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Chapter 7
Richard waited for Ailen in the dining room for dinner. Before long, Ailen entered with Adrian after changing into a more comfortable dress.
Unlike Richard and Adrian, who enjoyed their meal casually, Ailen only picked at her food. The maids had also warned her not to eat too much since the wedding was approaching, and she was nervous as well.
Even though it was only a formality, the fact that she would be getting married in a few days still didn’t feel real to her.
After barely finishing dinner, Ailen spent some time with Adrian in his room. When Adrian eventually fell asleep while playing, she laid him down on the bed and went outside.
Although she had wrapped a shawl around herself, the nights in May were still a little chilly. However, it was perfect weather for clearing her mind.
Ailen walked around the garden of the Olden estate. She planned to keep walking until her heart calmed down.
“It’s cold outside. Why are you out here?”
At that moment, a familiar voice reached her ears, and Ailen turned around. Behind her stood Richard, smiling at her as usual.
“Your Grace… no, Richard.”
Ailen hurriedly corrected herself after almost calling him by his title. Richard, who had been walking toward her, briefly stopped.
They were still not used to how they should address each other.
However, Richard quickly resumed walking while hiding the unfamiliar emotion that had surfaced within him.
When he reached right in front of Ailen, he gently adjusted her open shawl and said,
“The weather is cold. The ceremony is only a few days away. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if you caught a cold before the wedding?”
His touch was gentle, as if he were truly treating her as his wife.
Ailen awkwardly accepted his gesture and replied,
“That’s why I came out here. I’m a little… no, actually, I’m quite nervous because of the wedding.”
“There is no need to be nervous. All the guests attending the wedding will be people desperate to make a good impression on both me and Ailen.”
Ailen smiled bitterly and shook her head.
“Who would want to make a good impression on a noblewoman like me, who is on the verge of ruin? Everyone will probably either laugh at me or try to take advantage of me.”
“So, are you planning to let them use you without resistance?”
Richard asked with a meaningful smile.
The meaning behind that smile was obvious, so Ailen firmly shook her head.
“Of course not. Although I may be a noblewoman whose family is facing ruin, I have never lost my confidence.”
“You truly are the wife I chose.”
Richard laughed as if he found her answer amusing.
As they continued talking, Ailen gradually forgot why she had been nervous. She only needed to act as she always did.
Proudly and confidently.
As her tension disappeared, a smile appeared on Ailen’s face.
“But why are you outside, Richard?”
She asked as if she had just remembered.
Richard shrugged his shoulders and answered,
“Because Ailen was outside.”
“I was planning to walk a little longer before going back, so you should go inside. What will you do if you catch a cold, Richard?”
Ailen spoke with genuine concern, causing Richard to laugh with an incredulous expression.
“I am not that weak.”
Ailen covered her mouth with her fingertips, realizing her mistake.
Until now, the only man she had ever been close to was her younger brother Adrian. Because of that, she had unconsciously treated Richard the same way she treated her younger brother.
Ailen hesitated before quickly apologizing.
“I-I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. You said that because you were genuinely worried about me, didn’t you?”
Fortunately, Richard only showed his kind smile.
Relieved, Ailen hesitated before speaking.
“Um… then, would you like to walk together?”
“If that is what you want.”
Richard smiled and stood beside her.
Ailen glanced at him briefly before turning her attention back to the scenery of the garden.
“The garden here is really beautiful.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. It’s a perfect place to organize my thoughts.”
Richard turned his gaze toward Ailen.
“What thoughts are you organizing this time?”
“Just… Even though this is a contract marriage, I still have to fulfill my duties as the Duchess for one year. And more than anything, even if I say I’m confident, I don’t know if everyone will actually acknowledge me.”
After honestly expressing her feelings, Richard let out a long breath.
After remaining silent for a moment, he placed a hand on his chin and asked,
“If you are truly worried, how about using Ailen’s ability?”
“My… ability?”
“Yes. There is something Ailen is especially good at, isn’t there?”
Ailen blinked in confusion.
The only thing I can do is make magic stones…
Seeing her expression, Richard smiled and whispered something into her ear.
As she listened to his words, Ailen raised her eyebrows.
“Will that really be enough?”
“Everyone will definitely like it.”
After thinking for a moment, Ailen eventually nodded.
“Okay. I’ll try it.”
❧ ❧ ❧
When the day of the wedding arrived, not only the bride and groom but also all the servants were busy moving around.
Especially Ailen, the main character of the wedding, was even busier.
From dawn, she was dragged around by the maids, soaked in water mixed with fragrant oils, and after washing, she returned to her room where a facial mask was placed on her skin for beauty treatment.
That alone would have been enough, but there were still two enormous obstacles left: the dress and makeup.
The wedding dress was white, yet it was extremely bright and extravagant, decorated with countless jewels and frills.
On top of that, she also had to wear separate accessories.
Because of this, Ailen became exhausted just from putting on the dress. Especially since she had not been eating properly recently.
“This is exhausting…”
When Ailen unknowingly muttered her thoughts aloud, the maids who were carefully arranging her dress looked up at her with sympathetic expressions.
“Please endure just a little longer, Madam. You only need to get through today.”
“I know, but…”
“If it is too difficult, should we bring you some fruit juice?”
Ailen immediately nodded.
She felt like she needed to swallow something just to regain some energy.
While one maid went to get fruit juice, the others focused on finishing Ailen’s appearance. Perhaps because she looked exhausted, the maids moved even faster.
Soon, the maid who went to get the juice returned.
Ailen quickly drank the juice she offered. The cool and sweet drink made her feel a little better.
At that moment, it seemed the dress adjustments were complete, as the maids stepped away from her.
“The dress is finished… Now we will begin the makeup.”
“Please do it as quickly as possible.”
The maids giggled at Ailen’s defeated tone.
“We’ll do our best.”
As the maids approached her, Ailen gently closed her eyes.
Soon, she felt powder being applied to her face.
After her skin, eyes, and lips were all decorated, the maids stepped away again.
“It’s finished, Madam. Please open your eyes.”
Ailen carefully opened her eyes.
When she looked into the mirror, she couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Wow…”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. Very much.”
Ailen sincerely admired the result.
The reflection in the mirror showed a completely different version of herself from before. Exaggerating a little, she looked like someone who could even be called the flower of high society.
“The power of makeup really is amazing…”
When Ailen murmured that, the maids proudly straightened their shoulders.
At that moment, a knock came from outside.
“Ailen, may I come in?”
The owner of the voice was Richard.
After Ailen gave the maids a signal, one of them quickly opened the door.
Soon, Richard entered the room looking elegant.
As he approached Ailen, he stopped when he saw her appearance.
“The dress you wore at the previous banquet was beautiful as well, but today you are far more beautiful.”
At Richard’s sincere compliment, Ailen slightly blushed.
“Thank you. Richard, you look wonderful today too.”
As usual, he had tied his slightly long hair back, with only his bangs swept to one side.
His outfit was a black formal suit matching his hair color. Although the golden embroidery could have looked plain on someone else, it looked incredibly elegant on him because of his outstanding appearance.
Richard smiled and spoke.
“I came by before the ceremony started. I thought this might be the only time we could talk.”
“That’s true. By the way, are ‘those things’ all prepared?”
Ailen carefully asked.
Richard nodded as if telling her not to worry.
“They said the packaging was completed just now.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried they wouldn’t be finished in time.”
Ailen placed a hand over her chest and sighed softly.
One worry had been taken care of.
Now, everything depended on how she acted.
Tension appeared on Ailen’s face.
Seeing this, Richard approached her and whispered into her ear.
“It’s fine even if you ruin it. This is only a formal marriage meant to maintain appearances.”
After stepping away, he smiled at her.
Ailen smiled back.
Just as he said, this was only a formal marriage.
Even if she made a mistake, Ailen had already been labeled as a fallen noble, so it likely would not cause much damage to her.
But Richard was different.
For some reason, Richard wanted his reputation to fall. However, he was a powerful member of the imperial family and the Duke of Olden, a family with enormous influence throughout the empire.
Ailen’s mistake could stain his reputation.
Beyond that, it could even bring actual harm to him.
That was the opposite of what he wanted.
That was why she could not relax.
Ailen hated causing trouble for others more than anything.
Her right hand tightened around her left.
Richard noticed it but pretended not to see and met her eyes as he spoke.
“Then I will go greet the guests. I’ll see you soon, Ailen.”
“Yes. See you soon.”
After Richard left, Ailen’s expression became serious.
It was about to begin.
Soon, the ceremony would start, and she would become Richard’s wife.
When that happened, the foundation for repaying that damned debt would finally be established.
A strange light appeared in Ailen’s eyes.
She absolutely could not make a mistake.
