45. The World Beyond the Open Door
Erna, holding a pillow, arrived. Baroness Baden, who had just closed her prayer book, was about to go to bed.
“I’ll sleep here tonight. Yes?”
Baroness Baden, who had been silently watching her granddaughter, who was throwing a tantrum like never before, nodded in defeat. Erna, with a bright smile on her face, ran over and lay down beside her.
It was the last night.
The Baroness thought she had already let go of her attachment when she sent Erna off to be with her father, but as the wedding day approached, she felt an emptiness and sadness beyond compare. This afternoon, after the carriage carrying Erna's belongings left for Schwerin Palace, she felt even more emptied. From tomorrow, that place will be Erna's home. It would be the foundation for a new family and a new life.
“I feel so strange, Grandma.”
Erna, who had been playing with her hand, which was clinging tightly to her under the covers, whispered quietly. Baroness Baden turned and lay down to face her granddaughter.
“Are you scared?”
“A little.”
It's okay. Instead of the lies that had kept her heart hidden, Erna revealed a cautious hint of sincerity.
Actually, she was scared the whole time.
From the day she received the unbelievable proposal until this very moment, every single day was like this. The fact that she was getting married, that it was Prince Bjorn, and all the consequences that would ensue, left Erna feeling overwhelmed and terrified.
“Why did the Prince propose to me?”
"Of course, it's because he loves you. Contrary to popular belief, the Grand Duke possesses an eye for hidden gems."
Erna, seeing the loving smile on her grandmother's face, just smiled blandly.
Since their marriage was finalized, Grandmother's view of Prince Bjorn has completely changed. It's as if she's completely forgotten the days when she used harsh language to criticize the Prince, a royal troublemaker.
No, Grandma. He doesn't love me.
So Erna couldn't bring herself to tell the truth.
Erna knew full well that her grandmother had lied, just as she had. Beneath her joy at her granddaughter's rise to the position of Grand Duchess, embroiled in a scandal that nearly ruined her future, lay a profound sadness at having to part with the one she loved so dearly.
“Erna, the truth is, I was afraid that you would end up like Annette.”
Baroness Baden, who had been staring deeply into Erna's large eyes for a long time, raised her wrinkled hand and cupped her granddaughter's cheek.
"A man who committed adultery, divorced, and even neglected his own children? He was so similar to Walter Hardy that it was chilling. I was so frustrated, not knowing what to do with you, who had fallen for such a man, that I ended up coming all the way here. But at least I don't have to worry about that anymore. Prince Bjorn is not like the villain rumored."
Baroness Baden smiled with reddened eyes.
During her tumultuous stay in the city, she learned the hard way how rumors can mislead and ruin a person. So she decided to trust her own experience and judgment rather than base rumors.
Just as Erna wasn't the kind of child the townspeople were so carelessly praising, perhaps the Prince wasn't either. Bjorn Dneister, whom she's observed over the past few months, seemed like a man worthy of at least that level of trust. Perhaps it was a delusion born of her desperate desire for her granddaughter's happiness, but given that she'd never once entertained such thoughts about Walter Hardy, it didn't seem entirely unfounded.
"Don't be afraid, Erna. I'm sure you'll do just fine."
Baroness Baden gently stroked Erna's hair.
"Just show him who you are, just as you are, without adding or subtracting anything. That's enough."
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Erna knew it wasn't a completely objective assessment, but she nodded and smiled nonetheless. She wanted to leave lightly. So that her grandmother, who was sending her off, wouldn't be left with any worries.
“My dear child, please be happy for Annette too.”
Baroness Baden kissed Erna's forehead and whispered in a wet voice.
“Yes, Grandma. I will.”
Erna smiled, giving a confident answer. "Yes, I will definitely do that." She repeated the answer brightly, like the happiest bride in the world.
It was a night when sleep seemed impossible, but Erna closed her eyes in her grandmother's embrace. Her scent, tinged with the scent of dried flower petals, the gentle beat of her heart, and the sound of her breathing. The warmth of her wrinkled skin. As she engraved these unforgettable sensations in her memory, over and over again, the night deepened.
It was only around dawn that Erna, who had finally fallen into a light sleep, opened her eyes slowly, following the sound of her grandmother's affectionate voice calling her name.
“Erna, it’s time to become a happy bride.”
It was a dazzlingly clear autumn morning.
"You rascal. You treat me, the Grand Duchess' father, like this?"
Walter Hardy gritted his teeth and looked down at his bandaged leg. He would have liked to remove this cumbersome thing immediately, but he had already made a promise, so there was nothing he could do.
“Just bear with it, honey. It’s only for today.”
Brenda Hardy offered her husband, who was standing on his own two legs, a pair of crutches. Grimacing with humiliation, Walter Hardy obediently accepted them.
It was two evenings ago that Prince Bjorn suddenly showed up at the Hardy House. He was overjoyed at the thought of finally being treated as the Archduchess's parent, but then, in front of them, the Prince shamelessly blurted out something he thought he would never utter in his right mind.
'Miss Hardy will hold my hand and walk down the aisle.'
It was a unilateral announcement, no, an order. A flustered Walter Hardy tried to explain the traditions, formalities, and many virtues a Prince should uphold, but he didn't even flinch. It felt like facing a formidable wall.
"But Your Highness! If you hold such an extravagant wedding while your father is still alive and well, what will the world say?"
Walter Hardy, cornered, his face flushed red as he protested. It was absurd to have his daughter suffer such humiliation on the glorious day she ascended to the throne of Grand Duchess. But the Prince, unperturbed, took the blame for the embarrassment.
'Then it wouldn't be a bad idea to make up a reason.'
Could it be that he's been drinking heavily and getting drunk?
While the astonished Walter Hardy just blinked, Bjorn leisurely put on the glove he was holding in one hand.
'A reasonable excuse, like not feeling well.'
As he uttered those words, Bjorn's gaze was fixed squarely on Viscount Hardy's leg. His face was still squinting. He had to take several deep breaths to hold back the curse that was rising to the very tip of his tongue.
'Why on earth do you have to go to such lengths?'
Walter Hardy asked, suddenly frightened. Perhaps it was the anxiety that Erna might have told the Prince everything. But even for a Prince, it was clearly an overreach for a father to interfere in his daughter's upbringing. He meticulously prepared his rebuttal and waited for Bjorn's response.
'Well, well, it's my wife.'
After a moment of thought, Bjorn smiled and gave an answer that made his opponent's fighting spirit seem ridiculous for a moment.
The Prince, who had barged in without permission and committed a thuggish act, greeted him like a perfect gentleman and leisurely left the Hardy household. Despite his fury and hurling a torrent of abuse, Walter Hardy ultimately had no choice but to bandage his otherwise healthy right leg. It was the only way to save even a modicum of dignity.
Crazy guy. As expected, he wasn't just any crazy guy.
Walter Hardy, leaning on his crutches, cursed that damned Prince with every step he took. Of course, being as crazy as he was, he couldn't deny that the Hardy family had the honor of being royal in-laws.
The road leading to Schwerin Palace was teeming with a throng of people. While gossiping about the end of the world and the disgrace of Letzen, the onlookers scanned the road with sparkling eyes, hoping to see the carriage carrying the Princess soon appear.
“There it is, there it is! It is coming!”
The crowd began to stir as a luxurious carriage drawn by four white horses appeared.
The bridal procession, led by the royal guard in full dress, was both splendid and majestic. While it couldn't compare to the grand wedding that ushered in Princess Lars as Crown Princess, it was by no means lacking in grandeur. For those prepared to sneer at hastily arranged, sloppy weddings, it was a shocking sight.
“They treat that woman like that, like a Princess.”
The eyes of those glancing through the window of the carriage carrying the bride became sharp.
“In any case, she is the wife of the First Prince of this country, so we cannot treat her rudely. There is such a thing as royal dignity.”
"That's true, but instead of Princess Gladys, it's Erna Hardy! This is a world apart, isn't it?"
The sound of clicking one's tongue permeated the noise of the street.
Prince Bjorn's second bride didn't even spare a glance at those who had been waiting for her. Her gaze, fixed solely on the ground, was arrogant. It was a stark contrast to Princess Gladys, who had always been gentle and friendly.
They say that, despite being the daughter of a noble family on the verge of ruin, her arrogance is higher than that of the Princess of Lars.
As the rumor spread through the streets, the carriage carrying the Princess passed the Grand Duke's Bridge. As they drew closer to the palace, Erna's face, hidden beneath her veil, grew paler.
The moment she put on her wedding dress and got into the carriage, her mind went blank.
From that spring day when she boarded the train to Schwerin to this very moment, she began to wonder if everything had been a dream. A very long and strange dream. Perhaps the real Erna Hardy was still asleep in her cozy bed at Baden. And when she finally opened her eyes, a peaceful day in the country house would begin.
Yeah, she thought so.
That was far more realistic than the fact that Erna Hardy would become a Princess. But as the carriage came to a halt, Erna had to let go of that fantasy. The royal chapel within the grounds of Schwerin Palace. This was where the wedding would take place.
Erna struggled to control her rapid breathing as she stepped out of the carriage. She was led around by strangers, and before she knew it, she was on a red carpet.
Erna, staring blankly at the bouquet she hadn't even realized she was holding, raised her eyes, as if on the verge of tears, and faced the closed chapel door. Erna was still terrified of the door, which was about to open, and the unfamiliar world that lay beyond.
Can I be happy?
As the memory of that confident promise came to mind, her heart pounded like it was going to burst. Her legs trembled so much that she could barely support herself. Even the flowers decorating Erna's bouquet began to tremble, following her example.
Shouldn't we turn back now?
A dark shadow suddenly fell over Erna, who was looking back in fear.
“Erna.”
He looked up, following the soft voice calling her name. He was there. Bjorn. The world beyond that door was closing in on Erna.
"Breath."
Bjorn, who was looking at her, smiled and whispered.
Breath.
Erna, who was absentmindedly repeating the word, frowned with a strange sense of foreboding.
“Breathe, breathe.”
Whispering once more, his voice laced with laughter, Bjorn took Erna's hand. It was only that, but Erna could sense that he, too, was recalling the same memories. Their first time. That night at the ball.
Erna nodded, breathing steadily and repeatedly, just as she had that day. Her ice-cold hand gradually regained its normal temperature in Bjorn's grasp.
"Thank you."
Looking up at him, who was holding her hand tightly, Erna whispered in a trembling voice.
“You listened to my request, didn’t you?”
Erna gave an awkward smile, waving her hand slightly. Bjorn chuckled, as if to say, "That was all."
“I will do my best.”
Erna, who had been watching him with bated breath, made an impulsive promise. Bjorn lowered his narrowed eyes to meet hers.
“I will do my best to be a good husband.”
The moment he made another firm promise, the door opened.
Bjorn answered with a low laugh and led the bride into the world beyond the open door, where beautiful light poured through the stained glass like a blessing.
Erna, holding a pillow, arrived. Baroness Baden, who had just closed her prayer book, was about to go to bed.
“I’ll sleep here tonight. Yes?”
Baroness Baden, who had been silently watching her granddaughter, who was throwing a tantrum like never before, nodded in defeat. Erna, with a bright smile on her face, ran over and lay down beside her.
It was the last night.
The Baroness thought she had already let go of her attachment when she sent Erna off to be with her father, but as the wedding day approached, she felt an emptiness and sadness beyond compare. This afternoon, after the carriage carrying Erna's belongings left for Schwerin Palace, she felt even more emptied. From tomorrow, that place will be Erna's home. It would be the foundation for a new family and a new life.
“I feel so strange, Grandma.”
Erna, who had been playing with her hand, which was clinging tightly to her under the covers, whispered quietly. Baroness Baden turned and lay down to face her granddaughter.
“Are you scared?”
“A little.”
It's okay. Instead of the lies that had kept her heart hidden, Erna revealed a cautious hint of sincerity.
Actually, she was scared the whole time.
From the day she received the unbelievable proposal until this very moment, every single day was like this. The fact that she was getting married, that it was Prince Bjorn, and all the consequences that would ensue, left Erna feeling overwhelmed and terrified.
“Why did the Prince propose to me?”
"Of course, it's because he loves you. Contrary to popular belief, the Grand Duke possesses an eye for hidden gems."
Erna, seeing the loving smile on her grandmother's face, just smiled blandly.
Since their marriage was finalized, Grandmother's view of Prince Bjorn has completely changed. It's as if she's completely forgotten the days when she used harsh language to criticize the Prince, a royal troublemaker.
No, Grandma. He doesn't love me.
So Erna couldn't bring herself to tell the truth.
Erna knew full well that her grandmother had lied, just as she had. Beneath her joy at her granddaughter's rise to the position of Grand Duchess, embroiled in a scandal that nearly ruined her future, lay a profound sadness at having to part with the one she loved so dearly.
“Erna, the truth is, I was afraid that you would end up like Annette.”
Baroness Baden, who had been staring deeply into Erna's large eyes for a long time, raised her wrinkled hand and cupped her granddaughter's cheek.
"A man who committed adultery, divorced, and even neglected his own children? He was so similar to Walter Hardy that it was chilling. I was so frustrated, not knowing what to do with you, who had fallen for such a man, that I ended up coming all the way here. But at least I don't have to worry about that anymore. Prince Bjorn is not like the villain rumored."
Baroness Baden smiled with reddened eyes.
During her tumultuous stay in the city, she learned the hard way how rumors can mislead and ruin a person. So she decided to trust her own experience and judgment rather than base rumors.
Just as Erna wasn't the kind of child the townspeople were so carelessly praising, perhaps the Prince wasn't either. Bjorn Dneister, whom she's observed over the past few months, seemed like a man worthy of at least that level of trust. Perhaps it was a delusion born of her desperate desire for her granddaughter's happiness, but given that she'd never once entertained such thoughts about Walter Hardy, it didn't seem entirely unfounded.
"Don't be afraid, Erna. I'm sure you'll do just fine."
Baroness Baden gently stroked Erna's hair.
"Just show him who you are, just as you are, without adding or subtracting anything. That's enough."
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Erna knew it wasn't a completely objective assessment, but she nodded and smiled nonetheless. She wanted to leave lightly. So that her grandmother, who was sending her off, wouldn't be left with any worries.
“My dear child, please be happy for Annette too.”
Baroness Baden kissed Erna's forehead and whispered in a wet voice.
“Yes, Grandma. I will.”
Erna smiled, giving a confident answer. "Yes, I will definitely do that." She repeated the answer brightly, like the happiest bride in the world.
It was a night when sleep seemed impossible, but Erna closed her eyes in her grandmother's embrace. Her scent, tinged with the scent of dried flower petals, the gentle beat of her heart, and the sound of her breathing. The warmth of her wrinkled skin. As she engraved these unforgettable sensations in her memory, over and over again, the night deepened.
It was only around dawn that Erna, who had finally fallen into a light sleep, opened her eyes slowly, following the sound of her grandmother's affectionate voice calling her name.
“Erna, it’s time to become a happy bride.”
It was a dazzlingly clear autumn morning.
***
"You rascal. You treat me, the Grand Duchess' father, like this?"
Walter Hardy gritted his teeth and looked down at his bandaged leg. He would have liked to remove this cumbersome thing immediately, but he had already made a promise, so there was nothing he could do.
“Just bear with it, honey. It’s only for today.”
Brenda Hardy offered her husband, who was standing on his own two legs, a pair of crutches. Grimacing with humiliation, Walter Hardy obediently accepted them.
It was two evenings ago that Prince Bjorn suddenly showed up at the Hardy House. He was overjoyed at the thought of finally being treated as the Archduchess's parent, but then, in front of them, the Prince shamelessly blurted out something he thought he would never utter in his right mind.
'Miss Hardy will hold my hand and walk down the aisle.'
It was a unilateral announcement, no, an order. A flustered Walter Hardy tried to explain the traditions, formalities, and many virtues a Prince should uphold, but he didn't even flinch. It felt like facing a formidable wall.
"But Your Highness! If you hold such an extravagant wedding while your father is still alive and well, what will the world say?"
Walter Hardy, cornered, his face flushed red as he protested. It was absurd to have his daughter suffer such humiliation on the glorious day she ascended to the throne of Grand Duchess. But the Prince, unperturbed, took the blame for the embarrassment.
'Then it wouldn't be a bad idea to make up a reason.'
Could it be that he's been drinking heavily and getting drunk?
While the astonished Walter Hardy just blinked, Bjorn leisurely put on the glove he was holding in one hand.
'A reasonable excuse, like not feeling well.'
As he uttered those words, Bjorn's gaze was fixed squarely on Viscount Hardy's leg. His face was still squinting. He had to take several deep breaths to hold back the curse that was rising to the very tip of his tongue.
'Why on earth do you have to go to such lengths?'
Walter Hardy asked, suddenly frightened. Perhaps it was the anxiety that Erna might have told the Prince everything. But even for a Prince, it was clearly an overreach for a father to interfere in his daughter's upbringing. He meticulously prepared his rebuttal and waited for Bjorn's response.
'Well, well, it's my wife.'
After a moment of thought, Bjorn smiled and gave an answer that made his opponent's fighting spirit seem ridiculous for a moment.
The Prince, who had barged in without permission and committed a thuggish act, greeted him like a perfect gentleman and leisurely left the Hardy household. Despite his fury and hurling a torrent of abuse, Walter Hardy ultimately had no choice but to bandage his otherwise healthy right leg. It was the only way to save even a modicum of dignity.
Crazy guy. As expected, he wasn't just any crazy guy.
Walter Hardy, leaning on his crutches, cursed that damned Prince with every step he took. Of course, being as crazy as he was, he couldn't deny that the Hardy family had the honor of being royal in-laws.
***
The road leading to Schwerin Palace was teeming with a throng of people. While gossiping about the end of the world and the disgrace of Letzen, the onlookers scanned the road with sparkling eyes, hoping to see the carriage carrying the Princess soon appear.
“There it is, there it is! It is coming!”
The crowd began to stir as a luxurious carriage drawn by four white horses appeared.
The bridal procession, led by the royal guard in full dress, was both splendid and majestic. While it couldn't compare to the grand wedding that ushered in Princess Lars as Crown Princess, it was by no means lacking in grandeur. For those prepared to sneer at hastily arranged, sloppy weddings, it was a shocking sight.
“They treat that woman like that, like a Princess.”
The eyes of those glancing through the window of the carriage carrying the bride became sharp.
“In any case, she is the wife of the First Prince of this country, so we cannot treat her rudely. There is such a thing as royal dignity.”
"That's true, but instead of Princess Gladys, it's Erna Hardy! This is a world apart, isn't it?"
The sound of clicking one's tongue permeated the noise of the street.
Prince Bjorn's second bride didn't even spare a glance at those who had been waiting for her. Her gaze, fixed solely on the ground, was arrogant. It was a stark contrast to Princess Gladys, who had always been gentle and friendly.
They say that, despite being the daughter of a noble family on the verge of ruin, her arrogance is higher than that of the Princess of Lars.
As the rumor spread through the streets, the carriage carrying the Princess passed the Grand Duke's Bridge. As they drew closer to the palace, Erna's face, hidden beneath her veil, grew paler.
The moment she put on her wedding dress and got into the carriage, her mind went blank.
From that spring day when she boarded the train to Schwerin to this very moment, she began to wonder if everything had been a dream. A very long and strange dream. Perhaps the real Erna Hardy was still asleep in her cozy bed at Baden. And when she finally opened her eyes, a peaceful day in the country house would begin.
Yeah, she thought so.
That was far more realistic than the fact that Erna Hardy would become a Princess. But as the carriage came to a halt, Erna had to let go of that fantasy. The royal chapel within the grounds of Schwerin Palace. This was where the wedding would take place.
Erna struggled to control her rapid breathing as she stepped out of the carriage. She was led around by strangers, and before she knew it, she was on a red carpet.
Erna, staring blankly at the bouquet she hadn't even realized she was holding, raised her eyes, as if on the verge of tears, and faced the closed chapel door. Erna was still terrified of the door, which was about to open, and the unfamiliar world that lay beyond.
Can I be happy?
As the memory of that confident promise came to mind, her heart pounded like it was going to burst. Her legs trembled so much that she could barely support herself. Even the flowers decorating Erna's bouquet began to tremble, following her example.
Shouldn't we turn back now?
A dark shadow suddenly fell over Erna, who was looking back in fear.
“Erna.”
He looked up, following the soft voice calling her name. He was there. Bjorn. The world beyond that door was closing in on Erna.
"Breath."
Bjorn, who was looking at her, smiled and whispered.
Breath.
Erna, who was absentmindedly repeating the word, frowned with a strange sense of foreboding.
“Breathe, breathe.”
Whispering once more, his voice laced with laughter, Bjorn took Erna's hand. It was only that, but Erna could sense that he, too, was recalling the same memories. Their first time. That night at the ball.
Erna nodded, breathing steadily and repeatedly, just as she had that day. Her ice-cold hand gradually regained its normal temperature in Bjorn's grasp.
"Thank you."
Looking up at him, who was holding her hand tightly, Erna whispered in a trembling voice.
“You listened to my request, didn’t you?”
Erna gave an awkward smile, waving her hand slightly. Bjorn chuckled, as if to say, "That was all."
“I will do my best.”
Erna, who had been watching him with bated breath, made an impulsive promise. Bjorn lowered his narrowed eyes to meet hers.
“I will do my best to be a good husband.”
The moment he made another firm promise, the door opened.
Bjorn answered with a low laugh and led the bride into the world beyond the open door, where beautiful light poured through the stained glass like a blessing.
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