Since General Javien’s arrival, the atmosphere in the hall was no longer the same... and Olivia could feel that something was moving in a direction she could no longer stop.

Olivia felt uneasy... everything that was happening was completely different from what had happened in the novel.

Was it because I changed the storyline...?

But why a knight...?

Olivia paused, thinking. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, but her mind drifted, replaying everything that had happened.

"Olivia..."

Avelvion called out. But Olivia seemed lost in her own world, completely ignoring his voice. Avelvion frowned and stepped closer to her.

"Hey!"

he called again. His finger touched Olivia’s forehead, pushing lightly but enough to tilt her head back.

Olivia startled. Her eyes snapped back into focus. She fell silent. Her gaze shifted to the man standing in front of her. Shocked.

"Your Highness... what is it...?"

she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. Avelvion raised one eyebrow.

"I called you several times, and you didn’t respond..."

Avelvion said as he stepped back to his original spot.

"Oh... did you...? Sorry... my mind wandered for a moment,"

Olivia replied with an awkward grin. Avelvion gave no reaction. He simply stared at the girl beside him with a questioning look.

"Is it because of that man?"

he said, pointing toward Javien who stood still behind Ophilia. Olivia’s eyes widened as she quickly pushed Avelvion’s hand down.

"Are you crazy?!"

Olivia whispered sharply into his ear. Avelvion shrugged, completely unbothered.

"Your Highness, please behave,"

Olivia whispered while forcing a smile. The smile twitched, clearly showing her frustration at his sudden behavior.

Avelvion clicked his tongue softly. He rolled his eyes and stared at Olivia quietly.

"But it is, isn’t it?"

Avelvion asked again. This time his face turned serious as he looked toward Javien.

At the edge of their vision, Javien still hadn’t moved. But this time... he wasn’t just standing there.

His eyes were no longer fully focused on Ophilia. They shifted slightly. Toward them.

Just for a second. Enough for Olivia and Avelvion not to notice. But enough for someone like Javien.

As if... not a single word they had said escaped his hearing.

After Javien looked away again, Olivia felt a heavy breath leave her lungs. She didn’t even realize she had been holding it.

"Why do you look so pale?"

Avelvion asked, his voice lower this time, almost carrying a hint of concern he tried to hide.Olivia shook her head quickly.

"It’s nothing. I just feel... like something..."

Olivia wanted to escape, but Duke Herold’s next announcement stopped her in her tracks.

"And to celebrate this engagement, tonight we shall begin with the first dance!"

Duke Herold spoke proudly.

"Let us begin the first dance tonight with our special couple! Prince Avvion... please invite your fiancée, Lady Ophilia."

Ophilia, though her face was still slightly pale, tried to give the sweetest smile she could. She extended her delicate hand, waiting for Prince Avvion to take it in front of all the honored guests.

But the atmosphere that was supposed to be romantic suddenly turned tense.

The footsteps that echoed did not come from Prince Avvion. Instead, the sound came from behind Ophilia. Heavy iron boots cutting through the silence.

Javien.

Without caring for protocol, without even looking at Duke Herold, Javien walked past Ophilia who was still frozen with her hand extended. He headed straight toward the darker corner of the hall, directly toward Olivia and Avelvion.

Avelvion, who stood beside Olivia, immediately straightened his posture. His jaw tightened.

"General Javien... what are you..." Avelvion’s words were cut off when Javien stopped right in front of Olivia.

Javien did not kneel. He simply stood tall, his presence dominating, as if the hall was his battlefield. His violet eyes locked deeply into Olivia’s confused gaze.

"The first dance," Javien’s deep voice rang clearly through the silent hall.

"I want it with you, Lady Olivia."

The entire hall seemed to stop breathing. Duke Herold’s gaze sharpened, while Prince Avvion, standing beside the Emperor, began to show a reaction that was far from reassuring.

The black thread at Avvion’s wrist trembled violently, as if it could lash out at any moment. As if his emotions were no longer stable.

Olivia froze. She looked at Javien’s scarred hand, then at Ophilia, who had now become the center of attention for being "abandoned" by her own Knight.

"General... you are Ophilia’s Knight," Olivia whispered, her voice trembling.

"What are you doing?"

Javien leaned slightly closer, letting the faint scent of iron and blood wrap around her. As if he wanted to say something... but didn’t get the chance.

Avelvion.

Olivia stiffened. Suddenly her hand was pulled gently, and she was made to step forward. Olivia startled.

What is he doing?!

she thought, trying to pull her hand free. But the grip tightened, as if it had no intention of letting go. Once again... Olivia became the center of attention. She lowered her head. Embarrassed... embarrassed that she had ruined a ceremony that wasn’t meant for her.

But suddenly, Javien stopped.

Right in the middle of their path.

What is he doing now...

Olivia felt frustrated. She slowly lifted her head. But blank. Instead, she saw Avvion standing in front of Javien. His gaze was sharp... deep... as if he wanted to devour him whole. Yet Javien’s reaction did not change.

Olivia could feel thousands of eyes piercing into her back. She wanted to disappear, to become mist, but Javien’s broad figure in front of her blocked every possible escape.

"General Javien!" Duke Herold’s voice echoed, this time filled with warning.

"What is the meaning of this? You are Lady Ophilia’s personal Knight. Protocol states—"

"To hell with protocol,"

Javien cut in without even glancing at Duke Herold. His violet eyes remained locked onto Olivia’s pale face.

"I am here to protect Lady Ophilia, not to be a decorative dancer on a stage."

Javien stepped closer, forcing Olivia to lift her head higher.

"Your hand, Olivia. Give it to me,"

Javien said. His voice was not harsh, but it carried an authority that did not accept refusal.

Avelvion, who had been silent beside Olivia, finally lost his patience. He stepped forward, placing himself between them.

"You’ve gone too far, General," Avelvion hissed. His hand grabbed Javien’s sleeve.

"She’s not someone you can play around with in front of everyone. Show some respect."

Javien glanced at Avelvion’s hand gripping his sleeve. A faint, cold smile formed.

"Lord Avelvion... are you trying to protect something that isn’t yours?"

"ENOUGH!"

The sound of a glass shattering echoed from the center. Avvion stood upright, his once calm face now completely dark. Duke Herold watched him closely, as if analyzing something.

The black thread on his wrist trembled violently, as if black smoke was beginning to fill the air around him.

"General Javien Alistair de Valois,"

Avvion called, his voice calm, but every word felt like a blade.

"It seems you have spent too long on the battlefield that you have forgotten who holds absolute authority over this land."

Avvion began to walk toward them. Each step made the coldness in Olivia’s wrist intensify.

It felt as though the threads around her were pulling at her veins, as if they wanted to crush the bones in her hand.

Olivia clutched her chest. On her left was Avelvion, filled with anger. In front of her was Javien, demanding the dance. And from ahead... the real monster was coming to claim what was his.

I’m dead... at this rate, the story isn’t just changing, it’s completely destroyed!

Olivia whispered in her heart, overwhelmed with fear. Avvion stopped right in front of Javien. The entire hall fell silent. As if every sound had been forcibly suppressed.

"General... what have you learned on the battlefield?"

Avvion said calmly, yet sharply. Javien remained silent. He simply stared forward without meeting Avvion’s gaze.

Yet Javien did not move. Instead, his grip on Olivia’s hand tightened further.

Avvion raised an eyebrow.

To him, none of this really mattered. He simply didn’t like that one of his subordinates was causing chaos at his own engagement ceremony.

"General..." Avvion spoke again, this time almost like he was scolding a child.

"The first dance should be between me and Lady Ophilia. Why are you dragging Lady Olivia into the center of the hall?"

Olivia felt like fainting right there. Her face was burning red. She looked at Avelvion for help, but he looked like he was barely holding back laughter at the chaos unfolding.

"General, let go of my hand!"

Olivia whispered, trying to pull away politely, though internally she was screaming.

"Everyone is watching!"

Javien ignored her. He looked at Avvion with an unreadable expression, then glanced at Ophilia, who stood silently watching them.

"I do not see Lady Ophilia ready. So I decided to begin the dance with the one most worthy."

"Worthy?" Duke Herold cut in, clearly displeased.

"Lady Olivia is merely Ophilia’s personal attendant tonight, General!"

Javien lowered his head slightly, his lips close to Olivia’s ear, ignoring everyone watching them.

"Close the window before you sleep... because I know you’re planning to run, Olivia. And this dance? This is my warning."

Olivia froze. So Javien dragged her here not just to make a scene, but to tell her that. As if it was something extremely important to him. Olivia raised an eyebrow slightly.

Huh? What does that even have to do with anything...?

she thought. Then, the man who had been watching from afar finally stepped forward.

"General..."

the Emperor spoke sharply. His face remained calm, as if none of this had disturbed him. Javien slowly lifted his head.

"Who stands above you?" the Emperor asked calmly.

Javien did not answer. He simply looked toward Duke Herold in the distance.

"Duke Herold... is this the man you are so confident in to training?" the Emperor said, glancing at him. Their eyes met briefly.

"My apologies, Your Majesty... it seems he has become too..." before he could finish, the Emperor cut him off.

"Disgraceful."

He said coldly, turning his gaze back to Javien.

"The conduct of a knight reflects the conduct of his master," the Emperor added, his eyes now fixed on Duke Herold. Duke Herold’s fingers slowly curled into fists. His blood surged. His jaw tightened.

Duke Herold took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger rising within him. He looked at Javien, then at Olivia, still held in his grasp.

"Forgive my knight’s carelessness, Your Majesty,"

Duke Herold said, his voice heavy, as if swallowing thorns.

"It seems General Javien has been a little too... enthusiastic in ensuring the safety of this hall, to the point he has forgotten protocol."

The Duke stepped closer, his gaze sharp on Javien’s hand gripping Olivia’s wrist.

"General... release Lady Olivia now. And as punishment for this disruption, you will face consequences after the ceremony."

Javien slowly released his grip. Olivia immediately pulled her hand back, her heart pounding wildly.

But before stepping away, Javien glanced at Duke Herold with a meaningful look, as if the punishment meant nothing to him.

Olivia stepped back, standing beside Avelvion, who now looked at her with an unreadable expression.

"You..."

Avelvion whispered softly.

"What exactly is your relationship with that General, Olivia?"

Olivia did not answer. She could only stare at the dark red thread on her wrist, now no longer trembling, as if it had already fulfilled its purpose for the night.

At the far end of the hall, Prince Avvion was still watching... and his black thread... not just his, but Duke Herold’s as well... trembling violently...

This is only the beginning of this story’s destruction...

Olivia whispered in her heart, filled with unease.