Chapter 7 – Wedding Ceremony (Part 3)

On any other day, she would have dismissed all the maids with a wave of her hand, but she couldn’t win against the maids who had been waiting for this day. The maids, who had been eagerly anticipating the wedding day, used all their skills to adorn Reubellina.

They had heard things that made them put in extra effort. Reubellina was beautiful but had a rather easygoing personality. Unlike the noble ladies of the capital who spent lavishly on their appearances, Reubellina did not.

With no work left to do, the maids started finding tasks themselves at the Grand Duke’s residence. They didn’t want to idle and face Paddington’s sharp gaze.

Additionally, they wanted to show the other servants, who looked down on Reubellina, a lesson. Having observed Reubellina closely, they didn’t think she was as bad as the rumors suggested.

‘How dare they talk about our lady like that!’

The rumors about Reubellina outside were terrible. There were stories that the lady from the capital was squandering the estate’s budget with her extravagance, shocking the servants. Some believed it, while others defended her, only to be cursed at by passersby, accused of being bewitched by a witch.

No one knew where these rumors came from, but the wedding was an opportunity to change the northern people’s perception. For that, Reubellina had to look beautiful and appear gentle, contrary to the rumors. The maids used makeup techniques to make her look both glamorous and kind.

“Doesn’t my face look a bit sad?”

“No, it doesn’t!”

“Absolutely not!”

The servants each answered Reubellina’s question. Rather than looking gloomy, she had a more delicate appearance today due to her slightly drooping eyes.

Sandy, who had heard the maids’ opinions beforehand, added her support.

“You look beautiful! Why worry?”

After hours of meticulous makeup, Reubellina’s face looked like a woman in a masterpiece painting.

“It just doesn’t feel like me.”

“You can return to being yourself later.”

Sandy replied nonchalantly.

“What?”

“It’s your wedding day, so it’s okay to show a slightly different side of yourself.”

Reubellina tilted her head at Sandy’s casual response. The servants added their comments, saying she looked like a living painting.

“You are so beautiful, my lady.”

“Indeed! You are stunning!”

“You look like a goddess!”

“When you step out, everyone in the north will cheer for you like a goddess!”

Despite the maids’ enthusiastic comments, Reubellina remained silent. At that moment, someone knocked on the bedroom door.

“My lady, it’s Heather.”

“Come in, Sir Heather.”

Heather, dressed in his ceremonial uniform, entered the bedroom but stopped in her tracks upon seeing Reubellina. After standing silently for a moment, Heather’s eyes widened.

“Wow.”

No other words were needed. The maids clenched their fists in triumph. If even Heather, known for her high standards, was impressed, it was enough.

“You look incredibly beautiful, my lady.”

“What brings you here?”

“Well, it’s almost time. Duke Asillious is waiting outside.”

Due to the old-fashioned custom that the groom should not see the bride’s face before the wedding, Tartenon couldn’t come to see Reubellina. Heather, under Tartenon’s special orders, was moving with the Duke Asillious.

“My father is here?”

Reubellina jumped up from her seat.

“No, my lady! You shouldn’t move so suddenly.”

“My father is here, and you’re telling me not to move?”

“You’re going out now anyway.”

The wedding was to be held in the square in the center of Speraum. The seats for the distinguished guests had already been arranged, and the knights had long been dispatched to guard the area. Reubellina and Tartenon were to move from the main castle to the square in an open carriage. The Duke Asillious had come early to see Reubellina before the wedding.

“Father!”

Reubellina, not yet wearing her veil, greeted the Duke Asillious. The duke, with teary eyes, whispered to his grown daughter.

“My dear daughter.”

“When did you arrive? If you had sent word, I would have come to greet you.”

“I didn’t want to disturb you, knowing you would be busy before the wedding.”

The duke examined Reubellina’s face carefully. Seeing her face full of smiles, he felt relieved and spoke kindly to her.

“You look well.”

“Do I?”

As Reubellina reached to touch her face, Sandy stopped her. The duke laughed at the sight. Even though Reubellina had left the duchy, she and Sandy were still the same.

“After the ceremony, you’ll be able to have your favorite dessert. The chef has come personally.”

“Oh, really?”

The servants left at the duchy still had a deep affection for Reubellina. Especially the chef, who missed her and made a lot of food, but couldn’t bring it all due to the long and arduous journey to the north.

“The chef insisted on coming to make you lemon tart.”

“And you allowed it, Father.”

“Ahem! Well, you know…”

The duke, not hiding his doting nature, extended his hand to Reubellina.

“Shall we go together?”

“With pleasure.”

Reubellina took his arm and walked out of the castle. Tartenon was waiting at the main gate.

Seeing Tartenon from a distance, Sandy placed the veil on Reubellina’s head.

“What’s this for?”

“What do you mean? It’s necessary.”

The translucent veil barely concealed her face. But Sandy was sure the veil would add a mysterious charm to Reubellina.

‘Sigh. I still need to take care of my lady.’

Even though she shouldn’t call her “lady” anymore. Sandy muttered to herself as she followed behind Reubellina.

When the duke and Reubellina appeared at the main gate of the castle, Tartenon respectfully extended his hand toward Reubellina.

The duke entrusted Reubellina’s hand to Tartenon and made a request.

“Please take good care of my daughter, Your Grace.”

“You need not worry.”

After confirming Tartenon’s unwavering gaze, the duke nodded up and down. No matter how great a chancellor, he was just a father weak in front of his child.

Reubellina, feeling her father’s concern, tightened her grip on Tartenon’s hand. Sensing this, Tartenon reassured her by gently patting the back of her hand with his other hand.

“Shall we go?”

As Tartenon received Reubellina’s hand from the duke, the cheers of the domain residents grew louder. Reubellina nodded cautiously. With her nod, Tartenon turned and climbed onto the carriage.

Reubellina, with his escort, also stepped onto the carriage. Blinking momentarily in the sunlight pouring over Tartenon’s back, she stood beside him. The sun shone brightly, blessing the couple who looked like a picture-perfect pair.

As their carriage began to move slowly, the cheers of the domain residents grew louder. The cheers reached their peak when the knights following the carriage started scattering gold coins.

“Gold coins!”

Gold coins were scattered wherever Tartenon and Reubellina’s carriage passed. It was a special event prepared by Reubellina for the day. Her philosophy was that at least those celebrating their wedding shouldn’t be treated stingily.

“Did we have that much money?”

“The gold coins are small. About 10 rubles each?”

“Still, it’s quite a sum.”

“It’s worth it.”

Reubellina smiled. Tartenon couldn’t take his eyes off the small smile visible through the veil. The domain residents, seeing him looking only at Reubellina and not ahead, added their comments.

“It looks like His Grace is completely smitten.”

“Indeed.”

“To scatter gold coins like this…”

“Well, I heard that the lady’s family is extremely wealthy.”

“Wealthy?”

“Yes. They run a trade company, and the Duke Asillious is the chancellor of the empire.”

“Ho.”

A domain resident working for Musen Trade spoke up.

“I heard that the northern branch of Musen Trade was established thanks to the Grand Duchess.”

“Is that true?”

“The workers from the capital were grumbling about why they were opening a branch here in this barren place with no specialties.”

“…”

It was true that the north didn’t have any special products. The best they had were furs made from animal skins. There were no decent mines, and it was a place constantly invaded by monsters and barbarians, so no trade company wanted to set up a branch here. Hence, the domain residents of Speraum were puzzled why Musen Trade had established a branch here.

Count Phineus’s trade company charged exorbitant fees. Since the residents had no other place to buy daily necessities, they had been paying high prices without realizing it. But things changed after Musen Trade came in.

Now they could see how much Count Phineus’s company had been exploiting them.

“At least Musen Trade has come in, giving us some relief. I managed to cover my living expenses without borrowing money this time.”

“Me too.”

Domain residents who usually had to borrow money from Speraum Castle if their hunting results were poor found some breathing room after Musen Trade came in. They could buy food and supplies at much cheaper prices than those offered by Count Phineus’s company.