Episode 13

When I burst out laughing in amazement, the guests started muttering.

“The bride is smiling happily.”

“I guess so. I think you two will get along well.”

Thank you for understanding.

“What should I do?”

I spoke to Ezekiel through ventriloquism. Ezekiel, perhaps unaware of the matter, pursed his lips in embarrassment.

The crowd was already ready to cheer. I had to do my best to live up to their expectations.

“Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Contract.”

He spoke first. I gave up.

“Okay, stick out your lips.”

We bumped into each other’s most sensitive spots. Soft lips entered between mine.

The taste of my first kiss was like water.

The crowd cheered and clapped loudly. They seemed thrilled to see the cold-hearted peacock express his love for a woman for the first time.

As I was mumbling awkwardly, wondering if I should do something, the peacock wrapped its arms around my waist and turned my angle.

“Breathe through your nose.”

He spoke briefly and then kissed my lips again. I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut, sensing his movements.

My toes curled. My chest fluttered as if a butterfly had landed on it.

As the tides in my head ebb and flowed, the thoughts gradually faded away.

How long has it been since then?

The peacock gently pushed my shoulder and straightened his bent back.

His lips were moist and pink.

“This concludes the love vows of the groom and bride.”

After the Archbishop’s proclamation, the orchestra played a grand song of blessing.

We had just given our guests a close-range display of affection—the very kind of behavior the Duke so vehemently disliked.

“If you’re going to kiss me here, why are you kissing me on the balcony?”

He answered, avoiding my wandering gaze.

“It’s for the people gathered in front of the Duke’s residence.”

“I have to see those people too,” Ezekiel said, lowering his head and mumbling.

I blinked in disgust.

“Everyone in this world is a pervert. Why do you want to watch other people kiss?”

The duke raised and lowered one eyebrow.

“Please exclude me from the pervert category.”

“Yes. Yes.”

I muttered, imitating the way he spoke that I usually heard him speak.

After handing over the embarrassing oath, the real wedding banquet began.

After changing into the costumes symbolizing the unique titles of the Betra rulers and their wife, “Doje” and “Dogaresa,” and sitting down at the outdoor banquet, I was out of my mind.

Because it was time to become the real prey of newspaper reporters.

“Dogaresa. Why didn’t your father, Viscount Starace, come?”

“How did you two meet!”

For a while, I continued to answer expected questions while holding something that I couldn’t tell if it was a press conference or a reception.

“Your Majesty, you must go and meet Yeongjimin.”

Assistant Ollie showed up and got us out.

Thanks to the intentional placement of one more meal after the reception, we were able to get away from the reporters early.

It was a very good excuse, if only the added meal hadn’t been a balcony kiss.

‘We just finished kissing, and now there’s another kiss.’

The area under the balcony was crowded with people.

The people of the estate were clamoring to see the face of the new reigning duchess.

What I’m most looking forward to is probably our kiss.

“I tried it once before, but I can’t do it twice?”

I didn’t really feel like doing it, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t do it.

“This is a contract. We’re in the middle of a play.”

So I first tapped my lips.

“Finish it quickly.”

A gasp erupted among the people as they saw that I was asking for a kiss.

Ezekiel looked troubled, but soon leaned closer and whispered.

“Please forgive my rudeness in kissing you twice a day.”

He and I bit each other’s lips again.

The taste of the second kiss was slightly sweet.

***

After the balcony event, before going into the bedroom, Ezekiel secretly met with his aide, Ollie.

“What are their movements like?”

Ollie clicked his tongue awkwardly.

“He came as a guest even though he wasn’t even invited.”

“They’re such a shameless bunch, they acted as expected. It was a good thing I told the guild informants to get to know them beforehand.”

Ezekiel frowned.

“Are they all here?”

“Yes. All four of them came. At first glance, they looked like a loving couple and their children.”

“This is incredible.”

It was said that sneaking into a wedding hall and selling the daughter’s name to people was a form of cuteness.

The Count, as if he were a good father, lamented how much Viola had caused him trouble.

Two cousins got caught pretending to be friendly with socialites.

“And where did you get those expensive magic stone ornaments and clothes? You must have borrowed money from private lenders.”

“Well done. With the authority of Duke Vetra, I will expel them. Warn them and have them escorted off by the private soldiers.”

“Even if you mention the Duke’s name, aren’t you the ones who will ultimately blame the Duchess?”

“You can blame me however you want.”

Ezekiel muttered in his usual tone.

“The Starache family won’t be able to touch even a hair on my wife for a while.”

He had a cool smile on his face.

“It’s pointless to vent your anger, which won’t even reach that person.”

Ezekiel Betra took off his bow tie and gave a strong warning before entering the room.

“Keep today’s work a secret from your wife. I don’t want you to ruin my mood on a day like this because of those rascals.”

Ollie bowed his head politely and gave a silent answer.

***

By the time the sun was setting, I was exhausted and passed out.

The guests must be tired from the wedding that lasted all day, so how much more so must the wedding party be.

“Tomorrow your face will be plastered all over the front page of the newspaper.”

“It’s okay. I started this project with all that in mind.”

We entered the room for our first night together, but I felt no romantic feelings whatsoever. All we wanted to do was stretch out on the sofa and bed.

Ezekiel spoke as he unbuttoned his shirt.

“From tomorrow, you will become a true duchess. You’ll be secluded for a few days, citing the pressure of the attention. Then, when the atmosphere has calmed down, we can begin our social activities.”

“I’ll take a few days to catch my breath.”

“No. Actually, I have something to do.”

Wearing only a thin shirt, he strode towards me and lay down on the sofa right next to me.

“What is that?”

“It’s a secret.”

You have a lot to hide. I blew out the last candle and crawled into bed.

The first night went by just like that. One on the sofa, the other on the bed.

에제키엘이 나에게 침대를 양보해 준 덕분에 아침에 일어났을 때 그의 셔츠는 소파에 눌려서 잔뜩 구겨져 있었다.

“차라리 작은 침대를 하나 더 들여요.”

“어차피 오늘부터는 각방 쓸 겁니다.”

신혼 둘째 날부터 각방이라니. 삭막하긴 했으나 이런 불편한 밤을 보내는 것보다는 나았다.

우리는 식당으로 내려가서 아침 식사를 함께했다. 사용인들이 첫날밤을 보내고 온 에제키엘과 나를 힐끔거렸다.

그들의 불순한 상상력이 담긴 눈빛을 무시하고자 수프에 코를 박고 스푼만 움직였다.

‘2미터 길이의 식탁에서 밥 먹는 걸 뻔히 보면서도 도대체 왜 불순한 상상을 하는 거지?’

첫날밤 나와 에제키엘의 물리적 거리도 딱 이 정도였다는 걸 다들 알려나 몰라.

그나마 내 시녀 안나가 사용인들을 자연스럽게 끌고 가 준 덕분에 우리는 한결 편히 식사할 수 있었다.

식사 후에는 당장 외출 준비를 했다. 나는 남편이 좋아하는 긴소매의 보수적인 드레스를 입으며 물어봤다.

“그래서, 본격적인 사교계 활동을 시작하기 전에 뭘 해야 하는데요?”

“우리의 사이를 증명할 요소를 하나 더 만들어야 합니다.”

“왜 굳이?”

“혼인 관계를 입증할 증거는 많을수록 좋죠.”

새로이 만들 증거가 뭔지는 가서 보면 안다고 했다.

“이번엔 이상한 거 아니죠?”

“당연합니다. 내가 그토록 이상한 사람으로 보입니까.”

“……·.”

“슬프군요.”