TDFL 33

Chapter 33

The wedding was to be held at one of the Arban Ducal family’s estates in the capital.

“It seems everyone has arrived except for one person.”

“Really? What about the reporters?”

“All of them are here.”

That was a bit unexpected.

It wasn’t surprising that reporters attended—this wedding was obviously good material for articles.

But I hadn’t expected such an overwhelming attendance rate from the nobles.

Was it because the number of invited guests was small to begin with?

“But why did you invite so many reporters? There seem to be almost as many of them as guests.”

“That was Lord Louis’s decision.”

I had wondered about that too, so that was the only answer I could give.

‘He’s not the type to do something without reason… but it is strange.’

For now, the priority was the wedding.

“Ah, and… we’ve received word that Count Bellaci is on his way here.”

I paused.

“He says he intends to attend the wedding…”

“Even though he wasn’t invited?”

“…Yes.”

He must be calculating that once he arrives, I won’t be able to turn him away.

Which is why he set out regardless of his schedule.

It was troublesome.

It would be better to avoid a dramatic public conflict between father and daughter on such a busy day.

‘Of course, I have no intention of doing that.’

Seeing my silence, As quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, right! Most of the guests are wearing the necklaces!”

Apparently, the rumor that one couldn’t attend the wedding without a necklace had spread.

‘As if I’d actually enforce that.’

If even the Emperor forgot his necklace, was I supposed to turn him away? Ridiculous.

It was just meant to emphasize the necklace’s importance.

In fact, the later invitations clarified that entry was allowed without it.

There might be gossip, but I was already used to being criticized.

“They’re probably worried about being excluded if they don’t bring it.”

“Most likely.”

Just then, murmurs were heard outside the waiting room.

I glanced toward the door and asked As:

“What is something a bride absolutely must have at her wedding?”

“Hmm… a dress and jewelry, I suppose?”

As expected.

Just then, a maid approached.

“Milady… I’m sorry, but there seems to be a problem.”

“A problem?”

As frowned, and another maid stepped forward.

“Someone has ruined your wedding dress.”

“What?!”

As gasped.

‘How very cliché.’

This method felt outdated.

“Take me there first. I need to see how bad it is.”

* * *

It seemed Count Green had really gone all out.

“This is too much! How could anyone ruin a wedding dress like this? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime dress!”

As was furious, looking at what no longer resembled a dress, but a rag.

It was the same dress I had worn for the portrait inside the locket.

“Should we contact a nearby boutique and find a new dress?”

One maid suggested, but another shook her head.

“There have been too many events lately. And there’s a wedding today.”

Meaning all boutiques were already overwhelmed with orders.

“We might find an outdated dress, but—”

“That’s unacceptable! This is her only wedding!”

As looked like she might cry.

“Then… should we postpone the wedding?”

“With the Emperor, the Crown Princess of Valentin, the Second Prince, the Marquess of Branto—and the Duke of Arban himself in attendance?”

“….”

As fell silent.

Even she knew that was impossible.

“But you can’t walk down the aisle in that dress—”

“There’s no need to worry.”

I finally spoke.

“We’ve wasted enough time anyway.”

“That wasn’t the ‘real’ wedding dress. It was just bait.”

“…What?”

The maids stared at me.

“Time is tight. I’ll need all of you to move quickly.”

In short:

I had anticipated that Count Green would try to sabotage my wedding.

And I predicted the scale of what she could do.

‘Something not illegal—but damaging to my reputation.’

The first thing that came to mind was the wedding dress.

Since she ran a fashion business, tampering with it would be easy.

‘That’s also why I used the portrait.’

Everyone assumed the dress in the portrait was the actual wedding dress.

Meanwhile, I deliberately did not keep the real dress at the venue.

Instead—

“The dress Lady Leonia ordered is here.”

I had entrusted the real dress to the nearest boutique—the one where Sally worked.

And in case Sally betrayed me, I had prepared backup dresses in several other boutiques.

‘The dress itself isn’t what matters.’

As long as it wasn’t shabby, anything would do.

So I had all prepared dresses brought in.

But then—

“I’m so sorry! I think I brought the wrong jewelry!”

Another problem.

‘How obvious.’

I’d bet tomorrow’s breakfast that this maid was a spy.

Even As looked at her coldly.

“…I’ll go with her and bring the correct jewelry.”

“Alright.”

After silently cursing her, As left with the maid.

And just like that, I found myself alone on my wedding day.

‘The dress and jewelry should arrive around the same time.’

There was still time before the ceremony.

I sat on the sofa and drank tea.

‘It’s about time to clean out the spies.’

Judging by the dress and jewelry incidents, quite a few had infiltrated the staff.

Which was expected.

I had allowed it.

To make the Emperor and Diego believe I was carrying Louis’s child, I needed to leak internal information.

‘Now that the goal is achieved, I can use this incident as an excuse to dismiss them all.’

Just then—

Whoosh—

A silent gust of wind brushed past as the window opened.

“Leonia Bellaci.”

I turned.

A masked figure stood there.

‘What now—?!’

My body froze.

The intruder approached without a sound.

“If you don’t want to die, don’t do anything unnecessary.”

At the cold warning, I set down my teacup.

‘Stay calm.’

First, I checked his weapon.

Not a proper sword—just a dagger.

And not even a particularly sharp one.

‘Just for intimidation?’

If so, he likely wasn’t ordered to kill me.

More likely—

He was told to bring me in unharmed.

Which meant I already knew who sent him.

“Did Marquis Rizen send you?”

“……”

“Did he tell you to bring me back without a scratch?”

No answer.

But that confirmed it.

“Seems I hit the mark.”

There was only one person in the entire continent who would try to kidnap me on my wedding day.

I made my move.

I smashed the teacup.

Shards scattered, and I grabbed one.

“You can’t fight me with a piece of glass.”

“Who said I’d fight you?”

I scoffed.

He was clearly a skilled fighter.

There was no way I could beat him.

But—

“I can’t defeat you, but I can ruin your mission.”

I aimed the shard inward.

Realizing my intent, he lunged forward.

“Ah!”

Thanks to his quick reaction, my attempt failed.

I slightly injured my hand, and the shard flew away.

‘I never intended to stab myself anyway.’

It was a performance.

A delay tactic.

“This is quite the situation, isn’t it?”

A performance—

to buy time until my allies arrived.