The Male Lead’s Father Refuses to Break Off Our Engagement

Chapter 63

 

“The best story is that we meet at a party and develop feelings for each other, but this is difficult since I haven’t been active in social circles for a while.”

“Yes.”

“So here are my thoughts.”

“……?”

“The Duke visited the Count’s residence to do business with the Count Venion, and when you saw me, he fell in love at first sight.”

Cassis’ reaction in the ‘at first sight’ part was subtle. Perhaps he was thinking about his first real meeting with Evelia.

Evelia added awkwardly.

“Forget now what I said about breaking off the engagement. Now, focus.”

“…….”

“Anyway, the Duke, who was interested in me, brought me in after finding out that I was being abused in Venion. Then, we gradually started liking each other and became engaged. How is it?”

“…… ”

Evelia looked at Cassis who was silent and asked worriedly.

“Is it not that good?”

“Isn’t it just the truth?”

“What…?”

Evelia looked at the paper she had diligently written on.

‘Now that I think about it, I see that.’

It was pointless to say that I had to make up a love story, but there was no substance to it. Except for the part where she said ‘we started to like each other’, it actually happened.

“I see.”

Evelia smiled.

“Then I guess I just have to tell the truth.”

“Yes, the truth….”

As Cassis said those words, his ears heated up a little. Evelia waved her hands in confusion.

“So, except for the part about liking each other. That part…”

At that moment, something passed through Evelia’s mind.

These were Ruth’s words.

 

―My father also likes Eve. Eve is not the only one who likes him.

 

Those words echoed in my head.

My father also likes Eve.

My father also likes Eve…

My father also…

 

I know that’s not true. Didn’t she also lie to Ruth that she liked Cassis?

However, the opponent was no other person but Cassis. Would he have lied like that for Ruth?

I wanted to ask. Why did you tell such a story? But I couldn’t bear to ask.

Evelia stood up, covering her face with her hands as hot as Cassis.

“Anyway, that’s what I decided.”

Then I ran out of there like I was running away.

 

*****

 

The morning of the long-awaited wedding dawned. The Adelhard Mansion was busy from morning.

The busiest person was, of course, the bride Evelia. She woke up early in the morning and started getting dressed.

Madame Olette, who came early in the morning, helped her a lot.

Thanks to that, when she was fully dressed, she became a more beautiful bride than any other bride in the empire.

“Eve! It’s really pretty!”

“Really?”

“Yes! You look like a princess!”

“Then will you play as my prince?”

“No!”

Ruth’s answer was quite decisive.

“The prince is my father! A princess marries a prince!”

Evelia, who was trying to feel sad for no reason, blushed bright red at Ruth’s next words.

‘That’s right, a wedding.’

It hadn’t really sunk in until a few moments ago that it was my wedding, but now it did. Contract or not, she was marrying Cassis today.

She would be the Duchess of Adelhard for the next three years.

At the thought, she felt a rush of excitement. It felt good to have the family of her dreams, even if she knew this wasn’t her real family

‘It’s not even a real wedding.’

She brainwashed herself like that so that she wouldn’t get upset.

To shake off my excited heart, I held Ruth’s cheeks and rubbed my nose against his nose.

The maids made a fuss about my makeup coming off, but Ruth actually had a happy face.

“Then the Duke will be king, and I will be queen. Young master is a prince. Okay?”

“Yes!”

Just then, Madame Olette placed the veil on Ivelia’s head, which had been handmade, stitch by stitch, by a lace artisan.

It was tradition that she should not show her face to her new husband until the ceremony was over.

Then the front looked blurry.

“Okay, you should go now. Young master, please hold the lady’s hand.”

“Yes! Eve, let’s go!”

Evelia walked carefully, one step at a time, holding Ruth with her right hand and Annie with her left hand.

The wedding was to be held today in the Great Hall. Cassis had gone ahead of them, with Ivelia and Ruth following in the carriage.

‘How about Cassis?’

Throughout the carriage ride, Evelia thought of Cassis, who must have been dressed up just like her. No matter what anyone said, he was the most handsome man in the empire.

I’ve never seen him fully dressed up before, but he was probably very cool.

Even though Evelia knew that this wedding wasn’t real, her heart pounded. The carriage stopped while I took deep breaths and exhaled repeatedly to calm down.

“Today, I will escort you instead of your father!”

I could see Ruth, who got off first, reaching out to my hand reassuringly, through the veil.

Evelia held the hand of the child who looked bigger today and carefully lowered it.

As I entered the temple, I could feel people’s eyes.

Evelia tried not to panic and stood next to Cassis, who had arrived first.

I raised my head and looked at his face, but I couldn’t see it clearly because of the veil.

‘It’s a shame.’

That’s how the ceremony began. Cassis entered first with a wedding march. Next, Evelia held Ruth’s hand and walked carefully.

People’s eyes were focused on the two people.

‘The young lady is entering while holding the young master’s hand? They seem to be close.’ ‘Does the lady recognize the young master as her successor?’ The same whispers were heard.

‘It’s going my way.’

And when they finally reached Cassis, Ruth gave her hand to him.

Cassis held her hand carefully, as if it were something precious.

The officiating ceremony was performed by a priest. While the long ceremony continued, the only thing on Evelia’s mind was Cassis.

What is he thinking now? Is he also shaking like herself?

After what felt like an eternity, the officiating ceremony ended.

“The bride and groom, please kiss as an oath.”

As soon as those words were finished, Cassis carefully lifted the veil that had been covering Evelia’s face.

Only then was Evelia able to properly face him.

“Ah…”

An exclamation escaped her lips. Cassis’s face, with his back to the sunlight, was in shadow, making his face more three-dimensional.

Cassis’ head lowered. His face started getting closer and his breath hit my nose.

No way… Even as she thought that, Evelia closed her eyes tightly.

At that time, Cassis cupped her cheeks. Then he lightly kissed her cheek. It was an angle that would have made it look like a kiss to the guests.

Evelia stopped breathing at the unfamiliar feeling of touching her cheek. When she slowly opened her eyes again, she could see Cassis as nervous as she was.

Rather, seeing that made me relax. Was that why? Without realizing it, she lifted her heel and kissed Cassis’ cheek.

At the same time, cheers erupted from the guests. Ruth, who was scattering flowers next to her, also screamed.

The couple’s wedding ended like that.

 

*****

 

The reception party was barely over. Evelia returned to the room, led by Annie’s hand. Annie insisted that we should decorate for the ‘first night’.

‘No, there’s no need to…’

But there was no way I could tell Annie, ‘Nothing like what you think will happen, so there’s no need for it.’

So Evelia did as Annie and Laura did.

I took a bath with rose oil and rose leaves, and wore pajamas that were different from usual.

While the pajamas I usually wore looked like just a white dress, the clothes I was wearing now were light and slightly transparent.

“This is so…”

Isn’t it transparent? Annie seemed to have noticed what Evelia had swallowed into her mouth and laughed.

“Madame Olette says it’s a popular pair of pajamas these days.”

“But…”

“I’m sure the Duke will like it too!”

Well, he won’t be angry, but before that, Cassis won’t be in this room today.

Evelia swallowed those words into her mouth.

“Then have a good night.”

Annie and Laura left the room with slightly blushing cheeks. Evelia sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Well, even if that doesn’t happen.”

In this case, it would be much better to read a story to Ruth.

It was when I was thinking about that. There was a knocking sound.