Chapter 8
The long-awaited day that Rita had meticulously and perfectly prepared for her son’s wedding had arrived. Having finished her preparations early, she opened the door to the bridal waiting room with eager anticipation.
In the middle of the room hung the specially commissioned wedding dress, so exquisite and splendid that even the crown princess of the empire would find it fitting. Made from the finest silk, the dress was densely embroidered with pink-tinted silver thread in floral patterns. Rita, with a satisfied smile, gently caressed the wedding dress as if it were fragile and might break at the slightest touch.
“The day has finally come to wear this dress.”
Rita had ordered the wedding dress a year in advance, specifically requesting the pink-tinted silver embroidery. She also prepared lavish accessories, spending two years gathering rare pink diamonds. All these preparations were to welcome Sophia’s daughter, Rachel Burke, as her daughter-in-law.
After meticulously inspecting the wedding dress and accessories, Rita muttered with satisfaction, “Perfect. It will be a grand wedding that no one will forget.”
She glanced out the window, pleased with the gardeners who were diligently watering the garden. The gardeners thought she was putting her all into her son’s wedding, following the duchess’s meticulous instructions to carefully water each rose petal. A chilling smile formed on Rita’s lips.
“Prepare yourself, dear. Today, you will look like the biggest and most insignificant pink dustball in the world…”
The intense midday sunlight would make the droplets of water on the rose petals sparkle like lights. This would cause the pink-tinted silver thread to shimmer and turn the white wedding dress pink. The red carpet on the garden’s road, covered in blooming red roses, would add to the effect. The bride, with her long pink hair, would walk down this road. Dressed in a pink wedding dress and adorned with numerous pink diamonds, the bride’s appearance would be the epitome of tackiness, evoking laughter from anyone who saw her.
Guests would murmur among themselves, “The Edmond family’s daughter-in-law seems quite lacking.”
“The wedding dress and accessories were top-notch, but she looks like a horse with a silver saddle.”
“No matter how much money you spend, you can’t erase a humble origin.”
Rita was ecstatic just imagining it. ‘Sophia, today I will gift your daughter with the ultimate humiliation. Please accept my gift with joy.’
If someone hadn’t spoken to Rita, she might have spent the entire day giggling in the bridal waiting room.
“Madam, I’ll bring in the maids to assist you with your preparations.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Rita, returning to her stern demeanor, nodded to the head maid, who then ushered in the maids. After confirming each of their faces, Rita reminded the head maid firmly.
“Under no circumstances should you veil the bride. Understood?”
“Yes, madam.”
“And from now on, refer to me as ‘Great Madam’ and the bride as ‘Little Madam.’”
“Yes, Great Madam.”
Satisfied with the head maid’s prompt correction of the titles, Rita nodded approvingly and left the room. ‘The title of Duchess of Edmond must always be mine. I can’t let Sophia’s daughter take it.’
—
A few minutes later, upon entering the bridal waiting room, my eyes were immediately drawn to the splendid wedding dress. I also noticed the maids lined up on either side and the head maid with a meaningful expression.
“I am Head Maid Joanna. I will assist you with your bath, Little Madam.”
“Wait a moment…”
As I called the head maid with a troubled look, she too approached with a concerned expression.
“What is the matter…?”
“I still feel unwell and would like to use the restroom first. Where is it?”
“This way, Little Madam.”
“Thank you, Joanna.”
I sensed Joanna flinch. She had likely never been addressed by her name by her superiors before, which must have been surprising. I was equally taken aback. My plan to sneak into the bridal waiting room last night and ruin the wedding dress had failed. I had underestimated how thorough Rita was. She had stationed guards outside the bridal waiting room all night to protect the dress she had prepared with all her might.
Consequently, I had to come up with another plan, spending a sleepless night to devise a backup plan. Using my previous seasickness as an excuse, I decided to hide the equipment I had prepared in the safest place in the bridal waiting room—the restroom.
When I emerged from the restroom with a still uneasy expression, the maids rushed to assist me.
“Hurry and help Little Madam undress.”
“Yes, Head Maid.”
In no time, the dress was removed, and I was immersed in the bathtub. Each maid focused on their tasks, massaging my limbs to relieve fatigue and applying oil to soften my skin. They meticulously washed my pink hair, poured fragrant oil over it, and carefully combed it to prevent tangling.
“Think of it as the last luxury.”
After the bath, the maids’ hands moved even faster to prepare for the full-fledged dressing. I, too, moved quickly, although I appeared relaxed as if I were not a bride about to get married.
“What is your name?”
“M-Mary, Little Madam.”
“Mary, could you get me some water? I’m parched from the long bath.”
“Yes, Little Madam.”
I made a point to remember the names of the maids and called them by name whenever I asked for something, smiling kindly at them.
They must have been bewildered. They had heard that their Little Madam was the daughter of a baron from the outskirts, yet she appeared more dignified and elegant than any noble lady. Their wariness towards their new mistress quickly melted away.
“Little Madam, your skin is so smooth and lovely.”
“Thank you, Mary.”
“Your pink hair is so charming; you look just like a doll.”
“A doll, you say? Thank you, Jane.”
The bridal waiting room was filled with warmth as I acknowledged and responded to the maids’ customary compliments. It was a rare sight that could never have been imagined in my previous life. ‘It was this easy,’ I thought. Just by calling them by their names and engaging in small talk, they would remember Rachel Burke as a bright and positive person. Indeed, the first impression is the most important in human interactions.
—
The usually quiet and even desolate Edmond Ducal residence was bustling today. Guests gathered to celebrate the Duke of Edmond’s wedding, though many were likely there out of curiosity. The place was filled with people eager to enjoy the lavish wedding and feast on delicacies akin to those at a royal banquet. Despite this, Rita was doing her utmost to host the guests.
“Congratulations on the Duke of Edmond’s wedding.”
“Thank you for coming, Madam.”
“If one didn’t know better, they might think the Duchess herself is the bride.”
“Oh ho ho, you’re too kind.”
It was true that Rita was dressed unusually extravagantly for a mother sending off her son. Her luxurious silver dress reflected the sunlight, giving it a bridal gown-like appearance. Her courteous and warm responses to each guest seemed out of character to Susan and Stella.
“Sister, Mother seems to be in an exceptionally good mood, don’t you think?”
“She must be very pleased with the new daughter-in-law.”
Susan’s indifferent response prompted Stella to ask in surprise, “Mother likes sister-in-law?”
“She did personally choose her, after all.”
“That may be true, but…”
Even Stella, naive about worldly matters, knew that her mother was not fond of the new daughter-in-law.
“Let’s just go to our seats.”
“Okay, Sister.”
After Rita had thoroughly greeted all the guests and took her seat, the sound of trumpets signaled the beginning of the ceremony.
“Presenting Duke Stefan Edmond.”
He walked in proudly and majestically, like the deity worshipped by the Merwin Empire. The exceptionally bright day made his silver hair shimmer even more, and the golden embroidery on his white tuxedo enhanced his appearance.
While the guests were admiring the groom’s good looks, the music signaling the bride’s entrance began to play. With no prior information about the bride, the guests’ curiosity and anticipation were at their peak.
“Presenting Miss Rachel Burke.”
The guests at the tables craned their necks and turned their bodies to catch a glimpse of the bride, causing a commotion.
“Oh my…”
“My goodness…”
Here and there, suspicious sighs and murmurs were heard. Rita, anticipating this reaction, wore a leisurely smile and lowered her gaze.
“My, isn’t that the style currently in vogue on the continent of Huayue?”
But then, someone among the guests mentioned the word “style.” Talking about style for a bride who was supposed to look like a pink dustball—how absurd.
Rita, squinting to get a clear view of Rachel, suddenly had her face twist in confusion.
‘What on earth is going on?’
