Then I was able to see warm green eyes smiling at me.
“I hope I can be of some help.”
It was the boy priest who had handed Erica some warm tea earlier.
“Si, priest?”
He was taking off the cloak of the priest’s uniform he was wearing and covering it for the girl.
“I think it would be a good idea to keep it on for a little while.”
“Oh, no! What if I wear this, priest? I’m sorry. What should I do? “I’ll give it back to you.”
This was when Erica shook her head with an embarrassed face and was hurriedly trying to take off her priest’s uniform.
The corner of the boy priest’s mouth gently curled up.
“I’m fine. Please don’t hesitate. If you are sick, there are many people to worry about. If you really like it, why not go inside and return it? “I’m strong, so that’s enough.”
He smiled again with his eyes closed. At that sight, Erica lost her gaze for a moment.
‘… … He’s kind.’
For some reason, my heart tingled at the consideration I received for the first time.
Erica stopped trying to take off her priest uniform.
It would be unreasonable to decline again and again. And since I learned that true noble ladies do not feel uncomfortable with consideration and favor, but naturally accept it, humility once would have been enough.
“Then, with gratitude, I will borrow it for a moment.”
“It would be my greatest honor if you would do so.”
Instead, I gave him a brief nod to express my gratitude.
And at that moment, I heard the sound of hands clapping together, saying, ‘Clap!’
It was the old priest.
“Now please go into the chapel.”
Everyone nodded at his recommendation.
Anyway, there was no time either way.
Sebastian stood next to Erica.
Sebastian glanced at the coat draped over Erica’s shoulders, then withdrew his gaze.
“Go in.”
“… … “Yes, Archduke.”
Although they did not hold hands, the two began to walk in unison.
* * *
After entering the chapel, Erica took off the clothes she was wearing and immediately returned them to the boy priest.
“thanked. “Thanks to you, it was warm.”
“I regretted what would have happened if I had given it a little earlier, but I am very happy that it helped.”
Erica smiled at the boy priest and then looked forward again.
It was a place where a wedding would soon be held, but the interior was very empty.
There were no guests, and decorations such as flowers or badges were omitted.
‘Maybe that’s why it feels colder.’
That was when Erica slightly shrugged her shoulders.
Sebastian, who had already taken the seat next to her again, spoke in a low voice.
“egg plant. “I have to finish it quickly.”
“Yes, Archduke.”
Erica answered nervously at his blunt attitude.
The two people standing side by side in front of the podium prayed to the god together.
“Do you two become husband and wife and promise to always be together?”
Sebastian and Erika answered ‘yes’ at the same time without thinking too much. It was a truly dry answer.
After hearing Sebastian and Erika’s answers, the old priest took out three pieces of paper. The documents proving marriage all contained the same information.
“Now then, will you both sign the marriage certificate?”
“I promise.”
“I swear, too.”
Unlike Sebastian, who wrote in cursive letters with a fancy signature, Erica spelled things clearly.
For this too, I was thoroughly trained for several days by the Marquis. To prevent any doubts that may arise in the future.
Erica’s handwriting was very neat, as if it appeared in a handwriting textbook used by children who are just beginning to learn letters.
That also meant that the name the girl used did not contain Erica’s personality or characteristics.
‘Is this enough?’
After signing a total of three pieces of paper, the old priest collected them as if he had been waiting.
“This marriage certificate with the signatures of the two people will be sent to the imperial palace for notarization and then sent back to each family.”
Sebastian nodded first as if he agreed, and Erica followed suit a beat later.
“With this, the marriage of Sebastian Acliffe and Erica Blanche was concluded.”
The ceremony ended too quickly.
This was because they decided to skip the most important final ritual.
The two people who became a married couple had to perform a ceremony to mix each other’s blood in the sense that they were now one soul, but Sebastian and Erika were unable to do so because they were minors.
So, the adults of both families discussed in advance that the ceremony would be held separately after both parties had their coming-of-age ceremony.
“Okay then, please wait a moment.”
The priest left for a moment.
At that time, Sebastian muttered quietly as if it were a passing comment.
“But it’s surprising.”
“yes? “What?”
Only Erica looked back at him, and Sebastian’s eyes were still facing forward as if nails were stuck in them.
“There are circumstances here, but I didn’t know that even the Marquis Blanche would not participate in the ceremony.”
“ah… … .”
Erica trailed off slightly.
“I heard that she is very pampered because she is the only daughter of no man… … . “With such a father, why didn’t she attend her only daughter’s wedding?”
“ah… … . that… … .”
That’s because I’m not your real daughter.
Erica swallowed her sleep and thought to herself.
However, since I couldn’t tell the whole situation honestly, I spoke out the answer I had prepared in advance.
“Your father is sick right now.”
His face, which was still looking straight ahead, moved slowly.
Erica’s image was captured in red eyes full of sharp light.
“… … “The Marquis?”
Sebastian frowned and then raised an eyebrow.
Erica nodded and opened her mouth as if to instill faith in him.
“yes. I must have eaten oysters by mistake recently and I am severely dehydrated… … .”
My conscience was troubled because I felt like I was lying. However, there was no choice but to continue talking.
If I met Sebastian, it was obvious that I would be asked this question. So he practiced the answers he had to give hundreds and thousands of times before coming here.
“He wanted to attend, but he was worried about me so I stopped him. Huh, no. “My father also felt very sad.”
After finishing the words she had practiced, Erica pursed her lips tightly.
Lying wasn’t her nature. So it would have been unnatural for her to open her mouth any further, and doing so would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Not only for Sebastian, but also for BonPiju, who was sitting not far behind.
Since accepting the role of a fake bride, the girl’s every move has been monitored by Bonpiju, the marquis’ maid. It will be the same in the future.
‘You can’t get caught for nothing. Let’s be careful about our actions and be careful. I’ll have to do that, but it will make her mom a little bit safer.’
But I had no intention of continuing to lie.
Unless you’re a professional actor, your lies are bound to be obvious, and if that happens, you’ll get caught in the eyes of Sebastian.
‘Then, it will definitely be revealed someday.’
That’s why Erica had already made up her mind to have a conversation with Sebastian.
‘But that’s not the place. ‘Because there are too many eyes watching here.’
She pretended to be Erica Blanche for only 10 years. There was enough time that it felt like a long time ago.
‘There will definitely be a chance for the two of us to be alone.’
So let’s spare words for now.
After secretly making up her mind, the girl glanced sideways and looked at Sebastian.
He was looking straight ahead again, but for some reason he had a thoughtful expression on his face.
“The Marquis is sick… … .”
He crossed his arms and tapped his forearm with the tip of his index finger as he pondered what he was saying.
It didn’t seem very believable.
But he couldn’t ask Erica any other questions.
This was because Noh Shin-gwan, who had left for a while holding the marriage pledge, came back in front of the two people.
“Thank you for waiting.”
In his hand was a tray with two small silver glasses on it.
The old minister quietly placed what he had brought down on the podium.
“Okay, now all that remains is the last ritual of the day.”
