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Chapter 37
Finally, the day of the wedding arrived.
By the end of today, I would be a married woman.
No, it sounds a little weird when I say it like that, but it’s true.
I’ve never really even dated or been in a fling, yet in just one day I’m becoming a wife.
And after that, a divorcée.
Even up until the very day of the wedding, I couldn’t hide my restless, unsettled feelings.
But there was one thing that managed to hide that turmoil.
“…Ugh. Olivia. Isn’t this… isn’t this way too heavy?”
It was the jewels pressing down on my entire body.
To anyone who might someday find themselves in this situation: beware when reading romance-fantasy novels.
Dresses are much heavier than you’d think, glittering jewels with large pearls are nothing more than rocks in the end.
“Is it still too heavy? I even removed all the pearls…”
Olivia pursed her lips, looking troubled.
“Then, could you try standing up for a moment?”
“W–With this on?”
I was horrified as I lifted the dress that was far heavier now than it had been at the final fitting.
Wedding shoes, regardless of country, all seemed to have ridiculously high heels.
Well, I suppose the longer your legs look, the better the dress looks in full glory.
But Elia already had good proportions—did she really need even higher shoes?!
They wouldn’t even be visible under the dress anyway—wouldn’t chunky platforms have been better?
“Ugh…”
I swallowed dryly as I looked at the dagger-like stilettos.
The fear from Zeryl’s lessons resurfaced vividly.
“I thought they’d be fine once you wore them, despite appearances…”
Olivia’s voice carried a hint of worry.
I seethed inside.
I told you myself they looked vicious…!
But Angela and Olivia had insisted stubbornly that these shoes were a must, so I had no choice.
They say you have to suffer for beauty—and they were exactly right.
“C–Could you hold my hand?”
“Of course.”
Using Olivia for support, I carefully stood up.
Thankfully, I didn’t wobble clumsily, but the suddenly higher perspective felt strange.
And with my hair twisted up, weighed down by all sorts of ornaments and jewels, my neck was on the verge of breaking.
“…Wow, I don’t think I can go through with this wedding.”
My true feelings slipped out at last.
At those words, Olivia gasped, Angela gasped, and even Edwin—who had been chatting with her—gasped.
Bang!
“Wait a moment!”
Edwin slammed the tea table and shot to his feet.
Come to think of it, shouldn’t he have been at Cedric’s side, assisting him in greeting the guests? Why was he hanging around here instead?
Anyway, before I could even say a word, Edwin dashed out—and then quickly dashed back in.
“W–What?”
He returned with a bewildered Kalib.
“Huh? Elia—ah!”
Kalib, who must have been flying around with Cedric to greet the guests, squeezed his eyes shut the moment he saw me standing there awkwardly.
“No! Angela said the bride is only to be seen in the ceremony hall! Or in the bridal waiting room!”
Seven years old, and yet talking so adorably.
Now that I looked, Kalib’s outfit today was beyond cute.
His short trousers were cuffed for extra charm, his clean white shirt was held up with suspenders, and he even had a cheeky little red bowtie around his neck!
Add to that the knee-high socks and the fluffy, cotton-candy-like hair neatly parted to one side…
“Ahh! Kalib, you’re way too cute today!”
The words burst out of me in a squeal.
At my exclamation, Kalib’s cheeks turned bright red as he stared down at the floor.
His embarrassed fidgeting was so unbearably cute I thought I might die.
If I weren’t trapped in this cumbersome outfit, I would’ve run straight over to scoop him up!
It was so frustrating that I couldn’t.
“Anyway, I’m going back.”
Kalib spun on his heel, but Edwin blocked his way.
“Move.”
Kalib’s voice carried surprising force, but Edwin ignored it, turning him back around and pushing him toward me.
“Lord Kalib, we need magic. Please cast it!”
“What?”
Kalib blinked at the unexpected demand.
Before he could protest further, Edwin marched him right in front of me.
“She says her dress and jewelry are too heavy for her to marry like this!”
“What?!”
Kalib looked up at me, startled.
“…Whoa.”
But then his red eyes softened, and his expression turned dazed.
“Elia… you look really pretty.”
He blurted out his honest feelings, then widened his eyes in alarm.
His candidness was adorable, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I leaned against Olivia.
Seizing the chance, Edwin chimed in.
“Right? Isn’t Lady Elia stunning? Don’t you want to show her off to everyone?”
“N–No, that’s not it. If everyone falls for Elia, that would be bad…”
Kalib muttered something, but it was too soft to catch.
Edwin either didn’t hear or pretended not to, continuing smugly.
“But just imagine! All dressed up like this, and yet she says she won’t marry because it’s too heavy and hard to walk!”
Excuse me.
I never once said I wouldn’t marry!
I said I couldn’t!
“But if that happens…”
Kalib’s little face clouded over.
He must have remembered that if I didn’t marry, I couldn’t stay at the Grand Duke’s estate, and Cedric couldn’t go to the Sanctuary of Knowledge.
“That’s why you need to cast magic.”
Edwin declared firmly, as if this were the only solution.
“Cast gravity magic on Lady Elia’s clothes and jewelry—especially those giant gemstones!”
“Gravity magic?”
Wait, what kind of ridiculous idea was this?
Both Kalib and I turned toward Angela—who clapped her hands.
“Ah! If the weight is gone, Lady Elia will find it much easier to walk!”
“Oh, of course!”
Olivia, still supporting me, chimed in agreement.
“See?”
Edwin puffed up proudly and cleared his throat.
Wow. I never would’ve thought of that.
To use the most powerful magic in <Never Again>—gravity magic—on something like this?
Cedric already said he’d distort space around my waist so I wouldn’t need a corset.
And now Edwin wanted the young lord to erase the gravity of my accessories?
What on earth was wrong with these people?!
They’ve all lost their minds from overwork, haven’t they?!
I was certain Kalib would scold Edwin harshly.
But instead—
“That’s a great idea!”
Kalib clenched his tiny bean-like fist and nodded firmly.
…Huh?
He pulled out the staff tucked at his side.
“W–Wait…!”
But with just two quick flicks—without even chanting a spell—my head and gown suddenly felt lighter.
To think he could control gravity so precisely…
Well, I suppose that’s what makes it “magic.”
As I marveled, Kalib spoke again.
“Hmm, without gravity, the hem flutters a bit too much.”
“Oh! Then how about adding this here?”
Angela’s eyes lit up as she fetched rose-shaped lace and pinned it to the hem to hold it in place.
“Now it’ll look even lovelier as it sways.”
“Shall we add some crystals where it feels plain?”
“Great idea!”
Angela and Olivia worked in perfect harmony.
Meanwhile, my energy drained away.
Edwin, watching with a satisfied nod, added,
“While you’re at it, how about the shoes? If her ankles carry less weight, even if she trips, she won’t get hurt badly.”
“Yeah, that’s good too.”
Kalib cheerfully waved his staff again.
Suddenly, my heavy, unstable shoes felt incredibly light.
“…Wow, this is amazing.”
A moment ago, my calves had been trembling from the pressure crushing my toes.
But now, it felt like tiptoeing across soft velvet.
“How is it? Better?”
“Hmm?”
Kalib trotted over and looked up at me.
Because of the high heels, he had to crane his neck far back.
“Does this make our eye level match a little?”
He crouched down in front of me, and the skirt of my dress spread out magnificently.
“Oh my…”
Olivia gasped, and Edwin quickly pulled out a magic device to record the scene.
Kalib stepped back slightly, then edged close again.
Playing with a lock of my hair, he murmured,
“You’re really beautiful… like a fairy.”
So basically, like a celestial maiden?
Hehe. I was used to it now—Olivia had been squealing all morning, “How can she be this beautiful? She must be a fairy!”
And well, technically, I was.
“So now… you’ll get married, right?”
Kalib asked carefully.
I guess that was what worried him the most.
The way he peeked up at me anxiously made me chuckle.
“Yes. Thanks to you making it easier for me to move.”
“Thank goodness…”
Kalib sighed in deep relief, as if he had truly believed I’d call off the wedding.
What a little worrier.
His cheeks were flushed peach, perhaps from a bit of blush.
I cupped his face, charmed—and Kalib leaned into my palm, his lashes trembling.
Like a full little kitten cuddling closer, the ticklish warmth filled my chest.
Resting his cheek in my hand, clasping it with both of his own, he whispered,
“Be happy, Elia.”
“…”
“If my brother makes things hard for you, I’ll scold him.”
“…”
“So all you need to do is live happily at the Grand Duke’s estate, forever and ever.”
He even blinked slowly, as if to prove his sincerity.
Something about it felt strange.
Maybe it’s because he’s a romance-fantasy character—every single line sounds precious.
But really—knowing that my marriage with Cedric is a contract, and still saying,
“Just live happily at the Grand Duke’s estate forever and ever.”
Doesn’t that sound like he’s saying he’ll never allow me to divorce?
“Understood?”
Kalib urged for an answer.
What was this?
Why did it feel like agreeing here would lock me into something?
But when he pleaded so cutely with a little “Pleaseee,” how could I say no?
“…Alright.”
Even if it means getting caught in his net twice, so be it.
At my reply, Kalib smiled more brightly than ever.
Watching us, Angela clapped her hands loudly, breaking the mood.
“Now then, shall we head to the bridal waiting room?”
Suppressing my complicated feelings, the wedding at last began.
