Side Story 1 Chapter 3

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Rightfully so, I didn’t invite Dona Euclid and the previous Duke of Euclid to the wedding.

“Thank you for inviting me. I’m truly grateful.” 

Perhaps because I didn't call them, Hermann, who thought he would be excluded from the list, couldn't hide his joyous smile from the moment he entered Lagrange.

I shrugged at Hermann's face, who looked happier than the bride at today’s ceremony.

“Would you not come if I hadn’t invited you?”

“No, I would have crossed over Lagrange’s walls like a thief.”

I clicked my tongue at Hermann’s quick answer as if it was natural and turned to Marilyn who was fiddling with my hair.

“Marilyn.”

Marilyn, who was rubbing the bridge of her red nose, raised her head at my call. 

I frowned slightly at the transparent water drops dripping onto the marble floor.

“.....You’re crying? Why?”

“I, heuk, don’t, urk, know.”

Marilyn sniffled and collapsed on the sofa, saying she couldn’t help dress me up today.

“It feels as if it, sniffle,  was just yesterday that, hng,  you were as small, heuk,  as my palm….”

No matter how small I was, I would never have been as small as Marilyn's palm.

Chuckling at the absurdity, I approached her and reached out to her, who couldn't control her tears.

“Marilyn, don’t cry. Getting married doesn’t mean I’m going to go far away.”

‘Maybe if I had a separate family, but in the end, I couldn’t get out of this dry Northern land and even hold my wedding here.’

“Khng. Sniff.” 

I raised the corners of my mouth loosely, holding a handkerchief in front of her, as Marilyn had me blow my nose as a child.

“My lady, what should I do?”

“Hm? About what?”

Marilyn, who was staring at the white cloth in front of me, grabbed my hand instead of the handkerchief and opened her mouth.

“You’re so precious that I feel it’s a shame.”

“But my partner is Dietrich though?”

As they were words that weren’t fitting for the butler serving Lagrange, I tilted my head to the side inquisitively. 

“That’s right. No matter who it is who would stand by our precious lady’s side, I would still feel that it’s a pity. In fact, except for His Grace’s face, abilities, and wealth, what else is there to see?”

‘No, if you take them all out that wouldn’t be good.’ 

I soothed Marilyn with a sigh and then turned my head toward the door that didn’t open. 

“I need to call another maid. There’s not much time until the ceremony but it feels like the time is getting delayed….”

“Kuheuk!”

As I moved to find Vanessa, I heard a choking sound in the corner.

I stared dumbfounded at Hermann, who put his fist in his mouth as he shed tears. 

“.........Hermann why are you crying again?”

“I, huek, don’t, ugh, know–.”

“Ah, go outside and cry.” 

I beckoned Tally, who was waiting in the hallway, then grabbed Herman's collar and dragged him out the door.

“I have a lot of things to do today, you know?”

I was on the verge of exhaustion from washing my body with perfume in the morning and receiving various massages, and now Hermann was making a fuss as well. 

“Didn’t you comfort t-that woman?”

Frustrated by my cold reaction, Hermann wiped his tears and pointed to Marilyn.

“Marilyn is different. I have no intention of consoling you, so go to that corner and cry.” 

 

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“My lady is so pretty that I feel like my eyes are going to melt. You look so radiant that the sun itself becomes embarrassed it chooses to hide.” 

Tally, who rolled up my hair and adorned it with freesia and pears with all her heart, had at some point become teary-eyed.

“Enough, Tally.”

I, the bride wasn’t even shedding a single tear, so I didn’t know why everyone bursts out crying whenever they see me. 

“It’s because you’re so beautiful I can’t help but cry. You’re really pretty, my lady.”

I raised my chin at Vanessa's words and looked at the woman sitting in front of the mirror with a slightly puzzled face.

Her soft pink hair, as if she had pulled out long cotton candy, harmonized with white flowers like a painting, and the bouquet that matched the color of the deep blue eyes she had become quite accustomed to was a hydrangea that Dietrich had personally chosen.

‘I really am getting married.’

Wearing a wedding dress and a veil woven with powdered pearls, I truly felt like a bride. 

Madame's dress, who boasted that she would make the best masterpiece of her life, was close to art as a work made by her talented hands until night.

‘It is pretty.’ 

Today’s me was indeed pretty. Just like every bride in the world. 

I had no choice but to be mesmerized for a moment because I was so beautiful in a dazzlingly bright yet elegant wedding dress that I could not deny Vanessa’s exaggerated words.

“Madame also made Dietrich’s formal dress, didn’t she?”

“Yes. I took a quick look at him while helping him dress up. He had always been a dazzling person but he is exceptionally handsome today.” 

Since I couldn’t see the groom until the day of the wedding, I didn’t know what kind of formal dress Dietrich would be wearing today. 

Curious about Tally’s words, my eyes widened and Vannessa quickly added, “But our lady is a hundred times, no, thousand times more beautiful.”

“Vanessa.”

“Yes.”

“Dietrich is also your master.”

‘Though now that I was going to be the Duchess, it wouldn’t be a problem to follow me more than Dietrich.’

Marilyn also felt awkward because all the employees of Lagrange seem to like me more than Dietrich, who was their master. 

At Lancel’s words that the preparations were finished, I slowly stood up from my seat.

Then, Hermann rushed to me and reached for my hand.

“I’ll escort you to the ceremony.”

“Who’s this bastard saying he’ll escort the bride?”

Yuric’s eyes glared even when he knew who Hermann was.

“I will be the one to do it!”

“No, I will do it!”

‘They sure are having fun.’ 

Hermann, who looked well-mannered, seemed as childish as Yuric.

I watched them banter and reached out to Veronica who had not spoken to me since earlier as if she had some concerns. 

“Sister.”

“Why?”

“Escort me. I want to walk with you.”

Her dark eyes grew bigger at my words.

“....Really?”

“Yeah. I’d like it if sister walks me.” 

Since I saw a lot of people crying today while looking at me, I put a handkerchief around her eyes and pressed it down as usual.

“I…don’t want you to get married.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It feels like Dietrich is taking you away.”

Veronica sighed and kissed the back of my hand that fluttered in front of her face.

“If Dietrich becomes mean to you, no, he can’t do that…..”

She continued to speak as she scratched her chin with her fingertips, thinking over. 

“Anyway, if you’re upset for any reason make sure to tell me.” 

“Why? What do you want to do?”

“I’ll do anything whether it’s poisoning his rice or a knife on his stomach while he’s asleep.” 

No matter how upset I’d be, I should never say it. 

I smiled awkwardly and slowly walked into the hall escorted by her.

At the end of the bright red virgin road stood Dietrich whom I already missed a little because I didn’t see him yesterday and earlier today. 

As if he was like me, who was a little surprised by his dazzling appearance in a dark formal dress, his eyes slowly opened when he saw me. 

“Dietrich.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off me, who had let go of Veronica’s hands as he held mine and belatedly moved his lips at my call. 

“Am I pretty today?”

“You’re pretty.”

He probably could not see my face clearly because I was wearing a veil but he quickly nodded his head. 

He soon answered with a sigh that sounded like a groan. 

“You’re so pretty to the point that it’s a waste to close one’s eyes.” 

Did Vanessa or Tally give Dietrich a hint on what to say?

I smiled broadly at his answer and looked around.

There was not a single person in the audience who did not have tears in their eyes.

I laughed at Veronica's tears, which I had never seen in my life.

“Am I really pretty? People cry just by looking at me.” 

“.....Yeah. You’re pretty. Truly.”

I furrowed my eyebrows slightly at his answer, which came half a beat later.

Because his voice sounded a little quieter than usual.

“Dietrich.”

“.........”

“Are you….crying right now…?”

Oh my goodness. 

He didn't burst into tears like Hermann, so there was no water, but Dietrich, who didn't answer, seemed to be barely holding back his tears.

‘Everyone is crying except me.’

I opened my mouth at the sight of his red eyes if you look closely. 

I also felt like I had to cry, but amazingly, tears just wouldn’t come. 

I grinned haughtily and poke his firm stomach as he bowed his head as if embarrassed.

He flinched uncharacteristically and grabbed my hand tightly. 

“Stop that.”

“Why are you crying?”

“......Because I like it.”

I like it so much I’m about to go insane. 

Knowing the magnitude of the sincerity in those low whispers, I could barely resist the temptation to tease him.

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