ASDEF 14

Chapter 14

After receiving permission from the Archbishop, we signed the register in the presence of a clergyman and obtained our special marriage license.

Then, two weeks later, a party was held in the Benson Manor’s garden.

It was a gathering to take the place of a wedding ceremony for Daniel, the eldest son of the Benson family, and Celestine, the daughter of the Filtz family.

Unlike other regions being reduced to ruins by Dimension Gates, Burshton, the capital of Plithium, was maintaining a relatively peaceful atmosphere thanks to the mages’ massive defensive magic.

That was why such an event was possible.

A wedding cake laden with plump, small cherries. In front of it stood I, with my voluminous pink hair pinned up high and a long veil adorned with gold leaf embellishments.

To prepare for this day, I’d been incredibly busy studying information about the attending nobles and taking crash courses in etiquette.

I’d been rushing around various places—the temporary residence Daniel had arranged, several boutiques, the Benson mansion—preparing for the wedding without a moment’s rest.

Looking back, it was a process that felt both unfamiliar and ordinary.

I visited <Madame Jeanne’s Dress Shop> again to have my wedding dress fitted.

*’I knew we’d meet again. In all of Plithium, I’m the only one who can make your beauty shine. Hehe!’*

I went to a jewelry shop to pick out wedding rings.

*’How do you like this design? A diamond ring would look perfect on your delicate hands.’*

Daniel and I, despite our awkward relationship, even had tea time together at a café.

Thanks to that, we drew a lot of attention.

*’Act naturally. You said acting was your specialty.’*

Of course, this was all Daniel’s meticulously calculated move to deceive everyone’s eyes.

It was only after going through all those procedures that I could finally stand here today.

While Daniel, who had been beside me, briefly stepped away, a throng of noble ladies gathered around me.

People were paying close attention to the new daughter-in-law of the notorious Benson family and to our relationship, which had become the most talked-about subject in high society recently.

As a result, I was greeting people in a rather uncomfortable posture.

In such a short time, I’d spoken with so many people that the corners of my mouth were starting to tremble and twitch.

Just then, Viscountess Beartriton stood beside me.

She seemed to be trying to pretend we were acquainted, having met briefly at the dress shop the other day.

“Lady Filtz. Ah, I suppose I should now call you Lady Benson. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“Of course, my lady. Thank you for coming.”

I pulled the corners of my mouth up as high as I could. As a result, my lips were starting to go numb.

“You look truly beautiful today. Who would have thought His Grace the Duke would gain such a lovely daughter-in-law?”

“I’m just grateful that he cherishes someone as lacking as me.”

“How on earth did you capture the heart of that icy Benson family and that stoic young master? It’s quite the topic of conversation these days.”

“Oh my, stoic? I’ve never met a man as kind as my husband.”

For a moment, I felt a thick hair of conscience sprout. Knowing Daniel’s true nature, after all.

Just then, another lady beside me curled one corner of her mouth. She seemed displeased with my answer.

She slowly scanned the surroundings and then spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

“But speaking of which, isn’t it strange? The only daughter of the Filtz family is getting married, and yet not a single relative is here. How peculiar.”

“Oh my, Marchioness Hilton, you’re here as well. Come to think of it, the Marchioness does have a point.”

“And on top of that, you’re having such a quick wedding without even a formal engagement ceremony. Is there perhaps some kind of problem?”

They began whispering among themselves.

“We, well…”

Just as I was scrambling to come up with an excuse with a creeping voice, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

“Viscountess Beartriton and Marchioness Hilton, you’ve graced us with your presence.”

Everyone’s attention turned to one spot. Daniel was standing there.

Daniel stood beside me with a faint smile.

For a moment, my entire body stiffened at Daniel’s sudden closeness, but he paid it no mind.

“I would have loved to invite my wife’s grandmother, who raised her to be so lovely. However, due to her advanced age, it was difficult to invite her all the way from the distant countryside.”

“Oh, I see.”

At Marchioness Hilton’s sigh, Daniel lightly curled the corners of his mouth.

But unlike his composed expression, the hand on my waist added a distinct pressure.

“However, that doesn’t mean you need to pity my wife. The fact that she is the daughter of the Filtz family, who were trusted by the former King, remains unchanged.”

“Oh my, that wasn’t my intention…”

“And moreover, she is now the daughter-in-law of the Benson family and my precious wife.”

He gave a meaningful smile toward Marchioness Hilton, who was awkwardly averting her gaze.

The Marchioness’s expression gradually darkened.

Daniel’s gentle gaze turned toward me. The moment I met his eyes, I unconsciously trembled faintly.

The warm sunlight cast a glow over his beautiful face. His red lips curved into a smooth, elegant arc.

I stared at him, utterly captivated, for a long while.

That is, until someone’s clear, ringing voice was heard from afar.

“Daniel.”

At the soft voice, everyone’s attention focused.

A woman in a pink dress with golden hair flowing long to one side was walking toward us.

With white, milky skin and a slender figure. Mesmerizing eyes and clear, defined features.

Wow, had I ever seen anyone so beautiful? She was like a goddess straight out of a fairy tale.

But wait a moment. Golden hair and blue eyes. A woman who could call Daniel by his first name, not ‘young master.’ The only person Daniel allowed to do so.

And a character who appears at this timing.

Before my speculation, recalling the novel, could even finish, the woman turned toward me and offered a greeting.

“Congratulations on your marriage, my lady. I am Briana Helle.”

Yes, Briana Helle.

The female protagonist of this novel. A Cinderella who, after many twists and turns, ends up with the male protagonist, Prince Alfred.

Prince Alfred, while coming and going from the temple with Daniel, meets Briana, a saintess candidate, by chance. And the three of them become close over a long period of time.

Of course, Prince Alfred’s intentions in this relationship weren’t entirely pure.

Prince Alfred was the firstborn son of William de Quant, the 16th King of Plithium, and the son of the King’s first queen.

Thus, he was engaged in a fierce succession struggle with Prince Adrian, the son of the current second queen.

Alfred needed a friendly relationship with the Duke of Benson’s family and the active cooperation of the temple to build a solid support base.

Alfred gradually developed feelings for Briana Helle, but couldn’t express them. Briana was only a saintess candidate, not yet a saint, and her family was also of humble standing.

As a son not born of the current queen, he had to build his foundation through marriage alliances with powerful noble families.

And beside them, that pitiful Daniel constantly yearns for Briana’s love. Even though he knows where her heart already lies.

In short, a small fry extra like me could never intrude upon that tangled web.

Briana, standing before me, filled my vision. Perhaps because she was the heroine, she seemed to radiate her own halo.

Being closer now than before, I stared at her appearance in a daze and finally understood why Daniel had risked so much for her.

“Wow, she’s annoyingly pretty…”

I muttered to myself, then suddenly snapped out of it. Briana’s eyes, which had been smiling at me like sunshine, widened slightly.

“Since Daniel and I have been close since childhood, I’m afraid I’ve gotten into the bad habit of calling him by name. I should correct it. You don’t find it offensive, do you, my lady?”

“Oh, no, not at all.”

I nodded quickly, but in the presence of such an overwhelming existence, I soon shrank back.

We were both in an awkward position to speak anyway—couldn’t she just not talk to me? After all, I’ll quietly disappear after a year.