#69. The Wedding Night
Douglas and I deliberately chose only the most remote and rugged paths to travel.
The unpaved roads made the carriage ride far more exhausting than I’d expected.
Until I got used to it, my stomach churned so badly that I couldn’t even swallow a piece of bread.
“Are you not tired, Elizabeth?”
Douglas, who was driving the carriage, glanced back at me.
I was more worried about him than myself.
“Are you all right, Douglas? Driving all day must be tiring.”
“This much is nothing. Writing is actually harder work than it looks.”
“You sound rather cheerful about it.”
“I never knew being a coachman could be so fun. I think I’ve discovered a new talent.”
The Douglas from the original story was a young nobleman who had probably never lifted anything heavier than a fountain pen.
Even if his father’s gambling debts had caused him hardship, he was still the heir to a marquisate—
someone who surely never had to do any kind of menial labor.
“When did you learn to drive a carriage?”
“I began horseback riding for exercise. But I found this even more interesting.”
Douglas smiled brightly, his perfectly white teeth showing.
It was the kind of smile that could lift anyone’s mood just by looking at it.
“I wouldn’t have learned it at all if it weren’t for you, Elizabeth.”
“Because of me?”
“Do you remember when His Majesty kidnapped you?”
“How could I forget?”
Once, Nikolai had tried to make me his empress.
Douglas had offered up his family’s treasured heirloom to stop him.
That was around the time his character began to change.
“I thought—if I could drive a carriage, I might be able to escape with you.”
“You’re rather prophetic.”
“I was just a man who knew nothing but books and writing. Before His Majesty’s overwhelming power and body, I was helpless.”
Douglas’s tone turned cold and distant as he stared straight ahead, recalling the past.
Wanting to lighten the mood, I asked teasingly,
“Did you want to defeat His Majesty that badly?”
“As a loyal subject of the Empire, I could never harbor treasonous thoughts. But…”
“But?”
“I wanted to be someone who could face him head-on. Man to man.”
“Douglas…”
“Even if I lost, I wanted to at least try. Once is enough for the memory of powerless submission.”
“So, you hate the idea of bowing to the emperor? I thought you were a loyal subject, but it seems you have quite the dangerous ambition.”
At my words, Douglas’s smile disappeared.
“There was a time I had an even darker desire.”
“What?”
“Sometimes, I wanted to be a traitor.”
“…!”
Treason?
What on earth was this pink-haired deer saying?
My heartbeat quickened.
Douglas turned his head slightly toward me, his expression softening.
“Haha, just a joke. I’m sorry for startling you.”
But his eyes remained calm and cold—like a frozen lake in midwinter.
A sharp ringing echoed in my ears, as if warning of danger.
‘If Douglas ever sides with Claudia… no—if he manages to persuade her, what would happen?’
Helping a fugitive like me was already close to treason.
If Nikolai, who already saw Douglas as a thorn in his side, decided to use that as an excuse…
there’s no telling what crime he could accuse him of.
Douglas was no longer the man he once was.
And Claudia—who loved him—wouldn’t just stand by and watch.
A perilous scene unfolded in my mind—one I’d never imagined while focusing only on twisting the original story.
Claudia leading a revolutionary army, and Douglas standing by her side.
‘No. Douglas isn’t like that. Stop imagining nonsense.’
I forced down my anxiety.
Douglas glanced at the map for a moment.
“We should reach the Thirteenth Temple by tomorrow.”
“Why do the followers of Morasincia number their temples instead of naming them? They could’ve just used locations or names.”
“It’s probably because of their doctrine of equality.”
“Right, the goddess Morasincia is said to have covered her eyes for that reason—to show that she doesn’t discriminate between the poor and the lowborn.”
“And you once said such a world doesn’t exist, Elizabeth.”
“You remember that?”
“It left quite the impression. The way you spoke your mind so confidently was… very admirable.”
Douglas scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
I watched him quietly.
“Douglas, aren’t you curious?”
“Curious about what?”
“When I asked where we might find the goddess’s relic, you suggested the Thirteenth Temple.”
“Yes, that’s how our journey began.”
“But aren’t you wondering why I’m looking for the relic right after fleeing the palace? Or what I intend to do with it?”
Before I left the palace, I’d written him a letter—
asking if he could help me escape,
and if he knew anything about Morasincia’s relics.
Douglas said he would help with anything.
He even suggested visiting the oldest temple of the Morasincia faith—the Thirteenth Temple.
But he never asked me a single question.
“You could get into serious trouble because of this journey. You should at least know why.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Why not?”
“Because you want it, Elizabeth.”
His words left me speechless.
I was grateful for his unwavering kindness—
but also felt suffocated, as if I’d swallowed a hundred sweet potatoes whole.
‘I appreciate it, but he’s the type who’d get scammed out of his entire fortune and sold to a salt mine.’
Maybe that mix of pity and worry showed on my face, because Douglas cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I may not be clever, but I’m not that much of a fool. Nor am I completely without curiosity.”
“Then why don’t you ask?”
“Because I know you’ll tell me when the time is right.”
“…”
“It’s inconvenient for you right now, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Then tell me when you’re ready. Or not at all. I’ll wait.”
I’ll wait.
Those words stirred the spring-colored forest around us.
How deeply he cared for me—
how heavy his affection was—
I didn’t know how to answer feelings I could never return.
His warmth brushed against my cheek like the wind.
And for some reason, that made it even lonelier.
The sun was setting when Douglas stopped the carriage.
“I’ll prepare camp.”
We had plenty of supplies—bread, biscuits, nuts, jerky.
The leather water bags were filled with clean stream water.
For the past two nights, we’d camped by a bonfire—
I slept in the carriage,
Douglas by the fire.
He’d even brought thick quilts and goose-feather pillows for me.
I’d offered to take turns using them, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
It was as if my safety and comfort were his only priorities.
“I’ll make tea. Please wait a moment.”
I tapped his shoulder lightly as he started building the fire.
“You said there’s a village a bit farther ahead, right?”
“Just over that hill.”
“Then let’s risk it and stay at an inn tonight.”
“You’re uncomfortable sleeping outdoors?”
Douglas’s face darkened. I shook my head.
“I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.”
“Then why…”
“I just really want to wash. I can’t stand how I smell anymore!”
***
The traveler’s inn, which mainly served mercenaries and peddlers, was nearly empty.
Even the tavern downstairs—selling a few dishes and drinks—was deserted.
I pulled my hunting cap low and stuck close behind Douglas.
He had hidden his pink hair beneath his hooded robe.
“Any vacant rooms?”
The landlady, a short, plump woman, eyed us up and down suspiciously.
A heavy silence followed.
My mouth went dry, though we weren’t even being interrogated.
Finally, she spoke.
“There’s only one room left—the most expensive one. Two silver coins, including feed for your horse.”
“That’ll do.”
“Well, aren’t you the fancy kind,” she muttered, as if doubting we could afford it.
Did we really look that shabby?
“Do you serve meals?”
“Potato porridge and some smoked pork, maybe.”
“That’s fine. And could we have a bath prepared—hot water and a tub?”
“There’s a well in the back.”
“I’ll pay extra. Please prepare it.”
At his calm, steady tone, the landlady narrowed her eyes.
A ceramic bath and hot water were luxuries for the wealthy.
Commoners rarely bathed.
A shabby traveler asking for a bath was bound to raise suspicion.
‘Even in this world, I used to bathe every day in hot, scented water with flower petals. I really have grown used to luxury.’
I didn’t want to make a fuss,
but my greasy hair and the stench of sweat were unbearable.
“Will this cover it?”
Douglas placed three silver coins on the table.
The landlady’s face brightened immediately.
“Wait in your room, I’ll bring it right up.”
“Thank you.”
“Need anything else?”
“No, that’s all.”
“You’re quite the handsome young man—and rich too. The lady’s lucky.”
Her sly gaze fell on me.
Startled, I stammered, “N-no, it’s not like that!”
“Oh? So you’re not newlyweds on your wedding night?”
“It’s not like that at all!”
“So you two already know each other that well then, huh?”
This time, Douglas’s face turned crimson.
We froze until the landlady finally hummed her way back to the kitchen.
***
The “most expensive” room was clearly a rip-off.
A heavy, awkward silence filled the cramped space.
Even breathing—or moving my eyes—felt unnatural.
All because of that landlady’s teasing.
No, perhaps because of Douglas—
who still had his usual gentle smile, completely unfazed.
‘Is Douglas really not embarrassed at all?’
He seemed perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, I was painfully aware of every little thing, feeling like an idiot.
‘Seriously, calling it our wedding night? If this place were on a booking app, I’d leave a one-star review!’
Not recommended.
Landlady’s way too nosy.
Room’s small and not that clean for the price.
View’s okay though.
I wrote the imaginary review in my head.
Then Douglas asked seriously,
“Will this be all right, Elizabeth?”
“W-what will?”
I stuttered, sounding ridiculous even to myself.
“…The bed’s a bit hard.”
He pressed his hand against the mattress to check.
Oh. He meant the bed?
Relieved for a moment—
until I realized there was only one bed.
A narrow double bed, not even that big.
So that’s why the landlady said what she did.
My heart started pounding uncontrollably,
as if it might burst out of my chest.
‘What do we do now? There’s only one room… and only one bed…’
