Chapter 2.1 – Arranged Marriage with the Man I Secretly Loved

The marriage, arranged by the Emperor, happened very quickly.  

Serena sat in the bridal waiting room, gazing at her reflection in the mirror. If not for her stiff expression beneath the veil, she would have looked every bit the new bride.

‘Is it really okay to get married like this?’

Before she knew it, it was the day of the wedding.  

Up until the ceremony, she had spent every day trying on dresses and hadn’t had a single conversation with Johannes. In the end, she had made it this far without ever truly knowing his feelings.

‘No, there must have been some way to reach him.’

Serena gently bit her red lips.

“Miss! At this rate, you’ll be late. You need to go to the hall now.”

Anna’s fussing beside her cut off Serena’s worries.  

With a face still drained of color, she entered the hall. The ceremonial hall in the grand cathedral was as splendid and spacious as its reputation suggested.  

But Serena, lost in thought, didn’t take in any of the scenery. Even when her father, the Grand Duke, held her hand, her pale complexion did not return to normal.  

The Grand Duke, thinking his daughter was just nervous, offered a few words of comfort and blessing as they walked together to the altar.  

Of course, she couldn’t manage a proper response.

‘This marriage will bring me happiness, but will it be the same for Sir Johannes?’

Since she still didn’t know his true feelings, Serena could only answer her father with a smile.  

As she walked with her eyes downcast, she saw a pair of polished leather shoes beneath her gaze. Looking up, she saw Johannes in his splendid ceremonial uniform.  

He smiled softly at Serena and took her hand.  

His hand was so warm and firm.  

Drawn in by his beautiful smile, Serena smiled without realizing it. His smile always had the power to make her smile too.

“You look beautiful, Serena.”

Johannes quietly whispered in her ear so that no one else could hear. Serena, nervous, lowered her gaze even further.

“Thank you. You look wonderful too, Sir Johannes.”

Up close, he looked truly dignified.  

The knight’s uniform clung to his solid muscles, showing off every line of his body. The many medals decorating his chest swayed with each breath he took.  

Behind the golden epaulets on his shoulders, a pure white cape fluttered, making him look like a figure out of myth.  

His hair, swept back, revealed his handsome face entirely, making her too shy to meet his eyes.  

Just being beside him made her heart tremble, and she couldn’t look at him properly. The bishop’s words of blessing barely registered in her ears.  

Even as they exchanged rings, Serena’s hands trembled. In contrast, Johannes showed no hesitation.

“Now, the two of you may share the vow’s kiss.”

The bishop smiled warmly at the couple. The nobles seated at the head table watched them with shining eyes.  

They were such a beautiful and well-matched pair that just seeing them made everyone happy.  

With careful hands, Johannes lifted Serena’s veil. There, at last, were the beautiful eyes he had longed to see, along with her luscious red lips.  

Without hesitation, he leaned in. And he kissed the wife he had so longed to touch.

‘Why isn’t it ending…?’

Serena, clutching her pounding heart, accepted Johannes’s deep kiss. She had heard that the vow’s kiss was just a light touch.  

Before she could wonder any further, Johannes’s long tongue slipped into her mouth.

“Mmm!”

Startled, Serena parted her lips slightly, and Johannes eagerly drew in even her breath.  

With her small hands, she tapped at her husband’s chest. His body was as solid as a fortress, and she could feel the firm muscles beneath the tightly fitted uniform.  

Touching a man’s body for the first time, she let out a flustered whimper. Only then did Johannes release his wife, who had been struggling in his arms.  

A thin silver string connected their lips for a moment, then quickly broke.

“Ahem! With this, I declare you husband and wife.”

The bishop cleared his throat awkwardly and blessed the couple.  

Johannes instinctively took her outstretched hand. He held Serena’s hand firmly, as if he would never let go, and left the hall with her, basking in everyone’s blessings.  

Young ladies showered them with flower petals at the entrance to the hall.  

Serena, secretly taking deep breaths, couldn’t respond to the congratulations around her.

‘T-that was… so surprising.’

She pressed a hand to her chest, which felt as if it might burst.  

The vow’s kiss wasn’t supposed to be that deep. She had been shocked, but she didn’t dislike kissing him.  

If anything, the strange feeling it left behind was the real problem. When he cradled her cheek with his large, warm hand and kissed her with lips scented with a fresh fragrance, her heart fluttered.  

When his moist tongue slipped into her mouth and tried to drink in her every breath, she felt a tickling sensation deep in her lower belly and was startled.  

Trying to clear her tangled thoughts, Serena glanced at Johannes beside her. He was watching her, and when their eyes met, he smiled.  

As she tried to turn away, Johannes reached out and gently stroked her lips.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I got a little carried away. Did it hurt?”

“No, I’m fine, Sir Johannes….”

His fingers brushing her lips tickled. Serena tried her best to compose herself as she spoke.

“Now that we’re married, please call me by my name.”

“But…”

Among high-ranking nobles, even after marriage, it was rare to call each other by name. Of course, couples who were truly close were different, but theirs was an arranged marriage.  

Calling each other by name, with such familiarity, was something only ‘real’ lovers did.

“If it still feels awkward, you may call me ‘dear’ instead.”

His green eyes seemed almost pleading. Serena couldn’t bring herself to refuse and nodded.  

Johannes grinned as if he had gained the whole world, but then, seeing Serena’s pale face, his smile faded.

“…I’ve noticed since earlier that you don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”

With careful hands, Johannes gently stroked Serena’s cheek.  

She already had pale skin, and with the veil, she looked even more washed out. He realized now it hadn’t just been his imagination; even after the wedding, she was still pale.

“Please don’t worry. I’m all right.”

Serena gave him a faint smile to reassure him.

‘Maybe my complexion changed from worrying about his feelings these past few days.’

She wasn’t really sick, so she would be fine.  

But unlike Serena, who dismissed it, Johannes’s expression only grew more serious.

“I think it would be best to call for a physician. We should cancel the reception too.”

“That won’t do!”

Serena gripped Johannes’s hand tightly.

“I heard many high-ranking nobles are attending today’s reception. We can’t miss such a good opportunity to greet them.”

Johannes was a newly appointed Duke—a rising noble.  

Even though he had the Emperor’s trust, it was important for him to build relationships with key figures in noble society to secure his position.  

Regardless of how he felt about their marriage, Serena didn’t want Johannes to be embarrassed at such an event.  

She wanted to help him, even if only a little.

“Nothing is more important than you.”

Johannes gently stroked Serena’s cheek, his expression serious.  

His tenderness made Serena’s heart tremble.  

He was so kind, as if she were truly his beloved.  

Even though he had married her by the Emperor’s command.

“Thank you. But I really am all right.”

“If you feel even a little unwell, please tell me.”

Serena nodded vigorously to reassure him. Johannes’s eyes, as he looked at her, were filled with concern and kindness.  

He had such a gentle nature that he was kind even to someone he didn’t love.  

That made Serena’s heart ache.

* * *

Having changed into a somewhat more comfortable dress, Serena spent the night greeting nobles. As she had expected, many high-ranking nobles came to greet and congratulate her and Johannes.

‘It really was the right choice to come to the reception. This is a great chance for Sir Johannes to meet the nobles.’

Serena smiled as she watched Johannes conversing with the great nobles of the capital. She dismissed the dizziness clouding her vision and ignored the rising heat in her body.

“…My lady!”

As soon as Johannes saw Serena while talking with the nobles, he called out to her urgently.  

At that moment, she still did not know why her husband was calling her so anxiously. Johannes strode over and placed his hand on her forehead.  

His hand was as cold as ice.  

No, was it her body that was burning up?

“Your body feels like it’s on fire right now. Let’s go back immediately.”  

“That can’t be! If I rest for a bit in the lounge, I’ll be fine.”

Johannes had just been about to start conversations with people. He couldn’t leave at such an important moment.  

Serena thought she would be fine after a little rest and quickly turned away. And at that moment, she collapsed forward.