The Wedding hall shone with brilliance.
Lanterns blazed, music soared, and laughter rippled through the Shade estate. Guests cheered as Rheia, radiant in her wedding gown, stood at the altar beside her groom.
Leo found himself among the crowd, smiling despite himself. It was beautiful... almost too beautiful.
His sister's violet eyes glittered with joy, her hand nestled in her husband's as they leaned forward for the kiss of promise.
The hall erupted with applause. For one fleeting instant, Leo's heart felt light.
Then—steel flashed.
A sword erupted from her husband's back, the blade sliding through him with sickening grace. His lips, inches from Rheia's, spilled blood instead of vows.
Gasps tore through the hall. Applause turned to screams.
The groom collapsed at Rheia's feet. Her white gown darkened as crimson spread across it, but she did not scream.
She simply stared at her husband's corpse, her joy hollowing into something sharp and unrecognizable.
The torches flickered, then burned with colorless flame. Shadows stretched too long. The banners of House Shade bled crimson threads that crawled like veins across the walls.
The music warped into wails. Bells rang in the distance. No, not bells but... screams.
Above them, the sun dimmed as vast wings swallowed the sky. A wyvern or something worse descended, its roar collapsing the very ceiling of the hall.
Leo tried to move, to call her name, but his throat was dry, his legs heavy as stone.
Rheia knelt at the altar, but something was wrong; her violet eyes were pale and lifeless. She was dying.
Knights knelt faceless before him, armor cracking open, black water spilling out instead of blood.
Beyond them, the cradle meant for her unborn child shattered into splinters, spilling shadows across the floor.
Through it all, Rheia raised her bloodied hands toward Leo, her voice breaking.
"Leo… run… away..."
The world fractured into silence.
And Leo woke, gasping, drenched in cold sweat.
***
"Haa… haa… haa…"
Leo gulped for breath, his chest heaving.
'What the hell was that?'
"It felt… way too real."
He fell back against the soft bed, forcing himself to calm down.
"It was just a dream. Yeah… a nightmare, that's all."
Dragging himself up, he stretched. His arms still felt foreign, like they didn't quite belong to him.
"I can't be late for Big Sis's big day."
But when he looked out the window, his blood ran cold. The sun wasn't rising; it was already high, close to midday.
"…No way."
'Fucking hell, why didn't anyone wake me up?'
He threw open the door, searching for a maid or a servant. Not a soul in sight.
"This is messed up."
It didn't take a genius to see what was happening. Being late to his sister's wedding was the perfect way to paint him as irresponsible. Easy prey for criticism.
In aristocratic families, this kind of sabotage wasn't uncommon. Succession always left knives in the dark.
Rheia may have been named family head, but she had declared that Leo would inherit the title once he turned nineteen. That alone was enough to breed resentment.
Even yesterday, none of the staff had come to greet him. He'd brushed it off. Now, it was obvious there was more behind it.
Shaking his head, Leo muttered, "Doesn't matter. I just need to make it in time."
***
The great hall of House Shade was alive with splendor. Crystal chandeliers bathed the crowd in golden light, while petals rained down from above as Rheia Shade, regal in her bridal gown, walked slowly toward the altar.
Her violet eyes, however, were not fixed on the groom who waited for her—no, they searched the crowd, scanning every row with growing worry.
"Where is he?" she whispered under her breath, her smile never faltering for the guests.
Around her, murmurs rose.
"How shameful. The little brother hasn't even shown his face…"
"A brat like him is unworthy of Lady Rheia's protection."
"Perhaps he overslept? Tch. Disgraceful."
Servants at the back snickered behind their sleeves, their laughter soft but sharp enough to cut.
Rheia's grip tightened on her bouquet, but she said nothing. She had to keep walking, step by step, even as a chill gnawed at her heart.
Then, the heavy doors of the hall burst open.
A line of knights strode in, armored boots striking the marble like drums of war. At their head was Jaren, the commander of shade knights, his voice ringing out with authority:
"On this sacred day, we pledge our lives in service to Lady Rheia of House Shade!"
Behind him, walking with steady steps despite the whispers and stares, was Leo. His white hair caught the sunlight pouring through the doorway, his violet eyes locked on his sister.
The murmurs died instantly.
Leo stopped before Rheia, placing his hand over his chest. His voice carried, steady and solemn:
"On the name of the Goddess of Skies and Dreams, I vow this. I will try my best, no matter what it takes, to become the best uncle in the world for your child."
The hall fell silent.
For a heartbeat, the mask of the head of House Shade slipped, and Rheia's eyes softened. A radiant smile broke through her composure, a smile that belonged not to a noble, not to a bride, but to a sister.
"…Thank you, Leo."
The priest smiled warmly as he spoke.
"Such a great bond between these siblings."
Everyone who heard those words could only nod.
It was clear: when Commander Jaren led the knights to pledge loyalty to Lady Rheia, it was more than formality. It was an open declaration, asking her to be their lord.
And when Leo swore, in the name of the Goddess of Skies and Dreams, to be the best uncle for her child, it was a subtle proclamation that her child would inherit the headship of House Shade.
A hidden play.
The nobles saw it instantly. Some were impressed, some sneered, but none could deny its weight.
Rheia resumed her walk down the aisle, her smile calm, her steps regal. Meanwhile, Leo leaned slightly toward Jaren and murmured, his voice cold.
"After the ceremony, quietly eliminate those dogs who dare bite their master."
Jaren and the knights gave the smallest nod in reply.
Leo wasn't interested in games of succession. But unless he made his stance clear, petty schemes would always cling to him like flies. Today, in full view of nobles and servants alike, his message was carved into stone.
His gaze wandered across the guests until it settled on the groom, Ivan Pezz. Brown hair, sharp features, striking blue eyes. Handsome enough—but to Leo, he was far below the standard of his sister.
'Tch, love blinds even the sharpest eyes.'
But then his breath caught.
'Now that I think about it, this is the first time I've seen him in person… wait!'
A chill spread down his spine.
'Then how… how the hell did I imagine his face so clearly in my dream?'
The world seemed to slow. The priest's words blurred. Nobles' chatter and laughter faded into silence.
Sweat gathered on Leo's forehead, his heartbeat pounding like war drums in his ears.
The priest raised his hands, solemnly announcing:
"Now, bride and groom shall seal your vow with the kiss of promise."
Leo's head snapped toward Jaren. His voice thundered across the hall:
"Jaren! Throw your spear behind the groom. Now!"
Without hesitation, Jaren obeyed. His spear sang through the air as Rheia leaned in and pressed her lips to Ivan's.
BANG!
A thunderous crash shook the hall, followed by a piercing scream.
The newlyweds broke apart in confusion, their bodies spattered with blood. Not their own.
All eyes turned to the source. A man lay writhing on the ground, Jaren's spear impaled through his chest. In his dying hand glimmered a dagger—its tip meant for Ivan's back.
Before relief could even settle, the deep, dreadful clang of the city defense bells erupted.
Dong… Dong… Dong…
The walls trembled. The chandeliers above rattled violently. Guests screamed as the Shade estate itself seemed to quake.
Leo's violet eyes widened in horror, breath catching in his throat.
"So the nightmare… was real."