“Your Highness, please excuse me.”

Seojun stayed hunched over for a while, and only when he stood up did I realize he was waiting for me to respond to his greeting.

He started explaining something to me that I couldn't understand, pointing out people and giving orders.

“Ms. Buyeo will take your measurements to fit your wedding attire.”

"Wedding?"

I heard the question coming out of my mouth as if I were waking up from a dream, or nightmare, my distant voice pulling me back into my body.

“The ceremony is the day after tomorrow, Lady Tang. But unfortunately, many adjustments will be necessary. You... have lost a lot of weight.” He looked sad. A twinge of guilt welled up in my heart.

“Seojun… I thought the wedding would be cancelled.”

"No! Madam Tang, I told you... the emperor will not give up on marrying you.”

“Seojun, all these days... I was waiting for my punishment. Seojun, why didn't anyone come to punish me? Why did you abandon me?"

I was so confused, I didn't know if that news was good or bad. And I didn't know if being punished was better or worse than being abandoned in that silent palace. The emotions returned in a whirlwind inside that hollow body, in disarray, colliding with each other. I didn't even know if all this confusion was better than the feeling of emptiness just a short time ago.

Seojun looked at me with pity. His eyes darted away, looking for Chun and Xia to ask for help. That's when I noticed that Chun and Xia were excited, running back and forth. They even smiled! Chu noticed Seojun's gaze and came over to us, smiling.

“Your Highness, everything will be fine!”

I looked at her as if she were speaking another language that I couldn't understand. She got embarrassed, her smile faded.

“I’ll bring you some tea, okay?”

I followed that movement of so many people as if it were theater, not my life. The seamstress took my measurements as if she were handling a doll. I let her lift my arm, turn me one way, turn me the other, and I was just trying to help so that it would end soon.

After everyone left, I, Chun and Xia were left in the palace again. But everything was different. The girls were happy and tried to talk to me. I tried hard to respond courteously.

I hadn't been able to escape. And I hadn't been executed for the escape attempt. Will I really have to wait until the wedding night to be executed?

Like a puppet, I performed all the necessary rites. During the ceremony, the emperor smiled and told me things I couldn't understand. This theater, where I was a puppet, was like a comedy play when you are grieving for losing the one you loved most. A piece of romance on the day you got dumped. Nothing made sense. I would only know it was over when I heard the audience applauding and the curtains closed.

In this case, when Chun wished me good night and closed the door of the bridal room, leaving me alone inside.