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Chapter 22
I’m actually marrying Johannes Schultz.
Ahin said I’d do fine, but I was still nervous.
“Why am I shaking so much?”
During the wedding preparations, I’d been okay—maybe I didn’t feel it because it didn’t seem real yet.
But now that it was right in front of me, reality hit, and I was more worried than I expected.
I stood by the window, watching the guests stream through the main gate.
“So many are coming…”
The commoner woman who appeared after the duke disappeared, and now this marriage with her—just that fact alone seemed to spark plenty of curiosity among the gossiping elite.
“Judging by the number of nobles coming to the banquet…”
Speculations must have run wild: Is Johannes Schultz really alive? Has he become a half-invalid? Or is he still as cold as ever despite his father’s death?
Regardless of the outcome, whispers were inevitable. And the banquet seemed to have settled some of that curiosity.
But curiosity always breeds more curiosity.
Now their attention was on me.
After the banquet, the articles about us became even more provocative.
Someone must have seen Johannes leading me through the corridor.
Because of that, a ridiculous rumor began to spread that Johannes Schultz was so stingy he didn’t even want to bring me to the banquet. And of course, there were secondary rumors tacked on.
“Rumors do have a way of making life interesting.”
Because of them, I was about to attract a lot of attention myself.
I’d already experienced some of this at the banquet. I wasn’t normally concerned with others’ gazes, but this kind of attention was overwhelming.
I must have been standing there for a while. All the guests had arrived; only the swarm of reporters loitering at the gate remained.
“Milady, it’s starting now.”
Luckily, just as I was regaining some composure, Ahin came to guide me.
Taking an unfamiliar staircase caused me to hesitate a little.
I wrapped a thick woolen shawl around myself and stepped outside.
The air smelled of winter’s sharp chill.
Glancing up at the dull sky, I felt it wouldn’t be strange at all if snow began to fall.
My body trembled involuntarily, and I wrapped the shawl tighter.
“You’ll need to go the rest of the way alone.”
Ahin said this as we approached a narrow path.
I frowned at the flower petals scattered on the ground.
Just as Sir Fret had explained: nobles could only marry with the royal family’s permission, and the petals the bride walked over were usually provided by the royal family.
The type of flower subtly indicated the royal favor, letting nobles gauge which families they should curry favor with…
There was a problem.
“Begonias?”
I let out a small, incredulous laugh.
To show such blatant hostility toward the Schultz family—how could they send begonias to a wedding I was supposed to bless?
It wasn’t strange that I felt absurd about this.
Most people interpret begonias as a sign of gratitude, but there was another hidden meaning.
“Did they think no one would notice?”
Probably. Most people don’t remember flower meanings outside the usual gifts.
I might not have cared for flowers if not for my brief studies in pharmacology. That knowledge allowed me to notice.
And the other meaning of begonia is “warning.”
In other words, the royal family had sent an obvious warning to the Schultz family’s wedding, a ceremony they should have blessed.
I felt a wave of irritation.
But it’s taboo to avoid flowers personally chosen by the king. I had to walk past them with a smiling face, even if I didn’t want to.
“A small act of rebellion should be fine, though.”
I stomped on the begonia petals and headed toward the cathedral at the eastern end of Evansstein Castle.
Finally, the grand shadow of the cathedral loomed over me. I stopped for a moment to look up. It was so high I had to crane my neck endlessly.
This cathedral had been standing for nearly two hundred years, opening only for national events or matters concerning the Schultz family.
And today, it was hosting one of those events: Johannes Schultz’s wedding.
He had arrived first.
This was our first meeting since that day. I briefly wondered how to approach him, then decided to face him head-on.
“You’re early.”
As I approached Johannes, he shifted his gaze from the firmly closed cathedral doors to me.
“Oh, not long ago.”
The usual reaction—like nothing had ever happened between us.
So perhaps it had been a minor incident for him, after all.
Johannes’s blue eyes slowly scanned me, finally resting on the hem of my dress.
“Begonias, huh?”
He chuckled. I hastily checked my dress hem. A few petals had stuck to the long fabric.
“I should have checked.”
Until the bride reached the groom, the groom wouldn’t know what flowers the royal family had sent.
If I hadn’t spoken or if the petals weren’t there, Johannes wouldn’t have known until the end of the ceremony.
I couldn’t help but frown.
“But he probably won’t know the hidden meaning.”
I answered casually, keeping my expression neutral.
“Yes, begonias.”
“Not hiding it anymore, then.”
Johannes muttered under his breath. I looked at him in surprise.
He seemed to know the hidden meaning of begonias.
The mood seemed to drop slightly, so I tried to change the topic.
“Ah, snow.”
A cold touch landed on my shoulder. Looking up, small snowflakes were beginning to fall.
For a moment, I forgot about the royal family sending begonias.
“First snow…”
It was still early winter, so snow wasn’t unusual, but I felt like assigning some meaning to it.
‘They say couples who marry on the first snow live happily. Should my daughter marry a wonderful man on the first snow someday? I hope she’ll be truly happy.’
I suddenly remembered my father’s words.
‘But we’re still so awkward with each other.’
I rubbed my nose to hide the warmth, then looked up at Johannes.
“Duke, do you know that saying?”
His previously expressionless face softened slightly.
“I don’t know… that’s a pretty broad question.”
He furrowed his brow slightly as if troubled. I continued as if it didn’t matter.
“They say couples who marry on the first snow live happily.”
Almost like a vow to myself.
“So, we’ll live happily. Even without love.”
Johannes’s jaw tightened.
I waited, holding his gaze, unsure if I had spoken too resolutely.
“Right?”
Feeling anxious, I asked again, hoping for a clear answer.
After a pause, he finally replied:
“Of course.”
A smile followed, as if drawn for me.
Only then did a wave of relief hit me: maybe marrying this man would be alright.
“This way, please.”
All the guests seemed to be seated.
Following the nuns who had come to escort us, Johannes and I headed for the cathedral’s main entrance.
Though the nuns didn’t stay here, they seemed familiar with the cathedral’s layout. They must visit every time it opens.
They helped remove my shawl, and snowflakes landed on my shoulders.
My heart began pounding again.
‘I’m nervous.’
I glanced at Johannes. Unlike me, he looked completely composed.
Straight posture, slightly raised chin, unmoving facial muscles—he looked so serene, it was as if I were the only one getting married.
How could he look so calm?
Noticing my glance, he leaned down, bringing his face close to mine.
“Miss Prim.”
His whispered voice made me instinctively lean back.
“You look pale. You might want to wrap your shawl back around.”
I shook my head quickly.
“No, we’re going in soon. I can manage. You know I get cold easily.”
Johannes raised his eyebrows as if he’d forgotten.
“It’s still quite cold, are you sure?”
“I’m fine.”
Not fine at all.
But if the door opened while I still had the shawl on, I didn’t want to show myself hastily removing it.
‘I have to do this right.’
I had promised Johannes.
I couldn’t afford even a small mistake in front of the nobles filling the cathedral. They looked like they could tear me apart at any moment.
I forced a smile, and Johannes finally relaxed his worried expression. Then he said something unexpected—something that felt truly like a husband.
“Your dress suits you. You look beautiful.”
“…Yes?”
I didn’t know how to respond. Blinking rapidly, I finally managed:
“Are you pretending to be smitten by the first snow or something?”
I stepped back slightly, and Johannes furrowed his brow, as if wondering what nonsense I was speaking.
“If you’re saying that out of obligation, that’s fine. I understand the meaning of this marriage.”
“I’m speaking honestly. I don’t need to make things up to impress you.”
“Ah…”
I blinked slowly. He really seemed like he’d be a good husband.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept your compliment.”
Johannes frowned slightly, as if my response displeased him. He lowered his eyes to check my neck.
Following his gaze, I looked down, and he reached out toward my nape.
I recoiled, and he withdrew his hand, his expression neutral yet attentive.
“No bruises, it seems.”
“Yes, thanks to Marilyn treating it diligently.”
No need to bring up dark matters on a good day. I quickly shifted the topic.
“By the way, now that we’re married, do restrictions lift? On other wings or the basement? Sir Fret didn’t explain that part…”
I couldn’t continue.
Johannes’s expression had noticeably stiffened.
