I Thought It Was An Arranged Marriage - Chapter 4

The lips hidden behind fans trembled. They finally felt free to mock the always poised and expensive woman, only for her to meet an even better man.

A grand duke’s house, incomparable to a marquis. And the woman who would become the wife of the Emperor’s cherished younger brother. The envy and inferiority that had momentarily subsided surged even stronger. As they fumed with jealousy, the day of Young Marquis Addis’s wedding arrived.

It was the first time Rosaline Marte, who had been quietly secluded since the breakup, appeared in public after her return.

* * *

The wedding day was very clear. Rosaline, with an expressionless face, was escorted by Count Marte. In truth, she didn’t want to attend the wedding at all. What did it matter to her how the wedding of her former fiancé proceeded?

It was Liam who persuaded her to attend. Because she quickly found a new suitor, Rosaline’s reputation had risen, but she almost became a laughingstock. A high noble lady who lost her fiancé to a vulgar woman, unaware of the social rumors. But now, she was to become the Grand Duchess of Bryant, a match far superior.

Therefore, she needed to show everyone how dignified she is in the matter of meeting her former fiancé and his bride.

Rosaline sighed deeply. She was tired and annoyed. She didn’t care if she became a laughingstock.

The man who had kept a mistress while she was pregnant, and then another when the mistress got pregnant. She was the one who welcomed the breakup the most. And the fact that the new bride was the pregnant mistress was laughable. If someone had deliberately orchestrated this, it would be mocked for its lack of plausibility.

So she thought it was a well-matched pair. It was fortunate for both their lives that she was out of theirs and they were out of hers. She believed she could genuinely congratulate them and wish them happiness with a graceful smile.

She was wrong. The moment she saw the couple, her fingertips turned cold, and her vision turned red. Kallen, looking at her with undeserved affection, and Amelia, trying to smile but unable to hide her inferiority, left her breathless.

She had forgotten. Kallen was the man who had brutally betrayed her heart, and Amelia was the woman who had actually cut her life short.

It had only been two months since she returned from a terrible death. Two months might have been enough to organize her thoughts, but it was far too short to heal the horrific trauma.

Everyone watched Rosaline’s pale, trembling figure in silence but with keen interest. Their eyes held only deep curiosity and lowly intrigue. They probably hoped she would shed a tear. That would slightly alleviate their envy, jealousy, challenge, and base desires towards her.

Liam, who could read the atmosphere, knew this. Under normal circumstances, Rosaline would have sensed it keenly, but now she was too overwhelmed. Sensing something amiss, Liam protectively encircled her and spoke to Kallen.

“Congratulations on your wedding.”

“Thank you… Count.”

“You two look well-matched.”

“Do we?”

Kallen’s wistful eyes remained fixed on Rosaline. It was not appropriate behavior for someone at the center of high society’s storm.

Looking at his former fiancée with such longing in front of his new bride. The timid new bride and the pale former fiancée suggested this event would be a hot topic in high society for at least three months.

Unless someone intervened.

“There you all are.”

“Your Highness.”

With murmurs, Grand Duke Bryant appeared. Another main character of this hot gossip. Ignoring everyone else, he walked straight towards the trio and politely asked Rosaline for an escort.

“Ah.”

Everyone gasped as he naturally stood to her left, took her left hand, and wrapped his right arm around her shoulder. Of course, Rosaline was the most surprised. His escort was not an ordinary one. It was too intimate for someone who had merely sent a proposal and not yet received a reply.

Thus, everyone’s attention shifted from the three with subtle reactions to Grand Duke Bryant’s bold display of affection. Perhaps the real starting point of this intriguing event was not the Addis couple but the future Bryant couple.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly, and the couple was wed without any major interruptions. Throughout the ceremony, during the signing of the marriage certificate, and during the procession receiving everyone’s congratulations, Kallen’s wistful eyes on Rosaline failed to draw much attention.

Nothing stood out more than Grand Duke Bryant’s presence, who’s always by Rosaline’s side. Initially, everyone thought he was there to congratulate the future head of the Addis Marquis family, a key part of the Emperor’s faction.

But now, everyone believed he was there for Rosaline. He seemed uninterested in the wedding and never left her side. Though he didn’t speak to her, his gentle and warm gaze was unmistakably that of a man in love.

And when all the ceremonies ended, ignoring everyone’s stares, he politely asked her.

“May I borrow your time, my lady?”

It was a polite, almost humble, request for a date. And Rosaline didn’t refuse. She willingly accepted and boarded the carriage marked with the grand seal of the Bryant family.

“I won’t be long. Don’t worry.”

“You’re too kind, Your Highness.”

“Please speak comfortably. We might become family.”

To the bewildered Count Marte, Grand Duke Bryant smiled gently but firmly. As if there was only one answer to the proposal.

The perspective of those who had been saying, ‘The Marte Count family is blessed,’ changed abruptly. It was clear who was in charge of this marriage. Grand Duke Bryant was utterly devoted to Lady Marte. That was all that mattered.

The grand ducal carriage stopped at the outskirts of the capital, by a lakeside. It was a beautiful but quiet place, a spot Rosaline often visited. There was only one pretty and quaint café by the lake, run by the youngest daughter of the Pordan Count family, who also owned the lake.

The shy youngest daughter of the wealthy Count family found sufficient satisfaction in such a peaceful hobby.

“It’s unusually quiet today.”

Rosaline remarked in passing, unaware that Grand Duke Bryant, Lucas, had rented out the café. For her, who just wanted to go home and rest, it was a relief. She shuddered to think how she must have appeared to the pack of wolves earlier. If this man had not appeared to cut it off, she would have become the talk of the social circles.

Despite her gratitude, she found it hard to bear the continuous curiosity and malicious glances from people. She wanted to go home quickly, but this place, this peaceful place, was fine. Perhaps he liked such places too. A bit of affection for him bloomed in Rosaline’s heart.