CH 23

Finally, the wedding day came. Riggs, who finished the preparations as soon as possible, stood in front of a full-length mirror and looked at his reflection. He was dressed completely according to Isabelle’s taste.

His hair styled in a slightly different way than usual, and on his chest were numerous medals attributing to his peerage as both Count and Duke that he received from the kingdom and the empire.

Over the lapel of his uniform was a lily boutonniere, which was of course Isabelle’s favorite flower. Riggs looked at his reflection and smiled.

‘Her preferences for the wedding are also tricky.’

The attire of the groom, the atmosphere of the wedding hall. Her dress, tiara, and the vow to the bride. Riggs prepared all of it to Isabelle’s taste.

‘…I’m doing everything for you, so just you try and turn your eyes towards another man.’

He wondered if she would really check out other guys on her own wedding day, but Isabelle’s eyes were true to her instincts.

Wasn’t this the case when she played foot volleyball at the neighborhood’s vacant lot back then? Instead of chasing the ball, he only ogled the young men who took their tops off, her eyes sparkling happily.

‘The attendees are people I know, so they’ll be careful.’

During the last constitutional meeting they had, Riggs hinted to them that if they had any sense at all, they’d be careful not to make eye contact with Isabelle. He would thoroughly crack down on those bastards.

Rather than an orthodox wedding ceremony, the reception was the main event. Riggs had already fully informed the attendants about this—that if they dared disregard her, that would be tantamount to disregarding him, so they’d best be careful.

If they didn’t want to become like dust and filth, Isabelle’s peerage or status did not matter at all. Obviously, there would be people who would look down on her for that reason.

‘I don’t want that to happen, but if it does…’

Riggs’ eyes flashed dangerously as he got up from his seat. He didn’t want to have cruel thoughts before his wedding with Isabelle.

* * *

“Oh my, Milady… Oh my gosh!”

“You look so gorgeous. Being a noblewoman comes so naturally to you.”

The maids who were combing Isabelle’s soft hair and placing precious jewels as accessories fluttered about her. Their words were sincere and not just flattery.

Wearing a white dress that accentuated her outstanding curves according to the Duchy’s fashion trend, Isabelle was just like an angel from heaven.

With blue eyes that were as clear as the sky, the set of blue diamond accessories she had on matched her eyes like a set, and the necklace she had on was made with gold woven together.

“Everyone has such a good taste in fashion. I think all the employees in the Cardiago estate are great.”

Isabelle boosted their morale with moderate praise. She was in a very good mood, too. She never imagined that she’d be able to wear such a beautiful dress or colorful accessories in her life.

‘Huu… This is a little too pretty though.’

In fact, Isabelle was more than satisfied with her beauty compared to the employees. She went to the mirror and held back the urge to make many silly comments.

The maids who were exclaiming while making hand gestures finally settled down with satisfied expressions. Shortly after, they gave Isabelle a spritz of perfume.

“Y-Your Highness!”

The one who was organizing the jewelry box noticed Riggs’ presence and bowed her head immediately. Subsequently, the other maids hurriedly showed courtesy and stepped back to give way.

However, Riggs was in no way interested in them.

“Riggs, don’t you look dashing today? Clothes make the man, after all.”

“Isabelle, you…”

This is crazy. It’s true a woman was the most beautiful during her wedding. While gulping dryly, Riggs’ only thought was that he did a good job on holding the wedding as early as possible.

“I’m to die for, right? If I were a man and I saw myself while passing by, I’d fall in love with me, too.”

“Why are you so…”

“Pretty? Of course, it’s the great combination of my natural looks and these great employees.”

When Riggs saw Isabelle wink, his expression hardened. It might not even have the privilege to worry about the wedding attendees—Isabelle herself was going to be the problem.

Riggs knew better than anyone else. Isabelle had the power to wield her beauty to captivate all the energetic boys in the village before, even when she was just wearing casual clothes.

At the temple, outdoor prayers were sometimes held for donations or fundraisers for the needy. Of course, Isabelle would also be there.

With a thin lace veil over her head, she had her hands clasped together in prayer while the Duke of Cardiago prayed next to her. In fact, the Duke himself didn’t have faith in the religion because he was a disciple of the underworld, but the temple received hefty donations from him nonetheless.

Instead of believing in the goddess of the earth, those men believed in the power of the underworld, but the moment they saw Isabelle, they thought, ‘The Goddess is here…’

As soon as they went through the prayer room’s door like that, they instantly converted religions. And if they wanted to see her a second time? They’d need to cough up donation money.

‘Some of the bastards who saw her three times said they’d move to Pilsburg and become priests.’

And naturally, Isabelle who had her wits about her only in strange ways, did not know how to detect the indecent gazes directed towards her. Perhaps this was because Riggs himself took care of those vile people whenever he had time.

“Riggs, what’s wrong?”

“……”

He wasn’t sure. Maybe he’d have a duel today because she was dressed a hundred times more spectacularly than when she did prayers. For the first time in his life, Riggs was thankful that he fought for his legitimacy of being the successor of Cardiago.

“Isabelle. Both during the wedding and the reception, you have to be next to me at all times. Even if there’s someone who starts running around naked or any other kind of crazy bastard, don’t look at them. If you need anything or feel uncomfortable, instead of telling anyone else, just tell me.”

“Who would do that though?”

“Because I’m your groom. There would be nothing good about rumors of the bride looking away from her groom.”

He hated it whenever she smiled at other people. But Riggs swallowed these words back and instead reached out to Isabelle.

“Shall we go then?”

“It feels really weird. It’s like we’re playing house.”

“I hope you don’t go as far as to take it as a joke.”

“I studied a lot, so don’t worry.”

Isabelle patted Riggs on the bum and then held his hand. Somehow, his hand was hot.

* * *

“Your Highness, it’s an honor to be here on this joyous day. You two look very good together.”

“Thank you.”

Isabelle blankly stared at the medaled knights or the high-ranking nobles who bowed in front of Riggs. Her childhood friend was very good at acting.

‘When we entered the wedding hall, you whined about not wanting to meet people.’

As though that never happened, Riggs smiled and greeted the attendees. Standing next to him while being introduced, Isabelle was slowly feeling tired.

Riggs looked like a banker who had a lot of money. Maybe it’s because the way people regarded him, with how they bowed their heads and gave excessive courtesy, it was like the attendees were people who needed to borrow money from him. Isabelle’s childhood friend was something else.

“Isabelle, would you like to take a break?”

She didn’t refuse, so the butler, Bill, guided her towards her seat. Though there were still a few people surrounding her, she finally got to breathe.

After Isabelle sipped some champagne that had low alcohol content, she licked her lips and spoke.

“People won’t let go of the Duke, huh. Is he always surrounded like that?”

“Perhaps it’s because His Highness isn’t wearing a mask today.”

Come to think of it, it was rumored that the Duke of Cardiego stayed secluded at home. So if the Duke didn’t leave his house, Isabelle wondered how he knew other people’s livelihoods so well.

‘Indeed. I guess the Duke always wore a mask to hide his face. I also didn’t recognize him at first because of that mask.’

Later, it’s also said that he used magic to change his appearance or atmosphere. It’s natural that people around him were clamoring just to see his face.

“Bill, can you get me something to drink?”

“Yes, of course. Please wait here for a moment.”

Isabelle didn’t ignore Bill’s request. She really did just stay at her seat.

“May I sit next to you for a moment?”

Someone approached her right then. She was a woman dressed as splendidly as Isabelle. With a white fur shawl over her shoulders and red lipstick on her lips. Her opulent appearance drew Isabelle’s eyes as she hadn’t dipped her feet into high society before.

‘This woman… I saw her on Count Gray’s profile cards.’

Sweeping her hair to the side as if to express her annoyance, the woman picked up Isabelle’s wine glass and emptied it. As she was already drunk, the woman became even redder.

“It’s my first time seeing this face. Did you get called here, too?”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. All the young noble ladies who came here had been brought by their fathers. It’s not just my father who’s somehow pressuring Duke Cardiago to change his mind.”

“Oh…”

“Well, it’s obvious no matter how you look at it anyway. Honestly, isn’t this kind of ridiculous?”

“How?”

The woman frowned in dejection as she looked at Riggs. Her eyes twinkled brilliantly as though a great treasure was right in front of her.

“Who knew he’d be that handsome? If I had known earlier, regardless of the rumors about his lower body, I would have seduced him anyway.”

Isabelle felt offended. Of course, she also heard about Riggs’ lower body problems, but it wasn’t pleasant to hear someone else speak about their childhood friend like that.

“It’s said in the myth of Pilsburg that God was fair to all, but seeing as he has a problem like that but a face like this, I guess that’s right. So he’s marrying that kind of woman, right?”

“That kind of woman… What do you mean?”

“Oh my, you haven’t heard? They say that the betrothed doesn’t have any roots. She doesn’t even know her family name because she doesn’t know her family. I also heard that this woman without roots found the Duke’s weakness and forced him to marry her.”

Isabelle tried very hard not to make a face as she forced herself to laugh.

“Well… You could put it like that.”

“Oh my. I thought you knew as well. No? There’s a reason why I’m revealing it now even if it’s being covered up.”

“……”

“Ah, do you think the opposite, Lady? But is it really possible that a woman who’s supposedly innocent and knows nothing about the outside world is becoming the Duchess just like that, like some kind of miracle?”

The woman gave a knowing look and downed another glass of wine. Then, she brought out her fan.

“It was fun talking to you. Let’s have tea together later. I haven’t caught your name though, Lady.”

With a chuckle, Isabelle called an attendant who was passing by and gave the woman another glass of wine.

“My name is Isabelle. Just as you said, I don’t know my last name because I don’t have a family or anything. But in about an hour, I’ll be Isabelle Cardiago.”

“……!”

“And oh, I already know your name, Lady, even if you don’t tell me. You’re the youngest daughter of the Lethor Viscounty, correct? Lily Lethor. I heard that your father has tried to marry you to His Grace Duke Zola three times, but all three proposals were rejected. That’s why I remembered.”

Because she grew up in a temple, Isabelle didn’t know a lot of curse words, but thanks to that, she became really good at insulting someone with an angelic smile.

“Here, drink a lot of wine, Lady Lethor. You should try to forget your conversation with me so your heart won’t be heavy when facing me next time.”

“T-That’s…!”

“Ah, and the rumors about His Highness’ lower body. They’re all false. The world is always unfair.”

It didn’t matter that she was lying here. Isabelle flicked her fan open and left her seat.

t/n: Lethor isn’t a Baron but a Viscount, and Riggs really is called ‘Your Highness’ despite being a Duke because he’s the next in line for the throne.