Chapter 26
The story goes back to the moment when Julia was tightening Chloeâs dress but became so exhausted she had to sit down.
âDo I really have to wear a dress?â Chloe asked.
Julia frowned. What kind of question is that? But before she could respond, Chloe quickly pointed to the fabric samples, dress sketches, and royal etiquette book spread on the floor.
âFor a royal wedding, all I have to wear is the ceremonial sash and the crown, right?â
âWell⌠yes,â Julia answered carefully.
Even for a rushed marriage, there were certain traditions that had to be followed. For example, Prince Frederick had to officially guarantee the marriage for it to be recognized.
Wedding attire was also important â the bride marrying into the royal family had to wear the royal sash, and she also had to wear one of the royal jewels. Prince Frederick had already sent Chloe a small tiara and veil through a servant.
Curtis crossed his arms and asked in a mocking tone,
âYouâre not suggesting wearing the sash and crown over your nightgown, are you?â
Chloe narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms too.
âI just thought â since you still have the Imperial Guard uniform, why not use it?â
Curtisâ lips parted slightly in surprise, while Julia jumped up in alarm.
âY-you mean youâll wear a military uniform?!â
Their eyes turned toward Chloeâs uniform hanging over the partition. But Chloe shook her head.
âNot that one â the ceremonial uniform.â
âThe white one?â
âYes.â
âBut⌠youâre the bride!â Julia protested.
Curtis touched his chin thoughtfully.
Chloe stood up and added,
âYouâre a war hero and volunteered for the army. People will see it in a positive light if I wear a uniform too.â
It was something Curtis hadnât considered before, but he liked the idea. This wedding was already an act of defiance against the king, and everyone knew it. The king was just looking for an excuse to criticize them.
On top of that, gossip was everywhere â there were already countless rumors about this marriage.
Curtis had enlisted in the army right after the current king took the throne, just to avoid political trouble â basically shouting to the world, I donât want your throne! But the king still didnât believe him.
A wedding where both bride and groom wore Ivanne’s military uniforms could send a message: We defied the king out of love, but weâre still loyal to Ivannes.
Chloe said, âYou could show that while you rebelled against His Majesty out of love for me, your loyalty to the nation remains.â
Curtis was amused at how she couldnât hide her dislike for him but still managed to think politically. He hadnât expected much from her in terms of leadership, but this was an effective and practical suggestion â and, best of all, completely unromantic.
âIf Iâve overstepped, I apologize,â Chloe said.
âNo. I like it,â Curtis smiled. âIâll wear my ceremonial uniform too. White suits the occasion. Itâs a good idea.â
Julia looked like she wanted to cry.
âBut this is a once-in-a-lifetime wedding for a duke!â
Chloe patted her shoulder kindly.
âItâs because heâs a duke that we can do something like this. Iâm fine with it.â
And so, they decided to have their wedding in uniform.
***
Back to the wedding day.
âIsnât that⌠a military uniform?â
The appearance of the bride and groom in the white ceremonial uniform of the Royal Guard made the guests whisper in shock.
âA wedding is supposed to happen once in a lifetime, and theyâre wearing uniforms?â
Curtis almost laughed at that thought. Once in a lifetime? He could easily point out several guests who had been married twice or even three times.
He glanced at his bride. Chloe Amboise, usually so sharp and alert, looked genuinely nervous for once. Still, she looked impressive.
Her hair, usually tied back simply, was now intricately braided, with jewels woven between the strands. On top sat the royal tiara, covered by a veil made of pearls that flowed to the floor. Her rare pink eyes were striking, her cheeks were flushed like roses, and the pants of the uniform showed off her long, straight legs.
Her upright military posture gave her a presence strong enough to stand beside the tall Duke of Berke without being overshadowed.
Curtis was sure â if she wanted, finding a second husband someday wouldnât be hard for her.
For some reason, the thought of her having time to get a proper dress for a second wedding made him remember when he had to personally tighten her dress in the fitting room. Her bare back had been revealed more than expected, and for a brief moment, he had noticed her scent⌠which, to his surprise, wasnât unpleasant.
Curtis shook off the thought and focused. He noticed Chloeâs gloved left hand resting on her stomach â soon, his motherâs ring would be on that finger.
Will it come back to me someday? The thought irritated him. Probably because it felt too far in the future. Divorce, remarriage⌠none of it sounded appealing.
Compared to that, the act of annoying the king with this wedding was much more entertaining. Curtis smiled slightly, enjoying how the hundreds of people present looked so confused.
***
Many guests rubbed their eyes in disbelief, but the scene didnât change.
One officer muttered, âCrazyâŚâ It was rude to swear at your superiorâs wedding, but everyone agreed with him.
The royal ceremonial uniforms were expensive and luxurious â gold-trimmed, with fine fabric and handmade tailoring. Usually, only the most handsome guards wore them, so people always said it was a feast for the eyes.
Curtis looked perfect, of course. But Chloe⌠She was surprised. People had seen her in newspaper sketches and expected her to look plain, but today she defied all expectations.
She didnât have the usual âclassicâ beauty people praised, but she had her own striking charm. She looked stunning â enough that people might have called them a perfect coupleâŚ
If only it wasnât for one thing.
ââŚBut this is a wedding,â one guest whispered.
No matter how you looked at it, what kind of bride wore a military uniform?
âEven if the Duke is a great soldier⌠making the bride wear a uniform? Is this some kind of political show?â guests murmured among themselves.
