DCEB | CH 13

Chapter 13: I Will Gladly Marry You

Even the nobles who came just to enjoy the ridiculousness of the wedding gasped in shock and began calling on the gods.

But in all the chaos, Eleanor remained completely calm.

She stared at the blood-covered knight’s gauntlet.

“I asked if you will marry me.”

She had thought this before—polite speech just didn’t suit this man.

Eleanor almost laughed out loud despite the situation.

Did he expect her to run away in fear?

Or was he trying to gain the upper hand in this forced contract?

Neither fit this man’s personality.

And Eleanor wanted to make one thing clear—she would not run.

She looked him straight in the eye.

She had expected his amethyst eyes to be cold, but instead, they looked surprisingly calm. That startled her for a second.

Then she spoke.

“Gladly.”

As soon as she said it, silence fell over the entire room.

She repeated herself, as if making a vow.

“I will gladly marry you.”

She took a step toward the man who would become her husband.

Her white dress flowed beautifully, soaking up the blood he had dripped along the way.

“But before that, this needs to go.”

Eleanor boldly grabbed the blood-soaked gauntlet.

Kylus looked surprised, not expecting her to act first when he was the one who had extended his hand.

“To get married…”

Eleanor removed the gauntlet like she was used to it—and then threw it.

Clang!

The sharp sound echoed, followed by shocked whispers from the crowd.

Eleanor smiled coldly.

“Oh dear, that was loud.”

She looked directly at him, her eyes full of fire.

“But it had to be done. You can’t put on a wedding ring with that on, can you?”

Without waiting, Eleanor stepped forward.

“Priest, please continue the ceremony.”

“Y-yes!”

She glanced with sympathy at the priest, who looked pale and ready to faint, and returned to the spot where she had been standing alone.

She could feel Kylus moving to stand beside her.

Her heart pounded.

‘This didn’t happen in the past.’

They were not exchanging loving glances like most couples, but still—this was new.

It felt like a sign that he truly accepted this marriage contract.

While the priest spoke, Eleanor tightly clenched her hand, now stained red with blood.

A mix of relief that her plan was working, excitement from the unexpected situation, and deep bitterment toward Kylus rushed inside her.

‘If only I could say it with my eyes…’

She would’ve shouted it at him—the man who may have just killed someone on the way here.

‘Kylus, I hate you.’

She understood now.

Even though she answered “Yes, I do” to the priest’s vow, she was thinking something else entirely.

‘I hate you, husband.’

If the man standing next to her wasn’t someone who had forgotten everything…

If he had been the same person who spent the last ten years by her side…

She would’ve screamed at him.

‘I hate you so much I could die!’

As she struggled with these thoughts, the priest asked Kylus to make his vow.

After a brief pause, he spoke.

“Yes.”

It was a short answer, but something about his voice felt unfamiliar.

Eleanor’s lips twisted.

She felt emotions she had buried coming back to life.

Why did you throw me away like that?

Did you really have to be so cruel?

There were times I couldn’t even breathe in front of you.

Our marriage was full of pain.

And now, I have to start it all over again—with you.

It’s only for a year, but I’m the one who chose this path.

Do you know how that feels?

“For the exchange of vows, please… p-place the rings on each other’s fingers…”

Kylus, who had been silent, made a hand gesture.

Someone from the Count’s family, looking terrified, rushed over with the wedding rings in a box.

The jewel sparkled.

Eleanor hadn’t really looked at it before, nor did she ever expect it to be on his finger.

‘I didn’t think we’d actually wear them.’

With a blank stare, she looked at the ring.

Kylus turned to her.

Slowly, she reached out.

His hand, now clean without the gauntlet, contrasted with her blood-stained fingers.

She slipped the ring onto his fourth finger.

When it was her turn, her hand trembled as she tried to put the ring on his finger—but it didn’t fit.

It got stuck at the middle knuckle and looked awkward.

He clenched his fist to keep the ring from slipping off and hid his hand from view.

The priest, desperate to finish, quickly muttered the remaining lines.

‘What are you thinking right now?’

Silence. Again.

It was uncomfortable.

Eleanor couldn’t understand him.

Why had he suddenly decided to show up for the wedding?

Where had he been, and why was he covered in blood?

She held back her questions and stared at the bloodstained hem of her wedding dress.

Then, the moment she didn’t want to happen arrived.

“Now… the vow-kiss…”

“…”

“…”

The air turned heavy.

When Kylus slowly turned his gaze toward her, his expression looked like he was cursing inside.

Eleanor felt her tension break at last.

She almost burst out laughing.

‘Is it that disgusting to you?’

She wondered if stepping forward might make him even more uncomfortable.

The guests began to chuckle at Kylus’s reaction.

Some cursed, others complained. The atmosphere was getting tense.

Then came the sound of a cane hitting the ground—Kang!

It had to be her father.

Eleanor smiled under her veil—the kind of smile she knew he’d hate.

Then, she silently mouthed to Kylus: Should I do it?

Of course, she only meant to pretend.

She had no intention of kissing him for real in front of everyone.

But then, as if making up his mind, Kylus suddenly stepped forward.

Maybe he wanted to get this over with quickly. His steps were heavy.

As his hand reached toward her, Eleanor braced herself.

‘Ah… my shoulder…’

Last night, her father had pressed a cane hard on her shoulder, leaving a big bruise.

She had been too busy to apply any healing potion and had only covered it with her dress.

She tried to dodge, but surprisingly, Kylus grabbed her arm just below the elbow.

Not her shoulder.

Did he… change direction on purpose?

‘No way he knew… right?’

Their eyes met again.

His warm hand gripped her, but it wasn’t painful—it was gentle.

Almost too gentle.

‘Why…’

Why are you looking at me like that?

It reminded her of that day.

When her husband approached her as she stood in front of her dying father, laughing bitterly.

His twisted gaze.

His strange words—asking her to wait, to do nothing.

Then betrayal.

“Your eyes.”

What?

“Your eyes…”

But, as usual, Kylus didn’t finish his sentence.

Instead, he acted.

He removed the gauntlet from his other hand and reached under her veil.

Then, in a soft whisper, he covered her eyes.

“You’re the one who started this.”

When she blinked, her eyelashes brushed against his palm.

“What?”

“Remember this, Eleanor.”

Her body flinched.

‘He called my name?’

She was about to say something—but her voice never came out.

Because his lips caught it.

He didn’t pull away.

He kissed her quietly under the veil.

“…”

“…!”

Warmth. Tenderness. Caution.

This kiss felt completely different from the wild, overpowering ones of the past.

There was a faint smell of blood.

The light touch of his lips tickled.

She even imagined they were shaking a little.

Then, he opened his mouth.

And as she instinctively did the same—pain pricked her lower lip.

He pulled away.

“!”

A dry, bitter laugh escaped her.

Something had annoyed him.

Kylus had bit her lip, then disappeared behind the veil.

“If you will now s-sign the family register… Then… u-under the blessing of the gods, your sacred marriage will be complete!”

With those words from the flustered priest, the twisted wedding ceremony finally came to an end.