Chapter 20
The wedding went smoothly, contrary to my worries.
The crown prince and empress looked elegant and noble as they attended.
At a wedding attended only by our family, some royals, and a few high-ranking nobles, the crown prince and empress carried themselves with dignity while conversing with the guests.
My stomach churned at the sight.
The emperor, who was marrying off his second son, seemed in high spirits. He laughed heartily throughout the ceremony, his throat visible with every booming chuckle.
When the sun reached its peak, the main ceremony began.
I walked down the red carpet, a symbol of the royal family, alongside Kaylen. Guests showered us with congratulations.
Whether it was sincere or not, I didn’t know.
At the end of the long carpet, when the officiant asked if we would spend the rest of our lives together, I answered, swearing before God and the emperor.
Kaylen paused briefly before answering, but no one attending the ceremony noticed, except for me.
Since royal weddings were rare, the excited emperor presented me with one of the royal treasures.
It now hung heavily on my left fourth finger. It was our wedding ring, a gem so large that I would never normally be allowed to wear it.
Normally, it might only be worn for important events or formal invitations—but already I was worried about the sheer size. It was simply huge.
“Relax your face a bit.”
Kaylen whispered this in my ear as I stared at my hand. I forced a smile.
“When the hell will this damned banquet end?”
I asked softly, so that the beautiful melodies in the banquet hall didn’t drown out my voice.
Kaylen glanced at the loudest person in the room.
“With His Majesty so cheerful, there’s nothing we can do.”
I saw the emperor laughing heartily, showing even his molars.
Since the boisterous, tactless emperor wouldn’t leave, neither the other royals nor nobles dared to depart.
The banquet dragged on longer than expected, leaving me exhausted.
The brief autumn had already passed during wedding preparations, and early winter was approaching. The banquet hall was warm from the torphaz heating, but my body started to feel a chill.
Both my wedding dress and the reception gown exposed my neck and shoulders. I rubbed my bare skin with my palms, glancing around.
Those enjoying food and drink in small groups were all influential people in the royal court or social circles.
I desperately wanted some strong liquor to warm up—but if the bride guzzled liquor here, the next day every noble in the capital would know me as the “drinking duchess” before I even picked up a fork.
If nothing else, I just wanted to take off my shoes for a moment. Searching for a secluded spot, my eyes met an unwelcome acquaintance.
“Well, why did I not know such a beautiful person until now?”
Crown Prince Ferdinand approached, holding a glass of wine and spinning slightly as he smiled.
“I thought I’d ask you out before my brother snatches you away.”
He pressed a kiss to the back of my hand without lifting his lips, only tilting his head slightly.
This guy is serious.
I withdrew my hand naturally and smiled brightly.
“You flatter me.”
I had my tastes, you know.
I discreetly wiped my hand on my dress. Ferdinand, seeing this, smirked and lifted his wine glass to his lips.
“Ah, yes. Since my brother is married now, I should give a gift as a dutiful elder brother…”
He paused mid-drink, suddenly remembering something, and turned his head.
Glancing briefly at the empress chatting with some ladies, Ferdinand’s lips stretched into a long grin.
“You’re excited, aren’t you?”
Would you be?
Ferdinand’s blurred green eyes flickered for a moment. Nervously, I looked up at Kaylen.
“A gift from your brother? I’m excited to see it.”
Kaylen, maintaining his usual public facade with a fake smile, made Ferdinand’s scar twitch slightly.
“Seeing my brother’s expression makes me regret not giving a better gift.”
Ferdinand’s grin vanished as he drained the remaining wine with ice. The crunch of ice only heightened the tension.
An invisible spark ignited between them.
Unaware or indifferent, nobles commented on how good it looked to see Ferdinand and Kaylen standing together.
“Heading to the newly granted estate soon?”
“Yes, elder brother.”
“Alright, brace yourself in the cold.”
The crown prince, now smiling, patted Kaylen’s shoulder.
In high spirits, Ferdinand then asked the emperor for permission to return to the palace first. Once granted, he leisurely exited the banquet after greeting everyone.
With Ferdinand gone, the empress urged the emperor that the newlyweds should retire to their chambers.
“Haha! I hadn’t realized! We mustn’t disturb the first night of the bride and groom! Ha-ha!”
Once the emperor and empress finally departed, the cautious nobles gradually left as well.
The ministers who stayed late to strengthen ties with the great nobles were the last to leave.
I bid farewell to my father, who had sweated through the day following the emperor, and to my mother, who had been busy greeting guests, and exited the banquet hall before Kaylen.
Passing through the garden, I arrived at the main residence. A servant waiting at the entrance guided me to the room that had served as the bridal waiting room.
The first thing I did upon entering was throw off my shoes. The right shoe rolled across the floor.
I shed my heavy dress and let down my hair.
Finally freed from the corset that had constricted me up to my chin, I sank into a warm bath that Mia had thoughtfully prepared.
The servants assisted her, drying me with soft towels. Their skilled hands lulled me almost to sleep.
As I nodded off, I vaguely heard Mia’s voice worrying about how I would survive the first night in this state.
The first night?
Right. The final ceremony of this long, tedious wedding remained—the first night with Kaylen.
Blood.
First night, my foot.
Kaylen and I were contractually married with a fixed term. Moreover…
I couldn’t ignore the distrust in Kaylen’s green eyes.
Knowing that nothing would happen between us, all I wanted was to get into bed as quickly as possible.
Even as Mia and the servants dressed me in a revealing nightgown, I was nearly half-asleep.
Sliding my arms into the thick nightgown, my eyelids were still half-closed.
Following Greta, the head maid of the Lampert estate, I stumbled toward the room.
“This is today’s bridal chamber and the duke and duchess’ bedroom.”
Greta stopped at the largest door on the second floor, at the center of the estate.
“Thank you. You’ve all worked hard today.”
I yawned as I grabbed the doorknob and pushed. The surprisingly heavy door opened, and I instantly jolted awake.
The empress’ wedding gift was a living creature.
A black eagle, symbolizing the royal family.
And that eagle had been brutally killed, lying in a pool of blood on the bed of the newlywed couple.
“Kyaaah!”
Kaylen, who had stripped to bathe after seeing off the remaining guests, rushed over at the sharp scream. The sight before him was shocking.
Blood covered the bed, walls, table, sofa, and even the candlesticks. The metallic stench filled the room.
Kaylen glanced sideways at me, standing frozen. My small, pale hands clutched the thick winter robe, trembling slightly.
Damn it.
Swallowing his curse, Kaylen nodded to Caspian, who had arrived late.
Understanding, Caspian gasped as he explained something to Dillon, who was running behind, then quickly left the estate.
“Greta.”
Even Greta, who had weathered everything alongside Kaylen, was dumbfounded at the gruesome sight.
At Kaylen’s call, Greta quickly regained her senses and approached me.
“Duchess, we should get you outside…”
Greta grabbed my small shoulders. I nodded and turned to leave, but paused.
Turning back, I looked at the ruined room and muttered,
“Thanks for the wedding gift, XX.”
