3. Celebration Banquet

After returning from burying Ivan in the forest, Gio was immediately surrounded by Hena and the maids busily bustling around him.

Unlike their busy movements, Gio, who had to remain still, kept his gaze fixed on the ring on his finger.

It had been three days since he had worn this ring on the hand that had once been used for killing.

In the Empire, from the day of the wedding, newlyweds were expected to consummate their marriage for three days.

Ordinary betas didn’t follow this custom strictly, but for an alpha and omega union, it was extended.

After completing the three-day ritual, on the fourth day, they were formally recognized as a married couple.

For nobles, who had already registered and received imperial approval before the wedding, it only required simple paperwork after consummation.

In the Grand Duke’s case, because his bride had been personally recommended by the Emperor, the marriage registration was to be sent to the capital on the morning of the fourth day.

And for the first time, Gio was allowed to leave the bedroom.

Of course, his injured foot was treated by the High Priest.

He was summoned in a far more disheveled state than usual, grumbling the entire time as he tended to Gio’s foot.

Watching him kneel before him to treat the wound, Gio couldn’t help but feel guilty.

The sight was almost like a sacred prayer.

Gio had thanked him, but the High Priest ignored it completely and, after speaking briefly with the Grand Duke, left the room.

Afterward, Gio was dressed in the finest clothes he had worn since the wedding ceremony.

Jewels hung all over him, making it the second most expensive outfit he had ever worn.

It was so extravagant that he had to walk carefully to avoid damaging it.

Once fully dressed, a maid clapped her hands with delight.

“Wow~ Your Grace, you look amazing! That white ceremonial robe suits you so perfectly.”

Gio turned to look at his reflection in the full-length mirror.

Glossy skin, moist lips, and neatly arranged hair flowing smoothly downward—it was his face, yet it felt unfamiliar.

At Cove, his skin had always been dull and pale.

While his skin still looked similar, it now clearly showed signs of good food and rest.

Only his dark eyes still betrayed his origins from the streets.

Black irises tinged with violet—an extremely rare eye color that, with its darkness, suited him too well.

Suddenly, a white veil dropped gently over his vision.

“We’ll be doing a tour around the domain. And tonight, there will be a banquet.”

The dazzling platinum blond of the Grand Duke appeared at the edge of the mirror.

Gio turned to look at him.

The Grand Duke wore a similarly patterned but slightly simpler ceremonial outfit.

Compared to Gio’s hair, dark like the night, the Grand Duke’s bright, shining platinum hair looked even more radiant under the sunlight.

Gio finally understood why the Grand Duke’s beauty was such a frequent topic of gossip.

“After the consummation, we have to introduce you to the people of the territory. We’ll be touring by carriage. You, my dear bride, just need to wave your hand lightly.”

At that moment, Gio felt someone touching his fingers.

It was Hena, adjusting his ring.

“What’s this…”

The Grand Duke opened a small box in his hand.

Inside, there was a glittering, lavish ring adorned with a gemstone as large as Gio’s fingernail.

“You have to wear the Grand Duchess’s ring, right?”

Hena put white gloves on Gio’s hands and carefully slipped the new ring over the glove.

The massive, sparkling gemstone seemed so extravagant it felt fake—reminding Gio of his own false identity.

The heavy ring weighed down on him.

The Grand Duke also wore a similarly styled ring.

The silver ring he used to wear was no longer on his hand.

It seemed he wouldn’t be wearing that old ring anymore.

When Hena tried to take away the thin silver ring, Gio quickly spoke.

“Give that ring to me. I’ll wear it on this hand.”

“Your Grace, it’s not suitable for you anymore.”

That remark struck Gio strangely.

Wasn’t this large, ornate Grand Duchess’s ring even less fitting for him?

“I just don’t want to lose it.”

When Gio held out his hand, Hena gave him the ring.

Gio slipped the silver ring onto the fourth finger of his right hand.

It was a little tighter compared to his left hand, but somehow, that snugness felt reassuring.

Then, the Grand Duke, smiling slightly, slid a silver ring—similar to Gio’s—onto his own right hand.

“Is this better?”

The Grand Duke stretched out his right hand to show him.

Seeing it, Gio felt his heart stir for reasons he couldn’t explain.

But he buried the feeling.

Such gestures from the Grand Duke were probably just teasing.

“Shall we go, my bride?”

The Grand Duke extended his hand toward him.

In the light coming through the window, the silver ring on his right hand sparkled.

Even something as plain as this ring looked dazzling when worn by him.

Gio had to offer his left hand, the one adorned with the large gemstone ring.

As they left the mansion together, knights were lined up on both sides.

Dressed in white ceremonial uniforms and wearing hats with tassels, the knights stood straight with swords at their waists.

When the Grand Duke and Gio approached, the knights placed a hand over their hearts.

Once they passed, the knights snapped their heels together sharply and dropped their hands.

It seemed to be a formal greeting of the Order.

At the end of the line of knights stood a carriage.

Drawn by six white horses, the carriage was a deep navy color with large windows.

Inside the carriage, led by the Grand Duke’s hand, Gio found it filled with flowers, making it hard to tell where he could sit.

Pulled along, he plopped down—only to realize it was atop the Grand Duke’s lap.

Looking down, he saw the Grand Duke’s legs beneath him.

Outside, the knights’ eyes widened in shock at the scene.

“See? Our Grand Duchess is secretly quite bold.”

The Grand Duke chuckled and wrapped an arm around Gio’s waist.

Flustered, Gio found himself leaning close, staring down at him.

Between the Grand Duke’s thick, neatly arranged eyelashes, his blue eyes gleamed like rounded glass.

The Grand Duke tapped Gio’s cheek lightly and shifted him to the side, though he kept his arm firmly around Gio’s waist.

A clack sounded—the door of the carriage had closed.

Only then did Gio realize he had been completely distracted by the Grand Duke.

An assassin, yet unaware of his surroundings…

All while the Grand Duke was merely putting on an act.

“Waaaah!”

Suddenly, cheers erupted from outside.

Startled, Gio looked out the window.

Countless people were tossing handfuls of colorful paper from their baskets into the air.

“Grand Duke! Grand Duchess!”

“Congratulations!”

When Gio stayed frozen, the Grand Duke gently took Gio’s hand and helped him wave.

“Grand Duchess~!”

“Be happy~!”

The people’s voices were full of excitement.

Garlands were strung between buildings, and from the balconies, flowers and colorful paper rained down.

The sky was a brilliant blue without a single cloud.

In the capital, it would be springtime, but here in the North, it was still a cold season.

Even so, the people’s cheeks were flushed not from the cold, but from the warmth of their welcome.

“Wave your hand.”

The Grand Duke said, letting go of Gio’s hand.

Gio awkwardly lifted his hand and gave a small, hesitant wave.

A child, beaming brightly, waved both hands back at him.

Beside the child, a couple—clearly the child’s parents—waved along with him, wishing happiness upon them.

What even is happiness…?

Gio suddenly felt a heaviness settle in his chest.

He had never really thought about happiness in his life.

Nor had he ever thought much about unhappiness either.

His life had been too much of a struggle for mere survival to allow room for feelings like self-pity.

And yet, here they were, wishing happiness upon a fake bride like him, without even realizing they were being deceived.

Gio continued waving his hand, but he couldn’t bring himself to smile.

Even if he was a fake, he didn’t want to fake his expressions toward those who were smiling so earnestly at him.

He was grateful for the veil.

Grateful that they couldn’t see his real face.

Grateful that, beside the Grand Duke, who shone like the bright sunlight, they couldn’t see how he resembled the dark of night.

The Grand Duke smiled brightly as he waved to the people.

Gio also waved his hand—the one adorned with the heavy, sparkling ring.

The gemstone caught the light and glittered.

The buildings in the North were lower than those in the capital, with steeper roofs and longer eaves.

Despite the cold climate, the area was surprisingly lush and lively, contrary to the bleakness Gio had expected.

The carriage made a grand loop around the center of the Hannes region, near the Grand Duke’s castle, allowing the people to get a good look at their new Grand Duchess.

Eventually, they returned to the castle.

Even after entering the grounds, Gio’s ears were still ringing from the cheers.

He realized for the first time that when people’s voices were loud enough, it could make your whole body tremble.

Even though he wasn’t truly the Grand Duchess, seeing the bright, joyful faces of those who blessed him made him feel something good.

Gio had thought the people of Hannes, like the frozen snows of the Hannes Mountains, would be cold and distant.

But seeing them in person, they were lively—warmer than anyone he had ever known.

He found himself envying that warmth.

After a simple dinner, Gio once again dressed neatly in his ceremonial robes.

In the daytime, he had greeted the common people of the territory; now, it was time to stand before the northern nobles.

It was similar to earlier, but this time, a red cloak trimmed with white ermine fur was draped over his shoulders.

Gio’s black hair was tied up neatly, and a white veil was placed over it.

The lower hem of the veil was studded with clear, bead-like jewels to keep it from fluttering in the wind.

“Alright, my Grand Duchess. Ready?”

The Grand Duke also wore a cloak over his ceremonial robes, but his red cloak was adorned with sleek, shining silver wolf fur.

His platinum blond hair was slicked back, revealing a smooth forehead, and beneath the arch of his thick brows, his clear blue eyes stood out vividly.

“Yes.”

When Gio answered, the Grand Duke extended his hand.

Gio placed his left hand, adorned with the heavy ring, atop it.

When he gripped it tightly, Gio could feel the ring pressing against his fingers.

“Then let’s go.”

Aside from the path from the temple to the Grand Duchess’s bedroom on the wedding night, this was Gio’s first time walking through the castle halls.

As they walked down the unexpectedly long corridor, Gio decided to ask about something that had been bothering him.

“Won’t they notice?”

Though Gio phrased it simply, the Grand Duke understood.

Commoners might not know the appearance of nobles, but nobles themselves certainly would.

Especially since they often mingled in social circles.

Even though the North was far from the capital, that didn’t guarantee ignorance.

Gio resembled Russell Silion in physique and appearance, but wouldn’t someone familiar with the real heir recognize that Gio wasn’t him?

“So what if they do? It’s the Emperor who sent you. If they have a problem, they can complain to the Emperor.”

The Grand Duke shrugged nonchalantly.

“We just have to act like a newlywed couple. And besides, who’s going to dare lift the veil of a new bride?”

The Grand Duke flicked Gio’s white veil lightly, making it ripple.

The veil covering his face offered a little reassurance, but pretending to be a newlywed was going to be difficult.

Gio decided to just be honest.

“I… don’t really know how newlyweds behave…”

The only couples Gio had seen were ones trying to kill each other.

Most assassination contracts came from close relationships—relatives, lovers, or spouses.

Even the Emperor and the Grand Duke were cousins.

You could only want someone dead enough to order a hit if you were close enough to know them well.

At Gio’s admission, the Grand Duke answered easily.

“Hm… just stick close to me.”

“Pardon?”

Gio had expected something like “whisper sweet nothings” or “look lovingly at me,” but it was just “stick close.”

For a moment, Gio wondered if the Grand Duke saw him as a clueless child.

But he couldn’t deny it.

He really didn’t know how ordinary life worked—not even as much as a child would.

While they talked, the corridor ended, and the brightly lit entrance of the banquet hall appeared ahead.

Once he crossed that threshold, Gio would fully become the Grand Duke’s spouse in the eyes of the world.

He still didn’t know why playing the bride helped the Grand Duke’s goals, but Gio didn’t ask.

Missions were like that.

You just did what you were told.

For people like Gio—just tools and hands for missions—thinking wasn’t required.

Cove had ordered him to get pregnant, so he had to find a way.

That was how he could save May.

That was how he could repay his debt to Ivan.

Gio stared at the bright light ahead.

The banquet hall at the end of the long tunnel-like corridor shimmered.

Inside that light, there was music and a low hum of conversation.

Strangely, stepping into that brightness made him more nervous than sneaking into an assassination mission.

At that moment, a forest scent enveloped him.

Gio usually couldn’t sense an alpha’s scent well—but the Grand Duke’s scent seeped into him and touched him gently.

Gio’s faint pheromones mixed with his, and the tension in his body eased a little.

Next to him, the Grand Duke’s calm, steady voice spoke.

“Just stay beside me, Grand Duchess. Like any new bride would.”

He pulled Gio’s hand into the crook of his arm.

Against him, Gio could feel the Grand Duke’s firm, strong body.

When Gio looked up, the Grand Duke’s striking face and unwavering gaze steadied him, too.

Following the Grand Duke, Gio stepped into the bright light.

The brightness made him squint slightly.

“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess enter!”

The steward announced their arrival loudly at the entrance.

Instantly, the hall fell silent.

Then soft music began to play.

As Gio’s eyes adjusted to the light, he saw the grand hall.

Even though it was night, magic stones embedded everywhere made it as bright as day.

Beneath the dazzling lights, colorful and beautiful people were gathered.

Everyone in the hall was staring at Gio and the Grand Duke standing at the entrance.

As Gio nervously swallowed, the Grand Duke placed his hand over Gio’s arm and gently guided him forward.

As they walked through the hall, the guests parted to either side, opening a path for them.

Everyone bowed their heads as the Grand Duke and Gio passed.

When they reached the platform, the soft music faded out.

“Thank you all for attending this meaningful occasion.”

Through the veil, Gio slowly observed the crowd.

It was hard to read their exact expressions, but overall, they seemed cheerful.

Their splendid outfits and confident, elegant demeanor suggested they were here to truly enjoy the evening’s banquet.

The Grand Duke lightly tapped Gio’s hand.

When Gio looked up at him, the Grand Duke smiled.

At this close distance, Gio could clearly see his expression—his smooth eyes curved gently in a soft smile.

When expressionless, the Grand Duke looked stern and cold, but once his face lit up with a smile, he shone like awakened light.

With the lights of the banquet hall blazing down, his smiling figure was dazzling enough to make Gio turn his head slightly away.

“As you can see, my bride is quite shy. I ask for your understanding.”

At those words, soft laughter rippled through the hall.

After offering a few more words of welcome, the Grand Duke stepped down from the platform.

Soft music resumed in the hall, and people began to approach them.

“Your Highness, congratulations.”

Among the approaching crowd, a short, round-bellied middle-aged man offered his greetings.

“Count Berger, you’ve come.”

“Of course, I had to rush over immediately. Now that you are married, prosperity will only grow for the North, Your Highness.”

“Haha, I hope so.”

“Your Highness, congratulations!”

This time, a middle-aged woman in a red dress stepped forward to greet them.

“Thank you, Countess Joseph. I’m grateful you could come.”

“Your Highness has caused the hearts of many to ache over the years, but now it seems you were simply waiting for the arrival of your beautiful Grand Duchess.”

Hearing this, the Grand Duke pulled Gio closer by the waist.

Gio, startled, found himself half-embraced against him.

Thankfully, the veil hid his surprised expression.

“Even a veil cannot hide the Grand Duchess’s beauty. I had hoped it would.”

“Oh my.”

The Countess covered her mouth with her fan and laughed, her eyes glinting with playful charm.

As the Grand Duke moved through the hall, nobles continued to approach and offer their congratulations.

The Grand Duke responded gracefully, moving steadily through the crowd.

Meanwhile, Gio caught snippets of hushed conversations around them.

“I heard they didn’t leave the bedroom for three days straight?”

“Didn’t they only meet for the first time at the wedding?”

“They say alphas and omegas can connect at first sight.”

“Even though it was arranged by His Majesty, it seems the Grand Duke fell harder than anyone expected.”

These kinds of whispers.

Perhaps the Grand Duke heard them too, because his smile deepened, and the hand around Gio’s waist held him even tighter.

Pressed close to him, Gio could feel the Grand Duke’s solid body, which was both uncomfortable and oddly reassuring.

Just then, Count Berger pushed through the crowd, bringing a tall man with him.

“Your Highness, allow me to introduce someone.”

Standing beside him was a man with a sturdy build.

He was so tall that Count Berger barely reached his chest.

His sharp, distinct features made him look like a foreigner.

“This is Viscount Guss of the Kingdom of Tara. He operates the Sehera Merchant Guild, which almost exclusively processes and distributes magic stones from Tara.”

“Oh, really?”

The man introduced as Viscount Guss stepped forward and bowed his head.

“I am Shell Guss of Tara. I came to congratulate Your Highness on your marriage. Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“I see. If you came from Tara, you must have left long before the wedding?”

“I have been staying in the Empire’s capital since last year. That’s when I heard the rumors about the North.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes.”

“What kind?”

“That all of the Empire’s wealth and beauty flows to Hannes!”

At those words, the softly murmuring nobles fell silent.

The Grand Duke said nothing, simply gazing at Viscount Guss with his blue eyes.

Viscount Guss did not avoid his gaze, looking steadily back.

After a slight pause, Viscount Guss continued.

“I was already on my way to the North to see Your Highness when the news of your wedding reached me. I am honored to attend this ball.”

As he spoke, Viscount Guss’s shining brown eyes seemed, for a fleeting moment, to flash gold.

Gio almost shivered.

Golden eyes immediately brought to mind the leader of Cove.

Though the man’s face was different, those snake-like golden eyes looked eerily similar.

Gio studied him again, but Viscount Guss’s eyes were brown, just a very light shade.

It must have been a trick of the light.

Golden eyes were rare, and it was unthinkable that the Cove’s leader would appear here.

It must have been his mission-fueled nerves playing tricks on him.

At that moment, the Grand Duke finally spoke.

“Are you trying to offend His Majesty, our Emperor?”

“Of course not. I only wish to make a good impression on Your Highness.”

Viscount Guss smiled and bowed his head, his intense features softening.

His earlier remark—that “all the Empire’s wealth and beauty flows to Hannes”—was no mere flattery.

Since pure magic stones were being mined in the North, the flow of wealth had indeed started shifting in that direction.

Moreover, the North was ruled by a hyper-dominant alpha Grand Duke, and the region had an unusually high number of trait-bearers.

Trait-bearers generally had strong physical traits and exceptional beauty, so travelers who passed through the North often ended up spreading such remarks.

Records of trait-bearers first appeared around five hundred years ago, at the founding of the Empire.

Perhaps they existed even earlier, but the records began then.

Among trait-bearers, a hyper-dominant alpha gathered the alphas and, with their strength, unified small kingdoms to create the Empire.

Thus, the alphas who had helped build the Empire became the noble class, and the hyper-dominant alpha who led them became the first Emperor.

Now, with Bayshark—a hyper-dominant alpha resembling the first Emperor—appearing for the first time in ages, both Emperor Frederick and the former Emperor wanted to tarnish him, to leave a permanent stain on his reputation.

To that end, the nobles, especially those around the royal court, had once ostracized the young Bayshark.

Bullying, isolation, pheromone suppressants—they tried everything.

Yet he survived it all, tenaciously.

So naturally, the Emperor wouldn’t like the rumors praising the North.

Even if they sounded like compliments to Bayshark and the Hannes region, they implicitly insulted the Emperor.

No one would dare say such things in front of the Grand Duke, who was the Emperor’s cousin.

Yet Viscount Guss, with his foreign appearance and boldness, had said it openly.

“The Emperor is my cousin, you know?”

“Yes, but you are clearly different from him.”

“Huh… Boldness or clever flattery, I wonder….”

“If it sounded like flattery, then I thank you for the compliment.”

Though it was clear to everyone that the Grand Duke’s words were sarcastic, Viscount Guss answered shamelessly, then turned his gaze toward Gio.

“Your Grace is so beautiful, my gift feels shamefully small.”

Even though Gio’s face was mostly hidden behind a veil, everyone still praised his beauty.

Gio could feel the intent behind their words: an attempt to win favor with the North’s ruler.

“It is not much, but I have brought a Mermaid’s Tear. I thought it would suit Your Grace’s hair beautifully.”

As soon as Viscount Guss mentioned it, the nobles who had been quietly listening let out soft gasps.

Especially at the words “Mermaid’s Tear.”

Gio simply thought, It must be an impressive gift, since the nobles’ reactions were so strong.

After all, it wasn’t truly his.

“I appreciate the thought.”

The Grand Duke met eyes with a noble standing behind Viscount Guss and spoke.

“Let’s discuss business matters another time. Thank you for coming, Viscount Guss.”

The Grand Duke extended his hand, and Viscount Guss grasped it politely.

After a brief handshake, Guss finished his greetings and withdrew.

Other nobles quickly moved in to offer their own congratulations.

In that moment, Gio, sensing a gaze, turned around.

There stood Viscount Guss.

Through the veil, Gio couldn’t clearly see his expression, but it felt as if Guss had been waiting for Gio to look at him.

Was it simply because Gio was the Grand Duchess?

Before Gio could think more, he felt a gentle tug pulling him back.

“Is our new bride already looking away? Even with the Empire’s most handsome man standing right beside you?”

The Grand Duke’s teasing remark made the surrounding nobles laugh.

Gio blinked up at him, wide-eyed, but the Grand Duke wasn’t looking at Gio—he was gazing at Viscount Guss’s retreating figure.

“Since my bride seems tempted, I guess I’ll have to remind you how charming the Empire’s most handsome man is.”

The Grand Duke took Gio’s hand and led him forward.

The nobles respectfully stepped aside.

It amazed Gio how casually the Grand Duke referred to himself as the Empire’s most handsome man without the slightest shame.

Was that normal for someone like him?

Or were all nobles this shameless?

Following the Grand Duke, they headed toward the terrace, where an attendant opened the door for them.

As the terrace windows opened, cold air rushed in, and the Grand Duke pulled Gio’s cloak tighter around him.

On the terrace, there was a brazier, mixing the cold wind with a warm breeze.

Once they stepped onto the terrace, the doors closed behind them, and the curtains were drawn.

The bright lights of the banquet hall were blocked out, leaving only the flickering firelight from the brazier.

At that moment, someone suddenly emerged from the shadows.

Gio tensed instantly, but the Grand Duke tapped the back of Gio’s hand reassuringly.

“It’s just Liam.”

The man who had twisted Gio’s arm on the night of the wedding ceremony.

Now, he didn’t spare Gio even a glance and turned directly to the Grand Duke.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Viscount Guss? Look into him.”

“Yes!”

“Where did someone like that suddenly pop up from? He wasn’t on the list, was he?”

“My apologies. I’ll investigate immediately.”

“Assign someone to tail him.”

“Understood.”

Liam gave a quick bow and disappeared off the terrace.

At that moment, the Grand Duke pulled Gio closer.

The sudden tug caused Gio to end up sitting on the Grand Duke’s thigh.

“Wh—?”

The Grand Duke subtly pointed toward the terrace windows.

There were faint sounds of someone lingering outside, curious about what the newlyweds were doing on the terrace.

The Grand Duke’s hand slid up Gio’s waist, pulling him tightly against his body.

Through the veil, their noses almost touched.

The Grand Duke’s brilliant blue eyes darkened under the night sky.

Though his lips curled into a smile, his gaze remained cold and sharp.

“Think you can moan for me?”

“…What?”

The Grand Duke squeezed Gio’s buttocks hard.

Startled, Gio flinched but didn’t make a sound.

“You’re supposed to make some noise at times like this. Hm?”

The Grand Duke once again glanced toward the terrace window.

Only then did Gio realize what he intended.

He wanted to make sure the eavesdroppers outside got an earful of what was happening inside.

Just then, the Grand Duke began releasing his pheromones.

The cold air mixed with the warm draft from the brazier, and the Grand Duke’s pheromones pushed through, wrapping around Gio.

His hand slipped beneath Gio’s cloak, gently rubbing the bare skin at Gio’s waist with his thumb.

“If you can’t do it on your own, I’ll help you.”

The Grand Duke’s hand slid up under Gio’s shirt, running up along the hollow curve of his spine.

At the same time, his other hand squeezed Gio’s buttocks again.

The sudden rush of pheromones made Gio’s body flinch instinctively.

Unable to hold it back, Gio let out a small moan.

“Ugh…”

At Gio’s sound, the Grand Duke lifted the veil and pushed it back behind his head.

He pressed his nose against Gio’s neck, inhaling deeply with a loud sniff.

“Ha… you smell good…”

His hand that had been trailing up Gio’s back now stroked along the ribs under his arm.

The ticklish sensation made Gio jerk, and the Grand Duke pressed his lips to Gio’s neck.

“Make a sound.”