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Chapter 05
Yurita loosely tied her long, wavy purple hair into a high ponytail and stepped outside to look for a maid.
“What’s going on?”
“There are tons of packages in front of the mansion!”
Just as the maid said, boxes were piled up in front of Yurita’s shabby estate.
When Yurita opened one of the boxes, she found a necklace and earring set adorned with red gemstones.
“Oh my goodness! Miss, look at these jewels. They’re gorgeous.”
So the dowry support hadn’t been the end of it. The imperial family had even sent wedding gifts.
Which meant—
Zachary accepted the political marriage with me.
But why? He hated the idea so much yesterday.
Yurita’s side was desperate, so her decision made sense, but Zachary’s was hard to understand.
And besides…
Why is the imperial family pushing this marriage so hard?
As each package revealed yet another rare accessory, Yurita began to feel suspicious.
From the original story, she already knew that the Duke of Killerster’s family was avoided by noble daughters of marriageable age.
The family’s reputation was so terrible that many households hesitated to marry their daughters into it despite their ducal status.
The Killersters are also famous for never attending banquets.
Since they never appeared socially, it was difficult for them to find a bride.
Yet the imperial family was actively arranging the duke’s marriage.
There’s definitely something going on behind the scenes.
At that moment, Yurita noticed a black box wrapped with a red ribbon.
When she picked up the large package, she saw the Killerster family crest stamped on the wrapping.
So that’s why this one alone had such a dark aura.
Sighing, Yurita began unwrapping the black box.
“…!”
Inside was a jet-black wedding dress decorated with red roses.
The maid peeked inside and gasped.
“A black wedding dress… Did Duke Killerster send this?”
“One of his servants probably did.”
There was no way Zachary would personally handle trivial matters like this. Especially when this marriage was unwanted on his part.
I heard the Killerster family only wears black and red, but I didn’t think even the wedding dress would follow that rule.
Yurita’s fingers brushed over the dark lace.
…It’s beautiful.
If she weren’t being forced to marry Zachary, she would have absolutely loved the dress. Most brides would probably faint at the sight of a black gown instead of white.
Still, one beautiful dress wasn’t enough to improve Yurita’s already ruined mood.
Creeeak!
“Oh my, Miss, there’s a carriage outside…!”
When Yurita turned around, she saw the same pitch-black carriage that had arrived during Zachary’s debt collection visit a few days ago.
An elderly man dressed neatly stepped out of the carriage.
The tiny hairs on Yurita’s arms stood up. Instinctively, she knew something major was about to happen.
“Lady Yurita Synette, I am Toby, the butler of the Duke Killerster household.”
“What is it?”
“I have come to escort the bride to today’s wedding ceremony.”
“…Excuse me? Today’s wedding?”
The black carriage drawn by black horses entered the outskirts of the capital.
The Duke Killerster estate was an extremely private and suspicious place that prohibited anyone from entering within a 500-meter radius.
Fitting for a villain’s household.
Trying to maintain proper posture inside the carriage, Yurita asked Toby,
“Doesn’t preparing for a wedding usually take several months? Sending invitations, booking the venue…”
“My master dislikes extravagance… The ceremony will be held modestly in one of the duke’s annex buildings.”
He’s doing everything exactly as he pleases right from the start.
Yurita struggled to calm her rising irritation.
“Noona, are you getting married today?”
Theo, sitting beside her, asked with a confused expression. Theo and the maid would be among the very few guests attending the ceremony.
After patting Theo’s head, Yurita turned to the butler.
“Toby, is it really alright to hold such a simple ceremony? This marriage was arranged by the imperial family. Even if His Majesty can’t attend personally, shouldn’t there at least be an imperial witness?”
“We informed them in advance. One imperial messenger will attend.”
“You could have sent me a letter beforehand as well. Instead of dragging me away this suddenly.”
“We merely obey Duke Killerster’s orders.”
So he wasn’t even going to apologize. Another mark of irritation was added to Yurita’s mental tally.
“Since all preparations are already complete, perhaps this is more convenient for you, miss.”
“…How many guests from Duke Zachary’s side will be attending?”
“No one will come.”
“What?”
“Most of his relatives live scattered throughout the distant Killerster territory, so it would be difficult to summon them immediately. The marriage announcement will be delivered by letter.”
What kind of ridiculous wedding is this?
Fine. A wedding with no consideration for the bride made sense if that villain Zachary had no feelings for Yurita.
But not inviting a single guest?
It’s almost as if Zachary is deliberately avoiding his own relatives.
The original story barely mentioned the Killerster family’s extended relatives, so Yurita didn’t know much about them, but considering they were a villainous family, they probably weren’t easy people to deal with.
But… is it really okay not to invite my relatives either?
For a moment, Yurita recalled the faces of the Synette baron family.
“You won’t marry? What kind of thing is that for a lady to say?”
“Yurita, this is a heaven-sent opportunity for you. Think carefully.”
…Actually, maybe it’s better not to invite them.
She didn’t particularly want to see them anyway.
Could it be that Zachary also didn’t invite his relatives for a similar reason?
I don’t care about that bastard’s feelings.
“We’ve arrived. Please step out now.”
The butler exited first and waited outside after opening the carriage door.
“Theo, you go first. Marie, you too.”
After sending out her younger brother and maid, Yurita stepped outside last.
At that moment, a chilly wind blew fiercely.
Bare trees swayed eerily. Their branches jutted sharply into the sky like a forest of thorns.
Brushing her fluttering hair behind her ear, Yurita looked up at the towering Killerster mansion before her.
A body of black bricks. Sharp spires. Latticed windows that looked as though ghosts might leap out at any moment. Strange black statues attached all over the outer walls.
Combined with the cold cry of a passing crow, the place was a complete nightmare package.
Theo was so frightened he could only sniffle silently.
“H-hiiik…! Miss! This place is so scary! Are you alright?”
The maid Marie looked horrified as she checked on Yurita, who was covering her mouth.
Oh, our poor miss. What kind of place is she marrying into?
Marie wiped away tears behind her.
But Yurita’s thoughts were entirely different.
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she examined the mansion thoroughly.
T-this is insane! Perfect 13th-century Gothic architecture! The atmosphere is totally haunted mansion style! Especially those gargoyle statues!
The moment she saw the demonic stone gargoyles perched on the roof, the heart of the occult fanatic inside her began pounding wildly.
That’s right. Yurita was an occult nerd.
From horror movies and games to rituals, ghost stories, and monsters from around the world—she loved it all. Even her interest in tarot cards stemmed from her love of the occult.
Her feet unconsciously moved step by step toward the mansion.
I want to see that masterpiece up close!
“Lady Synette, the annex where the wedding ceremony will take place is this way. Please follow me.”
At that moment, the old butler’s voice calmed her wildly excited fan instincts.
Yurita snapped back to reality.
I can’t act like this here. I have to get through this absurd wedding first.
With great difficulty, Yurita tore her gaze away from the gargoyle statues and followed the old man.
Inside the annex of the Duke Killerster estate was a spacious hall.
Rows of chairs had been arranged to resemble a wedding venue.
Why are there so many chairs if no guests are even coming?
Holding a bouquet of red flowers, Yurita thought to herself.
The bride’s entrance was only moments away. Dressed in the black wedding gown, Yurita waited at the entrance to the hall.
The black veil covering her face made it feel as though she were seeing the world through a dark filter.
“The bride will now enter.”
The officiant’s voice rang out.
Doesn’t the groom usually enter first?
Before she could question it further, Yurita began walking down the aisle.
In the guestless hall, only her younger brother and maid watched her entrance.
What about the imperial messenger?
There was one man seated on the groom’s side, so that was probably him.
The hall was so empty that the only sound echoing through it was the click of Yurita’s heels as she walked toward the officiant.
“The groom will now enter.”
Now it was Zachary’s turn.
This would be their first meeting since he caught her trying to run away in the middle of the night, so it was bound to be awkward.
Yurita pushed the black veil back behind her head.
With glossy red lips and a faint blush on her cheeks, she looked every bit the perfect bride.
I have no idea what kind of consequences this choice will bring.
She was marrying the greatest villain of the original story. From this moment onward, the original plot itself could begin to twist.
Watching the faint light filtering through the windows, Yurita made a vow.
If I’m going to change the story, then I’ll twist it in my favor.
Her emotions were just beginning to deepen when one question kept interrupting her thoughts.
…Why the hell isn’t this guy showing up?
Despite the officiant’s cue, Zachary still hadn’t appeared after five whole minutes.
Then the butler from earlier rushed in breathlessly and whispered into Yurita’s ear.
“Our master is nowhere to be found.”
“What? Where did he go?”
“We do not know. However, together with the wedding ring, he left this note…”
Yurita read the note handed to her by the butler.
There was only a single line written on it.
The hand holding the note trembled with rage.
You fucking bastard…!
