ISHM 25

Chapter 25

I couldn’t tell whether the archbishop had grown tired of the delay or simply disliked being the one officiating this marriage, but he kept casting us displeased looks. His voice, rough as if mixed with metal shavings, continued.

“…With this, the marriage vow has been fulfilled. The two who are now husband and wife shall exchange rings and share the kiss of vows.”

A kiss.

At that single word, cold sweat broke out all over me.

We hadn’t kissed since that first time.

Of course, calling that brief touch our first kiss was somewhat ambiguous.

As I stood there at a loss, Johannes took my hand and lifted it. He slipped the ring onto my ring finger. I did the same for him, then slowly looked up at Johannes. Wearing an utterly calm expression, he spoke leisurely.

“Even if you don’t like it, let’s not run away today.”

Before I could grasp what he meant, my chin was lifted with just enough force, my face tilted, and his lips met mine.

I heard sharp intakes of breath all around us—those watching closely, as if questioning the reality of this wedding. My eyes widened as well.

The kiss of vows was deeper than that day, but it was over in an instant. Before I could even close my eyes, he pulled away.

Ahem. The archbishop, who had been observing us, cleared his throat.

“All creation shall bless the fact that you two are now husband and wife.”

Then, in a flat voice that sounded anything but congratulatory, he went on, saying that since I had received the name of Schultz through the kiss of vows, I should now fulfill my given duties.

None of it reached my ears. Though it had been brief, the soft sensation on my lips was still vividly clear.

I looked up at Johannes, who stared straight ahead with an unreadable expression.

Had I shown that I disliked it?

Sir Flett once said that royal congratulations sent to the banquets of high-ranking nobles were usually generous—especially if the family was one of the founding houses of the kingdom.

That, he said, was one way the royal family showed respect to noble houses.

I’m sure that’s what he said…

My eyes darted around.

“Flowers and decorations for the banquet are all provided by the royal family. Enormous sums of precious metals, jewels, and bestowed gifts as well.”

“Is that also a custom? Like laying flowers along the path the bride walks?”

“Yes. Exactly. You can tell precisely how much support the royal family gives a house by the flowers laid on the bride’s path.”

Yet once again, the scene before me was vastly different from what Lord Gunner had described.

The banquet of the new Duke of Schultz was shabby. Not only shabby, but—

This is humiliating.

Others must have felt the same. Proof of that was the whispering voices of nearby nobles.

“Well, they shouldn’t have challenged royal authority.”

Everyone seemed pleased that the power of House Schultz had been broken. Considering the family had long stood at the peak of power, envy and jealousy were only natural.

But…

A sigh escaped me.

It was rare for the king himself to attend a noble’s wedding, but I’d heard that for House Schultz, the crown prince or princess had always attended without fail.

Yet here, there was only Prince Edward, merely a prince.

Officially, the reason was that the royal family wasn’t idle enough to attend a wedding where the groom was taking a common woman of uncertain status as his bride. But everyone knew the truth.

House Schultz had thoroughly fallen out of royal favor; a family that had soared without knowing fear of the heavens was destined to have its wings clipped and come crashing down.

This will be splashed across tomorrow’s front pages.

With a heavy heart, I looked at Johannes as he extended his hand to me.

He wore a perfectly tailored tailcoat. His swept-back blond hair glittered brilliantly under the chandelier lights, and beneath it, his softly shaped lips looked like something out of a painting.

He looks as if he’s completely unfazed by this cold treatment…

I bit my lip unconsciously.

To be precise, he seemed unfazed by the royal family’s cruelty.

Because he was looking only at me, as if completely in love.

“Madam.”

In a low voice, he urged me—telling me to take his hand.

“…”

I snapped back to my senses and glanced sideways at the surrounding gazes.

Eyes everywhere were watching us closely.

If I looked even slightly like someone who didn’t love Johannes Schultz, gossip would inevitably follow.

“Johannes.”

Hoping my voice didn’t sound awkward, I put on a gentle smile and took the hand he offered.

The moment our hands met, our bodies drew close.

As soon as we clasped hands, soft music began to play, and Johannes wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me in.

I could feel his solid chest. Flustered by how closely our bodies pressed together, I couldn’t hide my embarrassment, and his quiet breath brushed my forehead.

“If we’re going to act,” he murmured, “shouldn’t we do it properly?”

“…”

“Just this morning, didn’t you say you’d show me how you adapt to this world, my lady wife? Where did that bold confidence go?”

He slipped a hand into my hair and stroked it gently, then leaned down to whisper into my ear.

“You’re showing your emotions quite openly.”

I swallowed without realizing it.

Following the secretive gazes fixed on us, small gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Is that person someone else?” Johannes whispered by my ear.

Hot breath tickled my earlobe. I squeezed my eyes shut, then slowly opened my trembling lids.

I couldn’t ruin everything here.

Carefully wrapping my arms around Johannes’s neck, I answered with a look of someone deeply in love.

“It’s me.”

The movement didn’t quite fit the dance, but it would look like a shy new bride.

“I’m sorry. I was just startled for a moment. That person is back now. I’ll stay focused from here on.”

As I whispered while meeting his eyes, the hand that had been brushing my back paused for a split second.

Then he replied with a soft smile.

“Well done.”

It wasn’t exactly the kind of conversation lovers would share, but to others, it would look like we were exchanging sweet whispers.

That was enough.

Holding my hand and waist, Johannes guided me smoothly across the floor.

Perhaps because he was a commander—his lead was remarkably natural.

I simply entrusted my body to him and followed his lead.

From time to time, he would soften his blue eyes and whisper as if he adored me beyond measure, and I would momentarily forget to breathe before responding in kind.

We must have looked like a truly loving couple.

Moving so busily that I barely knew what I was doing, the song was almost over.

That was when it happened.

My eyes met Prince Edward’s through the crowd. He raised his champagne glass, as if he’d been watching me the whole time.

My mood soured instantly. I quickly turned my head, tightened my grip on Johannes’s hand, and said,

“…Prince Windsor is looking this way.”

“I know.”

Of course he did. The gaze was far too blatant to miss.

“He doesn’t suspect us, does he?”

When I asked anxiously, Johannes answered as if it were obvious.

“He does. Others probably harbor some doubts as well.”

A wedding that had progressed oddly fast, a single kiss, gentle looks, an affectionate atmosphere.

It wasn’t enough to deceive them completely.

“…Then shouldn’t we make it more convincing? Should we kiss again?”

When I looked up at him calmly, Johannes’s expression shifted strangely.

“Are you all right with that?”

“Yes. That’s my role right now, isn’t it? And it wouldn’t be the first time…”

“Role.”

His lips twisted slightly. With a calm, sunken gaze, he stared at me intently.

“You say that as if you could kiss another man too.”

“Well, that’s…”

My hand gripping his shoulder tightened slightly.

It wasn’t impossible. Even if it weren’t Johannes—someone else—

“I’ve never imagined something that hasn’t happened, so I don’t really know.”

It felt strange to say either yes or no, so I brushed it off vaguely.

Johannes chuckled softly. At a distance where our lips could touch, he whispered low,

“Then don’t imagine it. It won’t happen.”

When I hesitated, his eyes curved. The hand that had been gently stroking my cheek lifted my chin.

Just as I was about to close my eyes, a deepened kiss caught me by surprise, making my eyes fly open.

It was completely different from before—a kiss filled with unmistakable possessiveness.

Before I knew what to do, our lips parted. Johannes was looking down at me with a lowered gaze.

“What…?”

“I think they’ll believe it now.”

His husky voice brushed the tip of my nose.

So it was all calculated—perfect acting.

My cheeks were surely flushed, and my gaze as I looked up at Johannes was trembling.

A flawless appearance for deceiving anyone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward’s eyebrow lift faintly.

Have they been completely fooled now?

It was still too soon to know.

“Who knows.”

Since it had come to this—

“Wouldn’t it be better to make it so no other man would even think of kissing me?”

Looking up into his blue eyes, I tightened my arms around Johannes’s neck and kissed him once more.