After a lengthy discussion with Azena, we finally settled on a plan.

Then, I headed back to my palace to rest.

I had just entered the courtyard when I realized that a commotion was going on.

Guerrian was standing outside, instructing the servants to move the furniture.

"Take this table away. Seraphine doesn't like that."

I went to take a closer look to see my palace completely redecorated.

When Guerrian saw me, he was not surprised at all. On the contrary, he looked extremely displeased.

"Where have you been? Why were you out so late? We're about to get married. Instead of preparing, you're running around?"

Ignoring him, I looked at the redecorated palace. Clenching my fists, I asked, "Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

"Seraphine might be your maid, but she's about to marry me as well. Technically speaking, you two are equals. Her room is too small. It's not good for her recovery, so I thought the two of you should switch rooms."

Then, as if worried I would put up a fight, he immediately softened his expression and came closer to me, holding my hand.

"You're the great Lady Bydona, but Seraphine only recently took form. Try to be more understanding."

He added, "On the day of the wedding, I'll surely see you first."

He had a rare, gentle expression, but it was only because of Seraphine. In my previous life, I had fought with him because of Seraphine, but he always said that he was just making it up to her for saving his life.

Three hundred years ago, Guerrian was severely injured at the Battle of the Pearl Sea. It was Seraphine who saved his life back then.

Due to that, Seraphine could hardly maintain her human form. So, Guerrian secretly brought her to the Celestial Skies and got Dexaldir to change her fate.

Then, he arranged for her to stay by my side, asking me to take good care of her.

I went along with it. Everything he had asked me to do, I did it the best I could. However, I started to realize that every time he visited me, it was not to see me, but to see Seraphine.

Even the jewelry that he gave me for my birthday was a gift that Seraphine no longer wanted.

Even so, I cherished that gift tremendously. I wanted to wear it all day long, but Guerrian had given more than a hundred necklaces like that to Seraphine.

It was very clear who he loved.

When I looked at him standing in front of me once more, all that remained was hatred.

I shrugged my hand off. Before I could say anything, a scream came from inside the palace.

The servants all ran out, yelling, "Lord Guerrian, there's evil inside the palace!"

Guerrian looked at me deeply before entering the palace. I quickly followed suit.

The moment I entered, a pungent smell hit my nose.

Near the side of my bed sat something horrifying. A small doll, no larger than a jar, was cackling with a twisted grin. Clutched in its hands was a strip of paper.

A name was written on it.

Seraphine.

Someone gasped behind me.

"Isn't that the Phlegeton Demon's curse doll?"

"Seraphine's name is on it! Who would do…"

Before the servant could finish her sentence, someone nudged him to shut up. All eyes turned toward me, and instantly, everyone fell silent.

Guerrian bent down to pick the doll up to see that its back was covered in a dozen nails.

Whoever had made it clearly hated Seraphine to the core.

Guerrian looked at me icily. "Should you explain yourself?"

Seraphine immediately went over to Guerrian, "This doesn't belong to Lady Bydona. Don't talk to her like that."

"Why are you still helping her at such a time? I was wondering why you were getting weaker. I never would've thought that the source of your curse is here."

I knew that Guerrian did not like me, but I was not expecting him to not trust me one bit.

Looking at the doll, my hands trembled in fury. "Are you saying that I, the daughter of the God of Skies, would join forces with the Phlegeton Demons just to curse someone?"

"Is that not true? How many things have you done to cause Seraphine trouble? Can you still even count them all? You've already got what you wished for. You got the God of Skies to set out an imperial decree, making sure I marry you.

"I'm not objecting to it, but why would you do such a thing? Do you know how much effort Dexaldir took to make sure Seraphine maintained her human form?"

Guerrian was so furious that his face turned red. He looked at Seraphine with worry in his eyes.

Seraphine's tears fell as she immediately knelt before me. "L-Lady Bydona, don't blame Guerrian. I know you wouldn't do such a thing. I trust you."

I could not stand Seraphine's attitude any longer. I raised my hand and slapped her.

"Get lost! You know best who did this."

That was not the only instance where something like that happened. Guerrian had come to me more than once, accusing me of tormenting Seraphine.

Whenever I demanded proof, he assumed I was refusing to admit the truth.

Bit by bit, whatever affection we once had soon wore away.

Before the pain in my hand vanished, Guerrian slapped me hard. The impact knocked me off balance. I fell backward, my head slamming against the wall.

My vision blurred instantly.

"Bydona, you've gone too far!"

As he rushed to help Seraphine up, warm blood slid down from my forehead. It ran along my cheek and dripped onto the hem of my robes.

When he turned around and saw my condition, much of the anger on his face faded.

"Seraphine…"

I looked at Guerrian with a frosty gaze. "Are you happy now?"

Something about my voice made him visibly uncomfortable, but he still refused to back down.

"You were at fault in the first place! Remember this lesson!"

Then, he turned to Seraphine and said, "Seraphine, stay with me. No one will dare to hurt you with me around!"

They left. I closed my eyes. Then, I ordered all of the servants to leave.

According to word spread by servants, Seraphine passed out not long after they had left.

When Dexaldir heard about it, he quickly went to Azena's palace.

For once, his attitude was unusually amiable. He even sat down to have some tea. When he saw Azena, he immediately stood up.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"What makes you think I'll help you?"

Dexaldir was a little surprised to hear the disdain in Azena's tone.

Then, he sighed and said, "I know you're still mad, but I have a temper of my own. From now on, as long as you behave, you and I can still be respectful to each other after our marriage."

Azena furrowed her brows, wondering what would make Dexaldir bow down to her. She asked, "What do you want?"

Dexaldir was secretly delighted. He knew that Azena was still throwing a tantrum.

When he spoke once more, he resumed his usual aloof self.

"I want your divine core. Seraphine was cursed by Bydona. She's bedridden. It's only right you clear up your sister's mess."

Azena had never heard such an absurd request before. She even thought that she had misheard him.

"What did you say? Dexaldir, don't you know what the divine core is to me? Without it, I'm as good as human!"

Dexaldir furrowed his brows. "I know. I'll protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you. Once Seraphine recovers, I'll return it to you."

He spoke with complete seriousness, but his promise held no credibility at all. Whether he would return it was a whole other matter.

He added, "As long as you give me your divine core, I'll never marry anyone else other than you. Isn't that enough?"

Azena was so furious she chuckled. She pointed outside and spat, "Get lost."

They glared at each other in a stalemate. In the end, Dexaldir lowered his gaze, turned around, and left.

However, at the very next moment, he quickly turned around and stuck a binding talisman on Azena's forehead.

"Azena, you forced my hand."

He reached his hand out, about to tear Azena's divine core out of her.

I arrived just in time to witness that. I immediately summoned my whip and lashed it out at him.

"You jerks are truly shameless!"

Dexaldir staggered and was forced to stop extracting the divine core. He clutched his shoulder and looked at me with a darkened gaze.

"Bydona, just you wait…"

"Sure! I'll wait for you!"

He fled the scene.

I immediately tore the binding talisman off Azena's forehead, still reeling from what just happened.

Azena patted me on the shoulder, comforting me. "It's alright. Even if you didn't come, I would've found a way to get out of it. Have you forgotten that I'm as powerful as Guerrian?"

She was right. During the celestial trials years ago, Azena did indeed beat Guerrian.

If not for the drug they used on her in our previous life, the two of us would never have ended up so helpless.

For the next half a month, neither Guerrian nor Dexaldir appeared again.

Azena and I quietly prepared our wedding outfits.

When I went to look for Azena the night before the wedding, I spotted Guerrian and Dexaldir, immediately hiding myself in the shadows.

Dexaldir said, "Tomorrow's the wedding day. You're not planning to neglect Seraphine because of Bydona, are you?"

"Of course, not! Bydona is arrogant. Once we're married, I'll teach her a proper lesson! If she doesn't learn how to behave, then Seraphine would've suffered for nothing! What about you?"

Dexaldir replied calmly, "Once I'm married, I'll find a way to extract Azena's divine core to restore Seraphine's health. Help me when the time comes."

"Sure."

They continued discussing their plans before parting ways.

I came out from the shadows and snickered. They were never going to get what they wished for.

The Celestial Skies was lively and buzzing with celebration on the day of the wedding.

Azena and I got dressed early in the morning, standing inside the Celestial Palace. However, Guerrian and Dexaldir had not arrived. They were still in their own palaces.

Even when the servants had urged them, they moved leisurely.

"Let Bydona wait. I'm going to marry Seraphine first."

"Let Azena wait as well. I'm going to be his witness."

…

Inside the hall, whispers spread among the gathered immortals.

"It's late. Why isn't Lord Guerrian and Lord Dexaldir here yet?"

"Not only that, did you notice there are many demons and humans here today?"

Suddenly, an announcement came from the outside.

"The Lord of Humans!"

"The Lord of Frost!"

Two men in wedding suits stepped inside the palace, causing an uproar.

The Lord of Humans, Christian Loux, walked over to Azena before bowing to my father. "Lord Eses, thank you for granting this marriage."

Fytar, the Lord of Frost, walked over to me and deliberately bumped my shoulder. He shot me a teasing grin before bowing to my father as well.

"Thank you for granting this marriage, Lord Eses."

My father burst into laughter.

"It seems this decree isn't misplaced. You two couples form a good match."

When it was time to board the wedding carriage, Fytar grabbed my hand tightly as if worried I might run.

He said softly, "See? I told you we were the perfect match."

"Oh, shut up."

At that moment, two furious voices shouted from behind us.

"Bydona!"

"Azena, you've got the wrong man!"