Episode 12

The emperor checked our reactions and burst into a leisurely laugh.

“Did I say something too harsh to a couple who aren’t even married yet? I’m sorry about that.”

“No. I don’t know if we can live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”

Ezekiel took care of it before he could sense anything strange.

After that, we just pretended to be friendly and exchanged strange pleasantries, and then it ended. As soon as I finally got released, I was completely drained.

“You did well. If you just stay still and don’t talk nonsense, you’re halfway there.”

“Then what are the overall conditions for success?”

“Get out of the palace safely and get on the carriage.”

Thanks to my enduring effort to complete the conditions, I was able to board the carriage safely.

The carriage, which had turned its horse towards the Vetra estate, rattled as it sped along. It was the end of a long charade.

“Haa. But it wasn’t that scary, considering I was facing His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Doesn’t he look like an ordinary neighborhood old man?”

“I don’t know if I can say that, but yes.”

“The Emperor may be a meticulous man, but he’s not a bad person by nature. His lust for power is somewhat strong, and his overbearing attitude towards subjugating others is a flaw.”

Isn’t that a lot of food?

The moment I sat up straight with that thought in mind, a sharp pain struck me.

“Why is that?”

“I wore new shoes and the heels got worn out.”

I blew on the top of my heel, which was red and stinging. Then Ezekiel grabbed my bare leg and lifted it up.

“Let’s take a look.”

“Wait a minute! If you lift it like this!”

My petticoat slid down my raised legs. Inside was a revealing undergarment. I grabbed hold of my skirt and screamed.

“Put me back down! Quickly!”

I flinched a little, wondering if my voice was too loud after shouting, but thankfully he didn’t say anything and just let me down.

I hurriedly straightened my skirt, trying to calm my pounding heart. I almost looked embarrassed.

“Why did you do that when you were just looking at my heel?”

“Since you are not easily pulled in, shouldn’t you lift your legs and look at it?”

“Can’t you see I’m wearing that skirt? It’s embarrassing!”

“That could have been the case.”

Anyway, he’s a heartless man. Really!

“Do your heels still hurt?”

“If you go and apply some medicine, you’ll be fine.”

“Let me see too. Give me my leg again.”

“…….”

No. Let’s think positively.

The process of a contract marriage couple becoming closer usually begins with an unexpected and subtle atmosphere.

So maybe this is also a kind of law. Something like a heart-pounding event.

I gently offered him my scuffed heel. He placed my leg on his thigh and examined the wound.

“That must hurt. Well, even men’s feet get sore when they first put on new shoes.”

“I think the shoes were too high and I had to put more force into my feet, which made them dig in even more.”

He took off my shoes. Suddenly, I was barefoot, and I curled my toes.

Ezekiel took off his leather gloves and touched the stinging wound a few times, looking back and forth between his shoes and my wound.

‘What are you going to do for me?’

It may be a bit cringey, but please blow on my wounds… … .

Again.

No. Instead, the heel of the shoe I had just started wearing broke instantly. The culprit was Ezekiel.

I stared at him in bewilderment. He took off his remaining shoe and broke the heel of that one.

“I can’t take my shoes off right now, so I’ve removed the heels. This will reduce the strain.”

“uh…….”

“Why do you have that expression?”

“Thank you, but Anna said these were really expensive shoes.”

“Money is what the Duke has in abundance.”

I liked these shoes because they looked pretty. I wore them for just one day and I’ve grown attached to them.

I felt dejected when I saw the shoe with the broken neck.

“……Yeah. It would be nice if you had a lot of money.”

“You can always buy new consumables like that.”

“Because it’s something that can be easily replaced?”

“Yes.”

For some reason, I felt a little strange. I forced my broken shoes onto my feet and staggered into the duke’s residence.

Ezekiel, who was walking ahead, ordered the butler to buy new shoes and disappeared into the living room.

I looked around for a moment, then took off my shoes, ran barefoot up the stairs, and entered the room.

At least I was relieved that no servants had seen my ridiculous appearance on the stairs.

***

A few days later, we heard that His Majesty the Emperor would be attending the ceremony.

I made up my mind because it was something I expected.

By the way, Count Starache, his aunt, and cousins did not attend.

Of course, since I didn’t invite you.

“How did we meet?”

The day before the main ceremony, Ezekiel and I sat on the sofa drinking tea and had an important discussion.

“I’m sure there will be a lot of people asking about my relationship with you at the wedding reception.”

Moreover, there will be dozens of reporters coming that day.

If we leak our story to even one of the nobles, it will be plastered all over the newspapers the next day.

A suitable prey was needed for those who had their eyes set on fire.

“If we agree on the terms in advance, there will be no confusion.”

Ezekiel said nonchalantly.

“Let’s say I heard about you and fell in love with you, so I invited you to the duke’s residence.”

“What’s the rumor? That I’m very pretty?”

He didn’t really refute it.

Anyway, since Ezekiel kept avoiding the conversation, I planned the specific development.

“When we met and talked in person, we communicated better than I expected, and our feelings deepened. What about the dance at the ball and the proposal that day? I sat on a swing in a garden full of flowers, and you knelt before it.”

The Duke muttered as he drank his tea.

“How do you imagine something like this?”

“I read a lot of books.”

Since I’ve been locked up in my room alone since I was little, reading romance books, it wasn’t difficult for me to create a love story.

“Anyway, let’s just talk like this. Do you agree?”

The duke answered with a nod.

Surprisingly, in this respect, the two fit well together.

What a mysterious person.

***

Unlike how I had pretended to be relaxed and continued the conversation, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep that night, tossing and turning.

I fell asleep without knowing when I closed my eyes, and when I opened my eyes, it was already the next morning.

“Madam, wake up. You should get married.”

Anna’s words made my heart beat faster.

“The Duke has already finished preparing. We should do it quickly too.”

The preparations weren’t difficult. I quietly surrendered to the active efforts of the maids, led by Anna.

In keeping with the image of a duchess’s class, she wore an elegant long-sleeved dress and carried a bouquet picked from the ducal garden.

I got into a carriage wearing a tiara and veil. It was a private wedding without family, but it was okay.

As soon as I entered the Cathedral of Vetra, I saw Ezekiel waiting for me in his morning coat.

Her face was filled with a warm smile. It was the same look I’d seen at the ballroom.

‘Your acting is top-notch in front of others.’

Whenever you’re with me, you’re always cold, and no matter how much you laugh, you’re always laughing.

We entered together to the sound of the pipe organ and exchanged rings.

Guests dressed in a variety of colorful attire stood on both sides and watched the wedding. The most striking figure was the emperor.

The emperor still looked uneasy. He was glaring at me persistently.

I’m sure you’re not a very happy person, having suddenly appeared right before the merger.

I deliberately ignored it and focused on eating. But then something unexpected happened.

“Now you two are husband and wife. Groom and bride, please make a deep vow of love.”

A love vow? What’s that?

“The groom and bride kiss deeply, swearing to love each other for the rest of their lives.”

It was a shameful thing to hear from the mouth of a pious priest.

I screamed inside.

‘Was there such a thing as this order?’

“You must kiss for at least one minute in front of the guests.”

In some ways, it was a more blatant display than a serenade. I looked around in bewilderment.

Ollie, whose eyes met mine, proudly raised his thumb.

Only then did I realize.

Instead of taking out the serenade, they added this!