DOME 08

Chapter 8

Before the ceremony began, many people had gathered inside the hall, chatting among themselves. Since it was the wedding of a member of the imperial family, it seemed that all the nobles in the city had gathered.

Their faces were filled with anticipation for the grand event that was being held after such a long time. However, there were also some who wore mocking smiles.

“Have you heard? The Second Prince’s marriage partner is apparently the young lady of the fallen Walker Count family.”

“What on earth is His Highness thinking…?”

“According to rumors, they say they fell in love at first sight.”

“He must have lost his senses because of love.”

At the sound of their clicking tongues, Adrian, who had been quietly standing while leaning against a pillar, clenched his fists tightly.

Although Richard had withdrawn from the struggle for the imperial throne and was living as a duke, he was still a prince of the Kainz Empire. There were still more people who recognized him as a prince rather than as a duke.

Because of that, there were even more people who mocked Aileen. Their tone carried the blame of asking how a fallen noble dared to put her name alongside the imperial family.

Adrian wanted to explode with anger at those insulting his sister, but he held himself back. It was because of the advice Aileen had given him before they came here.

“Adrian, even if someone insults me or our family in the hall, never step forward.”

“How can I do that? They’re insulting you, Sister!”

Adrian had argued back as if he couldn’t understand, but Aileen had been firm.

“Since I am marrying Richard, I can’t avoid receiving reactions like this. I can’t deal with every single person, and if we step forward, it will only create a worse image of us.”

“But still…!”

“One day, the day will come when the Walker Count family—not the Olden Duchy—will reclaim its honor. But that day isn’t now. So, Adrian, you can endure it, right?”

Adrian had moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he surrendered to the pleading look in Aileen’s eyes.

However, he couldn’t help being angry.

Especially, his resentment toward Richard began to rise.

He was already angry that his only sister was being taken away from him, and because of the man he had disliked from the beginning, Aileen was now being mocked.

Of course, Richard was also being talked about by the nobles, but Adrian didn’t think about that. Compared to Aileen, there weren’t nearly as many bad things being said about him. Above all, the only person Adrian cared about was Aileen.

With a sullen expression, he tapped the floor with the tip of his shoe. Then, someone crossed the hall and stood before the platform. It was the person officiating the ceremony.

After clearing his throat for a moment, he spoke in a slightly louder voice toward the people looking at him.

“Then, from this moment forward, we shall begin the wedding ceremony of the groom, Richard Felix Olden, and the bride, Aileen Olden.”

Because they had registered their marriage before the ceremony, Aileen’s surname was now called Olden instead of Walker.

Upon hearing that, some nobles had mocking smiles appear at the corners of their mouths, but they quickly disappeared.

The reason was because Richard appeared with the sound of his footsteps approaching.

“The groom, Richard Felix Olden, is entering.”

The officiant’s voice trembled slightly. It wasn’t enough for anyone to notice, but he was still somewhat nervous.

Richard stepped onto the red carpet and walked toward the platform. The crimson cloak attached to the back of his ceremonial attire fluttered with every step.

His appearance was both elegant and confident, causing everyone in the hall to hold their breath. Although he had withdrawn from the imperial succession battle, he was still a member of the imperial family. His overwhelming presence could be felt physically.

Amid the silence filled with awe, Richard reached the front of the platform. The officiant, who had been looking at him with the same eyes as the guests, snapped back to reality at Richard’s glance.

“Ahem… Next, the bride, Aileen Olden, will enter.”

The guests’ gazes all turned toward one place at the same time.

This time, Richard also followed their gazes and looked toward Aileen standing by the door.

As if responding to their wait, Aileen appeared.

Along with a wedding dress as white as feathers.

The guests held their breath as they watched her walk toward Richard. Some tilted their heads in confusion at the sight that differed from the rumors.

Since Richard, who was famous for being gentle yet cold-hearted, had fallen in love with her at first sight, rumors had spread throughout high society that the bride must possess an extraordinary beauty. There were even jokes that she might be a seductive woman who had ensnared him.

However, seeing her in person, the bride before them was the complete opposite of that image.

Rather than dazzling, she gave off a feeling of beauty.

If the image they had imagined before was a poisonous flower, the woman before them was a bright flower one might encounter inside a greenhouse.

Aileen tried not to pay attention to the various gazes focused on her and concentrated only on walking forward confidently.

Eventually, when she stood before Richard, a hand suddenly extended toward her.

When she raised her head, Richard was looking at her with a smile. He even gestured with his eyes as if telling her to take his hand quickly.

Aileen placed her hand on top of his.

Small exclamations came from those around them. Some whispered that the rumors were true.

At last, with both the bride and groom standing before the platform, the officiant unfolded a neatly rolled parchment.

“This is the decree sent by His Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Empire, to the bride and groom.”

The surroundings became quiet, and only the officiant’s solemn voice could be heard.

Usually, the emperor’s decree used in noble weddings always contained the same words. Only the names of the bride and groom were changed.

However, since Richard was a prince, it was slightly different.

Each and every word carried a sense of grandeur.

As Aileen listened, she began to feel slightly burdened. She even wondered if, should they divorce later, the emperor himself would come and punish her.

She became lost in serious thoughts when, fortunately, the officiant’s reading of the decree was nearing its end.

“…Therefore, through the reading of the vows by the groom, Richard Felix Olden, and the bride, Aileen Olden, I hereby recognize these two as husband and wife.”

As the officiant folded the parchment again, the person standing behind him approached the couple and handed the parchment to Richard.

Richard unfolded it and held one side out toward Aileen.

Aileen held her bouquet in one hand and grabbed the edge of the parchment with her other.

After briefly meeting each other’s eyes, the two began reciting the vows together.

“According to the decree of His Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Empire, we swear before all those gathered here.”

Aileen took a small breath and opened her mouth together with Richard.

“We swear to respect and care for each other as husband and wife. We swear to love each other forever.”

Before speaking the final sentence, Aileen glanced at Richard.

He quietly smiled at her as if saying it was all right.

Aileen hesitated before finally speaking.

“…We swear to spend our lives together and be happy.”

As soon as they finished their final vow, applause poured out from all around them.

Among them was Adrian, still wearing a displeased expression.

Aileen looked at them for a moment before turning her head toward Richard.

He was looking at her as well.

After staring at his face for a moment, Aileen gave an awkward smile.

With this, the two of them had become husband and wife.

After the ceremony ended, the guests left the hall and headed toward the reception area. There, food and drinks prepared beforehand by the servants of the Olden family awaited them.

Older nobles reached for wine, while young ladies and gentlemen who had not yet reached adulthood chose non-alcoholic drinks and food.

Just as the cheerful atmosphere continued, the main characters of the event appeared.

“The Duke and Duchess of Olden are entering!”

Everyone’s gaze gathered in one direction.

At the end of those gazes were Aileen and Richard, who had changed into their reception outfits and were walking in.

The two were dressed in matching outfits like a pair of dolls.

Matching Aileen’s ivory-colored dress, Richard wore a navy jacket. The jabot around his neck was fastened with a brooch made using Aileen’s highest-grade mana stone.

The guests gazed in fascination at the vivid purple mana stone shining brightly even from a distance.

“It’s such a beautiful jewel.”

“It’s not a jewel. Judging by its appearance, it seems to be a mana stone. And a top-grade one at that.”

“An accessory made with a top-grade mana stone… As expected, the Olden family is different.”

Some guests whispered in admiration.

Most of their praise was directed toward the power of the Olden Duchy.

And the more they talked about the Olden family, the more remarks belittling Aileen began to circulate.

Even though Aileen heard them, she greeted the approaching guests with a perfect smile.

They were all people who had come to gain Richard’s favor, but since she had become his wife, Aileen could not simply remove herself.

More importantly, if she left, they would immediately begin criticizing her as if they had been waiting for the opportunity.

She wanted nothing more than to find Adrian, who was probably alone somewhere, but Aileen endured and faced those approaching her.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Duke Olden. And Duchess Olden.”

“Thank you. So…”

“You may call me Marquis Payne.”

The marquis laughed heartily as he introduced himself. Aileen nodded and greeted him.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Marquis Payne.”

“Even when I watched the ceremony from afar, I could tell. The two of you truly suit each other. I thought the phrase ‘a beautiful pair’ must have been created for the two of you.”

When the marquis said that, Aileen simply smiled.

But inside, she felt awkward.

She knew it was merely a polite compliment, yet hearing that she suited Richard—someone famous throughout the Empire—gave her a strange feeling.

She glanced at him, and Richard was smiling calmly as if nothing was wrong.

Seeing his composed expression, Aileen erased the strange feeling she had just felt.

“By the way, Your Grace, about the matter I mentioned earlier…”

The marquis turned his attention toward Richard and began a conversation.

Since it was a discussion about work, Aileen couldn’t participate.

She thought it would end quickly, so she let their conversation pass through one ear and occupied herself with something else.

However, the conversation did not stop.

More precisely, the marquis continued talking about business matters.

Aileen slowly began to feel bored.

But she couldn’t openly show it, so she simply stood there with a smile on her face.

If she could at least move around, it would have been fine, but standing still made her feet ache.

Especially since she was wearing high heels.

Eventually, unable to endure it any longer, Aileen slightly lifted one heel.

At that moment, a strangely unpleasant laugh brushed past her ears.

Aileen moved her head slightly and looked around.

She saw people who seemed to have made eye contact with her quickly turning away.

There were faint mocking smiles on their lips.

Only then did Aileen realize something.

‘They’re doing this on purpose.’

The marquis seemed to be intentionally excluding Aileen by continuing a business conversation with Richard.

To make sure she understood her place.