I froze to the spot and clenched my fists. However, Thalyx had quickly adjusted himself and regained his consciousness in just a few seconds.

Conflicted, he turned his head to look at Lyra before biting his lip and looking at me. "I've been rude. Forgive me."

Although he was apologizing, his two webbed claws were still tightly grasping my sleeves. "Mirella, that's enough. You shouldn't joke like this with me. I know you haven't forgotten me. Marriage is not a game. You don't have to sacrifice the rest of your life because you're sulking. I promise to visit you every two days from now on, so stop being so childish."

He spoke to himself before looking up and getting up to signal to Lyra, hoping to get her consent. "The last time I was seriously injured, it was Princess Mirella's ointment that cured me. I should regard her as my savior and serve her to thank her. I hope you'll say yes."

Thalyx nervously pursed his lips, while Lyra's face darkened. "I knew long ago that this merman had feelings for you, but I had no idea that you would go to such great lengths to take away one of my servants. Is this ridiculous scene my punishment for not giving you a good wedding gift? Since you like him, I should let him go, even if it kills me completely. Well, Thalyx is yours. Are you happy now?"

Thalyx was in a dilemma, torn between us both. He did not want to watch me leave, nor did he want Lyra to abandon him.

Before he could even rebuke, I spoke first. "Somebody slap Lyra! Give my good sister twenty slaps. She used a lowly slave to openly humiliate me and defied a royal marriage. This cannot be tolerated!"

As soon as I finished speaking, the whole carriage fell silent. Without hesitation, the elderly servant who worked for me rushed forward and slapped Lyra. "Princess Lyra is ignorant and naturally deserves to be disciplined by her older sister. A lowly servant has made a scene. He deserves to be punished! Don't blame me for being heartless!"

Lyra's initial disbelief turned to tears after being slapped several times. She turned to look for someone to defend her. However, today was my wedding day. No matter how chaotic I made things, everyone would turn a blind eye.

As everyone hung their heads in silence, Thalyx once again defended Lyra. "Mirella, you're so mean. There's no need to make things so hard on Lyra because of me. I said I was willing to accept you. What else do you want?"

He sighed as he crossed his arms, blaming me for not being sensible.

I scoffed. "You think too highly of yourself. I've never cared about you."

After hearing what I said, Thalyx burst into laughter as if he had just heard a joke. "Don't you like me? I know you can't let me go. Leaving me would be more painful than killing yourself. At worst, I'll just leave Lyra and be with you. You put on such a good act. Why didn't I realize before that you were such a good actress?"

Thalyx adjusted his clothes, preparing to squeeze into my carriage.