Episode 47. Ex-Husband's Wedding
The carriage changed destination and rolled quickly.
"Ugh, ugh."
The carriage felt unusually bumpy today. Rose swayed back and forth, unable to keep her balance.
"The Grand Duke asked me to go faster, but isn't this a bit much?"
Rose looked out the window, almost as if she were riding a high-speed train.
Of course, compared to the comfort of the high-speed train, the carriage was incredibly bumpy.
"Ugh, ahh."
Rose's body, struggling to keep her balance, tilted toward the Grand Duke of Artaeum. Unintentionally falling into the Grand Duke's arms, Rose sat up in surprise.
"Ah. I'm sorry. I'm having trouble keeping my balance today."
Even as she said this, Rose swayed back and forth like a paper doll, unable to keep her balance in the bumpy carriage.
In contrast, the Grand Duke of Artaeum looked remarkably calm. The contrast was so stark that anyone observing would have mistaken Rose and the Grand Duke for sitting in different places.
The Grand Duke reached out diagonally in front of Rose. He gently stabilized Rose's body, causing her to visibly lessen her sway.
However, it wasn't enough. Rose's body continued to sway back and forth due to the Grand Duke's mannered gesture.
Rose wrapped both arms around the Grand Duke's, which were wrapped like a seatbelt.
The Grand Duke flinched the moment Rose's body touched, but Rose was so distracted that she didn't notice his reaction.
"Ha, thank you."
Rose finally caught her breath and expressed her gratitude.
The Grand Duke, wide-eyed, turned his head as his eyes met Rose's, looking out the window.
"Why is this?"
The sensation of his arm touching hers was strangely stimulating. The Grand Duke absentmindedly touched his flushed earlobe with his free hand.
"There's only about an hour left."
Unlike the Grand Duke, who was flustered, Rose's mind was focused solely on the wedding.
The thought of having to dress up from head to toe made her anxious.
"Can we finish all the preparations within our time?"
"Of course."
Unlike Rose, the Grand Duke of Artaeum seemed quite relaxed.
The fact that the carriage was moving several times faster than usual was all thanks to the magic the Grand Duke of Artaeum had cast.
He had cast the magic while stopping the carriage midway and changing destinations without Rose noticing.
"There's no need to worry about travel time at all...."
Without a word, the carriage came to a screeching halt with a tremendous grinding noise.
Squeak-
"Whoa!"
The carriage changed destination and rolled quickly.
"Ugh, ugh."
The carriage felt unusually bumpy today. Rose swayed back and forth, unable to keep her balance.
"The Grand Duke asked me to go faster, but isn't this a bit much?"
Rose looked out the window, almost as if she were riding a high-speed train.
Of course, compared to the comfort of the high-speed train, the carriage was incredibly bumpy.
"Ugh, ahh."
Rose's body, struggling to keep her balance, tilted toward the Grand Duke of Artaeum. Unintentionally falling into the Grand Duke's arms, Rose sat up in surprise.
"Ah. I'm sorry. I'm having trouble keeping my balance today."
Even as she said this, Rose swayed back and forth like a paper doll, unable to keep her balance in the bumpy carriage.
In contrast, the Grand Duke of Artaeum looked remarkably calm. The contrast was so stark that anyone observing would have mistaken Rose and the Grand Duke for sitting in different places.
The Grand Duke reached out diagonally in front of Rose. He gently stabilized Rose's body, causing her to visibly lessen her sway.
However, it wasn't enough. Rose's body continued to sway back and forth due to the Grand Duke's mannered gesture.
Rose wrapped both arms around the Grand Duke's, which were wrapped like a seatbelt.
The Grand Duke flinched the moment Rose's body touched, but Rose was so distracted that she didn't notice his reaction.
"Ha, thank you."
Rose finally caught her breath and expressed her gratitude.
The Grand Duke, wide-eyed, turned his head as his eyes met Rose's, looking out the window.
"Why is this?"
The sensation of his arm touching hers was strangely stimulating. The Grand Duke absentmindedly touched his flushed earlobe with his free hand.
"There's only about an hour left."
Unlike the Grand Duke, who was flustered, Rose's mind was focused solely on the wedding.
The thought of having to dress up from head to toe made her anxious.
"Can we finish all the preparations within our time?"
"Of course."
Unlike Rose, the Grand Duke of Artaeum seemed quite relaxed.
The fact that the carriage was moving several times faster than usual was all thanks to the magic the Grand Duke of Artaeum had cast.
He had cast the magic while stopping the carriage midway and changing destinations without Rose noticing.
"There's no need to worry about travel time at all...."
Without a word, the carriage came to a screeching halt with a tremendous grinding noise.
Squeak-
"Whoa!"
Rose's body suddenly floated forward. It felt like she was riding a roller coaster without a seatbelt, and Rose's heart sank.
If it weren't for the Grand Duke, Rose would have likely been torn to pieces in the carriage.
"We've arrived."
The Grand Duke put his robe back on and hurriedly got out of the carriage. He then took Rose's hand as she followed him down and entered the luxurious-looking shop.
"Welcome."
Rose lifted her wide-brimmed hat and spoke urgently.
"Can you get ready in 30 minutes?"
"30 minutes? What style do you want?"
"I'd like hair, makeup, and even a dress recommendation."
It wasn't Rose who answered the employee, but the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
The employee smiled a capitalist smile and replied,
"Sir, I'm sorry, but we only offer hair and makeup here. And 30 minutes is too much. You need at least two hours. Besides, we can't do makeup without a reservation."
"Ah..."
Rose's face, which had been filled with anticipation, was tinged with disappointment. Rose tugged at the Grand Duke's sleeve and whispered.
“I guess you came in too much of a hurry. There’s nothing we can do.”
It was a pity, but what could he do if she said no?
However, unlike Rose, who was about to give up and leave, the Grand Duke showed no intention of leaving the store.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum lifted the hood of his robe and revealed his face.
“Oh, my.”
“Aren’t you the Grand Duke of Artaeum?”
If it weren't for the Grand Duke, Rose would have likely been torn to pieces in the carriage.
"We've arrived."
The Grand Duke put his robe back on and hurriedly got out of the carriage. He then took Rose's hand as she followed him down and entered the luxurious-looking shop.
"Welcome."
Rose lifted her wide-brimmed hat and spoke urgently.
"Can you get ready in 30 minutes?"
"30 minutes? What style do you want?"
"I'd like hair, makeup, and even a dress recommendation."
It wasn't Rose who answered the employee, but the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
The employee smiled a capitalist smile and replied,
"Sir, I'm sorry, but we only offer hair and makeup here. And 30 minutes is too much. You need at least two hours. Besides, we can't do makeup without a reservation."
"Ah..."
Rose's face, which had been filled with anticipation, was tinged with disappointment. Rose tugged at the Grand Duke's sleeve and whispered.
“I guess you came in too much of a hurry. There’s nothing we can do.”
It was a pity, but what could he do if she said no?
However, unlike Rose, who was about to give up and leave, the Grand Duke showed no intention of leaving the store.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum lifted the hood of his robe and revealed his face.
“Oh, my.”
“Aren’t you the Grand Duke of Artaeum?”
As soon as he revealed his hidden beauty, the cold atmosphere suddenly changed.
The employees, who had been showing only sullen expressions and capitalist smiles, stared at the Grand Duke’s face as if they had lost their minds.
But that was only for a moment, and their faces were tinged with fear.
“If we say we can’t do it, won’t you kill us?”
“Surely... would you really go that far?”
“The Grand Duke of Artaeum is someone like that! He’s definitely someone who would do that and more.”
They whispered in low voices, unable to hide their anxiety.
“I have to go to my ex-husband’s wedding.”
The employees, who had been showing only sullen expressions and capitalist smiles, stared at the Grand Duke’s face as if they had lost their minds.
But that was only for a moment, and their faces were tinged with fear.
“If we say we can’t do it, won’t you kill us?”
“Surely... would you really go that far?”
“The Grand Duke of Artaeum is someone like that! He’s definitely someone who would do that and more.”
They whispered in low voices, unable to hide their anxiety.
“I have to go to my ex-husband’s wedding.”
Rose took off the hat that had been covering her face and spoke loudly.
The chaotic, noisy store suddenly focused on Rose.
The chaotic, noisy store suddenly focused on Rose.
Working in the service industry, they were always beaming, but not now. The employees were as combative as soldiers heading to war. Their smiles vanished, leaving only a solemn expression on their faces.
“Please sit over here.”
Rose followed the attendant who guided her to her seat. As soon as Rose sat down, they quickly finished setting up the table. A gown was wrapped around her neck, a cushion was placed on her lap, and a cool, cold drink was perfectly placed next to the mirror.
“How would you like it?”
It wasn’t the usual gentle, “Sol” tone. They were as serious as soldiers awaiting orders from their superiors. What changed their attitude was not the infamy of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, but the keyword “my ex-husband’s wedding.”
The empire was already in an uproar. Eric was abandoning Rose and remarrying the youngest daughter of a Marquis. While a few people scoffed at Rose, sympathy far outweighed them. The negative public opinion of the Count Wence family had also had a significant impact, as many had turned their backs on them.
“Um, just make it pretty. If possible, something that won’t take too long.”
She wanted to ask them to pay as much attention as possible, but time was of the essence. Holding makeup tools and beauty products in each hand, they looked incredibly dependable. Except they weren’t wielding arrows and swords, this place resembled a battlefield.
Rose quite liked these imposing employees. They began to dress her up with incredible speed. Could a person really move this fast if they wanted to? It was so fast that it was hard to keep up. Of course, this time, the Grand Duke of Artaeum had cast an acceleration spell on the employees, but no one found it strange.
“We’ll be done in time.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum sat on his chair, watching Rose getting ready. But even he couldn’t sit comfortably.
“Your Highness, please come this way.”
The waitress had just trembled at the sight of the Grand Duke. Normally, she would have been speechless and trembling, but now, looking him in the eye, she spoke with a confident expression.
“You’re going as a partner, correct?”
He didn’t really intend to. He planned to let Rose in and wait outside.
“But, having a partner would be better for the overall look.”
The Grand Duke nodded silently. Then, following the waitress’s lead, he took a seat. With makeup tools and beauty products tucked between her fingers, she was brimming with enthusiasm. Despite the Grand Duke not casting any magic, her hands moved with remarkable speed. She worked on the Grand Duke’s hair and makeup with an eagle-eyed gaze. Because the Grand Duke’s original hair was so good, it didn’t take long.
She gently trimmed his eyebrows, which were overly protruding. She capitalized on the Grand Duke’s strengths, making his features more defined and lightly touching up his lips to bring them to life. The Grand Duke checked his reflection in the mirror and stood up.
"I didn't pay the person who went out to buy a dress because they were so absent-minded."
The Grand Duke left Rose, who was getting ready, and left the store. He then looked around. Perhaps he had no time, so he went to the nearest dress shop. He entered the one right next door without hesitation. The Grand Duke's prediction proved correct, as he saw an employee diligently selecting a dress.
"I'll choose the dress. You can go back now."
It could have been a cold remark, but to the employee, who was absorbed in choosing a dress, it didn't sound threatening. Like everyone else, she had experienced an abnormally high level of combat power.
“Let’s choose together, sir! Show me the most popular designs. I need to wear them to my ‘ex-husband’s’ wedding.”
The designer, who had been working diligently regardless of the guests, raised her head with a gleam in her eyes.
“Ex-husband?”
“Yes.”
She jumped up and began to explain actively.
“This design is popular these days. This color is also very popular.”
The designer explained with such passion that it was almost saliva-splattering. The Grand Duke picked up each of the dresses she recommended.
Before he knew it, over twenty dresses were piling up on his arm.
“What do you think of the image of the person going to the wedding? I’ll recommend the ones that best suit her.”
“No need. I’ll buy everything I’ve chosen.”
“Yes?!”
She was quite surprised, but the designer was one to miss an opportunity.
The mention of “ex-husband’s wedding” brought her back to her original salesmanship.
She smiled coyly and slyly placed a couple more dresses on the Grand Duke’s arm.
“Twenty-two in total.”
A high-pitched, nasal voice resonated brightly. The designer's smile was brighter than ever.
The designer, who had been working diligently regardless of the guests, raised her head with a gleam in her eyes.
“Ex-husband?”
“Yes.”
She jumped up and began to explain actively.
“This design is popular these days. This color is also very popular.”
The designer explained with such passion that it was almost saliva-splattering. The Grand Duke picked up each of the dresses she recommended.
Before he knew it, over twenty dresses were piling up on his arm.
“What do you think of the image of the person going to the wedding? I’ll recommend the ones that best suit her.”
“No need. I’ll buy everything I’ve chosen.”
“Yes?!”
She was quite surprised, but the designer was one to miss an opportunity.
The mention of “ex-husband’s wedding” brought her back to her original salesmanship.
She smiled coyly and slyly placed a couple more dresses on the Grand Duke’s arm.
“Twenty-two in total.”
A high-pitched, nasal voice resonated brightly. The designer's smile was brighter than ever.
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