50. An Exciting Wedding!

 Thanks to Daphne grabbing Celestian’s thumb and pinky to pull out the hem, she suddenly saw the straight scar filling his palm.

In the novel she had read in her previous life, the place where the ‘villainess’ who survived until the end died was on this ship.

By an enraged Romeo, abandoned near an island teeming with crocodiles, to the point where even her body couldn’t be recovered.

The description was so cruel that it was still a passage she remembered.

Daphne brushed aside the golden hair covering his eyes and muttered.

“But there’s no way he would know that.”

An inexplicable tension kept raising goosebumps on Daphne’s arms. She deliberately denied that sensation. 

 * * *

 When Daphne opened her eyes, she saw the ceiling covered in luxurious geometric wallpaper. She recalled the dream she had just had in a daze.

‘What was that dream about falling off a cliff? Was it about growing taller?’

When she turned her head slightly, she saw a beauty whose looks she couldn’t get used to no matter how many times she saw them, lying right in front of her showing off his long eyelashes.

Celestian’s hair falling from his forehead was different from before he went to sleep. It wasn’t styled at all. It seemed to tell that he had gotten up briefly while Daphne wasn’t aware.

‘I’m sure I was just lying roughly on top of the blanket.’

Daphne was somehow properly lying in bed buried deep under the blankets. Celestian was sleeping outside the blankets, leaning his body toward her.

Just in case, she slightly lifted the blanket to check, but her clothes were exactly the same as before going to sleep. Shaking off a subtle disappointment, she got up right away and drew the curtains.

The horizon where the sun had already risen was shining white.

“It’s not even my wedding…… but I’m excited.”

As she muttered and opened the window, the light reflected from the sparkling sea was tremendous. The sky was deep blue and the sea breeze had a sharp yet refreshing smell. It felt like all the alcohol she drank yesterday was completely disappearing.

Even though Daphne was busily moving around the room preparing to go out, Celestian remained asleep without the slightest movement. Daphne returned to the bed and tucked him in tightly with the blanket.

—I hate waking up with no one there.

“Just stay here and sleep quietly until I come back. I’ll be back in two hours.”

The current time was six o’clock which was rather early, and this half-royal fellow would probably wake up leisurely after ten. She just needed to be back by then.

‘Wait, why am I trying to listen to what he said?’

Daphne stopped her hand that was about to stroke Celestian’s cheek. With the back of her hand resting on her waist, she turned her back after looking down at the drunk prince who had only been saying incomprehensible things.

—This place was always dangerous for you……

So what?

Even as she reached the door of the room, Daphne hesitated for a moment. But wasn’t it proper manners to ignore words exchanged while drunk?

She boldly opened the door and headed to where Iel, who would help with today’s preparations, was. 

 * * *

 Iel Algeste was waiting for Daphne with puffy eyes.

“How could they take everything? Does that make sense? If you think you can’t win, you should fold! Men should get rid of their useless competitive spirit. Do you know how much all that was worth!”

Iel poured out her grievances for the entire hour while helping with Daphne’s preparations, saying all her collected wealth had completely disappeared.

“Even if I lost everything else, I at least told them to bring back the Jella ticket, but how could they lose even that?”

“Iel, um. I feel like my scalp is going to tear.”

“I mean, without any shame, they even asked Grand Duke Teriosa if it could be exchanged. Really without any class at all!”

“I really feel like my neck is going to be pulled off too. Why do you have such strength in your hands……”

Only then did the strength leave Iel’s hands. Daphne immediately looked in the mirror.

Iel was good with her hands. It was thanks to her brief experience as a palace maid to save money for a secret trip with her lover from the ballet company when she was young.

Daphne’s red hair was thinly braided only at the sides near her ears, while the hair on back of her head was straightened down. Iel slowly brushed down her back hair while letting out deep sighs.

“But it seems even His Highness the Crown Prince was subdued by Grand Duke Teriosa. They say he was monopolizing the chips while barely doing anything.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

Only when it was roughly finished did Daphne shrug her shoulders. Because of the accessories pinned in her hair, she couldn’t touch it and could only clench and unclench her fists uselessly.

“Daph, your dress is pretty.”

Daphne’s off-shoulder dress was modest for something that took so much time and money. The silk started white and gradually turned dark blue towards the bottom, with crushed pearls sprinkled to shine subtly only under sunlight.

“Psyche is something else too. How could she send us wedding invitations? She has no shame.”

For someone saying such things, Iel seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the first day.

‘The invitation was sent by the royal family though.’

Although Daphne had practically boarded without permission through sheer determination, she just smiled faintly without responding.

Now that she thought about it, she could understand why she hadn’t received an invitation. When even Iel, who was relatively close to Daphne, viewed Psyche with distaste, how would people who adored Psyche view Daphne?

Not to mention, she even brought a man who had rebelled against the succession.

‘If anything, we’re the shameless ones. I couldn’t complain even if we got pushed off the bow.’

She also recalled Psyche’s voice saying she would be a bridesmaid at Daphne’s wedding. Honestly, that didn’t seem realistically possible.

“He went to Teriosa and asked if just that couldn’t be arranged somehow. Oh my, just hearing about it is so embarrassing!”

Iel’s lover was from Secradion’s navy. For such a person to even lobby a traitor for Iel’s sake, Daphne couldn’t help but laugh a little at his touching and cute love.

“So what did Celestian say?”

“Ah, he said to ask you. Said it was yours.”

“That’s right, it’s all mine since it came into my hands~”

Daphne crossed her legs and struck an arrogant pose. Even the white Mary Jane shoes she was wearing now were from that shoe workshop.

Iel’s eyes grew wide. Their cute exchange continued for a few minutes, with Iel saying she wouldn’t take any other compensation today so please give her just these, and Daphne coldly refusing.

“By the way, then shouldn’t we prepare Grand Duke Teriosa spectacularly too?”

“Why?”

Daphne put her fist under her chin and thought for a moment. Then she realized with a popping sound.

She had almost forgotten! Her goal of coming all this way to see Celestian cry!

“You want to make ‘Her Highness the Crown Princess’ feel at least a little bad.”

When Iel smirked, Daphne turned serious. It was Celestian’s side that needed to make an unpleasant expression, not Psyche’s side.

“Miss Iel, why aren’t you thinking of me? Do I have some other reason for wanting to do that even while using the man I love?”

“Ah……”

Daphne pouted while imitating Romeo’s tone. The quick-witted Iel made an apologetic expression.

“Besides, he’s pretty even without much preparation.”

“Just bring him. I’ll style him to match his suit.”

“My? What’s this about?”

“I’ll take five pairs of Jella shoes as compensation.”

“Ah, you opportunist.”

While Daphne and Iel were giggling looking at each other, the room bell rang. At the sound ringing impatiently four or five times in succession, Daphne frowned deeply.

“Miss Beaucater, are you there?”

It was quite an urgent voice. When Daphne opened the door, there was a sailor with a pale complexion.

“Yes.”

“Your companion seems to be looking for you. That is……”

“My companion?”

As Daphne bent her upper body to look outside, the sailor took a step back.

However, there was no one in the corridor. The sailor only stammered, saying there was somewhere he needed to go briefly.

Daphne asked Iel to wait and followed behind the sailor.

Down the stairs from the VIP room, down one more floor. The sailor took Daphne down to a place where ordinary people’s footsteps rarely reached.

‘Where are you taking me?’

An ominous feeling surged. Just then, the long light hanging from the ceiling flickered once with a crackling sound. Finding it somewhat creepy, Daphne crossed her arms and hugged herself.

“Is this your companion?”

The sailor asked while pointing to a corner. Daphne stopped in her tracks.

“No way.”

“Pardon?”

In the deserted corridor leading to the third class, she saw a man crouching with his large body crumpled up. He was sitting with both hands pressed to his temples, looking at the ground.

‘Why are bad premonitions never wrong?’

As Daphne approached, the figure’s became clearer. Seeing the clearly familiar silhouette, Daphne’s jaw dropped slightly.

“I think it is him. Why is His Highness there? No, why barefoot……”

The sailor shook his head as if unsure. Daphne gestured calmly to go check. Then instinctively looked around. Fortunately, there was no one else as it was an unused floor.

“Cele.”

Daphne called his name as she approached him. At the same time, Celestian lifted his head. His eyes, which were already red, were even more swollen as if he had just been crying.

“Why are you like this? Hungover? Will you get up before someone sees?”

Daphne held out her hand. He frowned. It was a look that even contained some contempt. Ignoring her outstretched hand, Celestian got up on his own.

At his height that suddenly shot up tall enough to reach the ceiling, Daphne took a step back to maintain distance.

“I told you to wait a little, Your Highness.”

“You.”

You?

“Was it so difficult to say even one word to me before leaving?”

Celestian stepped forward as much as Daphne had stepped back. She had to look up until her neck was stiff. But right now rather than feeling upset…

‘This is a bit scary. No, it’s not that I’m scared.’

Rather, Celestian seemed like someone trembling in fear. Daphne briefly suppressed the urge to hug him tightly.

Perhaps because it was a place with less lighting, there was little light in his eyes. The peridot that seemed to shine even in darkness now looked murky like moss underwater.

“I was at Miss Algeste’s room getting ready. And where could I go anyway on a ship, why are you like this?”

“Why……”

He gripped Daphne’s arms with force. It felt like he was checking if she was injured by massaging them. And also like someone touching to regain a sense of reality.

‘Oh.’

Daphne belatedly realized this was the first time he had touched her body itself, not just her clothes, without permission. The hot pressure continued to linger on her arms.

“Why don’t you listen to me? I told you this place is dangerous.”

“Your Highness, why are you suddenly acting up again? Please try to calm down.”

The large hands touching her bare skin gradually applied more pressure. Daphne frowned.

“Cele, it hurts.”

“I asked why you’re doing this. Do you want me to tell you?”

He pulled Daphne’s arms to make her fall into his shadow. Standing with barely a hand’s width between them, she could see every line drawn in his iris.

Daphne instinctively sensed that words she didn’t want to hear would come from his mouth.

“You here.”

“What, did I die in your dream last night or something?”

Daphne cut in just as Celestian’s red lips were about to open.

“Ah.”

He suddenly made a popping sound as if coming to his senses.

Focus gradually returned to Celestian’s green eyes. He blinked several times, fluttering his eyelashes.

Daphne swung her arm once to shake him off.

“Yes, that could have been it.”

“……”

“Why don’t you tell me how I died in your dream, Celestian.”

Like a boy who had lost something precious, Celestian briefly looked at his own hands where Daphne’s warmth had disappeared. He truly looked anxious.