Grace had a foolish look on her face, staring at the busy-moving servants, maids and Sally. Just when they went out of the bedroom, Grace yelled at Sally, who was smiling beside her, “Sa-Sally! Why, why did you do that?”
“What? Do what?”
“Telling them to make all that into dresses and shoes! And jewelry! H-How can I get all that!”
“Oh madam, what are you talking about? Madam, your husband is the Emperor’s maternal cousin and the best knight in the Empire, Duke Arthur Felix, and you’re surprised with just this amount of dresses and shoes? You deserve something more precious than this!”
“…I think it’s a little too much, though. Sally, one dress would’ve been enough…”
“What do you mean one dress is enough? Now that you are officially recognized as Duchess of Felix at the wedding party, you will receive invitations from the royal family and nobles! Do you intend to go to all those parties in one dress?”
“…..would people really invite me?”
“Of course, they will!”
Sally snorted back at Grace’s timid rebuttal. Grace wanted to refute that for so many nobles who wanted to invite her, she would have to stay in this mansion long enough to attend so many parties in the first place, but she shut up.
Perhaps because she thought her persuasion worked, Sally smiled proudly and pulled Grace’s hand.
“You’re convinced now, aren’t you? Now, now. Stand with your arms spread out. Let’s get the measurements right now to make the dress.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Then, I’ll get the measuring tape quickly! Stay still!”
At the sight of Sally pulling her arm with a very excited look, Grace eventually rose from her seat and spread her arms. Sally ran to the dressing table, jumping slightly. Grace looked at her, as if she were dumbfounded, and soon grinned.
It was just about dressing her up, but Grace was grateful to see Sally excited and cute, acting like this was her job.
***
As she spent time trying on dresses and shoes made by tailors, finding accessories to suit her body, time flew quickly and the morning of the wedding party dawned. Grace got out of bed earlier than usual, took a bath with Sally’s help, and changed into a light, rosy satin dress.
She sat on the chair in front of the dressing table. Sally brushed Grace’s hair on and threaded a silk rose decoration. Then, with a cautious touch, she clasped a diamond necklace around her neck and said, “Oh my, you look so beautiful.”
“That’s a big compliment, Sally.”
“What do you mean by a big compliment? I’m sure everyone thinks a goddess has descended.”
Grace smiled and awkwardly fiddled with her necklace, slightly flushed at Sally’s compliment. Arthur’s voice sounded outside the door with a knock.
“Are you ready, my lady?”
“Yes! Wait a minute, Duke! … Now, hold my hand and get up.”
Responding to his call, Sally slowly grabbed Grace’s hand and raised her up. Grace rose gently and walked to the door. Sally stopped her a little away from the door and opened the door carefully.
Then, the door opened and the image of Arthur standing in front of it came into Grace’s eyes. He looked more dashing than usual, wearing a navy uniform with luxurious pearl buttons, dozens of badges on his chest and hair swept back. With his hair pulled back beautifully, those blue and red odd eyes of his, seen over the exposed mask, looked more mysterious than scary today.
‘Is this what it feels like to be possessed by the end of the world?’
Grace couldn’t take her eyes off him. But Arthur, who looked at Grace, was also different from usual. His odd eyes, which had always shone beautifully before, were somehow gazing at her with a dim light. Sally shrieked and laughed inside at the sight of Arthur and Grace staring blankly at each other. Then, she gave a smirk and told the two, “Oh my, Duke. No matter how beautiful your wife is, she’ll be embarrassed if you stare at her like that.”
“And you, too, madam. No matter how nice the Duke looks today, if you look at him like that, you’ll be teased for being an impolite wife.”
“…Sa-Sally! It’s not like that!”
At that, Grace blushed and shouted at Sally. Sally looked at Grace, who was apparently embarrassed, and Arthur, who looked more stiff than usual, suppressing her laughter that was about to burst out.
Sally took Grace’s hand and placed it on Arthur’s arm.
“Well then, then I’ll take your luggage while you escort her to the carriage.”
“I don’t mind carrying my luggage.”
“Oh, how could I make His Grace do such a thing? ……Now, now, now, go down together, Duke. You’re going to be late.”
Grace was completely pushed out of the bedroom door with Arthur, Sally pushing her back with her hand.
Then, as Sally shut the bedroom door coldly, Grace, who was left alone in the hallway outside the bedroom with Arthur. Alone with him, she felt awkward and nervous, a suffocating feeling rising in her chest.
It was the same with Arthur, standing by Grace. He glanced down at her arm awkwardly stuck to his arm. Grace thought, feeling his stinging gaze, ‘If you don’t want me to touch you like that, why don’t you just hug my waist a few days ago?’
‘What, is it that unpleasant for him to let me touch him first?’
Grace, who was strangely offended, pouted her lower lip slightly and lowered her arm. But before Grace’s hand completely fell off Arthur’s arm, Arthur held it tightly.
When Grace turned around in surprise at the sight, Arthur deliberately avoided her gaze and coughed in vain. Then he said, tightening his grip, “…it’s late. Let’s go.”
“……Oh, yes,” Grace nodded at Arthur’s firm voice urging her.
Arthur went first. At a slow pace, being considerate for Grace, who was wearing high heels. Grace walked while putting strength into Arthur’s arm secretly. It was really strange. She was embarrassed but she didn’t want to let go of his hand.
‘I’m afraid I’ll fall, that’s why.’
Yes, that’s why. That was also why the left side of her chest tingled, Grace convinced herself.
***
Coming out of the mansion side by side, Arthur and Grace passed through the garden and headed for the front gate of the mansion. When they arrived there stood beside a carriage where two people came out to meet them. Leon, who was the first of them to see Arthur and Grace approaching, rushed toward the two.
“Brother! Brother!”
“Leon, take your time! You’ll fall down!”
Grace quickly approached Leon, worried he would fall right away. Leon ran even faster and hugged Grace, burying himself in her long, wide dress. Grace smiled at his cute figure and patted his hair. Leon, who was burying his face in the dress, raised his head. Then, with his big eyes shining, he exclaimed at Grace and said, “Wow, you look so pretty today!”
“Really?”
“Yes, like a fresh rose! … oh, no. With glittering jewellery, you’re more like a fairy queen!”
“Haha, it’s an honour, Prince Leon.”
Grace bowed slightly, greeting him formally at Leon’s honest compliments. Leon giggled at the sight and hugged Grace’s legs tighter with his small arms. Arthur, who was by her side, reached out and said, ruffling Leon’s hair, “Leon, let your sister-in-law go.”
“Can’t I just stay like this a little longer?”
“I’m sorry, but not today. I and your sister-in-law have to go to attend your party.”
“…that’s to say, I can’t join you?” Leon, who raised his head again, looked at Arthur in tears. Though he might feel weak at his tearful gaze, Arthur answered, shaking his head firmly, “I’m sorry about that, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Only we both have been invited.”
“They don’t like me because I’m a cursed child? Is that why they didn’t invite me?”Leon grimaced and bowed his head. Arthur immediately frowned. Watching the scene, Grace felt upset at the conversation between the two.
‘That’s weird. I think Leon was on the invitation list.’
But Arthur said Leon had not been invited and refused to take him. As Grace looked at him and slightly moved her hand, to ask for explanation, Arthur turned his head and pointed at their joint hands.
‘… oh, I see.’
Grace was convinced by his actions.