ETCHY 17

Chapter 17

To Crescentia, most of the clauses seemed unnecessary.

Of course the marriage would last more than ten years, and of course she intended to constantly strive to produce an heir.

Weren’t these all natural things that didn’t need a clause specifying a few years?

So to her, the Emperor’s revisions also felt like unnecessary consideration. But there was no need to object.

*’If I have to accept it anyway, it’s better to get it over with quickly.’*

Without much deliberation, Crescentia signed her name next to Erich’s at the end of the document. Hilde watched her wield the pen with a troubled expression.

*Knock, knock.*

As soon as Crescentia put down the pen, the door to the guest reception room rang, as if it had been waiting.

“Who is it?”

Anton, the knight guarding the door outside, entered as if to answer Crescentia’s question. When he announced the visitor’s identity, Crescentia beamed and rose from her seat.

“Show them in.”

“I greet the Star of Regina.”

The visitor, ushered in by Anton, lifted the hem of her skirt slightly with both hands. Crescentia gave a gentle smile in response to the other’s polite greeting.

“Good to see you, Grand Duchess Dowager.”

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

Helena wore a look of utmost humility and bent her knee to the Princess. The haughtiness she had shown when the Princess had visited incognito and was treated coldly was nowhere to be found.

“It is an honor to welcome Your Highness as a member of the Peter family.”

Though Crescentia was to marry Erich, her title remained ‘Princess.’ Because even after marriage, her status as Princess would not be stripped.

Thus Helena, who would become Crescentia’s mother-in-law, also treated her with thorough respect.

“For such a noble person to become a member of the Peter family.”

Helena spoke with emotion and then clapped her hands toward the outside. As soon as the sharp sound rang out, the butlers and maids waiting in the corridor entered. The servants lined up in two rows, well-trained.

“These are the servants of the Grand Ducal residence. Though lacking, they will serve Your Highness.”

At the end of Helena’s explanation, a middle-aged man and woman standing at the front of the servants stepped forward and paid their respects.

“I am the butler, Alfonso. I will serve you with all my heart.”

“I am the head maid, Annette. I will do my best to ensure you have no discomfort. Please feel free to find me anytime.”

“I look forward to working with all of you.”

Crescentia smiled softly and greeted the servants. Helena watched with a satisfied look and then clapped her hands.

At that, the servants parted to both sides, and a woman appeared from between them.

“Actually, there is someone I would like to introduce to Your Highness today.”

As Helena introduced her, a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties walked in slowly with a flushed face.

Her light brown hair was braided into a single plait, and her hairpin was so flamboyant it seemed almost extravagant.

The woman, who entered with a haughty expression, deeply bowed before Crescentia.

“Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. I am Philippina Xander of the Marquis Xander family, a collateral branch of the Peter family. Please call me Philippina.”

Philippina spoke politely and then raised her head. Low-saturation, pale golden eyes stared directly at Crescentia.

At first glance, they resembled Erich’s golden eyes, but they were much lighter. If his eyes evoked the blazing sun, Philippina’s were closer to a pale butter color.

Pale yellow eyes were common in Arthur. Several of the servants here also had similar eye colors.

However, perhaps because of her sharp gaze and flamboyant features, Philippina caught the eye like a richly scented rose.

“Philippina is a distant relative of Erich, and they have practically grown up together since childhood. You will likely see her often from now on.”

Helena placed her hand on Philippina’s shoulder and spoke kindly. She met Helena’s eyes and continued the conversation.

“That’s right. I even did the fitting for Your Highness’s wedding dress in your place. The Grand Duchess Dowager said our sizes would be similar.”

“Is that so?”

Crescentia was taken aback by the unexpected revelation and looked at Helena. The wedding preparations were urgent, but to proceed with the fitting without even getting the bride’s consent.

“I wasn’t aware that such matters had been arranged in advance.”

Crescentia said, feeling bewildered. Another woman had already tried on her dress. The wedding dress the bride would wear.

*’Why are they doing things on their own like that?’*

A wave of displeasure abruptly rose. However, Crescentia soon closed her mouth at the seemingly nonchalant attitude of the two.

*’Let’s not cause unnecessary conflict.’*

She didn’t want to add unnecessary remarks and appear overly sensitive to Lady Philippina and the Grand Duchess Dowager’s arrangements.

Besides, this was the Empire. Since both of them seemed unbothered, perhaps this was a natural thing in the Empire?

“…Lady Philippina must have gone through a lot of trouble.”

“It was fine, I enjoyed it.”

When Crescentia suppressed the displeasure rising to her throat and spoke, Philippina smiled and replied.

“While Your Highness was traveling to the Empire, I prepared the entire wedding, playing the role of the bride. The dress shop staff even thought I was the bride, you know?”

“Such a thing happened?”

“Yes, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me anytime. I know everything, so I’ll let you know.”

Philippina acted as if it were her own wedding. Crescentia gently bit the inside of her cheek and nodded.

*’Yes, let it pass quietly.’*

Crescentia had decided to give up her life as a Princess by choosing Erich. And that included becoming a woman of the Peter family.

Erich wouldn’t want her to get worked up over trivial matters or cause a stir.

Above all, Crescentia didn’t want to make any noise before the wedding. Since it was a marriage with Erich, she wanted it to be perfect and clean.

“I’ll leave it to you, Lady Philippina.”

So Crescentia decided to set aside her uneasy feelings.

What mattered was the married life. Matters like dress fittings and wedding preparations—it wouldn’t matter if someone else did them, right?

And so, Crescentia decided to think comfortably.

—

* * *

—

“Why are you here?”

Florian, visiting the club, spotted Erich and made a bewildered face. He took off his gloves, tucked them into his pocket, and sat down next to Erich.

“You said you brought the Princess here. Shouldn’t you be sticking close to her side?”

Erich didn’t even turn his head from the newspaper he was reading. He kept his eyes fixed on the article and spoke expressionlessly.

“Why should I?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know? The wedding is less than a week away.”

“So?”

Erich turned the page of the newspaper and asked back nonchalantly. His reaction suggested that the wedding was a more boring topic than even the weather.

Florian pressed his forehead at his cold friend’s attitude.

“‘So’? The Princess is getting married in a foreign country. How unfamiliar it must be for her. You should be by her side, taking care of her.”

“The Princess is an adult. Can’t she handle herself?”

“That’s not what I mean…”

“What I need to focus on isn’t the Princess, but the public opinion of the conservatives.”

Erich closed the newspaper he was reading and straightened his posture. He stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray and spoke with a serious face.

“I need to figure out who those bastards are who changed their attitudes like turning over their hands at the news of my marriage to the Princess. And who are the ones who oppose me to the end and hold out.”

“Is that why you were here? To see who would come to offer congratulations?”

“Something like that.”

Erich raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly. The ashtray he indicated with his eyes was piled high with traces of those who had come and gone from this spot.

Florian glanced over the classic brand cigar butts and shrugged.

“Looks like you got a good haul.”

“Bringing the Princess was worth it.”

Erich chuckled and rose to his feet. Having gauged the nobles’ public opinion, it was now time to move on to the next step.

—

* * *

—

Before she knew it, Crescentia and Erich’s wedding was just one day away.

The wedding preparations proceeded without a hitch. Since Helena and Philippina had handled most of the arrangements, all Crescentia had to do was make the final decisions.

For example, whether she preferred cream or lavender for the flowers decorating the venue, or whether she wanted a double-layer or single-layer veil for the dress.

Only the simplest of decisions were left to her.

Once Crescentia chose one of the two, Helena and Philippina would step in and take care of the rest.

So Crescentia didn’t have to put in as much effort into the wedding preparations as she had anticipated. After making a few decisions, the wedding was suddenly right around the corner.

All that remained was to get the Grand Duchess Dowager Helena’s signature on the prenuptial agreement and hold the wedding ceremony tomorrow.

When the church bells rang, Crescentia would officially become Erich’s wife.