Chapter 93: The Wedding (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93: The Wedding (1)
[Isn’t that Saintess girl quite favorable toward you, Master?]
‘She is, but…’
[To be honest, I think she’d cooperate if you told her the truth.]
‘You want me to tell her I made a contract with a demon?’
[I’m saying you should tell her a version of the truth that suits our needs.]
‘Hmm.’
I pondered Desmond’s words for a moment.
However, I couldn’t bring myself to nod easily. As I sat there lost in thought, Nathaniel lightly tapped my shoulder.
“Dia, it’s finished.”
“Oh, right.”
Before I knew it, all the flower petals in the basket were gone. Startled, I managed a quick reply.
“Our Dia must be tired now. Shall we take a little rest?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Veronica asked with a worried look. I nodded quickly.
“Tomorrow will be hectic, so let’s get some good rest today.”
“Okay.”
Veronica stroked my back as she spoke. She seemed quite anxious about tomorrow’s wedding herself, as her eyes were filled with concern when she looked at me.
But nothing would happen to me. The demons I contracted with would protect me no matter what.
If anything, I was more worried about the others—the countless people who would be attending the wedding. There was no telling what the crazed Empress Dowager might do.
‘I have to be even more vigilant tomorrow.’
[This Great One shall keep watch as well!]
[Me too!]
‘Right.’
I had already given strict instructions to Dollens, Ilnes, and Luers. I told them to report immediately if they saw anything suspicious on the wedding day.
‘I won’t let them get away with it this time!’
With that vow, I spent the day before the wedding.
*
“Oh my, our little lady is just so adorable today.”
Sophia and the maids were exceptionally excited while dressing me today.
It was because today was finally the day of the grand wedding. I was being dressed and pampered in a corner of the room while Veronica prepared nearby.
“Mom is prettier.”
“Of course, Lady Veronica is naturally beautiful as well.”
“Yeah!”
Veronica had been busy since early morning, receiving massages, skincare treatments, and meticulous makeup.
However, since I was still young, I couldn’t have heavy makeup that might be bad for my skin. So, after decorating my hair with ribbons and ornaments, there wasn't much left for me to do.
“Wow, Niel, you look pretty too.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh!”
Nathaniel had just finished getting ready as well. I looked at him in admiration.
He had worn the same tuxedo for the rehearsal yesterday, so what was different today?
For some reason, he seemed to sparkle more than yesterday. I tilted my head in curiosity.
As I stared at him intently, Nathaniel’s pale face gradually turned red.
“You look pretty too, Dia.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And cute.”
“Thank you!”
Coming from Nathaniel, who was far more beautiful than I was, the compliment felt a bit like a deception, but it still made me feel good.
“Oh, my little lady. You look truly lovely.”
“Auntie!”
As time passed, the guests from the bride’s side began to arrive one by one. I beamed at Henrietta.
“Welcome, Hetty.”
“Congratulations on your marriage. A wedding at the Imperial Palace… it’s been so long that everyone seems quite excited.”
“It seems so.”
Veronica, who was mostly ready, sat me on her lap and greeted the guests. Women from families associated with Winston, including Henrietta, came to see her.
Among them were those who would soon serve as Veronica’s ladies-in-waiting in the Empress’s Chambers. Since I had been staying in the Empress’s Chambers as well, many of them were familiar faces.
“Hello, Little Lady.”
“Hello, Lady Vanessa.”
“Oh, how cute. I suppose I’ll have to call you ‘Imperial Princess’ soon.”
“Hehe.”
The lady who was particularly fond of me was Vanessa Russell. The Count Russell family had served Winston for a long time, and Vanessa was also Veronica’s best friend.
If today’s wedding ended successfully, she was a strong candidate to become the Head Maid of the Empress’s Chambers. I liked her a lot, so I was very pleased.
“Congratulations, Lady Veronica.”
“Our best wishes to you.”
“Thank you for coming.”
More guests arrived in quick succession. As time went on, so many young ladies and noblewomen arrived that they couldn't even meet Veronica before the ceremony.
“Dia, you have to follow right behind Mommy. Okay?”
“Okay.”
As the flower girl, I was supposed to follow behind Veronica and scatter petals as she entered. Sometimes flower girls go in front, but they decided to put me behind, fearing I might get nervous because I was so young.
I was actually feeling a bit pressured about doing this in front of so many people, so it was a relief. Besides, I wasn't doing it alone.
“Niel.”
“Yes, Dia.”
I tightly held Nathaniel’s hand. Numerous maids held up Veronica’s snow-white dress to keep it from touching the floor.
“Berry.”
“Dante.”
The stars of the wedding, Veronica and Dantalion, looked at each other tenderly with their arms linked.
Usually, when a bride enters at a wedding for nobles or commoners, she walks in with her father, but that wasn't the case for the Imperial Family. From the start, the bride and groom entered together.
It seemed they did this to highlight the uniqueness of the Imperial Family. Above all, since a state wedding was a festival for the citizens of the Empire, the ceremony itself tended to end quickly.
The parade around the Capital, the banquet that lasted all night, and the balls that continued for an entire week were much longer.
“Dia, let’s go.”
“Okay!”
While I was mentally reviewing the order of the ceremony, the doors opened, and Veronica and Dantalion stepped forward. Nathaniel and I followed carefully behind them.
“Oh, how precious.”
“They really are adorable.”
The nobles, who had been clapping for Veronica and Dantalion, gave warm smiles when they saw Nathaniel and me scattering flower petals.
I felt inwardly tense as I scattered the petals. I had no idea what the Empress Dowager or Cedric might try to pull at a time like this.
‘There’s the Empress Dowager.’
As an elder of the Imperial Family, she sat in the seat of honor with the best view of the ceremony. Dressed up like a peacock as always, she was hiding her hideous self behind a benevolent smile.
Cedric, the Empress Dowager’s guard knight, stood beside her, glaring at Veronica. He looked desperate to jump out at any moment but couldn't. I could feel his ominous aura even from a distance.
‘Is she planning to let things pass quietly today?’
Aside from Cedric gnashing his teeth and glaring fiercely, nothing happened. The Empress Dowager also appeared composed on the surface.
The demons were quiet as well, seemingly not noticing anything suspicious. Perhaps because I was so stressed, my stomach felt a sharp, poking pain.
“It is a great honor for me to be present at this meaningful occasion today.”
“Ugh.”
When I saw the High Priest on the platform, I involuntarily frowned.
The Pope was originally supposed to come today, but it seemed a problem had arisen.
In the original story, the Pope was sickly and rarely appeared anyway. Surely, the Empress Dowager and the High Priest had done something to the Pope, who belonged to the Moderate Faction.
The High Priest’s pale purple eyes, hidden behind a gentle smile, scanned Nathaniel and me. His eyes flickered for a moment when he spotted Nathaniel.
‘What are you looking at?’
I glared at him with displeasure. Seeing his greedy gaze directed at Nathaniel, I stepped slightly forward to block his view with my body.
“Thanks to the blessings the Gods have bestowed upon the Empire, we have welcomed this special day.”
The High Priest, having averted his gaze from Nathaniel, continued smoothly. A tedious officiating speech followed, and I stepped back while holding Nathaniel’s hand.
Sitting in the specially prepared seats, I looked around. I was surrounded by layers of people from House Winston, including my guard knight, Demia.
Normally, as a future Imperial Princess, I should have been sitting with the Imperial Family, but it seemed Winston had interfered with the seating arrangements to keep the Empress Dowager in check.
‘Is the ceremony really going to end like this?’
After the High Priest’s sermon ended, someone else entered the hall.
“…!”
It was none other than Marianne. Entering nervously in her formal Saintess attire, she beamed when our eyes met.
“As the Saintess, I shall bestow a blessing upon His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of this great Empire.”
“…I ask it of you.”
Dantalion looked displeased, but it seemed he couldn't block the Saintess’s entry and blessing, especially since it coincided with the Moon of Life Festival.
Veronica had encountered Marianne frequently because of me, so she seemed indifferent now. She even gave a small smile and nodded toward Marianne.
“May Your Majesties rule this Empire well and form a harmonious family.”
As Marianne spoke her well-wishes, a white light erupted from her. Soon, her divine power began to envelop the entire wedding hall.