh… I heard that all married people have a wedding. I… uh… uh… I thought we should have one too."

  Unlike in writing, Asil's oral speech still had many defects. So she spoke uncertainly and often stammered.

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  "But, Your Highness," Remesis said, embarrassed. "Our marriage isn't real. I told you, we're just partners and don't have to behave like that."

  "….."

  A strange fire flickered in Asil's eyes.

  "But we have to play it convincingly, don't we?" she said quietly.

  Remesis shuddered. That look again. For some reason, the girl wanted to avoid it. She hastened to change the subject to dispel this strange atmosphere.

  Looking at the scale of what was happening, Remesis was simply amazed. She couldn't believe that someone like Asil was capable of arranging all this. For a girl who only recently hid from everyone in a dark corner and could barely string two words together, this was an achievement of unimaginable proportions.

  "Did you organize all this yourself?" she asked incredulously.

  Asil scratched the back of her head.

  "No," she reluctantly grunted.

  "Then…?"

  "This one helped me."

  The princess, without naming him, pointed her finger at Hannes. The commander was also here, but unlike the others, he wasn't sitting on a bench but standing at the entrance, guarding it. Even here, he maintained his knightly duties.

  Remesis smiled briefly. "So that's it."

  Although the girl hadn't expected this at all, there was nowhere to go. She would have to participate in this performance.

  Meanwhile, the ceremony itself began. They stood face to face. Remesis felt somewhat awkward when the beautiful features, straight nose, and elegant jawline were too close to her.

  At the same time, she endured embarrassment about her own appearance.

  Unlike Asil, Remesis hadn't prepared at all, and was wearing the simplest dress. She never thought she would find herself in a situation where this little beast would look more presentable than her.

  In any case, it was too late to run and change.

  Asil slowly took her hand. Their gazes intertwined. They stood at the altar in full view of everyone, while the clergyman began the service. After a while, the solemn speech reached those cherished words:

  "I ask the bride, Asil Nara Ashelot. Before the face of the Lord and the witnesses present here, do you consent to take as your wife the bride, Remesis Carter, and do you swear to respect and love each other and fulfill the duties of a wife as long as you are in a lawful marriage?"

  "Yes," Asil answered without hesitation.

  "I ask the bride, Remesis Carter. Before the face of the Lord and the witnesses present here, do you consent to enter into marriage with the bride, Asil Nara Ashelot, and do you swear to respect and love each other and fulfill the duty of a wife as long as you are in a lawful marriage?"

  Remesis's heart stopped for a moment. She never thought she would have to utter such words. Especially in front of Asil. But still, her lips slowly moved:

  "I do…"

  "With this, you have taken vows to become spouses in the presence of the Lord. In accordance with the covenant and holy promises, as well as the authority vested in me as a clergyman, I pronounce you wives."

  After the priest's declaration, clapping was heard in the hall. Remesis looked around again, then glanced somewhat anxiously at Asil. A cushion with rings was already presented to them.

  They were forged from ordinary iron and devoid of any adornment. There wasn't even any decorative pattern. But that was unsurprising. Wedding rings, which aristocrats customarily exchanged, were incredibly expensive for them. Spending so much money on such trinkets was foolish and pointless.

  Nevertheless, Remesis held her breath as she looked at their hands with identical rings.

  Never before had she experienced such feelings. As if she really was someone's wife…

  "Are you alright?" Asil suddenly asked quietly.

  "Ah, yes…"

  The moment came when they were supposed to seal their vows with a kiss. However, understandably, they didn't do that. Instead, slightly embarrassed, the children briefly embraced. The cold sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows dazzled them both. Asil released her. The sound of wedding bells filled the church.

  They stepped onto the carpet path, accompanied by restrained applause. After all, not everyone in the north had yet accepted Asil as their lord, and had come only because they received orders from the northern fortress. The happiest was Hannes, who even had tears in his eyes.

  Remesis was a bit sad that Master Luven wasn't present at their wedding. But, apparently, the princess hadn't invited him due to personal animosity.

  They went outside, where a festive carriage drawn by three shaggy horses was already waiting, ready to take them to a small feast at the northern castle. Before climbing inside, Remesis stood in the cold for a few more minutes, awkwardly waving her hand at all the assembled guests.

  The rest of the evening passed in a flurry of activity for her. Almost all the castle's servants and guards gathered together at the festive table — celebrating the wedding ceremony of the Lord of the North. The feast continued until midnight. General merriment and dancing left no room to breathe. Remesis even got a headache from all the noise.

  "There was no need to throw such a celebration," the girl lamented inwardly. "One small dinner would have been enough."

  At this rate, they would spend all the temple's money before next winter even arrived.

  When the jubilation and congratulations pouring in from everywhere finally subsided, they returned to their chambers. After all this, Remesis had only one desire — to collapse and sleep until morning. The remaining things could be finished packing tomorrow.

  But the princess suddenly asked:

  "Is that all?"

  "What…?" the girl was a bit surprised as she was about to change into her nightgown.

  "We haven't had the first..... W-wedding night yet."

  "Uhh?"

  When Remesis realized what she meant, her face flushed. Where the hell had Asil picked up all this?! Was it the influence of the guards the princess hunted with? She must have just overheard their indecent chatter.

  "Well, no way!" the girl blushed deeply. "That's definitely not happening!"

  "Wh-why? It's aa… also a tradition after the wedding."

  Remesis reddened further. She didn't even bother mentioning that this marriage was fake. But how could the princess miss a more obvious detail?

  "If for no other reason, because you're twelve years old, and I'm only eight…!" she exclaimed. "What wedding night can there be?"

  A look of realization flickered across Asil's face.

  "Oh, right…"

  The princess muttered this to herself, but Remesis heard her. She sniffed, deciding that the princess had finally understood everything.

  "Your Highness, from now on, filter the information you receive. Not everything should be taken seriously."

  "…"

  "Now let's go to sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow."

  The girl got into bed and turned off the light. But Asil didn't hurry to do the same. In the pitch darkness, her gaze fixed on the small figure that was already fast asleep. Her quiet and peaceful breathing made the atmosphere in the bedchamber more serene.

  Asil was silent. She stared at Remesis with an expression that made it impossible to guess what thoughts were spinning in her head at that moment. After a short pause, she chuckled softly.