Chapter 19
Wow.
I couldn’t help but admire my reflection in the mirror. At my reaction, the palace attendants, the servants Mother had hired, and even Mia couldn’t hide their smiles.
So this is why they say the bride is the star of the wedding. Every time I turned slightly, the jewels on my voluminous dress sparkled brilliantly.
“I’ll bring the prince.”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the mirror. Mia bowed slightly and left the bridal waiting room.
Ah, there’s still something left to do.
In this world, the groom had a custom to perform a ritual for the bride before the wedding. I had heard about it before but had temporarily forgotten.
Knock, knock.
Shortly after, Kaylen entered with Mia.
Seeing him in a red uniform with a blue emblem draped over his shoulders and his bright blond hair neatly slicked back, I quickly checked my upper lip.
Thankfully, there was no nosebleed.
So much for the bride being the protagonist. Today, the lead role clearly belonged to Kaylen.
A bitter taste lingered in my mouth as I let out a heavy sigh.
Kaylen approached me, moving with such elegant and composed steps that I almost felt like clicking my tongue in irritation.
Tsk.
He looked up at me as I clicked my tongue. I could tell from his eyes he was silently asking if there was a problem. I just smiled faintly and nodded, silently telling him to continue.
Mia approached the reluctant Kaylen, holding a red cushion with a pristine white shoe on it. The sunlight hit the gems on the toe, making it glint.
Kaylen bent one knee, holding the wedding shoe in his hand.
I lifted my heavy wedding dress, adorned with tiny dangling jewels. Slipping my foot out of the pink, fur-lined slipper, Kaylen gently held my left ankle with one hand while sliding the shoe on with the other.
My small, delicate foot fit perfectly into the shoe.
So embarrassing.
Here, it was a custom for the groom to put the wedding shoes on the bride before she walked the aisle.
It symbolized his wish for blessings on the path they would walk together. I had thought it was trivial, but watching Kaylen kneel and carefully put the shoe on from above made my heart flutter.
Wanting to finish quickly, I lifted my other leg—but Kaylen didn’t move.
“Hmm. Ahem.”
I cleared my throat awkwardly, but he didn’t budge, still holding the second shoe. Mia and the others behind us exchanged confused glances.
“I’d like to be alone for a moment.”
Kaylen’s words made Mia quickly set down the cushion and leave. The others followed, leaving the bridal waiting room quiet.
Why was he suddenly acting like this? I watched the top of his head, lost in thought, and slipped my foot back into the slipper.
“What’s the matter?”
With one foot in a shoe and the other in a slipper, I unintentionally balanced awkwardly as I asked. Kaylen looked at me for a moment, still holding the shoe, then rose to his feet.
“I want to ask you something.”
Wouldn’t it have been easier to put on the shoe first and then ask? I wanted to say so, but his serious expression made me quiet and nod.
“Do you not care that we’re getting married?”
Suddenly?
I furrowed my brows at the untimely question.
“Isn’t it a little late to ask that now? Well… even if I answer, there’s nothing we can do. My side is from a mere baron family; we can’t reject this marriage.”
“No, not that.”
Kaylen bit his lower lip, slightly thick.
“If we divorce, it’ll follow you your whole life.”
Ah, so that’s what he was asking.
I shrugged lightly.
“If we divorced, I couldn’t live the perfect life by noble society’s standards. But that’s not my measure of happiness.”
Maybe that was the plan at first. If I could perfectly escape the protagonist’s life, I could live leisurely off my investments, meet the man I liked and who liked me, and marry.
I had imagined having a beautiful daughter, walking together in matching clothes, my husband running toward us after work.
But that plan was already ruined. Sitting and regretting what I couldn’t achieve didn’t suit me.
This marriage was the best I could do now, and I wouldn’t look back.
“Won’t you regret it?”
“Which choice doesn’t come with regret? Most choices come with more or less. But even that regret is mine.”
I lifted my dress, slipping my foot from the slipper, and offered it to him bare.
“Prince, I’m not asking you to take responsibility for my life. But can you trust me a little?”
Kaylen stared at me silently, tapping the shoe lightly against his palm in displeasure.
People are so untrusting.
I impatiently grabbed my dress and pulled it down, taking the shoe from his hand. I roughly placed it on the floor and slipped my foot in.
I stepped closer to Kaylen.
Perhaps because I had taken the shoe, I grasped his left hand that was frowning.
Today, the wedding coincided with his conferral of title. Though he hadn’t officially received it yet, from today, Kaylen Livriden became Duke Kaylen Lampert.
The Lampert family ring would soon be placed on his left pinky.
I kneeled, took his left hand, and kissed the empty pinky where the ring would go.
A kiss of loyalty and fealty.
His hand twitched. I held his left hand tighter.
“For one year, I will serve as Duke Kaylen’s wife and a loyal subject. Can you trust me?”
Kaylen looked down at me, bewildered.
Who could have expected a bride to give such a pledge on the wedding day?
“Whether you like it or not, we’re in the same boat from today. If it capsizes, we die together. But I want to live a long life.”
Kaylen looked down at me, clearly wondering what I was saying. I looked up, admiring his handsome face without shame.
“My stamina is low, but my head’s surprisingly sharp.”
Take a leap of faith. Nothing to lose, right?
I winked at Kaylen.
His expression immediately hardened.
I shouldn’t have winked.
I awkwardly smiled, releasing his hand. I straightened my knee and stood.
The dress weighed heavily, but I didn’t stumble—fortunately avoiding a total disaster.
As I nervously smoothed my dress, Kaylen suddenly extended his hand toward me.
“A wife is not a subject. She is a partner. So a vow kiss isn’t right. A handshake of alliance is better.”
Ah, so this is why the bride is the protagonist.
I looked up at Kaylen, extended my hand, and calmed my racing heart with a slow exhale.
Gripping his hand, I felt the strong sense that this was truly the beginning.
Knock, knock.
“Prince. His Majesty the Emperor requests your presence.”
Kaylen released my hand and headed to the door. He paused, hand on the doorknob, and glanced back.
“About that wink… I think it’s better not to do that again.”
With that, he left quickly. Mia entered with a radiant expression.
“What were you two talking about for so long?”
Her flushed cheeks and bright eyes seemed to imagine what just happened, but reality fell far short. I shook my head.
“Show me the mirror.”
Mia giggled and handed me a handheld mirror. I held it up and squinted one eye.
“Something in your eye? Should I take it out?”
“No, not that…”
I waved away Mia’s fuss.
“Then why are you opening and closing your eyes like that? You’re not hurt, right?”
A wink. I had just winked.
I rolled my eyes at innocent Mia.
