Chapter 51 …
The first lips to ever touch my body as a human were surprisingly soft and moist.
That brief yet intense kiss left me too flustered to even think about retrieving my fox bead.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Epher.
Kneeling down, holding my hand.
Epher, kissing the back of my hand.
“…?”
Still holding my hand, he slowly stood up.
My gaze simply followed his lips.
What was that supposed to be?
‘Wasn’t he supposed to kiss me?’
Apparently, I was the only one feeling dumbfounded.
“By this act, we declare that the vow has been sworn before the goddesses.”
The High Priest’s solemn voice rang out, and applause began erupting from all around us.
No—no!
We didn’t even kiss properly! How is a kiss on the back of the hand a marriage vow?!
This isn’t children’s play!
But my silent scream was drowned out by the orchestra that immediately began playing.
* * *
After receiving a kiss on the back of my hand instead of my lips,
I wandered around absentmindedly, letting people guide me wherever they pleased, while obsessing over a single thought.
‘No… my kiss…?’
Before I knew it, I was seated in the center of the banquet hall, watching a terribly tacky congratulatory performance.
Someone sang with me, someone danced with me,
But none of it registered.
When the performances ended and people began standing one by one to applaud,
I clapped along before suddenly whipping my head toward Epher.
“Your Highness. Why earlier—”
I was about to ask why he’d skipped the kiss, but Epher cut me off.
“You didn’t wear it—the one I gave you yesterday.”
His expression was stiff. That hardly looked like the face of a freshly married groom.
Frowning, I replied,
“I was planning to wear it during the reception.”
“…This is the reception.”
“It is?”
Only then did I realize I’d already changed into a different dress.
“Oh. I was so out of it, I didn’t notice. I was going to go put it on.”
The shock of missing the kiss must’ve been bigger than I thought—I had no sense of time or awareness of what anyone was doing.
“You didn’t know?”
I awkwardly glanced at him.
‘Is he interrogating me?’
His face had looked rigid just moments ago, but now it seemed to soften—as if he actually liked that I hadn’t known.
‘What kind of guy is he…?’
Since he didn’t look particularly upset, I tried to bring up the vow again.
“More importantly, earlier—”
“If it’s alright, have Moria bring it.”
“Bring what?”
“The Flower of Ordi.”
“Is that really important right now?”
What matters most right now is why you ended a wedding with a hand kiss!
“Shouldn’t we establish your position as Grand Duchess in front of everyone?”
“And when you said I didn’t need to do anything because I was only a nominal Grand Duchess?”
When I grumbled, Epher deliberately avoided my gaze.
“That doesn’t mean I wanted others to look down on you.”
“They already did earlier—!”
Skipping the kiss was disrespectful!
“Earlier? What happened?”
But when Epher turned to me with a worried expression, my mouth snapped shut.
“Did someone say something to you?”
Perhaps because insulting me was no different from insulting him, he looked genuinely angry.
Even to myself, bringing up the kiss in this situation felt pathetic.
‘Right. I have my pride too. I’ll bring it up later.’
I brushed it off.
“Earlier… my father was being humiliated.”
Epher clicked his tongue.
“He had a rough time yesterday too. Seems nothing’s changed. All the more reason to bring that jewel.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Just thinking about the dozens of rumors I’d heard from Flynn and Angmu yesterday, and Count Pellua’s dejected expression, proved his point.
When I raised my hand to call Moria, she hurried over from afar.
“Moria, go to my room and bring the Flower of Ordi.”
Then Epher cut in again.
“Give it to Fior, and have him bring it to me.”
Moria glanced between us, then bowed to Epher and replied that she understood.
‘What is he planning?’
If he’d just kissed me properly here, I’d instantly become the second Hestia and turn the social world upside down.
‘And what about my fox bead? When am I ever getting it back?’
I seriously debated using my powers right then and there.
‘No… I failed before. If I fail again, I’ll end up a fugitive for a long time.’
Especially if I didn’t even have enough power left to maintain a human form.
My head was pounding when—
Bang!
The doors burst open so loudly that even the orchestra stopped mid-performance.
In an instant, everyone in the banquet hall—including me—turned toward the entrance.
‘Fior?’
He appeared holding the box Epher had given me the night before, one in each hand.
He was usually like a shadow, so I’d expected him to sneak in unnoticed, but instead he strode confidently into the center of the hall.
With everyone’s attention fixed on him, Fior soon stood before the two of us.
At that moment, Epher stood and extended his hand to me.
Without thinking, I placed my right hand atop his and stood with his support.
‘What is he doing?’
Fior opened the box before us, and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“What’s that?”
“Is it a gift?”
Amid the chatter, Epher’s gentle voice rang out.
“It’s nothing grand, but I thought it would suit you.”
Only then did I understand his intention.
If I hadn’t managed to silence everyone by appearing adorned in these jewels myself—
Then he’d present them to me directly, in front of everyone.
‘Clever.’
Epher first took out the ring.
Gently pulling my hand closer, he slid it onto my right ring finger.
As I stared at the ring gleaming clearly atop my white glove—
“Madam. Just a moment.”
With his long, slender fingers, he lightly held my chin and slowly lifted my face.
Was it because I’d been thinking about the kiss nonstop?
Or because he’d called me madam?
Or because the way he was looking at me felt oddly suggestive?
Despite having an empty stomach, I felt unbearably full.
I half-closed my eyes, feeling his touch trace my jawline.
When his fingers neared my ear, my legs nearly gave out.
Click.
With a solid sound, I felt weight settle against my earlobe, and my eyes flew open.
“Oh my, aren’t those the Flower of Ordi earrings?”
“They are!”
Apparently pleased with the murmurs, Epher gazed at me with a lifted corner of his lips.
He took out the necklace next—yet never once took his eyes off me.
His fingers, as warm as his gaze, brushed my nape, sending heat racing through me—
Until the coolness of the necklace resting against my collarbone finally brought me back to my senses.
But once intoxication sets in, even cold water can’t fully sober you up.
“They’re beautiful.”
His praise left my lips painfully dry.
* * *
After the guests were served their meal, light refreshments were prepared in the garden.
Epher was soon surrounded by guests offering congratulations, and I found myself seated awkwardly among unfamiliar young ladies.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Estora Langville.”
“Hello, Grand Duchess. Marianne Sevitz.”
They smiled and introduced themselves, but none of it sank in.
“The Grand Duke’s household must be terribly busy. You may be the head of Elnoa, but perhaps we could host the teas at our count’s estate for the time being?”
Wow. Already trying to challenge me.
“It’s my duty. I’ll handle it myself.”
Just yesterday I’d been the daughter of a fallen house, but now that I was a Grand Duchess—
Everyone wore smiling masks, but I could feel their resentment beneath them.
At that moment, the ever-competent Moria quietly filled me in.
“Estora Langville. She’s the Countess of Langville.”
As soon as I heard that, I addressed her.
“I’ve heard the Langville estate invests in some interesting ventures. The next time we hold a tea, could you tell me about the puppet theater your family recently funded?”
The Countess’s pupils wavered.
“It’s quite a wise investment. Stage plays require large venues, but puppet theaters can operate on a smaller scale with good returns.”
She glanced around cautiously, then cleared her throat.
Thankfully, studying the nobles likely to attend Elnoa before the wedding paid off.
I’d heard there’d been heavy opposition—claims that puppet theaters were only for children.
“Even frugal parents still take their children to see them and find small moments of leisure. Demand won’t disappear.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Not bad for my first social maneuver.
I chatted lightly with many other ladies and noblewomen as well.
Thankfully, not everyone was hostile.
They didn’t necessarily like me—but many showed genuine interest.
“Grand Duchess, are those really the Flower of Ordi?”
Whether they were interested in me or not was debatable.
“To give something that precious… His Grace is truly romantic.”
I fiddled with the necklace he’d clasped around my neck.
‘Romantic, huh.’
His gaze earlier certainly felt that way.
But whether it was all an act or sincere, I couldn’t tell.
“You were incredible during the vow ceremony.”
“Isn’t it rare to swear a vow on the back of the hand during a wedding?”
“Exactly! It was so elegant.”
“Isn’t the meaning incredibly sweet and noble?”
I tilted my head at their excited chatter.
Someone here was panicking over a missed kiss, yet they’re calling it sweet and noble?
“It seems His Grace truly cherishes you.”
I genuinely wondered what meaning they were reading into it.
At that moment, Moria caught my eye and asked quietly,
“Madam, what does swearing on the back of the hand mean?”
“Uh… well…”
Why are you asking me? I don’t know either!
Luckily, before I could embarrass myself, one of the ladies beside us chimed in.
“Oh my, you don’t know? No wonder Her Grace is shy.”
“Ah—sorry. I was just so curious…”
“You see, swearing on the back of the hand means—”
I perked up, finally about to learn that supposedly noble meaning when—
“Aaaaaah!”
A terrified scream rang out from behind us.
