Chapter 74. The Wedding

The knight extended his hand politely towards the distinguished guest inside the carriage.

A small hand, clad in a white lace glove, gently rested on his.

As a foot in a silver shoe stepped onto the carriage step, a maid hurriedly approached and lightly held the hem of her snow-white wedding dress.

The Grand Duchess, who had finally alighted from the carriage, held a bouquet of white gladiolus in one hand, her face veiled by a long veil.

The diamond tiara atop her head emitted a delicate and dazzling light. This antique tiara, a memento of Lady Theresia, evoked long-held memories for those who adored her.

“Let’s go, Your Highness.”

At the knight’s words, the Grand Duchess gently nodded. The path leading to Alberich Palace’s grand banquet hall was laid with a long white carpet, surrounded by flowers and crystal decorations. It was the epitome of a luxurious wedding.

With each step she took, the Grand Duchess moved gracefully, like a swan gliding on water. Yet, there was a fragile and precarious air about her that made it impossible to look away.

When the Grand Duchess finally stopped at the entrance, the massive doors slowly opened from both sides.

Through the opening, the softly lit interior of the Great Hall was visible. But what captured everyone’s attention was not the scenery.

Under a wedding arch adorned with white roses and clear crystals, a man standing upright turned around and smiled.

It was a slightly crooked, playful smile rather than a serious one. But it was breathtakingly handsome.

He approached her and extended his hand. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, he wasn’t wearing a black tuxedo suit. Unexpectedly, he was dressed in a pure white ceremonial uniform with a gold shoulder sash, looking incredibly dashing and exuding a different charm than usual.

The bride, dressed in a modest wedding dress that covered her to the neck, hesitated slightly before gently extending her hand towards him. Their hands met. The Grand Duke, disregarding formalities, kissed the back of her hand with a showy gesture.

It was an action that should not have been done before the ceremony started, but the Grand Duke seemed unbothered. His gaze, peering through the veil at the bride’s face, was intensely focused. Guests were so embarrassed that they coughed lightly.

Ignoring the reactions of the guests, the Grand Duke led the bride down the wedding aisle. As they began walking down the pure white path, everyone held their breath and watched the scene unfold.

The rich melody of an organ resonated, followed by a high, thin violin song. A cello supported the tune with a deeper, more serene sound.

Girls in blue dresses, holding flower baskets, scattered white petals towards the bride and groom. The petals fluttered gently like angel feathers, decorating the pure white path.

When the bride and groom finally reached the end of the path and stood on the platform, the Royal Librarian, who was officiating, looked down at them with a stern face.

Though his expression was quite strict, like a grandfather scolding his grandchildren, his eyes couldn’t hide their satisfaction.

Morpheus Besnard began the ceremony in a low, heavy voice.

“Today, under the high summer sun and the blue sky, this couple wishes to be joined in marriage. Please bless them with all your heart.”

Applause erupted from the guests. The applause, which seemed never-ending, only stopped when Morpheus raised his right hand to halt it.

“Now, the bride and groom, please face each other and bow.”

The couple slowly turned to face each other. The groom, with a slightly crooked smile, reached for the bride’s wedding veil.

He grabbed the end of the long veil and lifted it without hesitation. As the bride’s face was revealed― gasps and low, high exclamations erupted from the audience.

Not a great beauty, you say?

Enoch, glancing at the faces with such questions, turned his gaze back to his bride.

Ellenore Lopez, or rather, Ellenore Bayern, was beautiful. It was the result of Jasmine and the maids of the Winter Palace using their skills to the fullest for today.

Ellen blinked, seemingly still unfamiliar with her appearance, then slowly lifted her head.

When their eyes met, she slightly parted her lips and looked dazed. Soon, her cheeks began to blush lightly, and Enoch chuckled softly.

“Ahem, the bride and groom, please bow to each other.”

The officiant, not hiding his embarrassment, urged them on. Enoch, looking indifferent, gave a casual bow to Ellen.

Ellen, slightly awkward due to the heavy tiara, was still very graceful.

“Next……”

Enoch half-listened to the boring officiant’s speech, answering questions and reciting vows, all the while staring intently at Ellen’s face.

The wedding was predictably dull, but watching her face was quite enjoyable. Enoch scrutinized her face and everything else about her as if he was dissecting every detail.

The wedding dress, covering her up to the neck, was the epitome of modesty. Even the long sleeves covered her hands, leaving only her fingers and neck visible.

Feeling oddly satisfied with this, Enoch picked up the ring from the velvet case offered by an attendant.

The pear-cut diamond set in the gold ring sparkled under the chandelier light. The ring, a classic solitaire, was simple and elegant, perfectly suiting Ellen.

He took her small hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger, then it was her turn to take the groom’s ring and carefully hold his hand.

Ellen’s hand trembled slightly as she slipped the ring onto Enoch’s finger. When she looked up, her face was dazed as if she couldn’t believe she was getting married.

“The groom may kiss the bride……”

Before the officiant could finish, Enoch wrapped an arm around Ellen’s waist and pulled her close. Gasps erupted, and Morpheus coughed loudly, but Enoch ignored it all.

He smiled crookedly at her wide, blue eyes. His hand gently caressed her cheek and chin.

As he slowly lowered his head, he felt her heart pounding against his chest and chuckled softly.

His lips pressed against hers briefly before pulling away. Ellen visibly sighed in relief at the quick end to the kiss.

Not a chance.

Enoch, who had intended to tease her, captured her lips again while she was relaxed.

This time, it wasn’t just a brief touch. He lightly bit her soft, tender lips and licked them with his tongue.

Startled, Ellen struggled like a canary caught in a trainer’s hand.

Enoch cupped her face with both hands and pulled away. Her face, flushed with embarrassment, looked as appetizing as a ripe apple, and her blue eyes, filled with moisture, seemed ready to burst into tears.

“Why……”

“God, I’m going crazy.”

He hugged her, who fit perfectly in his arms, and spoke his first honest sentiment as a man.

“Kissing you feels really good.”

“……!”

“I think other things will feel good too.”

It was fortunate for Ellen that his shameless whisper was quiet enough for her ears only.

The Royal Librarian, as if scolding the shameless groom, continued the ceremony loudly, and the guests sat in a daze until he declared them married.

In any case, the applause celebrating the Grand Duke, who had finally taken a bride after twenty-five years, and the beautiful Grand Duchess was thunderous enough to blow the roof off.

* * *

After the wedding reception, I went up to my room, but there was no time to rest. I had to be dragged around by the maids to prepare for the wedding night.

Soaking in hot rose-scented bathwater, being thoroughly washed, receiving a massage to improve my skin texture, having scented oil applied to my hair……

I was so sleepy throughout the process that I could barely stay awake.

“Your Highness……. It’s your wedding night; you shouldn’t fall asleep…….”

Jasmine’s worried plea as she watched me nodding off said it all.

I wanted to stay awake, but extreme fatigue made my eyelids droop and my head nod uncontrollably.

Having prepared for the wedding early in the morning and then enduring the reception was exhausting……. Especially dealing with the Frederick royal family all at once during the reception was truly dreadful.

‘You’ve finally secured the position of Grand Duchess. Congratulations.’

Princess Roelyn, who was not friendly towards me,

‘To be honest, I think you’re too good for Enoch.’

Duke Julian Berstein, whose thoughts were a mystery,

‘……It’s been a while, Your Majesty.’
‘Hmm, yes……. How have you been?’

King Henry and Former King William, who seemed awkward around each other……

On top of that, Angela Besnard suddenly burst into tears, souring the atmosphere of the reception.

‘Sob, I’m sorry, it’s just that, seeing my dear friend Enoch getting married…… It feels so strange…… I…….’

She was truly a strange woman.

Enoch’s warning to be wary of the crazy woman was spot on.

‘It’s still absurd when I think about it…….’

Avoiding Angela Besnard, who was clearly faking her tears, only to be caught by her grandfather, Morpheus Besnard, was truly unfortunate.

He kept asking me difficult questions that were hard to answer, making me feel like I was losing my hair trying to find suitable responses.

Surprisingly, it was Felix who saved me. He sent Morpheus Besnard away, saying some famous person was looking for him.

When I was finally freed and relieved, Felix congratulated me with a smile, but that smile felt strangely lonely.

Could he be feeling lonely? Well, Felix was of marriageable age too……

‘I hope Felix isn’t lonely.’

The maids led me to the marital bedroom after all the preparations for the wedding night.

When I arrived, Enoch hadn’t come yet, and the bedroom…… was dimly lit by a few lamps, giving it a cozy feel.

Approaching the bed draped with a white, translucent canopy, I found the white sheets covered with red petals, emitting a pleasant scent.

The maids soon closed the door and left. I looked around the bedroom a bit more. On the central round table were some liquor and fruit, likely fruit wine.

Approaching the bed again, I checked the bedside table― two crystal bottles filled with a colorless liquid were placed there. ……What is this?

I was supposed to wait quietly for Enoch, but curiosity got the better of me. I opened the stopper of one of the crystal bottles and dropped a few drops onto the back of my hand.

The transparent liquid had a peculiar scent and a slippery texture…… It seemed to be some kind of oil.

The reason for such an item being prepared was likely……

“…….”

I froze momentarily like a wooden statue, then quickly put the crystal bottle back in its place and sat down heavily on the bedside.

But that wasn’t enough to calm me, so I grabbed a nearby cushion and hugged it tightly with both arms.

I had been so sleepy that my head felt foggy, but suddenly everything felt real.

The first night……