Chapter 5
Edwin R. Elantz.
His name was attached with many other connotations. The sixth in line to the throne, Count of Lancard, Count of Reneil, and Viscount of Ulster.
All of these titles were his.
He’s the strong, resourceful protector of the Empire’s borders, carrying a name of glory in the history of the Empire due to him and the three knights he had with him. They were famous for their great contributions to the current Emperor’s succession as they aided him in the eradication of the other heirs to the throne.
He spent most of the year in Elheim, but when the Emperor’s birthday celebration would approach, he’d come to the capital and stay in the luxurious mansion that the Emperor had bestowed upon him.
The urgency of aligning oneself to the right political stance had subsided since the Emperor had been crowned, though the fact still stood that Edwin R. Elantz was one of the most powerful people in the whole Empire.
This year, he’d be turning thirty-two years old, but even so, he had an effortless beauty to him—with dazzling blond hair and dark purple eyes. The Marquis, who had every trait to make anyone drool, made people question why he was still unmarried.
Considering his age, people wondered if he had a flaw to him. A few years ago, he even rejected the Emperor’s offer to be wed to the Princess.
There was no alliance stronger than marriage.
Everyone around him tried to get their daughters to marry the Marquis in order to be associated with him. Nevertheless, as he stayed single, there were some rumors that he was patronizing courtesans or that he was meeting someone secretly.
Whether it was that Marquis Elantz was actually gay, or that his manhood was miniscule and he wanted to hide it, or because he snubbed women, the rumors became even more scandalous as time passed on—to the point that they would say he was a murderer who lived daily on the battlefield, and he would feel alive only when he saw blood.
At this point, the people who had initially wanted to shove their daughters onto him began to say that the Marquis might later beat his future wife black and blue, or strangle her to death.
A nobleman’s daughter was no more than a trading chip, but no matter how beneficial the gain was, anyone would be reluctant to pursue marriage with a man surrounded by vicious rumors.
As people’s interest in him subsided, so did the rumors. Everyone wasn’t sure where and how the rumors started, and there were a few who had tried to ask the Marquis. Although he did not respond to those rumors at all, even as they smeared his beautiful outward appearance.
Some would even think that the Marquis was keeping quiet because everything was true, but even these assumptions died down as well.
In addition, in spite of the vicious rumors, there were still people who pursued a connection with the Marquis. One of them was Duke Ingram.
Nadia felt helpless at how a decision that would change her life completely had been done for her so suddenly.
Of course, the Duke and the Duchess would have decided on this regardless of Nadia’s wishes, since they never thought to ask Nadia’s opinions. But, even so, she thought she’d at least have a year or two left before she was sent off to an arranged marriage.
The fact that her imminent marriage was only a month away had driven her into a corner. Though it was more shocking that her groom would be the Marquis of Elantz.
He was twelve years older than Nadia, and while she didn’t think all of the rumors were true, there were still a lot of bad rumors surrounding him, and she had never even had a conversation with him.
She had only ever seen him from a distance at the Emperor’s birthday banquet. And, if she were to marry him, Nadia would have to leave Querun, where she lived all her life, and move to Elheim.
One meeting with the Marquis was too short of a time to have prepared all this.
What did her father do to arrange this? It was a meaningless curiosity that popped into her mind, but was soon erased without a trace.
Still, Nadia had no choice but to nod obediently. It wouldn’t change anything if she rebelled against what had already been decided. It had always been this way anyway.
If her relationship with Asheel was the same as before, she would have struggled somehow, even a little bit. However, now, she wasn’t motivated enough to do so.
It had already been more than a week since she last saw him, and there had been no communication between them. The thought that he might still be waiting at their promised meeting place disturbed her deeply.
The urge to run out to check if he was still waiting for her would visit her at times, though this soon abated because she had to deal with hectic wedding preparations.
She was so busy that she didn’t even have enough time to catch her breath. Nonetheless, she was grateful for this.
Under the orders of the Duchess, Nadia, who hadn’t even seen her mother in over a week, was suddenly surrounded by three times as many maids than usual and was given extra special care from head to toe.
Besides, she was given dozens of new dresses with matching shoes and accessories, as well as her wedding dress and the evening dress for the ceremony’s reception. And even though there was no formal wedding gift, it was confirmed that the Marquis would be sending over an engagement ring.
Nadia didn’t know how many days had passed by.
A month had passed in an instant and nothing felt real—until the morning of the wedding had dawned upon her. It was like she was watching a play being performed by other people, watching her own life from a distance because she couldn’t grasp the opulence that was being showered on her.
And, on the long awaited day, she woke up before sunrise, took a long bath with expensive perfumes, and instead of eating breakfast. Nadia had a cup of tea with a few pieces of cookies.
The maids crowded around her, dried her long, voluminous hair, and brushed gently to the point of making it shine.
Some dexterous hands would style her hair with sparkling platinum strands, weaving into several braids and neatly pinned them up into an updo. She was also accessorized further with diamonds, sapphires, and flowers.
They put light makeup on her and a dazzling white wedding dress. Nadia could only listen passively to their chattering, saying that she was so beautiful that she didn’t even need to wear that much makeup.
She stared blankly into the mirror.
The reflection stared back at her, and she was beautiful, though her eyes were empty.
She gazed into the mirror for a long moment, immobile, until a maid put on a long veil over her that went until her knees.
When she finally rode the carriage and was on the way to the ceremony, she had finally snapped out of her reverie.
As she stared at the scenery running by her outside, Nadia realized she was now at a point of no return.
Nadia clenched her lips. A month or so should have been enough time to forget the girl she had been before.
She should be fine now. She must not burst into tears thinking about him. Although her heart felt hollow now, her relationship with Asheel was what made her realize that there was an empty space within her, so she didn’t regret anything.
However, the stray thought that ‘this wasn’t right’ would flash in her mind from time to time. And, whenever it did, Nadia would cover her lips so that she would not utter the thought.
There was no turning back. She had no power to stop it, anyway.
During this sunny day, where not even a fragment of a cloud graced the sky, the wind was gently blowing, carrying over the breathtaking scent of roses throughout the air. She could see life-like marble sculptures, white anemone flowers, and blue roses that heavily decorated the surroundings, making the sculptures themselves seem alive.
As she walked down the meandering length of the carpet, which was embroidered with colorful patterns.
She was dressed more lavishly than any noble in attendance, but Nadia felt the most fortunate for the fact that she was wearing a veil. It was because nobody would see her expression.
It was far from the weddings she would read in romance novels, where the guests would be excited about the future of the couple as the wedding march echoed through the hall. This was a wedding where the bride and groom had never spoken to each other before, and the bride’s will was nonexistent.
Nadia thought that she would feel that this was unjust, or at the very least sad about it, but all she could feel was a hovering tension and some trepidation. She was already resigned to her fate…
When she finally neared the podium where the officiant was, the Marquis offered a hand to her with an expressionless face.
As if to show off the confidence they had in each other, the Emperor had intervened in the wedding preparations and said that he would officiate it himself. Any woman would be honored to have her wedding officiated by the most powerful man in the Empire, but Nadia was stuck in a daze, feeling nothing at all.
The ceremony was tedious and dull.
As it came to an end with her barely enduring it all, the Marquis continued to say nothing at all even after they had kissed, walked together out the hall, and danced at the reception.
His eyes, which Nadia’s gaze met mechanically, were so disinterested that it was rather reassuring to her. He didn’t seem to be as crazy as the rumors painted him out to be, so she thought it would be best if they had a moderately peaceful marriage where they could stay somewhat indifferent to each other.
Side by side, Nadia stood quietly as Marquis Elantz ignored the nobles who flocked towards them, an insincere smile on his lips for show.
Whether people believed the rumors about him or now, every noble’s attention was entirely focused on the Marquis. After seeing how greatly the Emperor favored him, everyone thought that it didn’t matter if those dreadful rumors were true.
The Marquis made it apparent that he was annoyed by the attention being showered upon him, but despite his arrogant attitude, the people around him didn’t back down.
Next to him, Nadia was getting exhausted just by watching them all.
Her head felt heavy because of the accessories on her hair, her feet hurt because she’d been standing on uncomfortable shoes the whole time, and above all, she felt hungry because she hadn’t had a proper meal since the day before.
However, she didn’t make it obvious. Pretending that she was fine was something she was accustomed to.
“I thought you were going to live alone for the rest of your life because you wouldn’t budge when I said I’d give you my daughter, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”
“The Princess was five years old at the time.”
When the Emperor appeared, Marquis Elantz finally spoke, opening his lips that had been closed like a shell all day.
The Emperor chuckled and patted the Marquis on the shoulder. They were clearly at ease with each other. The Emperor kept teasing and babbling at the Marquis even as the latter wouldn’t react. Then, the Emperor turned to Nadia as though he had noticed her belatedly.
“Miss Ingram… No, now you are Marchioness Elantz. Congratulations on your marriage. You are rightfully the most dazzling person here as you are today’s main character.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor kissed her lightly on the back of her hand, then smiled playfully. Nadia bowed slightly, hoping that his attention would turn to something else right away.
“Do you like the reception?”
“O-Of course. It was only through Your Majesty’s grace that the ceremony could be this wonderful.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You look tired. Why don’t you go up to your room and rest first?”
The Emperor put a hand on the Marquis’ shoulder as he looked at Nadia, who was puzzled by his sudden suggestion.
“I’ve prepared a room for you at the Palace. Alan will show you the way. In a while, I’ll let Edwin go to you.”
The Emperor and the Marquis left Nadia without even hearing her answer. Nadia was a bit flustered by it, although when the Emperor’s servant came to her side and said he’d show her to the room, she didn’t refuse.
She was absolutely drained. She just wanted to leave the banquet hall.