MPGF 24

Chapter 24: The Wedding
‘The weather is perfect for a wedding.’

The sun was shining brightly.

Even though I had woken up a while ago, the late morning sunlight didn’t feel so bad.

“Miss! You mustn’t cry at the ceremony, no matter what!”

Betty, with her tired eyes, was pouring all her energy into dressing me up.

Thanks to her, I was overwhelmed too. I had no idea how time had flown. By the time I came to my senses, I was in the bridal waiting room.

“Anette. Listen to your father. A man… well, a man is more about the night than the day…”

And in front of me stood my father and mother.

“What on earth are you saying to the child!”

“But isn’t she old enough to know these things?”

“That age has long passed. If you cared about educating her, you should’ve done it earlier.”

At my mother’s rebuke, my father pouted.

“Make sure to dress warmly so your health doesn’t worsen.”

My mother constantly worried about my health.

“Actually, Bonisa already made a bunch of winter clothes.”

“And make sure they keep the fireplace running so it’s not cold.”

“I will.”

Being in my mother’s arms made all the things that had happened to me feel so distant.

“Ah, I want to sleep next to Mom again.”

If I did that, maybe I’d wake up and everything would be back to how it was.

“What about me?”

“Of course, the three of us together.”

Being hugged by my father’s strong arms made my heart feel a little stronger. If it was for my family, maybe I could endure even in a strange land.

Outside the bridal waiting room, guests were gathering in small groups.

Most were nobles I didn’t know.

And all around, dazzling decorations for the wedding stood out.

“Guess it was a cost-effective vendor.”

With just a 20 million gold budget, they had managed to create such a polished and grand wedding setup.

It was a flawless venue.

Off in the distance, I could see the Blandeiche family’s carriage.

‘After the wedding, I’ll be heading to the North…’

A cold place I had never visited before.

I tried to act strong, but now that it was really happening, I felt so small.

And just then—

“Miss.”

A small guest entered the bridal waiting room.

“Lucky?”

Bow.

The child, just ten years old, bowed politely. Lucky was a young artist my mother had been sponsoring for the past three years.

“It’s been so long, Lucky. Have you been well?”

“Hello, Lady Anette.”

His chubby cheeks, his cute suspenders, and matching beret—

Lucky looked much healthier than the last time I saw him.

“Seeing you today makes this the luckiest day of my life.”

“Are you teasing me again because of my name?”

“Hehe. Lucky, I’m so glad you came.”

I liked this sweet, precious boy named Lucky.

Born to a poor father, yet gifted with incredible artistic talent.

“Yes. Thanks to Madam’s care, I eat three meals a day and paint a lot.”

“I see. I must’ve been too busy to visit you.”

I stood up, dragging my heavy dress, and bent down to match Lucky’s eye level.

“Madam invited me since you’re getting married. She said to eat lots of delicious food too.”

“Yes, take some food home with you and share it with your little brother, okay?”

Lucky nodded slightly. His chubby cheeks flushed with a soft peachy pink. Then, he handed me the large frame he had brought.

“It’s a wedding gift.”

“Really?”

The picture was wrapped in stiff paper, so I couldn’t see it.

“You must have worked hard on this. Are you sure it’s okay to give it to me?”

“I painted it as a thank-you gift for you. And it’s easy for me to draw another piece.”

He straightened his small shoulders as he spoke. Knowing how sincere and meticulous he was about his art, I was deeply moved to receive such a gift.

“Thank you, Lucky. I’ll hang it in my room.”

“Great.”

“I’d love to talk more, but I need to go now.”

It was time to leave. I kissed Lucky’s cheek and stood up. Then, Lucky gently tugged on the hem of my dress.

“Lady Anette.”

“Yes?”

He wasn’t looking at me, but at the hem of my dress.

“Be careful.”

“Of what? Ah, the dress? Thank you. I’ll be careful not to trip.”

He must have been worried I’d trip over the long dress hem.

“Not the dress. I mean the Grand Duke.”

The Grand Duke?

“Why should I be careful of the Duke of Blandeiche? If you’ve heard scary rumors, don’t worry. He’s a good man in reality.”

Maybe Lucky was frightened by the man known as the “Madman of War.”

I patted his head, amused.

“I hope you’ll think well of him.”

“He’s like you, but also completely different. Be careful.”

Lucky left those cryptic words.

Had he heard strange gossip?

Or maybe… had he met Herthian?

To a child’s eyes, Herthian might seem large and scary.

“I hope you live happily, Miss.”

“Oh, Lucky, wait.”

I stopped him just as he turned to leave.

“Can you do me one last favor?”

***

Jackson barely held back tears in front of his subordinates.

“This is the perfect wedding.”

Recently, Jackson had gone through a big change. Thanks to the remedy Anette had given him, the small wound on his hand had disappeared. His nails were smooth, and his skin had become clear—a miracle.

Grateful, he’d poured his heart into preparing this wedding.

It was a magnificently grand yet classically elegant wedding. His sleepless nights had paid off.

With teary eyes, Jackson gazed around the venue from afar.

“His Majesty must’ve helped with the preparations.”

“The food’s great too.”

Hearing compliments here and there, he wiped his nose proudly.

He wandered the venue, looking for praise, his grin stretching ear to ear—until he spotted a familiar man.

“The Prince?”

His brow furrowed instantly.

Jackson was one of Herthian’s men—this was an instinctive reaction.

“Who’s that kid?”

Serdis was talking with a small child.

In contrast to him, the child wore plain clothes.

The boy handed Serdis an envelope, and Serdis ruffled the child’s hair with a smile.

“That envelope looks familiar…”

The yellow envelope gave him a vague sense of déjà vu.

“The desserts here are terrible.”

But one guest’s complaint knocked the memory from his head.

“What’s wrong with them?”

“The cookies are hard.”

“Well, of course they are. Cookies are supposed to be hard.”

***

The wedding was over in the blink of an eye.

Though some may have doubted the marriage, to everyone watching, it was a blessed ceremony between two lovers.

Oddly, even Serdis didn’t interfere.

After brief farewells with my family, I got into the carriage bound for the Blandeiche estate.

A grand procession followed behind us.

Through the small window of the carriage, the capital slowly receded into the distance.

“Feels like I’m going back to where I belong.”

I never really owned anything to begin with.

I blinked once and opened my eyes. But the world hadn’t changed, no shift to another dimension like that day.

“I hope the letter was delivered properly.”

At the wedding, I’d received a letter and hastily wrote a reply to Kassian. He had asked when and where we should meet, which was an encouraging response. I hoped my rushed reply reached him.

At that moment, the carriage stopped and Herthian entered.

He poured a cup of tea.

“I brought this in advance.”

It was chamomile—just like when we first met.

The tea had cooled, but the rich aroma remained.

“Thank you.”

“Drink and get some rest. It’s a long way to the North.”

His voice was calm and gentle as always.

“Let’s visit the capital often.”

“Really?”

“For your sake, I will.”

At least he remained by my side.

“What would I have done without Herthian.”

Though this marriage was born out of mutual need, he was a good partner.

***

The icy wind brushed against my skin, making me shiver.

“They weren’t lying—it’s cold all year in the North.”

Even with layers of clothes, the chill pierced through the fabric.

“But isn’t it a bit much for it to be this cold indoors too?”

My breath puffed white in the air.

The Grand Duke’s castle, built from massive stones, seemed to have holes in every corner.

“This is the dress the Grand Duke prepared for you, my lady. Please change into this and step outside.”

Even the stern-looking head maid had visible breath.

If I wore that thin dress, I’d catch a cold for sure.

“Wait—this is the dress?”

She opened the box to reveal a chiffon dress embroidered with yellow marigolds.

“You want me to go out wearing that?”

The head maid’s lips twitched.

“The Grand Duchess is pleased, I see. The Grand Duke chose it with care and I checked several times. Of course, it must be to your lik—”

“I can’t wear it.”

I firmly refused.

“Pardon?”

Her perfectly straight posture faltered.

“I’ll just go out in this. Show me where I need to be.”

It was honestly my style. The design and the marigold pattern were excellent.

But if I wore that outside, I’d just end up sniffling and freezing.

So I tightened the rabbit fur cloak around me.

There weren’t many relatives at the wedding, so I wasn’t surprised—but the mansion felt even more desolate than expected.

Compared to the Count’s estate in Luangberia, this was a massive fortress.

‘The previous Duke was probably the only family here.’

The late Duke’s traces were still everywhere. Herthian had gone off to war right after inheriting the title, so he hadn’t had time to reorganize.

I followed the steward through the castle. The absence of fireplaces made the air inside even colder.

“This is the end of the tour. Please explore the castle freely today, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

I smiled and nodded—but the moment he turned around, I wiped the snot running down my nose.

“No one here seems to feel cold.”

Even the steward was wearing only a thin shirt and vest—not clothes anyone should wear in this weather.

I turned and headed straight for the one room that was radiating warmth.

“Whose room was this again?”

The steward had explained, but I was too busy rubbing my arms to remember.

Still, the shivering took priority. I knocked on the door—no response.

After a moment of hesitation, I turned the knob.

“I’ll just warm up for a bit and go.”

Compared to the hallway, the inside was like a sauna.

Feeling the frozen skin on my cheeks begin to thaw, I was naturally drawn to the fireplace.

“Now this is life…”

Seeing the red embers hugging the logs finally made me feel like I could breathe again.

If it weren’t for the cold, this place would be livable.

A bittersweet regret lingered.

That’s when I felt a stinging sensation on my back.