Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 32

And it wasn’t a difficult request to grant.

“Okay. It seems Terenzio likes yellow.”

“I like forsythia! Forsythia is yellow.”

In fact, the forsythia-colored dress chosen by Terenzio was a bit too bold for a modest wedding, but for the child’s sake, she decided to try it on. Berenice took the dress and went into the changing room, and Roberto stood up from his seat.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Roberto shook his head at the clerk’s question, then he wandered around the display case filled with various ornaments. After looking around and fiddling with the items, Roberto picked something up.

“Why that…”

“It seems like it will match her well.”

“Ah…”

Although everyone reacted strangely, Roberto did not budge, confident in his taste.

“It’s okay, I really think it will match well.”

Everyone sighed, but they could no longer dissuade Roberto. The rest was up to the bride.

Fortunately, she didn’t take long to change into the yellow dress because it was short. When Berenice came out of the changing room, Terenzio jumped around excitedly.

“You look like a fairy, Miss Berenice! So, so beautiful!”

Terenzio exclaimed, his cheeks flushing red.

“Thank you, Terenzio. It’s because Terenzio chose this dress.”

Berenice decided to buy the dress even though she couldn’t wear it for the wedding. She thought maybe she could wear it occasionally since Terenzio liked it so much.

“Berenice.”

Roberto was coming towards her with something in his hand.

“Could this be attached to the dress?”

“What is that…”

Berenice’s eyes narrowed.

Was this man serious? Wearing a bright yellow dress that seemed to make her face look yellowish, and now a corsage as big as her face?

But Roberto never joked around.

He’s always someone who speaks earnestly with a thoughtful face.

When he didn’t get an answer from Berenice, Roberto added,

“I think I’ve developed a good taste now. From my perspective, this corsage seems to match the dress quite well.”

Ah. He was serious.

Berenice accepted the corsage with a bewildered face. With this corsage on the dress, it seemed she could attract everyone’s attention in this world. Selphine awkwardly pinned the corsage to Berenice’s chest.

Then, Roberto smiled brightly.

“It really suits you well.”

“Ahahahaha…”

Roberto never noticed the end of Berenice’s laughter scattering away. He was just amazed by his own taste.

***

Fortunately, the wedding preparations proceeded without any problems. There were no obstacles for Roberto, Terenzio, and Berenice.

Just as they had discussed before, Berenice and Roberto prepared for the wedding with all due respect for each other.

The news of the wedding being held at the duke’s mansion attracted all the nobles of the capital to the mansion.

It was because the Duke of Cyrilov’s estate was always closed.

They wanted to take this opportunity to see the rumored duchy. The outdoor garden was beautifully decorated to match the sunny weather of June. Flower arches, white chairs, and pots were specially set up for the wedding.

The early summer sunlight was warm rather than hot, and beautiful clouds drifted in the sky as if it were blessing Roberto and Berenice.

From the second floor, they could clearly see eager guests touring the opened first floor of the mansion and wandering around the wedding venue.

Now it was going to be Berenice’s room.

The duchess’ room.

“Sigh…”

She thought she wouldn’t be nervous for her second marriage, but her heart felt constricted. Her muscles were stiff from getting a massage since dawn. She couldn’t properly smile. She stood frozen by the window until Selphine called her.

“Um…”

“Sigh… Huh? Did you call me?”

“It’s time to put on your dress now, miss.”

Selphine spoke cautiously.

“Ah, right.”

Berenice nodded as she came to her senses. It was almost time to start the ceremony, so she needed to get dressed and touch up her makeup one last time.

“Bring me the dress.”

“Yes! It’s finally time for you to wear your dress!”

The maids smiled with happiness.

It was a long-awaited time. During the wedding preparation period, they had numerous fittings and alterations. It was all to make today perfect.

Who wouldn’t be happy to reap the results?

The maids rushed to the dressing room where the dresses were stored, competing to be the one to bring it.

Berenice also composed herself, checked her hair and makeup, and then she took off her robe. The lingerie she wore underneath, designed to sculpt her figure, was revealed.

“My, you’ve lost weight. Come here. Isn’t your underwear looking a bit too big?”

“It’s okay. I’ve been so nervous lately, I haven’t had much appetite.”

Berenice might not have realized it, but her face, blushing shyly, was filled with excitement. They might call it a contract and transaction, but to others, it looked like a sweet romance. A romance so tender it could warm Selphine’s heart.

Selphine bit her lip hard, feeling moved.

All the humiliations and hardships Berenice had endured flashed through Selphine’s mind. Selphine adjusted her lingerie and wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

“I hope you will be happy this time.”

“Selphine, we…”

“I know. I know everything, but still. You could try, couldn’t you?”

Berenice smiled as if she had no choice at Selphine’s words.

“Thank you for everything, Selphine. I’ll be counting on you in the future too.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Selphine nodded firmly. It seemed like all the tough times she endured were for this moment. But it seemed Berenice’s trials were not yet over.

The corridor was filled with the sound of heavy breathing and footsteps.

“Ah, Miss!”

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s a disaster!”

Following the maid who was in a panic, another maid entered carrying something dreadful.

Her face was drenched in tears.

“What is that…”

Berenice stood up from in front of the dressing table. Her slender form trembled. What the maids were holding was a wedding dress torn to shreds. The dress she had prepared with excitement for two months.

Even the spare wedding dresses she bought just in case were all torn apart.

Berenice’s eyelashes fluttered. Selphine supported Berenice as she staggered, leaning on the desk.

There was no need to ask who had done it.

There’s only one person who looks at Berenice with a vile face.

It must have been Livio’s doing.

“…How long until the wedding?”

“Three hours left… We can’t get a new dress made in time. What should we do…”

A young maid burst into tears. Berenice calmed her breathing and put on her robe. Then she picked out the most experienced maid among those stomping their feet in distress and said,

“You go find out who did this. They might still be in the mansion, though it’s unlikely. But just in case.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Keep everything that happened here a secret. Make sure it doesn’t leak out.”

“Yes.”

After receiving her orders, the maid left the room. Next, Berenice quickly pointed to the first maid who had run into the room.

“You rush to the coachman and go to Stove’s Dress Shop. Inform them of the situation and see if they have any spare dresses I can wear.”

“Yes, Miss!”

The maid ran out with a flushed face. Now what else should be done…

Berenice was just as flustered by the unexpected situation. She rubbed her forehead. Guests were already arriving one by one and spending time there. Considering the prestige of both families, this marriage had to happen.

This wasn’t just Berenice’s problem.

Berenice closed her eyes tightly and then gestured to another maid.

“Bring His Grace the Duke here. Discreetly.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After giving their orders, the maids left the room, leaving Berenice to sit down comfortably at last. Selphine looked at Berenice with pity as she sighed deeply.

“Miss…”

“It must be Cornell’s doing. He’d do anything to get his way.”

“But that’s just speculation.”

“Yes, it was a cunning move. Damn Cornel.”

Berenice gritted her teeth and buried her face in her palms. She didn’t care that her makeup was smudging. She was intensely thinking about how to overcome this situation.

Think, think of what to do.

When Berenice was alone in deep thought, Roberto arrived in the room.

Roberto’s expression hardened after hearing about the situation from a maid.

“Berenice.”

Seeing Berenice lift her head at his call, Roberto gave a slight smile. He couldn’t add to Berenice’s distress in this situation. Roberto knelt before Berenice and examined her expression.

“I’m sorry, Berenice. It was my fault for not keeping the house in order.”

“How is this your fault… It’s obvious who the culprit is.”

“It’s my fault, truly. I didn’t know a thief had entered our house. That’s why I suggested bringing out another dress, Berenice…”

Berenice slowly lifted her head.

Another dress?

Is there such a thing?

“It’s a wedding dress that has never been worn before. How about we tailor it for you to wear?”

Roberto cautiously asked.

He didn’t want to upset Berenice further in this situation.

“Do we have another dress?”