To pursue the goblin prince Cole Hutch, I devoted five years of my life.

However, on the very day I'm about to marry him, dressed in a wedding gown, I overhear a conversation between Cole and his friend.

"Cole, are you really going to marry Lilian?" his friend asks doubtfully.

A shadow flickers across Cole's eyes. "Of course. The Heroic Alliance has been eyeing our kingdom for a long time, and now that Shia is pregnant with my child, the alliance elders are displeased with me. Marrying Lilian is the perfect way to appease them."

"Aren't you afraid Lilian will find out you've been seeing someone else and go after Shia?" The friend asks again.

Cole replied, "She won't. She's madly in love with me. She'll keep the secret for my sake. She's gentle and easy to control. As long as I marry her, we can at least delay a war against our kingdom, and Shia will be safe."

My entire world shatters at that moment. In my daze, I get ambushed and gravely wounded.

And when I finally wake up from my unconsciousness, I remember everyone, except Cole.

So, when the leader of the Heroic Alliance contacts me to ask me to return for an arranged marriage, I immediately book a portal back seven days later.

I stood by the window, packing my magical gear into the dimensional pouch one piece at a time.

Leena Night stared at me in disbelief. "Lilian, are you really going back for that marriage alliance?"

I kept busying myself without looking up. "Yes, the portal's already arranged. I'm leaving in seven days."

She hesitated. "Are you willing to leave this place? Are you willing to leave my cousin?"

I frowned, feeling an inexplicable irritation bubble inside of me. "I don't even remember that cousin of yours. Why would I be unwilling to leave him? Was I madly in love with him or something?"

Leena pulled out a thick magic journal from the drawer and shoved it into my hands. "You were absolutely crazy about him! This thing records the five years you spent chasing after him!"

As I flipped through the pages, a dull ache spread across my chest. I felt as if a giant invisible boulder had settled over my heart.

The entries were filled with the pain of 999 confessions and that many rejections. After each confession, there was always a third name—Shia Lynch.

Leena sighed as she continued with a conflicted tone, "Shia is his treasure, his so-called first love."

I closed the journal, and the pressure in my chest finally lifted. "What's so special about a goblin that has rejected me 999 times? I'll be marrying a half-elf when I go back."

"What goblin? What marriage?" A cold voice was suddenly heard behind us.

I turned to see a tall goblin leaning against the doorframe. His skin was an uncommon shade of dark green, and he wore luxurious royal robes.

It was Cole Hutch.

His gaze was sharp and cold as he mocked, "Lilian, what kind of reverse psychology trick are you trying this time?"

Leena quickly tried to explain, "Cole, she—"

Cole interrupted her before she could even say that I had lost my memories. "I didn't ask you."

His gaze was piercing as he looked right at me. "Lilian, I've already agreed to marry you. I expect you not to play games behind my back, and don't even think about bothering Shia."

His tone left no room for argument. "Get ready. You're coming with me to the magical auction."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Shia's pregnant and emotionally unstable." Cole's voice was unusually soft. "I need to buy her a few magical gears to cheer her up. She has no official status with me, so bringing her to that kind of event would cause gossip. No one would say a word if I took you."

I was stunned for a moment, then rage filled my head. "You scumbag! I'm not going!"

Cole clearly hadn't expected me to refuse. He froze for a moment, then his eyes grew even colder.

He walked over and grabbed my wrist, dragging me out with him.

The wound on my back hadn't fully healed. His forceful tug tore at it, and the pain of ripping flesh tore through me. Blood began to seep through my clothes.

"Cole!" A honeyed voice called out.

A female goblin in a flowing white dress stepped inside. Her complexion was much lighter than Cole's, and her hand gently caressed her slightly rounded belly. There was a soft, gentle smile on her face.

It was Shia.

The moment Cole saw her, his eyes widened. He immediately let go of my hand and rushed to her side.

He had flung me aside so forcefully that my lower back slammed into the sharp corner of a table. The pain was so intense that I couldn't speak for a while.

Leena gasped and rushed over to support me. "Lilian, are you alright?"

Cole, however, acted like I didn't exist. He walked up to Shia and asked gently, "Shia, why are you here? Is the baby making you feel uncomfortable?"

Shia's eyes casually flicked past me. There was a trace of smugness in her gaze before she leaned weakly into Cole's arms. "The morning sickness has been awful lately, and my feet are so swollen that I can barely walk. I missed you, so I came to see you."

At this, Cole's face was filled with concern. He immediately scooped her up in his arms and walked out.

Leena looked at the blood soaking through the back of my clothes and couldn't hold back any longer. She shouted at Cole's retreating figure, "Cole, Lilian is your fiancee! How could you treat her like this for some outsider?"

Cole stopped in his tracks, and Shia, in his arms, clenched her teeth. There was a flicker of viciousness in her eyes as she said, "It's all my fault for following you without any status or name. It's brought you nothing but trouble…"

Cole gently laid Shia down on the couch, then suddenly turned around and stormed toward me. Without any hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

The sharp slap echoed through the room. My mind went blank as my ears rang from the impact.

Cole shook his wrist as he said coldly, "I thought you were a quiet, obedient woman. I didn't expect you to just be another vicious woman. Lilian, I'm warning you. If you so much as try to influence Leena again, I'll keep slapping you until you learn your lesson!"

He looked down at me like I was nothing but an insect. "8:00 pm the night after tomorrow. Central Magic Tower. Don't be late!"

With that, he didn't spare me another glance. He picked up Shia and walked out without looking back.

Leena's face was streaked with tears. She carefully helped me up, avoiding the wound on my back. Her voice trembled, "Lilian, I'm so sorry…"

Leaning on the couch, I tried to process what had just happened. I smiled weakly at her. "It's not your fault, Leena."

Leena helped me onto the couch, fuming as she stomped her foot. "That bastard goblin! No wonder you remembered everyone but him! Serves him right! Lilian, marry that half-elf! You have my support! Make Cole regret it forever!"

I laughed bitterly. The burn from the wound on my back caused me to grit my teeth in pain.

But inside, I felt unusually calm.

Though I was still technically his fiancee and had to play along for now, it was time I started making plans for myself.

Just seven more days.

In seven days, I would embark on a journey that was entirely mine.

…

On the last four days, I spent the past few days clearing out my place when I wasn't tending to my injuries.

I stared at the pile of things in the living room and silently tossed them into the dimensional pouch by the door. It was meant for destruction.

Included were the 999 magical letters I wrote for him, the 365 kinds of healing potions I developed for him, the defensive runes I prepared, the 108 teleportation stones aimed at his castle, and the scroll of safety from climbing 9999 steps at the ruined place of worship to pray for his safety.

Just as I turned, my heart skipped a beat.

Cole was standing at the door. I had no idea when he had arrived, but his amber-colored eyes stared right at me, and at the pile of "trash" on the floor.

His voice was hoarse with disbelief. "Why are you throwing those away?"

I replied indifferently, "Trash should be thrown away."

As I said that, a wave of unprecedented relief washed over me.

Looking up, I saw Cole's tightly clenched and bulging veins. He looked like he was barely holding something back.

He took a deep breath and said stiffly, "I acted on impulse yesterday. If there's anything you want from today's auction, I'll give it to you."

I said nothing and silently walked toward the magic carpet waiting downstairs.

As soon as I stepped onto it, I saw Shia already seated in the front row. The female goblin gave me a smile and a polite nod.

I raised an eyebrow and calmly returned the gesture.

My reaction clearly shocked Cole. Normally, in this kind of situation, I would have thrown a tantrum but eventually backed down.

However, my composure now stirred a strange panic in him.

The atmosphere on the way there was strange, with Cole continuously showing affection to Shia in front of me.

He would gently adjust her hair one moment and ask her in a low voice how she felt the next. He would make sure I could hear it, though.

By the seventh time he glanced at me through the reflection, all he saw was my calm, unreadable face.

His expression darkened, and the wand he used to steer the flying carpet creaked under his tightening grip.

When we arrived at the auction hall, he shamelessly held Shia's hand and introduced her affectionately to the gathered nobles and mages.

An old friend of his looked stunned. "Cole, aren't you being a little too bold? How could you just openly bring… her?"

The friend's eyes drifted toward me, full of sympathy.

Cole raised his chin arrogantly, pulling Shia closer to him.

His friend shook his head, murmuring under his breath, "I remember how bright and full of life Lilian was when she was 18. Now look at what you've done to her…"

There were many hushed whispers around us, and none of the prying stares bothered to hide themselves.

"I heard Shia is the goblin prince's true love. He even brings her to events where he's supposed to show up with his fiancee. She's supposedly carrying the goblin heir, too."

"Don't let that brave woman's calm face fool you. I bet she's boiling inside. She sure hides it well."

I ignored the mockery and pity. Before I lost my memory, hearing such words would probably have driven me to storm out in shame and anger.

But now? I felt nothing for Cole. So, their gaze, whether mocking or sympathetic, meant nothing to me.

Once the auction began, Cole took Shia to the very front row, visibly flaunting her. He constantly bid on rare magical items for her.

"Cole, I want that nine-star magic crystal necklace," Shia said sweetly.

"Alright." He raised his paddle without hesitation.

"Cole, that sapphire crown is gorgeous! It'd look amazing on me!" she exclaimed.

"We'll bid on it," Cole replied.

"Cole, this pendant is gorgeous. How about we put it on our baby daughter when she's born?" Shia asked.

"No problem," he responded.

Gasps echoed across the hall. When the hammer was dropped on the final item, the auctioneer was so excited that his voice cracked. "Oh my goodness! Prince Cole of the goblins has bought every single item at tonight's auction! Congratulations to His Highness and Her Highness!"

No sooner had he said this than repressed laughter echoed through the crowd.

The auctioneer realized his mistake too late. His eyes darted back and forth between Shia and me, finally understanding that the real fiancee was me, who had been quietly seated in the back.

He panicked, and just as he opened his mouth to apologize, Shia let out a delicate giggle. She covered her mouth and softly thanked him.

Cole looked completely smitten as he reached out and gently tapped her nose. The affection was evident.

…

At last, the auction ended. I stood up and went to the restroom.

Just as I pushed open a stall door, I caught sight of Shia hastily stuffing something under her dress. It looked like a magically crafted fake belly?

She jumped in fright and scrambled to hide it.

"So, you're not pregnant?" I asked calmly.

Shia turned to face me, no longer bothering to conceal her viciousness and suspicion. "So what? Are you planning to snitch on me?"