Chapter 62
The baron had even gone so far as to borrow heavily from the bank to give money to that swindler. The bank clerks said that if not for Yulia’s marriage, even the factory shares—something he could have at least held onto—were now gone. At that, the baroness collapsed to the floor without so much as a scream.
“First, please go inside. No matter how urgent your situation, it’s not right to ruin a wedding like this.”
Why today of all days?
Yulia looked at the people following Henry, their backs turned, and barely held herself together, resisting the urge to collapse as well. Why did the revelation of her father being swindled and the bank finally demanding repayment have to come today of all days?
What meaning did this marriage have anymore? She was marrying to save her family from being thrown out onto the streets, but now that her father was in debt again, not only were they still ruined, even the factory was gone. Recovery was impossible.
What on earth had Father been thinking?! This couldn’t be happening. It made no sense.
“I… I have to find Father.”
Yulia trembled under the stares now solely fixed on her. Her thoughts wouldn’t work properly from the shock, but she clung to the idea that she must find her father first.
“Pull yourself together.”
As Yulia staggered toward the door, Cayente—who had watched silently until now—stepped forward and seized her arm.
“The priest hasn’t yet declared the marriage. If the ceremony ends like this, you’ll still be Yulia Luper. I’ll have no grounds to take care of you or your family. Do you understand what that means?”
Only then did Yulia remember that Cayente was here with her.
He hadn’t stepped forward earlier because he needed to assess the situation. Or maybe because he never would anyway. Cayente wasn’t the kind of man to recklessly act without reason, especially not out of affection for her. She had known that, and yet… perhaps because the mood between them earlier had been so warm, his cold, unchanging voice in this moment filled her eyes with tears.
She hadn’t expected words of comfort like “trust me.” But still—wasn’t he the least bit sympathetic, seeing her shamed in front of so many people on what should have been her happiest day?
“Do you really think running out will help you find your father? Stay in your place. That’s the best choice you can make right now.”
Even as Yulia silently began to cry, Cayente’s face remained impassive, pressing her to decide. Would she let her emotions ruin the wedding, or would she become Countess Clue? The desire he had revealed earlier, the intensity in his gaze—all of that had long vanished.
“What will you do? If you insist on running out to find your father, I won’t stop you.”
Cayente’s eyes, now icy, looked at her as if he no longer considered her even a fiancée, let alone his wife, should she walk away now.
“Do you think… my father is all right?”
“Of course not. He must have run away knowing this would happen.”
She wanted to hear a reassuring lie, but Cayente gave her none.
“So I must fully become Countess Clue for you to look after my family.”
“As long as you’re my wife… I can’t completely turn my back on them.”
If only he had shown off his ability like when he fixed her injured hand, offering a solution. If only he had boasted, like when he provided money for her last marriage attempt. Surely her father’s debt wasn’t a large sum to a man like Cayente. But he made no promise to resolve everything this time.
“Could we call the priest sooner? I don’t think I can endure continuing the reception like this…”
She had thought Cayente wouldn’t be someone to rely on in times of trouble. Yet now, the only thing keeping her from collapsing entirely was clinging to him.
Unable to smile and chatter as if nothing had happened, she grasped his collar desperately and pleaded. Fortunately, Cayente called for Lucy, who was flustered and restless.
“Summon the priest.”
“Yes, my lord!”
With one hand he held Yulia’s trembling grasp at his collar, with the other he supported her waist so that she, on the verge of fainting, could stand before the guests.
“The priest will be here shortly. Please, everyone, return to your seats and wait.”
“O-of course.”
“Well, they say if it rains on your wedding day or if misfortune strikes, the couple will be all the happier later.”
“Yes, yes. And since it’s Count Clue, surely he’ll handle things well, hoho.”
Though his tone and expression remained cold, there was a certain will to protect in the way Cayente held her. Feeling she would faint before the priest even arrived, Yulia allowed herself to lean against his chest. He did not push her away, but steadied her firmly.
“Bring the baroness inside.”
Cayente even took care of the baroness, whom Yulia had been too overwhelmed to notice. Though he didn’t step in as much as she wished, in his steady hold she found herself gradually calming.
If he had forced her to smile and host the guests as if nothing had happened, she would have bitten her tongue and laughed like a madwoman. But Cayente did not ignore her pain.
He had claimed to wish for her misfortune, yet in the face of her real suffering, he still gave her a path forward. Yulia was confused.
“Thank you, brother.”
Lifting her head from his chest, she whispered her gratitude. Cayente answered with the same expression he always had when rejecting her thanks.
“No need to thank me.”
But this time, Yulia didn’t feel hurt. In his eyes, stripped of emotion, she saw some unexplainable reflection of her own suffering—perhaps even Cayente’s own pain.
While Lucy ran to fetch the priest, he was already briefed on the situation. As soon as he arrived, he stepped into the garden and called for the couple. Yulia, still weak, leaned on Cayente’s arm as she stood before him.
“In the name of God, the Emperor, and before all gathered here, I declare Cayente Clue and Yulia Luper husband and wife.”
Yulia had barely held on, but the moment the priest finished the declaration, she fainted in Cayente’s arms.
The wedding had begun more splendidly than any other, yet ended in shambles. But among the guests hurrying away, not one truly worried for Yulia.
Everyone believed that Cayente, so capable a man, would surely resolve his wife’s family problems with ease.
“I’ve explained to the guests and persuaded them to leave. As for the bank, I asked them for just one more day, and they agreed. Shall we begin by searching for Baron Luper?”
The men who had raged about being swindled calmed immediately at Cayente’s name and left the mansion obediently. But Cayente had no intention of fixing this problem.
“No. It’s unnecessary. Tomorrow at dawn, we leave for Esacudia. Make arrangements for the train.”
“What? You mean you’ll still depart on your honeymoon like this?”
Yes. This was all part of kayente’s plan. He had had many chances to stop this, but chose not to.
