Episode 10

That afternoon I was immediately introduced to the servants of Duke Betra’s residence.

As soon as I introduced Anna to them, the servants became a team and started preparing for the wedding.

Of course, as promised, my spokesperson and wedding organizer was Anna, who had been promoted to maid of honor.

Fortunately, no territoriality arose amidst the hardships of going back and forth.

She probably didn’t have the presence of mind to show off to the duchess’s maid from outside.

“The guest list is enormous. Does that mean you have to appear in a dress and wave to all these people?”

“It has to be as grand and extravagant as possible, so what? Let’s pretend we’re monkeys in a freak show for a day.”

“So… you’re doing this too?”

The order Anna pointed to was the balcony kiss.

This will probably be Ezekiel and I’s first official kiss.

“Yes. I will do it because we both agreed to it according to Article 1, Clause 1 of the contract.”

Anna was momentarily annoyed by my seemingly indifferent attitude.

“Following a contract marriage, a contract kiss….”

“Everyone lives like that.”

“…Miss, I really don’t want to become a noble.”

Meanwhile, Ezekiel was busy getting his suit tailored, meeting with socialites, and handing out wedding invitations.

Seeing him moving busily, I couldn’t just sit still.

I even made two dresses to match the main ceremony and the reception, and decided on the food, venue decorations, music, perfume, wedding veil, and tiara one by one.

The wedding date had to be set in a hurry and everything had to be prepared, so everyone involved was on the verge of death.

But soon a new obstacle arose.

One day, the maid and her aide, Ollie, called me and Ezekiel and explained the order of the meal.

“The groom must sing a love serenade to the bride in front of the guests.”

It was a mischievous custom that had recently spread among the aristocracy and upper middle classes.

“It’s said that it’s better to rewrite the lyrics to make them as romantic as possible, including the location or story of their first meeting. After the song ends, the bride should embrace the groom with a happy expression.”

Ezekiel’s expression became grim, as if he were about to storm out. I didn’t like it either, but his defensiveness was so repulsive that it made me irritate.

“What? Why? Just go ahead.”

“Are you sure it’s okay? I’m singing a childish song, and you’re pretending to be touched by the tears.”

“If you tell me to, I should do it, right? You want to show off to everyone that I’m your wife. If we pretend to be a happy couple, we might even fool His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I want to show you to the public, I don’t want to do something so low.”

Then he gave a cold order to his aide.

“Ollie. Remove that bad habit from the meal plan. Your wife may agree, but I don’t.”

I can’t tell if he’s worried about me or if he’s trying to insult me because of the way he speaks.

“Your Majesty, if I omit this as it is a highlight, there will definitely be criticism.”

The bad rumors about Ezekiel were fatal at the moment.

Because I am being taken in as a bride before the annexation of the dukedom, the wedding must proceed perfectly.

If you show the public even the slightest bit of trouble during the marriage process… … .

“I still don’t like it. It’s stupid.”

I coughed uncomfortably as I watched him, who seemed completely unwilling to do anything.

‘Is the event so terrible that it deserves to be talked about?’

I was a little nervous.

Perhaps because I have been persecuted for so long, I have developed a habit of trying to guess the other person’s intentions without realizing it.

It was a bad habit of mine to try to guess how much the other person disliked me.

Even though I know it might not be the case, my thoughts keep drifting in that direction.

‘don’t mind.’

I patted my head and blew away my random thoughts. Please don’t make any speculations that will eat away at me.

Ollie and the head maid exchanged a tacit glance as they watched each other.

“For now, I’ll skip the love serenade.”

“That’s a relief.”

The duke chuckled at Ollie’s words, and I glanced at him.

The process of deciding on the order of the meal ended with such an awkward moment still remembered.

***

Not long after, I had the opportunity to see this beautiful city.

The starting point was Ezekiel’s suggestion.

“The people of the territory seem quite interested in you. Why don’t you go out and show them your face?”

I already knew that my rumor had spread throughout the city and the imperial palace.

Although I haven’t really felt it because I’ve only been inside the duke’s residence.

“A bride who suddenly fell from the sky one day, now living in seclusion in her mansion after announcing her marriage. People even started asking if I had found an actress somewhere.”

Since Ezekiel was in such a desperate situation, it was not surprising that rumors were spread.

“That’s a troubling rumor, even for me. For a smooth contract, I suppose it’s only right to help you.”

“Of course. Let’s pretend to be lovers who are so in love that they can’t stand each other.”

We went into a strategy meeting.

“Even if that’s true for me, can you act emotionally, Your Majesty?”

“How could I not do it?”

“Last time, when the topic of singing a serenade at a wedding came up, I froze and said…….”

“Coo-hoo!”

This man coughs whenever I open my mouth, and I think his lungs are not in good health.

“Ahem. Anyway, there’s no need to prepare a grand stage or anything. Just going out and wandering around together is enough.”

“Right. I also happened to want to take a look around Vetra.”

It wasn’t a bad suggestion.

Clear your doubts and take a look.

It’s the most scenic city in the empire, so you should visit it at least once.

So I went on my first date with my future husband.

Spring here in the city was warmer and more pleasant than in the capital where I lived.

Pink flowers were in full bloom everywhere. The scent of spring wafted from the soft, fluttering leaves brushing past the carriage window.

Half the city is water, half is buildings.

The view of a large canal unfolding before you as soon as you open the door from your home was spectacular.

The shadows of tall buildings shimmered on the transparent water flowing along the road.

“Should we change vehicles at this point?”

“Other than the carriage?”

“It’s a nice picture of the Duke’s fiancé riding a city landmark and promoting it.”

What he recommended was a small boat.

The black boat with its bow curved upwards like a musical note was cute.

While I was waiting at the dock with Ezekiel’s escort, the whole town’s attention was on me.

“Look over there. I think that’s my fiancé.”

“Oh my. You are truly beautiful.”

“Thanks to him, Vetra wasn’t merged, right?”

“Our precious savior!”

No, salvation is self-help.

While I was lost in thought, my future husband reached out to me.

“Okay, ma’am.”

I should say he’s good at acting, but sometimes it seems like he has a split personality.

When the two of you are alone, you have a cold expression, but when you are in front of other people, you are a real lover.

Unable to resist, I smiled brightly and slapped his palm. Ezekiel flinched.

“As expected, my honey is really- affectionate.”

I wrinkled my nose and lied to him.

Yeah. Let’s just overlook his unique personality as a form of cuteness. I gambled on the title of male lead and married him, but I can handle a little bit of eccentricity.

The small boat we rode on cut through the water and wove its way through the canals of the city. People gathered in small groups on the bridges where the boats passed, observing us.

Ezekiel shoved something into my awkward mouth.

It was a small finger food.

“Eating something sweet makes me feel better. Come on.”

“Why this?”

“Just look at your own fingernails and tell me.”

As I bowed my head at his words, a sliver of fingernail I’d unconsciously tore off fell onto my skirt. It was a habit that came out when I was anxious.

“Do you hate people staring at you?”

“Well, that’s a little burdensome.”

“Let’s endure it.”

I know. This is also a contract.

I kept my mouth shut like a clam.

I closed my mouth briefly, then opened it slightly and took a bite of the finger food. The fluffy taste of cream and bread spread through my mouth. My heart settled at the familiar sweetness.

“You’re feeding me. What should I do? Kyaak!”

“Where did the guy who said he brought in actors from the theater go? That was all just a rumor, wasn’t it?”

“Oh, don’t tease me!”

The people on the bridge were also making a scene. Some seemed relieved to see Ezekiel and I acting like a couple.

The buildings that had been clustered along the waterway disappeared, and at some point, the area next to me opened up. It was a plaza floating on the water.

The boatman, having reached his destination, pulled his boat close to the dock in front of the square.

“Your Majesty, you may go up as is.”

The ship continued to rock even though it was tied with ropes to keep it from moving away from the land.

Something feels uneasy.

As expected, my foot, hidden by my skirt, stepped on the wrong spot. I lost my balance in an instant.

I was tilting and fell into the gap between the boat and the dock.

To a place with deep water.