Chapter 27
“Oh my, you look dazzlingly beautiful.”
Dana murmured as she gently brushed my hair.
“Thank you,”
I replied half-heartedly, staring at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror.
The pink dress I wore revealed my neck and shoulders and flowed gracefully toward the floor. Soon, a white cape was draped over my body, covering the glamorous dress.
I watched Dana through the full-length mirror as she placed a tiara on my head and played with my hair.
When she dabbed a bit of blush on my cheeks, a soft rosy glow returned to my face.
“You’re already beautiful, but all dressed up like this… you look like a doll. Anyone who sees you now would fall in love at first sight,” Dana said with such confidence.
She looked like she might get upset if I disagreed, so I just gave a faint smile and nodded.
Then I turned back to my reflection.
My long silver hair cascaded down to my waist. A tiara rested on top, with a wedding veil flowing beneath it.
It was the typical image of a bride—but the face reflected in the mirror looked anything but happy.
I should probably look a little more excited.
I have to act like a bride who’s thrilled to be marrying Alex today.
That way, no one will suspect a thing.
Forcing the corners of my mouth up into a smile, I was trying to look overjoyed when—
Bang! The door burst open.
“Sis, are you ready?”
Rachel’s bright voice rang out as she entered.
“I knew it. With your silver hair and pale skin, now with that white cape too… you kind of look like a ghost. Honestly, I’m worried,”
Rachel said, scanning me from head to toe with a dramatic sigh.
In the Bertha Empire, tradition dictates that the bride’s dress remain hidden from the groom until the wedding vows are exchanged. It’s meant to symbolize the bride being reborn as she removes the outer garment in front of her groom.
Why only the bride, though? What about the groom?
I didn’t care much about this custom, but today, I was counting on it working in my favor.
“Really? You look pretty today,”
I said, smiling slowly as I looked at Rachel in her flashy pink dress.
“Do I? Honestly, I was worried since your fashion sense isn’t the best. But this dress suits me surprisingly well. I guess it’s not about the design—it’s about who wears it, right?”
“Yeah, Rachel. You make it look good.”
When I gave her the answer she wanted, a satisfied smile spread across her lips.
“I mean, what if I outshine the bride? But don’t worry too much. You look okay, too.”
Rachel said, patting my shoulder like she was being generous.
I noticed Dana gripping her pearl comb tightly beside me.
“Wow, it’s already that late? I should touch up my makeup and hair a bit. See you later.”
Rachel waved and left the bride’s room.
I watched the door she exited through and smiled faintly.
Go on and enjoy your last celebration. That bright, blooming smile of yours ends today.
I reached into the pocket of my cape and tightly clutched the round crystal inside.
Bang!
Suddenly, the door burst open again, without warning.
Thinking it was Rachel again, I turned—only to see some very familiar faces.
A middle-aged woman with elegantly pinned red hair.
And her maids standing on either side.
Tsk.
The woman at the front looked me up and down with obvious displeasure and clicked her tongue.
It was Lady Wade, the Baroness and Alex’s mother.
“Well, why are you just sitting there staring?”
“You should be bowing your head respectfully to your future mother-in-law, Lady Aselin.”
The women beside her chimed in.
Despite the difference in our social ranks, they spoke to me as if I were beneath them.
Dana clenched her fists as I quietly stared at the Baroness.
“What kind of disgrace is this? You see your future mother-in-law and don’t even bother to get up and greet her? Must I teach you even the most basic manners?”
The Baroness narrowed her eyes and started scolding me in earnest.
“You’re so skinny—how will you ever bear children? Listen carefully. Our family line is very precious. You must give us heirs quickly.”
Her eyes raked over my body without any attempt to hide her distaste.
[What kind of woman can’t even get pregnant like everyone else? Be honest. You knew you were barren and married him anyway, didn’t you? Just wait. I’ll sue you for fraud and kick you out of this house for good. You thieving little stray who stole my son!]
Hearing the same words I’d been tormented with in my past life… even now.
That temper of hers hasn’t changed one bit.
A crazy old woman who vents her frustration through nagging.
I wasn’t the broken one—your son was.
Lifting the corners of my lips, I replied,
“That’s what I’m worried about, too. If he wants to have an heir, he must act like a man.
“…What did you just say?”
The Baroness frowned, then looked at her companions in disbelief.
Her maids quickly jumped in to scold me.
“She must be nervous because of the wedding. That’s probably why she’s talking nonsense. I don’t think we can have a proper conversation, so why don’t you leave now? We can save the daughter-in-law training for later.”
With a heavy sigh, the baroness glared at me with a look that said, “Just you wait.”
As soon as they left the waiting room, silence fell like a storm had just passed.
Dana looked toward the door and spoke angrily.
“How could the baroness act like that? And those maids with her—they’re just barons’ wives! How dare they speak like that to a noble lady like you without even showing proper respect!”
“There’s no point getting upset. They wouldn’t listen anyway. The ceremony is about to start. Shall we go?”
“Yes, my lady!”
Dana quickly opened the waiting room door, and I walked out calmly.
The virgin road was covered in a red carpet, and the stage was overflowing with luxurious rose decorations.
Standing behind the stage, I looked out at the guest seats, which were also filled with red roses.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, and the strong scent of roses made me wrinkle my nose.
I turned my head and noticed delicate bluish-purple petals fluttering in a hidden corner.
Hyacinths? Who put those there? There shouldn’t be anything back there except a storage area for equipment.
I looked up at the large clock hanging in the center of the hall.
About ten minutes until the wedding. I turned around and started walking toward the path with the hyacinths.
As I got closer, the sweet scent of the flowers grew stronger, enough to overpower the roses.
Smiling warmly, I gently touched the soft petals of the hyacinths.
I followed the flower path and soon reached the deepest part of the hall.
Then, suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
“Oh my, Baron, you really decorated the whole hall with roses, didn’t you?”
“I wanted to show that this wedding with Aselline is nothing but a shell. It means nothing. You’re my only love, Rachel.”
“…Are you sure you won’t forget me even after marrying my sister?”
Rachel’s teary voice.
“My love for you will never fade. It burns like lava—forever.”
Their dramatic lines sounded like something out of a bad play. So touching, I almost cried—out of nausea.
I turned to leave, feeling sick, when I saw Alex stepping forward.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, eyes wide in shock.
“What’s wrong, Baron?” Rachel, following him, spoke up.
Then her eyes slowly moved toward me and met mine.
She didn’t look very surprised. Her stare seemed to say:
Still don’t get it? He’s always been mine.
I looked at her messy hair, then at Alex’s loosened pants, and smiled.
“I saw the hyacinths and came over. So this is where you two were.”
“Ah… Did you like the flowers? I remembered you liked hyacinths, so I prepared them for you,” Alex said, now acting smug.
Looking at the humble hyacinths compared to the sea of roses in the hall, I smiled sweetly and said.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
If you want to support the translation and the translator, you can buy a coffee~
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