The Temple of Mua in Ludenbach's capital, Ludens, has been the place where the wedding ceremonies of the Imperial family have been held for generations. Although the influence of religion in Ludenbach had weakened much compared to the past, it was still valued in the traditional sense in many rituals.
"Lady, don't forget what you've learned. Now, when you enter the bridal waiting room, you have to be alone after the face-to-face time."
"I know. The bride should not talk to anyone until the groom leads her to the virgin road!"
"If the person you talk to for the first time after the face-to-face time and the person you walk with on the Virgin Road are different, the god of selflessness will confuse you..."
"...He doesn't bless the couple. Do I have to wait for Duke Albrenovic to have a God-blessed marriage?"
At the answer, Mrs. Marie looked at me and smiled widely.
"I don't have to worry anymore. The lady is also perfectly prepared, and His Excellency and Duke Albrenovic also paid a lot of attention to the ceremony, so a very grand wedding ceremony was prepared."
Without ever opening the curtain of the carriage window, I arrived at the Temple of Mua. Now, I really became Brandt's bride without a beating.
When I arrived at the Temple of Mua, the priests led me straight to the bride's waiting room.
People rushed in to meet the bride, using the short face-to-face time, which was scary to sit in the chair. Whether it was because of my marriage partner or because Lady Edita's status had changed a little over a short period of time, the waiting room was crowded.
Even if it was face-to-face time, men were not allowed to enter the bridal waiting room unless they were immediate family members. Therefore, most of the visitors were awkward noblewomen and aristocratic young men.
"You're so beautiful, Lady. I understand that Duke Albrenovic is betrothed to the Lady."
"That's right. You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. Today's wedding ceremony will also be the most grand in Ludenbach's history, right?"
"His Majesty has put a lot of effort into it, but I think the Prince who will become a military officer really cares about the lady. For today's ceremony, he dug up several castles and islands of the Albrenovic family."
"I heard that His Majesty dissuaded him."
Visitors showered with soulless praise and sincere envy.
Lady Zita stayed still the whole time, and only after all the noblewomen and young ladies had left did she quietly approach.
"Lady, have you seen the heads of the young children?"
"Maybe it's because it's a wedding ceremony, so everyone came to be quiet. It's so nice and pretty, so why do you usually overwork your neck like that?"
"That's not the case. Since the day Lady came with simple hair, this style has become popular among young children. Even Her Royal Highness Princess Lena imitates the Lady's hair."
Lady Zita laughed as if she were ridiculous. Lady Zita's hair was also gently curled.
"What funny story are you talking about?"
Lady Zita's laughter was stopped by Princess Lena's insistence. I, Lady Zita, and Mrs. Marie all looked at the entrance of the waiting room where the sound was heard at the same time. Princess Lena, with her hairstyle, stood with Prince Fabio, just as Lady Zita said.
"I have something to talk about as a family, so would you like to get out of the way of Lady Zita?"
"Yes, Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Lady Zita blushed and left the waiting room as if she were running away.
"A humble servant comes to see His Highness the Honorable Crown Prince of Ludenbach. Did Your Highness, the Princess, come here too?"
Mrs. Marie greeted them loudly. I also woke up with a dazed face. I never imagined that the two of them would appear.
"Just sit back. Edita. I'm worried that your wedding dress will be wrinkled."
Prince Fabio said in a soft voice. This soft voice was even more amazing than his appearance. I had never talked to him alone, but every time we ran into him, he would only say things that I didn't like very much, so I thought we were bad half-siblings while shooting at each other. However, Prince Fabio was looking down at me with a different expression.
Princess Lena still has a face full of dissatisfaction.
Come to think of it, Madame Marie also told me to be careful of Stefano and Princess Lena. She did not talk about being wary of Crown Prince Fabio. Even so, because he was Princess Lena's father and said things I didn't want to hear, I naturally thought of him as my enemy.
It was difficult to see them as allies, but I had a hunch that they were not enemies either. Maybe the reason I was so focused on honor was just because he was a tight-fitting and conservative man.
"I sincerely wish you a safe and successful ceremony."
Princess Lena made an unexpected virtue. No matter how much, Princess Lena wasn't vicious enough to do something bad on a good day.
I responded with a smile.
"Your Highness, the Princess is happy to pray for me, so I think it will go well."
"That's how it should be. I don't know how heartbroken it was to hear that the lady had rehearsed the wedding by herself without a groom. I'm worried that you might make a mistake because you're unfamiliar with the groom."
I had no choice but to admit my mistake in judgment. I wanted to applaud Princess Lena's boldness in not being afraid to be beaten even on a good day.
"Don't worry, Lena."
I was wondering what to say, and I wondered if thinking about this would make me feel cool when I heard Prince Fabio's voice pierce my ears.
"I know that Prince Albrenovic did not participate in the rehearsal, but every time Edita practiced, he stopped at the Temple of Mua."
"Huh?"
I was so surprised that my voice cracked as I asked back. Princess Lena's mouth also opened silently.
Prince Fabio added as if he didn't know.
"I went to see the priest. Since you went there so often, your breathing must have been very good, right?"
It was something I never dreamed of. I used to feel guilty at the thought of just rehearsing alone, but Brandt was looking at me every time.
'I wasn't alone.'
Even my fingertips went numb from the realization that was tingling in my heart.
"Wow, that's beautiful. The ball will be very happy."
Prince Fabio smiled at me.
I don't remember what they said to me after that. I was so surprised that I panicked for a while.
By the time the Prince and Princess left, the face-to-face time was almost over.
I unpacked the luggage that Mrs. Marie had brought and took out a white cotton cloth. Unlike the rich wedding dress, it was a plain cotton cloth with no special decorations.
"Is that cotton cloth a surprise?"
"Yes, I didn't tell you to surprise the lady."
Mrs. Marie put a cotton cloth over me and said.
"In Ludenbach, the bride inherits the cotton cloth used by her mother. This is Lady's mother's cotton cloth."
After she finished speaking, Madam Marie looked at me with great expectation. I was embarrassed.
'What should I do? Should I pretend to be very impressed?'
But I couldn't live up to her expectations. She could intuitively feel that what she wanted was the sincere emotion of a daughter who received her mother's cotton cloth.
Nothing resonated in my heart. I have a crush on Edita's mother, but I wasn't impressed by this cotton cloth.
"That's right. Thank you so much. I'll keep it for the rest of my life and pass it on to my daughter."
I pretended to be as thrilled as I could, but Madame Marie's shoulders shrank with disappointment.
"Cotton cloth was the last method, but it doesn't work either."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Lady has loved this cotton cloth since you was a child. You told your mother that you would wear this and get married. So I thought that if I showed this cotton cloth and said, 'Voila!,' it would regain your memory..."
I felt guilty as Madam Marie's voice became more and more faded as I went back. I hated myself for not being able to repay her kindness, and I was sad that I wasn't the real Edita.
No matter how hard she tried, I couldn't give her what she wanted. Even now, I am more moved by Madam Marie's sincerity than by my mother's cotton cloth.
I hugged Madame Marie tightly.
"Lady, you shouldn't do this! Your wedding dress is crumpled."
"It doesn't matter. I can get a little wrinkled just to hold my nanny!"
"Lady..."
At that time, a refreshing bell rang to announce that the bridal waiting room was over. Madame Marie withdrew from me with a happy face.
Now I was really alone. From now on, until the wedding ceremony begins, until Brandt comes to pick me up, I will have to be alone here.
One day, I suddenly came to another world. And magically, a lot happened.
There was a father who loved me that I didn't have in the first place, a mother who loved me, and a man who was entangled. So in the end, I decided to stay. Now I am here to marry Brandt, a man who loves another woman.
His voice, that he could give up everything for Edita, and my vision of him chasing me while crying, came to mind. I couldn't tell if the sadness I was feeling now was emotion or guilt.
In the end. I wondered why Edita abandoned Brandt.
What did Edita think of him?
...And what does she think of that man?
A handsome man who is as handsome and stout as a Greek statue. A man who is obsessed with me, a poor man who pours out angry affection. The one who was sobbing in front of me and in Edita's memory. Fear, sympathy, or liking. Or deeper...
I shook my head. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I was falling into a pit.
'Will I be able to do well in the future?'
My head was tingling and painful. But now, I had no thought or way to reverse my decision to stay here. I will live in Ludenbach as Edita, the Emperor's daughter. And I will be the wife of that complicated man.
My head hurts, and I close my eyes a little, so I think I fell asleep. The scent of sleep sweetly wafted in my mouth. A pleasant breeze was blowing overhead.
'I don't want to wake up.'
That's what I really thought. But I have already begun to come to my senses little by little. In the end, I succumbed to my consciousness and opened my eyes. The pleasant breeze that had been blowing was cut off.
In front of my eyes, only black eyes were shining like an abyss. When his eyes met mine, the corners of Brandt's mouth rose.
My heart was pounding when I was looking at it. It felt like someone had taken my heart out and floated it in the sky.
"Good night. Is there any tension?"
How long have you been watching mr? It was a distant feeling.
I tried to get up from leaning back in my chair, but slipped on the hem of my dress and sat down deeper. Brandt grabbed my waist and arms and sat me down right away.
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