Chapter 37
The temple chose an auspicious wedding date exactly one month later. Once the date was set, the slow wedding preparations suddenly turned into a whirlwind of activity.
Everyone in the house, led by Grace, focused on getting everything ready for the wedding. Reina had to spend all day, from morning to night, choosing food, dresses, jewelry, and shoes, making guest lists, and organizing seating arrangements.
“Miss, what color should we decorate the hall with? White? Pink? Light purple? White is always best, right?”
“Miss, about the dress! Should we use embroidery from the Kingdom of Ibellon? Or make it elegant with satin ribbons from the Ciel region?”
“For dessert, should we serve blueberry cheesecake or raspberry tart?”
Reina’s head hurt from the nonstop questions from the maids. She rubbed her temples and replied,
“…Can’t we just make both and let people pick?”
“Wow, Miss! You’re a genius!”
One maid left, and another came with a sample book.
“Miss, what about table decorations? You can choose between a platinum duck or a crystal swan!”
Reina stared. She had no idea which looked more suitable for a wedding.
‘Which one should I pick? Left or right…?’
She pointed randomly at the crystal swan.
“This one?”
“I knew it! I thought you’d like that one more!”
‘Really…?’
With a dazed face, Reina was quickly surrounded by more maids pushing her to choose.
“This is never going to end!!”
Reina realized she wouldn’t be free until after the wedding. What made her even more annoyed was that only she had to suffer. Since the wedding and reception would be held at the Phillon estate, all Kalheil had to do was prepare one outfit.
“I’m suffering so much… and he’s just free like nothing’s happening?”
Now she understood why couples fought while planning weddings. It made perfect sense.
“Miss, are you okay?”
“No… save me, Amy…”
Amy looked at Reina with pity.
“You really can’t take it anymore?”
“No… I just want to get out of here… Please, let me out. This will never end…!”
Amy looked at her for a moment, then clenched her fists with determination.
“I’ll help you escape.”
“Really? You have a plan?!”
Reina’s face lit up with hope.
“Yes! I think it’ll work. But… you won’t regret leaving all the wedding planning to Madam Grace?”
Reina glanced at Grace, who stood like a general on a battlefield, giving orders to the maids. Her eyes sparkled with passion.
“…I think it’s fine. Honestly, I stopped thinking a while ago.”
Amy nodded like she expected that answer, then whispered something in Grace’s ear.
To Reina’s surprise, Grace waved her hand as if to say Reina could go out. Realizing she had permission, Reina jumped up like a spring and followed Amy down the hall.
“What did you say to her to get me out?”
“Oh, that?” Amy gave a sheepish smile. “I told her you picked golden toads as thank-you gifts for the guests.”
“When did I pick that?!”
“Just now. You picked it from the kids’ birthday catalog instead of the wedding one.”
Now that Reina thought about it… she had been really sleepy earlier. Maybe she picked the toad with her eyes closed.
“…Whatever. I’m just glad to be out.”
Thinking about leaving the house made her steps feel lighter.
“It’s been a while since you went out. What do you want to do, Miss?”
Without hesitation, Reina replied,
“Let’s go to the city. I just want to get out of this mansion.”
Following Reina’s wish, the carriage rolled toward the city.
“Mm, the air feels great.”
Reina took a deep breath and smiled. The air probably wasn’t much different from the estate’s, but just being somewhere else made her feel lighter and free.
As Reina walked around the city like a curious tourist, she noticed a strange building in the distance.
Even though the sun hadn’t set yet, the building was covered in glowing lights. It looked like a giant Christmas tree.
“Amy, was that building always there?”
“Where?” Amy peeked in the direction Reina pointed, then frowned.
“Oh… that place?”
She scrunched up her nose.
“That’s a gambling house, Miss. It opened not too long ago.”
“A gambling house?”
“Marquis Bardian cleared out an old building and opened it. I heard it’s making a lot of money and sucking in everyone’s cash.”
Reina narrowed her eyes and studied the building. Just like Amy said, people were flooding in like metal drawn to a magnet.
“Hmm… a casino, huh…?”
Why were people lining up like that? Was there honey inside? Crowds usually meant something interesting.
“Let’s go, Amy.”
“Wha—WHAT?!!”
Amy jumped.
“The gambling house?!!”
“Yeah. Doesn’t it look fun?”
Amy’s face turned serious.
“No way, Miss! That place is dangerous!”
“Dangerous? How?”
“People lose all their money gambling there. And I heard… some shady rumors.”
“Shady rumors? Like what?”
“They say some people go up to losers and make strange offers.”
“Strange offers?”
Now Reina was even more curious.
“What kind of strange offers?”
“Well…”
Amy leaned closer, looking serious—then shrugged.
“…I don’t know either.”
“What?”
“I’ve never been there! But I know it’s not a good place. It’s definitely a den of evil… Oh?”
Amy suddenly looked confused and mumbled,
“…A knight?”
“A knight?”
Reina followed Amy’s gaze, but there were too many people entering the building to tell who she was talking about.
“Who? Who did you see?”
“I think… I just saw someone I know…”
Amy stared at the gambling hall doors with a worried expression.
“I thought he was busy… Why would he be here now…?”
Her face was full of concern. Reina stretched her neck to see.
“What, your boyfriend went into the den of evil?”
“Yes… just now, the knight went in…”
Amy repeated Reina’s words, then waved her hands frantically.
“No! He’s not my boyfriend! I couldn’t possibly…!”
“Hmmm…”
Reina stared at her. Amy’s face turned red with embarrassment but stayed filled with worry.
‘A one-sided crush, huh? Poor Amy. Why make life harder for yourself?’
“Let’s go. We have to save your knight.”
“But…”
Amy hesitated. It seemed she didn’t want to bring her lady into such a place. Reina beat her chest in frustration.
“Are you okay with your knight losing everything in there?!”
“…Losing everything…”
That worked. Amy’s face turned serious.
“We can’t let that happen! Let’s go inside!!”
Gripping her skirt tightly, Amy marched toward the gambling hall. Reina followed, rolling up her sleeves.
“Alright! Let’s go save your knight!!”
‘Isn’t it usually knights who save the lady? Oh well!’
With determined faces, the two marched forward.
Past the guards at the door, they entered the dazzling gambling house. The outside was fancy, but the inside was even more overwhelming.
A giant chandelier sparkled on the ceiling, and decorations with gems and crystal were everywhere.
Fancy guests sat at different tables playing games, while waiters glided between them. Acrobats swung above their heads, and a large fountain stood in the center.
“…It’s like another world.”
Reina and Amy, who had bravely walked in to save the knight, stood there with wide eyes and dropped jaws.
“W-We don’t have time to stare! We have to find the knight!”
Love gave Amy strength—she snapped back to focus.
“Right, Amy.”
Reina nodded and shut her mouth. She had thought only men would be here, but there were quite a few women as well. Thanks to that, she and Amy could move through the crowd without too much trouble.
But there were so many people. Amy hadn’t lied when she said the place was raking in all the money.
“Can you find your knight, Amy?”
Amy shook her head.
“I don’t see him. There are too many people.”
She looked really worried.
“What does he look like, anyway? Tell me, so I can help you find him.”
“Umm… well…”
Amy hesitated, thinking hard…
(To be continued.)
