Chapter 50
The dress for the reception was a bright yellow, radiating a distinctly cute vibe.
“Ah, you look just like a little chick!”
Dressed in it, I really did look like a tiny chick, just as Betty and Angie had said.
Hearing that we should hurry, I dashed out of the room, only to find Levi waiting there in a similarly styled outfit.
“Oh, cute.”
“…You’re cuter.”
His unexpectedly quick reply made me snicker quietly.
Like a perfectly harmonious newlywed couple, we linked arms and headed down to the first-floor hall together.
The mansion’s hall had changed surprisingly since we’d last seen it after the ceremony.
It had transformed into a dazzling reception venue, full of warmth and fragrance instead of the usual chill.
‘Now that I think about it, the fact that the Yeongji estate is poor but somehow extremely wealthy must mean they have hidden pockets of wealth.’
Most likely, it’s a business inherited through generations. Judging by how busy Wolfgang and Benjamin are every day, it’s probably quite a large and successful enterprise.
Yet, since the world doesn’t know this “Bastion” runs a business…
“I’ll need to prepare myself before asking about it later.”
“About what?”
“Something like that.”
I swallowed a sigh.
There was no way to escape learning about the complicated household matters now.
Be strong, Asha Bastion. You can do this, Asha Bastion.
I didn’t want to regret anything from the very first day of marriage, so I focused on steadying my mind.
“Ah, finally, the protagonists have arrived!”
Our pretend mother called out, drawing attention.
Next to her, still playing her role as the promoter, stood Wolfgang and Franz side by side.
“Then, let’s toast.”
Wolfgang raised the glass in his hand.
The staff approached us, handing champagne glasses to each of us as we arrived from the stairs.
Wow, pure golden liquid. Looks delicious. If I just closed my eyes and drank…
“No.”
“What—what do you mean! I wasn’t thinking anything!”
“….”
“Ah, fine. I only thought about it. Just thought.”
Don’t glare at me like that. Honestly, reading minds is unfair.
While dodging Levi’s piercing gaze, the adults who were legally allowed to drink joyfully shouted their toasts.
“To the glory of the Bastions!”
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
Watching their throats move as they gulped champagne looked so refreshing.
I—I just wanted one sip…
“I said no.”
The staff came back to collect the glasses, and before I could even take a sip, Levi took my glass and handed it back.
Tch. That was disappointing.
It was frustrating knowing I had to wait ten more years before I could drink legally. Though, realistically, I couldn’t even guarantee I’d live through those ten years.
Seeing my slight gloom, Levi spoke gently.
“You still can’t drink.”
“That’s right…”
“Later, we’ll drink together.”
Later. When we’re adults. Could we really become proper adults?
I shook my head at the sudden question.
What nonsense thoughts now? Of course we can!
We’d even drink together until we grew old. Absolutely.
“Good. Then we’ll clean out all the wine in the underground cellar!”
“Yeah.”
“…Starting off our first day of marriage with a very wholesome conversation.”
Wolfgang, who had appeared without me noticing, raised an eyebrow.
Behind him, the other guests had formed a line, probably having overheard our ambitions while coming to greet us.
Uh-oh. It’s too late to act prim and proper. Very well then.
“If we mark my coming-of-age with just a wine cellar, that’s far too cheap!”
I fully embraced the bold bride persona.
From beyond Wolfgang, those who had widened their eyes in surprise soon burst into laughter.
“My goodness, Your Excellency! It seems you’ve obtained a very clever bride!”
“I was worried it might be too sudden, but it seems there’s no need for concern.”
“Ha! And it looks like Lord Levi has already been completely won over!”
“Your Excellency, please allow me to be formally introduced. I wish to greet you properly!”
I glanced around at the guests who were speaking quite familiarly.
No matter the drinks, they seemed to follow only Wolfgang, the Duke of Bastion, and I liked that.
Wolfgang lightly introduced us to the guests, keeping the mood easy.
At one point, someone’s turn came, and they suddenly became very formal.
“Introduce yourself. This is Viscount Gale.”
“Ah, hello… Gale?”
Gale… is Katrin’s family?
In other words, Wolfgang’s in-laws, and Levi and Franz’s maternal relatives. I quickly scanned Viscount Gale in front of me.
Judging by their age, probably…
“Are you Katrin’s father?” I asked cautiously.
“Legally, yes,” Wolfgang replied casually.
“Wh…ah!”
Just like me!
Ah, now the puzzle pieces that had been slightly off were slowly falling into place.
A previous duchess who, like me, was “picked up,” and the way the people of the Bastion mansion accepted my situation so readily.
I see. Not just Katrin, but perhaps others in the Bastion estates had used the same method as me.
Goodness. Even when they accepted me, they truly didn’t care about bloodlines, huh?
No, rather, perhaps they took pride in knowing that even so, their bloodlines remained untarnished.
‘After all, the divine cord never breaks.’
From their perspective, nobles and slaves are just the same: insignificant humans.
I could feel the stark disparity. Though, in part, it was that disparity that allowed me to claim this position.
Viscount Gale, a man of advanced age, spoke gently to me.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Asha Bastion.”
“Um… you can speak to me casually. I’m your granddaughter-in-law.”
When I quietly added, “Legally,” Viscount Gale laughed heartily.
“You’re somewhat like my daughter, yet different. Ah, I mean legally, my daughter.”
A faint sense of longing crossed his face as he spoke.
Their relationship was fake, yet not entirely.
‘Is that why Wolfgang shows such formality? Because Katrin truly regarded Viscount Gale as family?’
Viscount Gale didn’t linger long, likely due to his poor health.
Though our conversation was brief, his warm smile toward Levi and me conveyed everything he wanted to say.
After greeting all the guests, the last person, she approached me with tears in her eyes.
“Congratulations on your marriage, daughter!”
“Thank you, Mom!”
Baron Mane, who had been filming the emotional mother-daughter moment, stepped back and added expressionlessly,
“And to answer your previous question, the real Baron Mane has been bedridden for a long time.”
“…Thanks for the bitter truth.”
Ah, Bastion. The household never fails to meet expectations. All lies, every last one.
With Baron Mane and Wolfgang gone, only Levi remained by my side.
Sigh… time to sit and rest.
No sooner had I thought that than Levi guided me to a sofa in the corner of the hall.
I plopped down on the sofa, half-sighing, half-joking at him for staying by my side the entire time during greetings.
“Hey, now there’s no turning back. Even if you regret it, it’s useless.”
“I won’t.”
“….”
“I don’t regret it.”
He brushed back the stray hair at my ear with a look that said, “Absolutely not.”
Without realizing it, I said:
“Shall we check the wall tomorrow?”
“What?”
“The pitch-black wall. We can go meet Casador too.”
“Why so dangerous…?”
“Because I’m a Bastion too.”
The words came out more smoothly than I expected, and I smiled faintly.
Ah, this is what it feels like. Yes, this is it.
Now I understood why everyone kept saying, “Because she’s a Bastion, because she’s a Bastion.”
“And it’s fine because my husband will protect me. I have an amazing husband, jealous, aren’t you?”
I said it in a playful, bratty tone. Even Levi, usually so composed, couldn’t help but break into a smile.
It was funny sometimes how we found each other cute. As they said, a newlywed couple must be adorable to live happily.
Laughing and teasing with Levi, I glanced around and whispered,
“…You didn’t tell anyone you heard that, right?”
Levi nodded, fully understanding what I meant.
It was the monster’s voice.
I patted his hand in approval.
‘It’s still too early to reveal this to anyone.’
We couldn’t be sure if it was really the monster speaking, or if we had just imagined it.
Moreover, since the monster was probably a creation of the demon, claiming we were the only ones who heard it without proof…
‘We might be treated as heretical lunatics.’
Even if Levi was a descendant, what about me?
If anything, I was closer to being a child of the heavenly god Lumiere. A saint. The sacred energy in my body was clear proof of Lumiere’s love.
‘My head hurts.’
Even when everything seemed to go according to plan, something always felt like it was about to go terribly wrong.
Only God could know if I was truly doing well. But my life did not belong to God, or anyone else.
It belonged entirely to me. Mine alone.
‘…I will never give it up.’
At that moment, I met Levi’s gaze.
Catching the strange look, I realized I was touching my neck.
Ah.
Quickly, I lowered my hand and smiled out of habit.
Not because I was fine, but because if I kept smiling, I’d become fine.
Like counting numbers, almost like hypnosis.
I had learned this from long ago, from the death of the last remaining family member.
An unforgettable, precious lesson.
