Chapter 35
When she was cornered, tears welled up in Vanerinne’s eyes in an instant. She covered her mouth with trembling hands and sobbed pitifully.
“Brother, you’re so cruel. How can you be so cold even to your own sister? Don’t you think I might have had a reason—one I couldn’t say out loud?”
“Theo—”
Theodore coldly cut her off and issued his command.
“You may think the whole world lies in the palm of your hand, but that won’t work on me. Stop wasting your energy and leave.”
In the end, Vanerinne failed to obtain the investigation records and had no choice but to leave the Emperor’s office. One of his aides escorted her out as she wept.
“Are you all right, Duchess?”
“Don’t mind me. I’m only embarrassing myself before you.”
“What on earth happened?”
The aide barely managed to ask when Vanerinne’s lips curved into a knowing smile.
“His Majesty…”
Her tongue moved smoothly, coaxing sympathy.
“I merely wanted to review the investigation records from when I was still a princess, but His Majesty refused—so coldly.”
“I see…”
Normally, imperial investigation records were not shown to anyone lightly. Even if requested, they weren’t released immediately. But Vanerinne, though she had married out, was still of royal blood.
How heartless of His Majesty, the aide thought. Yet, for him, this was also an opportunity. The Emperor was still powerful despite his health issues, and he often granted Vanerinne’s requests.
If I take her side now, this could turn into a great chance for me.
With that calculating thought, the aide handed her a handkerchief.
“What kind of records are they? If it’s only to view them, I can help.”
“What kind of records…”
Behind the handkerchief, the corner of her lips lifted slyly.
After arriving at Duke Luc’s mansion, we didn’t enter through the front gate immediately. Instead, we got off at the garden to take a walk around the grounds. Not for something romantic like a “garden date,” but because our wedding was to be held outdoors, right there in the garden.
Cerulean explained the layout to me carefully.
“We’ll walk from here to the entrance.”
“Will this mat be laid down on the wedding day, too?”
“A red silk carpet will be placed over it. It won’t be slippery.”
“And how should I hold your hand? Just place my fingertips on yours?”
“Like this.”
Cerulean gently took my hand and placed it so that it rested across half of his palm.
It wasn’t intimate—it was formal, almost ceremonial. Holding hands that way, standing upright and proper, we walked through the garden until we stopped at the central fountain. Since so many guests would attend, tables would be arranged in a circle around us.
“Once we walk up to here,” he said, “I’ll lift your veil.”
“And then, we’ll seal the vow with a kiss.”
Our wedding differed from traditional ones in that there was no officiant. Instead, we would recite our vows of love to each other before everyone.
So the kiss is still part of the vow…
No matter how many times I reminded myself it was a contract marriage—that we’d divorce someday—my heart still beat wildly just thinking of him. I smiled awkwardly and asked,
“Shall we… practice?”
Instead of replying, Cerulean cupped my cheek with his large, steady hand. His other arm wrapped firmly around my waist.
I don’t even flinch anymore…
The man who once trembled whenever I came close was gone. Now I was the one shaking.
Wait—is he really going to kiss me? Not on the cheek or the forehead, but… actually?
I shut my eyes tightly and felt my heartbeat racing. His breath tickled my cheek—
Rustle.
“Eek!”
Startled by a sudden sound, I pushed hard against Cerulean’s chest with both hands. He, already aware of the intruder, didn’t seem surprised.
“You can come out now.”
Who on earth could he be addressing so casually? Tilting my head, I turned toward the noise—and froze.
“H-h-hello, brother… sister-in-law…”
From the bushes emerged a chubby boy with hair like spun gold—Cerulean’s younger brother, Charles.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know when to come out and greet you.”
Watching him fidget with his short fingers made my heart flutter for an entirely different reason. He kept glancing shyly at Cerulean, eyes filled with admiration.
Aw, he adores him.
Honestly, if I had a brother like Cerulean, I’d probably follow him around too.
Say something kind to him, please.
I nudged Cerulean meaningfully. But his tone came out flat and stern.
“Shouldn’t you be in your etiquette lesson right now?”
“O-oh, the tutor didn’t come today…”
“Even so, self-study is essential.”
“…Yes.”
That wasn’t tender at all. Poor Charles—no wonder he’d been hiding in the bushes, afraid to interrupt.
Feeling bad for him, I rummaged through my handbag.
“Ah, that reminds me! I bought a gift for you, young master.”
“A gift? For me?”
Charles blushed to the ears and looked at me with wide, shining eyes—like a puppy wagging its tail.
How cute. He’s nothing like Vanerinne at all.
I took out two boutonnières I had bought from the tailor’s shop. They weren’t the typical floral kind; instead, each had a tiny teddy bear attached.
“Here—this teddy bear one is yours.”
“Wow…”
“It’s nothing grand. I just wanted to thank you in advance for taking care of me.”
Charles received it with both hands and bowed deeply, his cheeks still red. Smiling at his adorableness, I heard Cerulean ask in his usual cool tone,
“Then the other one is for me?”
“No, this one’s for His Grace.”
“…For my father?”
His voice dropped. I gave an embarrassed laugh.
“Well, he did buy my dress, and it felt awkward not to thank him somehow.”
Cerulean closed his mouth, expression stiff. I barely noticed, though, because Charles was joyfully pressing on the teddy bear’s face and finally looked up with a bright, pure smile.
“Thank you so much!”
He was so sweet I wanted to pinch his cheeks. Smiling warmly, I turned toward Cerulean—only to blink in surprise.
What’s with that face?
Cerulean looked… sulky. Like a child who’d just had his toy taken away.
I whispered, “You’re not… upset because you didn’t get one, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“Your face says you’re dying of disappointment.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Really? Because your face looks just like this.”
I mimicked his expression—eyes narrowed, lips pouting slightly. Cerulean stared at me for a long moment, then stepped closer.
“Then what kind of face do I make when I look at you normally?”
“Eh?”
Caught off guard, I blinked. His face was right there, close enough that I could see the faint shade of blue in his gray eyes.
“Well…”
The moment our gazes met, my heart pounded again, my face burning. I bit my lip before anything foolish could slip out. Cerulean, oblivious, continued calmly.
“I don’t often express emotion. Words like ‘cute’ or ‘lovely’—I know what they mean, but I’ve never truly felt them.”
His large hand brushed lightly against my cheek. He was only tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear, but my breath caught anyway.
Looking into those calm, deep eyes made my chest ache.
“But when I see your face, I begin to understand what those feelings are. Is that the same expression you mean? When I look at you, my eyes redden, my lips tremble…”
“Cerulean, that’s—”
No, it couldn’t be the same. We couldn’t possibly share the same kind of feelings. And yet… my heart throbbed painfully at the thought. I opened my mouth to answer—
“Young master!”
“Hic!”
A sharp voice cut through the air. It was Lady Sage, the baron’s wife.
Charles hiccuped in fright as she strode toward us, anger flashing in her eyes.
“What are you doing here? Have you finished all the assignments your tutor gave you?”
“T-that’s…”
Oh, she was going to crush him. I quickly stepped in.
“He was helping me rehearse for the wedding. It’s not his fault.”
Of course, that wasn’t true, but I couldn’t let him get scolded. Lady Sage shot me a look full of hostility but restrained herself in front of Cerulean.
“And what does the young master have to do with wedding rehearsals? Please don’t take up his valuable time.”
“He’ll be family soon, won’t he? It’s a household event—it’s not completely unrelated.”
Her lips tightened, unable to argue. Then her gaze dropped to Charles’s hand.
“And what is that you’re holding?”
It was the boutonnière I’d given him.
She snatched it from his small hand. The teddy bear’s face was crushed between her long fingers. After examining it disdainfully, she slipped it into her pocket.
“Such a cheap trinket is unfit for the future sword of this nation. It’s far too delicate.”
“Ah…!”
Charles’s face twisted in pain. I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Madam, that’s extremely rude. That was my gift. You have no right to take it away.”
“Excuse me?”
Lady Sage’s brows arched sharply. Clicking her tongue, she raised her voice.
“Disciplining a child is the lady of the house’s duty. The Duchess has entrusted that to me. You interfering now is what’s truly rude.”
I was speechless.
“So you call this ‘discipline’? Ignoring a child’s feelings and trampling on his heart?”
“It is a noblewoman’s virtue to raise children strictly in proper etiquette. If you, a common-born lady, do not understand that—then learn.”
Her voice, full of arrogance, pressed down on me like a weight. Instead of reflecting, she lectured me—like I was the one who needed correction.
