KDYG l CH 27

Chapter 27 

The Grand Duke’s outrageous act of marrying despite the king’s opposition… apparently wasn’t the end of his antics.

Even if they met in the military… is this really okay?
That’s what everyone in the room was thinking.

Ezra, one of the guests and a close friend of the groom, also felt bad for him.

What am I even watching right now?
From the moment he heard they were dating, Ezra thought it was insane. But now? A wedding… in military uniforms? Curtis was always crazy, but this… this wasn’t even a joke. Why would he go this far, even on her wedding day?

Just then, the Grand Duke’s violet eyes locked onto Ezra.

“Lieutenant Ezra, are you not focused?”

The voice wasn’t actually spoken out loud, but it felt so real in his ears. The sharp, blade-like glare snapped Ezra back to his senses. This wasn’t the time to drift off.

“…I congratulate you on your marriage!”

The other royal guards were also dazed, but after Ezra’s call, their swords, which had been drooping slightly, rose up straight again.

Only then did the Grand Duke smile softly and guide his bride onto the Virgin Road. The guests were shocked all over again.

“Did the Grand Duke… just smile like that?”

It was well-known why the king disliked Curtis Sian Berck so much—jealousy. Still, those who had spoken to the Grand Duke personally often questioned it.

He’s so unbelievably rude… if I were the king, I’d hate him too.

From birth, he had been arrogant, cold, and without the slightest compassion for others. Most of the time, his face was expressionless or frowning. The only time he ever smiled… was in mockery.

Of course, even so, countless young ladies still admired him, hoping their love could “melt” the icy man. But none of them—no one—had ever received the kind of smile or gaze he was giving now.

It was the kind of warm, gentle smile like spring sunshine after a long winter. His eyes seemed to say, I love you, and I could give you the whole world.

All the passion of a man in love was in that look.

“…Unbelievable…”

The men stared open-mouthed, and the women were left dazed. A few young ladies hid their blushing faces behind their fans.

Curtis had always been handsome, but now—with that smile—his charm was devastating. And all of that attention, all of that affection, was aimed at one person only: Chloe Amboise.

Someone whispered without thinking, “She’s so lucky…”

Suddenly, all the petty talk—about whether the bride was pretty or plain, whether she had a belly, or whether she was wearing a dress or uniform—felt ridiculously unimportant.

Through the slightly subdued murmurs, the Grand Duke escorted Chloe down the aisle slowly.

Under the arch of raised swords held by the royal guards, he could have walked in like a stern commander—but instead, he focused entirely on her. It was as if getting Chloe safely to the altar was the most important mission in the world.

The guests watched, enchanted, until the couple reached the altar and stopped. Only then did everyone remember to sit down.

“…Well, the bride’s not bad looking.”
“But still… military uniform?”
“You saw the tiara, right? Prince Frederick gave it to her. Maybe the Grand Duke is showing his loyalty to Ivanez through this.”
“Guess the late king’s passionate blood flows in him too…”

The gossip wasn’t much different from earlier, but now the voices lacked energy. The excitement of gossip seemed to have cooled.

Meanwhile, Grand Marshal Victor cleared his throat and began the blessing. It was the usual speech about two people meeting in the military and forming a blessed union.

The priest began the ceremony.

“Under the blessing of Ivanez’s guardian dragon and the creator Grangasade, these two come together by divine arrangement. Before all of us here, and before God, they vow eternal trust and love…”

Prince Frederick served as a witness, confirming that Chloe had already gone through a blood oath.

“From this day on, Chloe Amboise will join her name to Berck, glorious fruit of Ivanez and son of Grangasade…”

After Frederick’s words, Lieutenant Noel Monfis stepped forward to sign as a witness.

“I, Noel Monfis, bear witness to Her Highness, the Grand Duchess of Berck…”

Some of the more politically aware guests felt a twinge of discomfort. The Monfis family was wealthy and influential—the father was one of the six interior ministers. And now, the son had to address a woman who, until recently, was from a small and insignificant family, as “Her Highness.”

They realized that the woman they had mocked earlier was now, aside from Prince Frederick, the second-highest-ranking person here alongside the Grand Duke.

“Do you have a token of your vow to present?”

The guests leaned forward eagerly—it was time for the groom to give his gift to the bride. Most expected a ring, and many were curious what kind of ring the Grand Duke would give to a bride in uniform.

“This way.”

At Curtis’s gesture, an attendant opened a box. An older lady with sharp eyes gasped first.

“Isn’t that… the Sacred Flame?”

“Queen Mildred’s…”

Whispers spread quickly. This was the ring the late king had given Queen Mildred when he proposed, after falling in love at first sight.

Given that Curtis and Chloe had only known each other for three months, it was… symbolic.

Curtis took the Sacred Flame from the box and knelt before Chloe. She looked down at him, and he said something quietly with a smile.

“What did he say?”
“Not sure…”

It seemed like a private, romantic whisper. Then he slid the ring onto her finger. Her white gloves matched her ceremonial white uniform, and the violet jewel—matching Curtis’s eyes—glittered in the light. Inside the gem, a purple flame seemed to burn.

But that wasn’t all.

“I, Curtis Sisernach and Ivanez Berck, present this ring to Chloe Amboise as a token of my love and loyalty before God.”

It sounded like a normal vow… but the sharp-minded nobles caught something unusual.

“…Did he just say Chloe Amboise?”

In noble tradition, family heirlooms used as wedding tokens are given “to Chloe Berck” or the new married name. If a divorce happens, the bride must return the item.

But Curtis had said Chloe Amboise, her maiden name—meaning that, no matter what happened, the ring was hers forever.

From the family seating, Eric frowned, but Lea gasped, covering her mouth.

“He’s giving it to her no matter what… even if they divorce.”

“…Wow.”

Even Eric, who didn’t know much about jewelry, could guess this was an extraordinary gesture.

“…So romantic.”

Now everyone wanted to know—what kind of woman could melt the icy Grand Duke like this?

***

Meanwhile, Chloe herself felt like her brain was melting.

Marching confidently in uniform had been fine. Walking past the solemn royal guards was manageable. But when she saw the hundreds of important guests… she realized the full weight of what she’d done.

Damn it… I really messed up.

“Focus, Warrant Officer.”

The familiar voice made her snap out of her daze. And then—Curtis knelt on one knee in front of her again.