When Damien arrived, this was the scene he walked into:

There I was, still in my wedding dress, using an oar to push Tristan around in the icy lake.

Tristan kept struggling to get back to the surface, his face turning a ghostly white from the cold.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

Damien was baffled. Wasn't Amelia running away with her lover Tristan? Why is she now attacking him in the water? Is she sure he's her lover and not her enemy?

He frowned deeply, watching the scene unfold for a moment before barking out, "Get a boat over here and pull them out!"

I was so caught up in my frustration that I barely noticed the torches on the shore.

A group of soldiers, led by my husband Damien—the general of Arcanthia—stood ready.

Seeing him there, I was momentarily stunned, tears springing to my eyes. I paddled furiously toward him. "Damien!"

One of Damien's men looked at me, confused. "Mr. Hale, what's happening here?"

Damien himself was taken aback, his mouth twitching in disbelief.

I was on the verge of tears, struggling to maneuver the boat back to shore.

Finally, Damien sent a rescue boat for me.

Ignoring everyone's astonished stares, I threw myself into his arms.

After all, everyone knew I had feelings for Tristan.

"Damien, it's so wonderful to see you! I've missed you so much!"

Then, in front of everyone, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him.

Gasps were heard as onlookers quickly turned away, some peeking through their fingers.

But I didn't care about any of that. I just wanted him to know how I felt.

Damien was momentarily stunned but then deepened the kiss. After a few seconds, he pulled away, his jaw set tightly.

"We'll talk about this when we get back."

I hugged him happily. "Okay, handle it however you need to."

In my past life, I had treated Damien coldly because of Tristan, but things would be different now.

A few polite coughs interrupted the moment.

Two soldiers were dragging the unconscious Tristan onto the boat.

Damien shot me a cold look.

I quickly shook my head. "Don't worry about me. Do whatever you want with him—whether you want to dissect him or execute him, it's up to you."

After all, I'd wanted Tristan out of my life for a long time, and this was my chance to make it clear.

Damien studied me for a moment before nodding. "Take Tristan to the king."

The mention of the king made me frown.

The king had torn me away from Tristan and forced me to marry Damien.

When I got home, Damien slammed me onto the bed and gripped my chin, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"Amelia, if you try to run again—"

I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to me, pressing a soft, reassuring kiss to his lips.

"I'm not running anymore. I want to stay with you and build our life together."

After everything we've been through—facing death and now starting fresh on our wedding night—I wouldn't dare run again.

Damien looked taken aback by my words. He paused, studying me with his dark eyes as if trying to determine if I was telling the truth.

Then he kissed me back, his frustration clear.

"No matter how many times you run, I will always bring you back."

"Then what if I try again?"

"Do you dare?"

"I don't dare anymore. Damien, I want to be with you forever."

Damien's gaze was intense, clearly doubtful of my sincerity. But I wasn't worried; we had all the time in the world to prove it.

*****

Tristan managed to be released in just three days.

Outside the study, I overheard Damien and his men discussing it in detail.

In my past life, Tristan used me and broke my heart. I wasn't going to let him get away with it this time.

"Sarah, find out how Tristan got released," I instructed my maid.

Sarah had been left by my mother to care for me, initially just a maid. But she had incredible skills and was a high-ranking member of the Crimson Valkyries.

In my previous life, Tristan had approached me to access the world's top intelligence network, the Crimson Valkyries.

Sarah's eyes narrowed with determination. "Yes, my lady."

*****

Inside, Damien watched the direction where Amelia had left, his brow furrowed.

One of his men asked, "Mr. Hale, do you think Mrs. Hale will try to see Tristan?"

It was well known across the capital that Amelia had strong feelings for Tristan, even running away with him on their wedding night.

Damien's expression hardened, and he looked at his subordinate with an air of cold authority. "Do you think I'd let her get away?"

He thought to himself that Tristan was a man of deep and hidden motives. If he was close to Amelia, it had to be part of a larger scheme. Damien would never let him take her away.

I'm Amelia Hunter, the princess of Arcanthia. I met Tristan at Easter, and he became my tutor in the palace. He used romantic gestures to win my heart, but I was already promised to Damien, the national general.

The king insisted I marry Damien. When I resisted, Tristan encouraged me to elope with him. But Tristan had already leaked the news, setting up Damien for humiliation.

I pleaded desperately for Tristan's life, even submitting to Damien to save him.

Damien took me by force and released Tristan, and after that, Damien and I remained in a strained marriage.

Now, as I looked at the invitation in my hand for a national banquet in Arcanthia, memories of my past life came flooding back.

In my previous life, Tristan had invited me here to meet privately, leading me to steal Damien's military plans. That betrayal resulted in Damien's defeat and the fall of my country.

"Mrs. Hale, will you wear this?" a maid asked, holding up a green dress.

"No, I'll wear the pink dress Damien gave me."

The maid looked surprised. Didn't she know I always favored the green dress, Tristan's favorite color?

I understood her confusion but chose not to explain.

I changed into the pink dress Damien had given me, took his arm, and we made our way to Duke's Manor.

"Amelia, don't think that wearing the dress I gave you will make me lower my guard. If you're thinking of escaping, it won't happen in this lifetime."

Damien had already heard that Tristan would be here today. Amelia's eagerness made her intentions clear.

I snuggled against Damien, trying to lighten the mood with a smile. "Wasn't my performance last night enough to reassure you? Or would you like to continue tonight? What position do you prefer?"

Why had I never noticed how adorable he was before?

Damien's cheeks flushed slightly as he grabbed my wandering hands. "Behave yourself."