Chapter 3
After the court session, Austyn Moody, Zachary's right-hand man and his best buddy, was waiting just for me at the palace gates.
"Your Highness," he said, giving me a crisp salute, his expression a mix of emotions.
"Is there something on your mind, General Moody?" I asked.
"I... I wish to thank you on Zachary's behalf," he said, voice earnest. "Your proposal is a tremendous blessing for everyone in the High North, soldiers and civilians alike."
I offered a faint smile. "You flatter me, General Moody. I'm simply doing what any loyal subject should."
"But Zachary said there are details in this plan that only someone who's spent years defending the High North would pick up on. Like stashing troops in Ashhowl Vale for an ambush, or hiding secret supply caches beneath Frostveil River... These aren't the kind of details you'd find in a textbook," he said.
He looked at me, his gaze probing. "If I may ask, Your Highness, how did you know about these things?"
My heart skipped a beat.
'That was a slip.
These were the things Zachary told me in my last life, holding my hand tight and going over every painful detail before he died
He said if we'd made those moves earlier, maybe... maybe we wouldn't have lost so badly.
All the regret and pain he felt before he died. I carried it with me ever since.
But I'd forgotten. There was no way I could have known any of this in this life.
I lowered my eyes, masking the emotions flickering within.
"Maybe... I'm just naturally good at reading maps," I said.
I made up an excuse and walked away, not giving him another look.
Austyn watched my retreating figure, brow furrowed, lost in thought.
A month later, Zachary married Alayna.
Red adorned the streets for miles, and the whole nation rejoiced.
Zachary rode a tall steed, dressed in bright red wedding robes, and personally went to the palace to escort Alayna out.
Through the throngs of people, I spotted him.
He was smiling, a real, genuine smile I'd never seen on his face before.
How nice.
Back in my last life, when he married me, he wore a frosty expression the entire time.
When he lifted my veil, he didn't even look at me.
This time, he finally got to marry the one his heart truly longed for.
It hurt, like someone stuck a pin right through my heart.
But above all, I just felt relieved.
I gently placed the red bridal veil over Alayna's head myself, then helped her into the ornate bridal sedan.
"Alayna," I said softly through the veil, "from now on, you and Zachary should look out for each other. Try not to be so stubborn anymore, okay?"
"I will!" Alayna nodded enthusiastically beneath the veil, her voice overflowing with pure joy.
The bridal sedan was lifted, the air filled with the thunder of drums and gongs.
I stood at the entrance of my manor, watching the wedding procession fade into the distance until it disappeared from view.
Lana Morris, my personal maid, draped a cloak over my shoulders.
"Your Highness, it's getting windy. Let's go inside," Lana whispered, her voice thick with tears. "The general... how could he do this to you..."
"Lana," I cut her off. "Watch your words."
"He never wronged me. I was the one who chose to walk away," I said calmly. "From this moment on, he is nothing more than my brother-in-law and a general of Great Aurelian. Nothing else."
I turned without hesitation and stepped back into my manor. The heavy door closed behind me, sealing off the blazing red wedding decorations, as though I were cutting that world out of my life forever.
That night, I still attended the wedding banquet.
As the eldest sister, my presence was both expected and unavoidable.
The Berry estate glittered beneath layers of lantern light. Guests filled every corner, laughter and conversation weaving into a lively, festive hum.
Zachary had been drinking all evening. His cheeks were flushed, yet his posture remained upright and unwavering, like a pine standing firm against winter winds.
With Alayna on his arm, he moved from table to table, offering toasts.
When they stopped before me, the entire hall fell into a strange hush. Countless eyes shifted between the three of us, heavy with curiosity and speculation.
Alayna instinctively tightened her grip on Zachary's sleeve, her nervousness impossible to hide.
Zachary, however, remained composed. He lifted his glass toward me across the table.
"Thank you for coming, Princess Veronica," he said.
His tone was polite, but distant.
I lifted my glass in return and drained it in one motion.
"You are truly well matched," I replied evenly. "Please accept my sincere congratulations."
Lana handed me an ornate gift box, which I passed across the table.
"It isn't much," I added softly, "but I hope you'll accept it."
Austyn, standing beside Zachary, took the box and opened it for him.
Inside was a pair of emerald unity clasps, intricately carved from premium emerald.
The emerald was smooth and lustrous, the craftsmanship exquisite, truly priceless.
"This... it's too precious," Zachary said, his brow furrowing.
"It isn't," I said quietly, meeting his gaze. "As long as the two of you stand together, share one heart, and treat each other with respect, then this gift will finally have meaning."
Not a trace of heartbreak showed in my eyes, way too calm for someone who'd just been dumped by the man she loved.
Zachary stared at me, his throat bobbing as if he wanted to speak, yet no words emerged.
Alayna, however, reached out eagerly and took the clasps with a radiant smile.
"Thank you! I love it!" she exclaimed.