OIAR - Chapter 92

The grand wedding began at the Tenubis Temple in Urcheka.

Light passing through the stained-glass windows beneath the dazzlingly high ceiling made the interior of the temple mysterious. Deep music flowed from the pipe organ, and a chandelier swayed above the red carpet laid on the white marble floor.

As it was the first wedding of a high-ranking noble in a long while, the imperial family and all the high-ranking nobles of the empire attended to celebrate the birth of the new couple.

'It is a truly wonderful wedding.'

Sitting in the family section with the whispering guests behind her, Katrina Bernhard was putting on an act of wiping away tears.

Her goal was to appear as a wonderful mother who safely raised her only remaining adopted son and even held a wedding for him. However, the true face hidden beneath her gentleness was nothing but fierce.

'How dare that insignificant fellow defy me?'

Katrina had her subordinates pressure the Duke in various ways. However, none of it had any effect, and instead, she was told that she had been severely beaten by Duke Bernhard.

'They're all just useless guys.'

Katrina Bernhardt valued saving face above all else, so she had no intention of causing a disturbance at the wedding to which even His Imperial Majesty had been invited.

'It is a bit embarrassing to look at Count Vale's face.'

Count Vale possessed numerous lucrative gold mines and had a well-trained army under his command. For this reason, Katrina desperately wanted Diana to become her daughter-in-law.

It was said that Diana had stopped eating and drinking and was only weeping at the news of the Duke's marriage. No one from the Count of Vale's household attended today either.

'But the tables can always be turned.'

Divorce was a very simple matter, and the adopted son was a living being who could die at any moment anyway.

'So, it wouldn't be a bad idea to let them do something so foolish just once.'

God had always been on her side, so she had no doubt that it would be the same this time.

"Your Excellency Duke Bernhard is entering!"

Guided by a servant holding a trumpet, the Duke entered side by side with his wife, holding her arm.

As everyone's attention was drawn, the two people stepped on the red carpet to the sound of the music.

The guests seated on both sides rose in unison and scattered white flowers toward the couple embarking on a new beginning. The bride, clutching her crocus bouquet tightly, let out a rustling sound as her long veil rustled.

'What am I doing right now?'

Shioana, who had been staring at the fires on the long candlesticks placed all around, closed her mouth in tension.

Although she could hide her current ugly face with a veil reaching down to her toes, she could not do anything about her heart.

'It's funny that it looks like the kind of wedding I dreamed of as a child.'

She once dreamed of wearing a wedding dress like this, fit for a princess, amidst the congratulations of many people, and getting the most handsome husband in the world.

It was half a dream come true. After all, Etienne was the most handsome man here, and the wedding dress was beautiful.

'But they are all strangers.'

The faces offering congratulations to the two were all unfamiliar.

Martha could not attend the wedding either, as she was caring for Harriet, who was still recovering. Therefore, among the many guests filling the venue, there was no one to congratulate her.

Moreover, the man who held Shioana's hand tightly did not love her.

'Let's not think about it anymore. It's not real anyway.'

As Shioana walked across the carpet with a bitter feeling, a cold voice flew in.

"Do you have the luxury of thinking about other things even while having a wedding?"

"I was a little nervous..."

Etienne wore a displeased expression, as if he was not entirely satisfied with Shioana's answer.

Soon, as the two stood before the altar, all the guests took their seats, and the priest came forward to recite a congratulatory address. The soft sound of the pipe organ and the confetti fluttering from the ceiling created a beautiful scene.

The priest conducting the wedding ceremony asked Duke Bernhard first.

"Does the groom, Etienne Bernhard, firmly swear to be with the bride, Shioana Evgenia, in joy and sorrow?"

“I swear.”

Etienne's answer was short, but it carried weight.

When it was Shioana's turn, her legs started to tremble.

"Will the bride, Shioana Evgenia, take the groom, Etienne Bernhard, and love and respect him forever?"

The priest's voice echoed loudly due to the high ceiling of the temple. Shioana, who was fiddling with her gloves that were beginning to get damp with tension, spoke up, but hesitated to make a sound.

It was because she felt that once she made the wedding vows, she would never be able to turn back.

At that moment, he, who was holding Shioana's hand, tightened his grip. Because of that, Shioana ended up answering that she would do so.

"Now, groom, please put the ring on the bride's finger."

A round platinum ring adorned with a sapphire was soon placed on Shiaona's hand. Etienne looked down at the finger wearing the ring, his eyes appearing to be lost in memories for just a brief moment, before quickly composing himself.

Now, as the final part of the order, the priest looked around and spoke solemnly.

"Marriage is a solemn vow made by two people before guests. If anyone has an objection to this marriage, speak now or remain silent forever."

No one raised an objection, and the priest continued with the proceedings.

"The groom may now kiss the bride."

Etienne gently lifted the veil and gazed directly into Shioana's eyes. When she, holding the bouquet, averted her gaze, he seemed to smile sweetly. Lowering his head, Etienne lightly kissed Shioana's cheek.

The wedding ceremony concluded with the groom's kiss, and as the couple stepped outside, white doves soared into the sky from a prepared basket in unison.

"...Ah."

Although it is said to be a custom to pray for hope, it did not look that way to her at all.

'They say most pigeons that fly away like that die.'

Let's call it the last flap of its wings before dying; it was so pitiful.

Shioana's heart grew heavy at the sound of the flock of pigeons covering the sky.

***

The two boarded the carriage, passed by the guests in the capital, and arrived at the Bernhard estate. A grand celebration was held, and after enjoying the banquet and ball, the guests spent a boisterous day.

Shioana sat in the Duke's bedroom with her veil on, her face dark.

"...Ha."

It was her wedding, yet everyone seemed happy except for Shioana. Waiting for Etienne, she sprang to her feet and stood before the mirror. Since it wasn't a real wedding, there was no reason to follow customs.

'You sought me out before the wedding, even though you knew it would bring bad luck.'

Recalling Etienne, who had acted dangerously before the meal, she felt a tightness in her chest and dizziness. After taking off the veil and throwing it on the floor, she removed her necklace, bracelet, and gloves one by one.

"I should have a drink, too."

Etienne's nagging bothered her a little, but she didn't want to follow his advice today.

Shioana, dragging her wedding dress along, found the drink Etienne enjoyed and poured it into a glass.

She stared blankly at the amber liquid and took a sip. The liquor, heavily infused with oak, was strong, but it went down smoothly.

"So this was that scent."

This was the smell that used to linger whenever she kissed Etienne. She laughed because it was pathetic that she ended up thinking of him even in a situation like this.

Shioana, holding the glass, moved to the bed and drank all the remaining alcohol.

"Ah. I feel dizzy."

As she suddenly drank strong liquor, her body couldn't withstand it, and it felt like she was riding a carriage right where she was sitting.

Just as she was about to drop the glass from her hand due to the nausea, a black shadow covered the bed.

Etienne, wearing only a lace-trimmed shirt and black trousers, was looking down at her. Shioana was startled to see Etienne, who had appeared without a sound.

"Did I marry a drunkard?"

'That’s not really something someone who reeked of alcohol before the meal should be saying.'

Etienne's eyes were very dark.

"I'm a little thirsty..."

As Shioana trailed off, he took the glass and placed it on the side table.

"I think I told you not to drink."

It was a story she would normally have just let slide, but under the influence of alcohol, Shioana was angry. She wore the wedding dress he had chosen for her and even made unwanted marriage vows.

"If you disliked everything about me and just told me not to do anything, why did you marry me? If you intended to torment me, there were plenty of other ways you could have done it besides this."

Before the wedding, she had begged him to reconsider time and time again. However, on her wedding day, when she was supposed to be the happiest woman in the world, Etienne turned Shioana into a puppet on a theatrical stage.

The reason she is this angry right now might actually be because she is disappointed in herself rather than resenting Etienne.

If she could raise Harriet well, she would never have been in this predicament.

"I know I'm lacking in many ways, but did you really have to do this?!"

"...Miss."

She sobered up instantly at the sound of Etienne's voice.

"What? Why suddenly..."

As Shioana stepped back while sitting on the bed, Etienne continued speaking with one hand on his chest.

"I offer myself to you today. Will you accept me?"

"...!"

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