Chapter 7 – Wedding Ceremony (Part 2)

After walking for a while, Tartenon spoke in a calm voice.

“A dog that doesn’t recognize its master is unnecessary.”

“Shall we begin then?”

“Start the day after the wedding.”

“Understood!”

Bruelin and even Hemil bowed deeply to Tartenon.

“Uh, then what should I do?”

Heather, who wasn’t given any orders, scratched his head and asked.

“Ensure Reubellina’s safety.”

“Our Grand Duchess? Oh, you should have told me earlier. I’ll go now!”

Heather saluted roughly and ran off to where Reubellina was staying. Tartenon didn’t even glance that way and instructed Hemil and Bruelin.

“Move quickly and discreetly.”

“Understood.”

***

In a luxurious and splendid drawing room, not typical of a northern mansion, people were having conversations over tea. From elderly nobles to middle-aged nobles in fine clothes. Their wives and daughters also accompanied them.

“It was unexpected for Lady Viverna to summon us on such a day.”

“Indeed.”

The nobles, who couldn’t refuse the invitation of the still lady of the north, each added their comments. A slight unease was evident in their eyes.

Knowing Tartenon’s temperament, they had planned to arrive at Speraum Castle the day before the wedding, but they couldn’t refuse Viverna’s sudden invitation. Strictly speaking, Viverna was a greater elder of the north than Tartenon.

Though she had lost her power and retired to a villa, no northerner dared to treat the sister of the former Grand Duke with disrespect. Even though the former Grand Duke had died during a hunt at her request, most northerners considered it an unfortunate accident and didn’t think there was any other issue.

Viverna had treated the former Grand Duke well. The northern nobles were convinced that someone as kind and gentle as her couldn’t have harmed him. Since Tartenon hadn’t pointed out her guilt, Viverna could continue to play the role of a tragic woman.

“Thank you for responding to my invitation despite your busy schedules.”

Viverna entered the parlor, accompanied by other knights as if guarding her. Though she held no official title, the nobles stood up and bowed respectfully as she, still holding the Speraum estate, entered.

“Please, be at ease.”

As the nobles sat down again, Viverna took the most prominent seat and looked around. All the northern nobles she had requested were present.

‘This means that they haven’t attended the wedding preparation yet of the sly Grand Duchess.’

The more she thought about it, the more infuriating it was. Not only had Reubellina found and sold the sugar and cinnamon she had hidden, but she hadn’t even come to see her. To become a person of the north, it was customary and natural to greet the elders. Feeling thoroughly ignored, Viverna ground her teeth.

Seeing that Reubellina hadn’t come even the day before the wedding, Viverna planned today’s event, convinced that she either didn’t know northern customs or looked down on her.

“What brings you to gather us like this, Lady Viverna?”

Marquis of Istorium, one of the northern great nobles, asked her. As soon as he finished speaking, Viverna’s eyebrows lowered. Her face instantly turned sorrowful, and the nobles, seeing her sad expression, were taken aback.

Even though she lived exiled from Speraum Castle, Viverna was still the most senior person in the region. They knew Tartenon sent money to ensure she lacked nothing. Who could be disturbing the peace of someone cared for by the northern Grand Duke?

“It seems the soon new Grand Duchess of the north doesn’t like me.”

At Viverna’s words, which seemed to have been waiting, the Marquis of Istorium frowned. It wasn’t the answer he wanted. The north was trying to make a new leap forward with the new Grand Duchess. Having heard news from Speraum Castle, the Marquis of Istorium saw the prospective Grand Duchess favorably.

Now approaching fifty, the Marquis of Istorium dreamed of seeing the north’s prestige rise before he died, and the new Grand Duchess seemed capable of achieving that. He didn’t welcome Viverna’s words, which seemed to hinder the Grand Duchess.

“That can’t be true. Who would dare disrespect Lady Viverna, the elder of the north?”

Starting with a noblewoman’s comment implying that not even the Grand Duchess could do such a thing, several people spoke up. The Marquis of Istorium scrutinized the faces of the nobles speaking.

Viverna didn’t notice the Marquis’s uncomfortable expression. Surrounded by her supporters and delighted by their words, Viverna’s face was full of smiles.

‘This is it.’

Having been away from social circles for so long, Viverna hadn’t been able to fully enjoy this respect and admiration. She needed this. To be treated well by the nobles, she needed Tartenon. Or she needed to take the Grand Duke’s position herself.

‘But I lack knights for that.’

Tartenon’s military strength was incomparable to that of any knightly order. He was a Sword Master and the Grand Duke of the north, a knight who had defended a castle single-handedly. Without such power, he would have already been killed by the assassins Viverna sent.

If he weren’t the focal point of the north’s defense, Viverna would have used any means to kill him. But without him, the north could become a den of monsters. The barbarian tribes on the borders, constantly moving, were also a problem.

If Tartenon died, parts of the north could be torn apart, making Viverna hesitate to kill her nephew and take the Grand Duke’s crown herself.

“Oh my! Isn’t tomorrow the wedding day? Hasn’t she gone to greet you?”

“No.”

“My goodness.”

Hearing that the Grand Duchess from the capital didn’t know northern customs, Viverna felt pleased. The more they gossiped about Reubellina, the worse her reputation would get.

‘The more I think about it, the more infuriating it is.’

Though her face remained sad, her inner thoughts were different. She was waiting for the question she wanted. She had gathered the nobles for this purpose.

“Will you be attending the wedding tomorrow, Lady Viverna?”

Finally, the question Viverna had been waiting for came. Tilting her head slightly, Viverna hesitated. The nobles, who had rarely seen the great noblewoman hesitate, focused their attention. Enjoying their curiosity, Viverna carefully opened her lips.

“Though I received an invitation from Tartenon….”

“The Grand Duke sent you an invitation!”

Talk arose about how only Tartenon adhered to northern customs. Viverna was irritated because she couldn’t show the unsatisfactory invitation she received from Tartenon. She couldn’t reveal that it was more of a command than an invitation to attend the wedding.

“With the soon new Grand Duchess treating me this way, wouldn’t she dislike it if I showed up at the wedding?”

“That’s impossible!”

The nobles turned their eyes in surprise. They seemed busy trying to understand the intention behind Viverna’s words. Watching the nobles’ eyes darting around, Viverna quietly fanned herself. The nobles didn’t notice her smirk behind the fan.

***

The morning of the wedding day dawned.

Reubellina squinted at the bright sunlight. As the cold wind nipped at her nose, she wriggled back into the warm blankets. It was a morning she really didn’t want to wake up to.

Just as she was about to fall back asleep, Sandy, her personal maid, noticed she was awake like a ghost.

“Miss! I know you’re awake!”

“Just a little longer. It’s too early.”

“Early?!”

Sandy raised her voice.

“If we don’t have enough time for makeup, your face will look dull, and the people of the north will be disappointed.”

“What?”

“Moreover, if the wedding dress isn’t adorned with proper jewels, it won’t look as grand.”

“I don’t care about that!”

“To create an elegant neckline, we need to start the mask now. But, sigh… if you insist on sleeping, there’s nothing I can do.”

As Sandy spoke in a gloomy voice, Reubellina jumped out of bed. Kicking off the cozy blankets, she put on the slippers placed on the cold floor and shouted.

“I’m up!”

“As expected, Miss must love the north.”

Sandy clapped her hands, saying there was no other reason for Reubellina to wake up at this hour.

‘What’s with her all of a sudden?’

Before Reubellina could ask, the maids, who heard the noise, rushed in. Rolling up their sleeves, they surrounded Reubellina. This was just the beginning.

“Bring the mask!”

A mask made from ground pearls was applied to her face.

“Where’s the dress?”

The wedding dress was hung beside her.

“What’s with these eyebrows!”

Her eyebrows were plucked amid the maid’s scolding.