Chapter 28
“Hyacinths aren’t as flashy as roses, but their sweet scent travels far.”
I finished my sentence and looked at Rachel.
Why was the hyacinth placed in such a hidden corner? Why had those two shown up just as the flower’s aroma had drawn me here?
I had a feeling none of this was a coincidence.
Rachel looked satisfied, as if she had achieved her goal, smiling constantly.
I turned my gaze away from her, hiding my emotions.
“It’s almost time for the ceremony, so I’ll head over first.”
“What are you talking about? You should go with me. I am your soon-to-be husband, after all.”
Alex shamelessly offered me his arm.
I forced myself to keep a straight face and gently placed my gloved hand on his arm.
We stood side by side, about to walk toward the wedding arch, when—
“Sis, wait a second!”
Rachel came running with the hyacinth she had pulled from the pot.
Soil spilled everywhere around the ruined flowerpot.
“This decoration looks too plain. Here, putting this flower in your hair might help.”
Rachel snapped the stem, threw it away, and stuck the hyacinth flower in my hair.
“How do I look? Isn’t she beautiful, Baron?”
“Hmm, very graceful. It suits her well.”
While Alex gave a half-hearted compliment, I turned to look at my reflection in the glass.
With the flower on the side of my head, I looked like a madwoman.
Fine. If things have come to this—
I’ll dance like a lunatic if I must.
Smiling sweetly, I said, “Thanks, but look at you. Your ribbon’s all undone.”
Then I grabbed the ends of the ribbon around Rachel’s waist and yanked hard.
“Ugh— Sis, that hurts!”
Rachel bit her lower lip and glared at me.
“If you want to seduce a man, you need to endure at least this much. Don’t you agree?”
“Seducing a man? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Oh my, do you really not know? There’s a saying that if a bridesmaid doesn’t get married within three months, she’ll stay single forever.”
“That’s ridiculous. Do you still believe in those old superstitions?”
“It’s not just a superstition. Remember Lady Julian, who was a bridesmaid two years ago? She hasn’t had a single proposal since. And last year’s bridesmaids—Juvia, Laura, Selace… who else?”
As I counted names on my fingers, Rachel’s eyes widened in panic.
It was only natural—those names were all women who’d had their marriage prospects dry up.
Whether or not they were really bridesmaids, I had no idea.
“Who knows? Maybe today you’ll meet your soulmate.”
I smiled and lightly patted Rachel’s shoulder.
Her eyes narrowed in anger.
Just as she was about to say something, the wedding bells rang.
“Well then, I’ll count on you to do your bridesmaid duties.”
Rachel turned away, pretending not to hear me.
As she moved to the waiting area, I walked toward the wedding arch with Alex.
We stopped in front of a full-length mirror, and Alex suddenly wiped his lips in surprise.
“Oh no, did I spill fruit juice or something?”
He kept mumbling excuses while rubbing his mouth.
Seeing the red lipstick stain on his hand, I smirked.
Fooling around with another woman right before the wedding?
What a damn mutt.
I looked at him with disgust and thought about the past.
In our previous life, we barely had a handful of intimate nights in two whole years.
He always went limp like a popped balloon and failed miserably.
And even on the rare successful nights, it was never in bed—always in odd places like gardens, empty rooms, or quiet hallways.
I let out a sigh.
This man, my husband in that life, could only function when under extreme pressure. He was basically impotent.
Yet he had the nerve to tell me I wasn’t attractive enough and to try wearing perfume or dressing sexier.
I cursed him in my head and gave him a sweet, fake smile.
Our eyes met, and he held my hand tightly, giving me a cheesy look that seemed to say:
“I love you too.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, the ceremony will now begin.”
At the announcer’s words, I began walking toward the wedding arch.
Aselin and Alex stood before a wedding arch decorated with red roses.
Behind them, Rachel looked proudly at the arch before glancing at the full crowd of guests.
Then—
Gasp.
Her breath caught in her throat.
He stood out from every other man—tall, with soft black hair and blood-red eyes.
It was Prince Claude, whose beauty could make anyone stop breathing just by looking at him.
…Why is Prince Claude here?
Rachel blinked in surprise.
Alex was known to support the Second Prince, so there was no reason for Claude to attend this wedding.
…Could he be here to see me?
Her heart fluttered at the thought.
At that moment, Prince Claude briefly met her gaze—then immediately looked away.
Rachel followed his line of sight and tilted her head.
His eyes were locked onto Aselin.
He watched her every movement with an intense stare, almost obsessively.
Rachel’s lips curled in suspicion.
Aselin must have done something to offend him.
Why else would he stare at her like that?
Trying to suppress her jealousy, Rachel glared at Aselin’s back.
“The groom will now enter.”
After a dull opening speech, the announcer’s voice rang out again.
Alex confidently walked down the aisle, soaking in the guests’ attention.
He stood tall at the altar, looking at Aselin with pride.
“The bride will now enter.”
Aselin held her bouquet and began walking the long aisle.
Rachel followed behind, scattering red petals.
Aselin’s silver hair gleamed under the light, and her face was as delicate as a lily.
The guests buzzed in admiration.
Rachel pouted. She was used to being the center of attention, and it annoyed her to be ignored.
She glanced at Prince Claude again—and blinked in surprise.
His red eyes still hadn’t left Aselin.
They burned with a deep intensity.
It didn’t look like he hated her. In fact, it almost looked like…
Was he obsessed?
His gaze lingered on her flowing silver hair, then on her face.
Rachel frowned, glancing between them.
Why is he looking at Aselin like that? … Don’t tell me—no way. He rejected me, the most beautiful woman around, and now he’s interested in her?
Rachel shook her head, refusing to believe it.
She glanced again—this time seeing him frown in apparent disgust.
See? I knew I misunderstood. He probably hates her.
Poor Aselin.
Rachel’s mood improved.
Watching Aselin and Alex stand side by side at the altar, she stepped back with a pleased smile.
“We now bless the union of these two people—not just as a marriage of love, but as a bond of soul under the grace of the god Bertha…”
The high priest began the sacred vows in a solemn tone.
Soon, he looked at the groom.
“Do you, Alex Wade, promise to love only your bride as your soul’s companion?”
“Yes! I promise.”
Alex held Aselin’s hand more tightly.
The priest turned to Aselin next.
“And do you, Aselin Rondinella, promise to love and serve only your groom as your soul’s companion?”
But no answer came.
Silence stretched.
The priest awkwardly cleared his throat and repeated the question.
“No.”
Aselin answered firmly and shook off Alex’s hand.
She pulled a crystal orb from her cape pocket and raised it to her lips.
Without hesitation, she pressed the button on the orb.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
If you want to support the translation and the translator, you can buy a coffee~
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
