Chapter 27
Two people standing side by side bowed to the guests. Then, following the order of the ceremony, the wedding began.
‘This is insane.’
Standing beside the Grand Duke, Evelyn was desperately holding herself back from turning her head to stare at him. If it weren’t for the wedding venue, she would’ve already been staring at his face nonstop.
It hadn’t been this bad yesterday.
She thought she’d be fine after seeing him in his formal attire ahead of time.
‘I didn’t know he’d be wearing makeup too!’
Apparently men wear makeup at weddings too. And when someone who’s already handsome gets intentionally polished up—she couldn’t handle it.
A belated realization hit her, and her hands began to tremble.
Her breathing became shallow, and her head spun. She had just learned something new: when someone sees something overwhelmingly amazing, their body can actually start malfunctioning.
Evelyn had to summon superhuman patience not to scream.
‘Is it really okay for me to marry such a perfect being?’
The imperial princess and Rosie, who had briefly crossed her mind during the entrance, were long forgotten.
Even if this marriage was forced by circumstances, she felt like she should be grateful for the opportunity to gaze at such a face up close.
When visiting the exhibition of a renowned painter, one must pay admission or donate, and yet here she was getting to admire the Grand Duke’s face for free.
She should donate to the temple or something. A moment of infinite gratitude toward the god who chose her as the hero welled up in her heart.
She had seen the Grand Duke dressed splendidly at parties before, but never this perfect.
“Are you all right?”
As the wedding congratulatory song began, Elliot asked in a worried voice.
“Yes. I’m just a little nervous.”
At the sight of the Grand Duke smiling briefly at her, Evelyn clutched her bouquet as if it were about to tear apart. Please, just don’t look at me.
She had to sleep on the floor tonight. If she got in the same bed as him, she was afraid of what she might do.
His tilted head looked so refreshing, innocent, and radiant.
She had heard that the Grand Duke bore a striking resemblance to an ancient hero depicted in old portraits.
Maybe that hero also gathered companions thanks to a face like that.
His looks were so crazy, such nonsense thoughts naturally popped into her head.
“Have you fallen for me?”
He leaned toward her playfully as he whispered, and a cool scent drifted over with his low voice.
Thump.
A chill ran down the back of her neck.
This man…
Did he not realize how dangerous he was? Evelyn’s golden eyes wavered, completely lost.
She swore to the gods that she had never harbored such thoughts or feelings before.
Even when seeing other noble young men, her heart had never fluttered, and not even when she had seen the Grand Duke previously had she lost her senses like this.
So all of this had to be the fault of that devastatingly handsome face.
“No!”
Evelyn answered softly while inhaling sharply, then turned her head toward the choir singing the celebratory hymn.
Glory to the gods—
To the gods.
But more than the song, what distracted her was the gaze fixed on her from beside her. Still, Evelyn knew this wasn’t love.
The Grand Duke was simply doing what he was obliged to by their contract. That’s why he pretended to show interest and kindness.
But she was only human, and her trembling heart couldn’t be helped.
It felt like a total loss.
Even knowing that this marriage was part of the Grand Duke’s scheme to win over the Lady Barrett, who had become a Sword Master, the faces of the people around her were still filled with envy.
“Thus, we proclaim before the gods that this marriage has been consummated.”
The long ceremony, the emperor’s congratulatory speech, and the priest’s extended blessing all finally came to an end. Though Evelyn’s legs were starting to ache from standing so long, she held her smiling expression and endured it.
Once the reception was over, she’d be free.
“Let this sacred marriage be sealed with the couple’s kiss.”
Evelyn flinched at the priest’s words.
Do people usually kiss at weddings? Her eyes darted uncertainly.
She would’ve known if she’d ever been to one! But her parents had always attended in her place, saying she would bring a curse if she went.
‘Do we just pretend?’
Having received no specific instructions, Evelyn glanced toward the Grand Duke.
“……”
Elliot watched her with his golden eyes and barely held back a laugh.
That look of complete cluelessness about the wedding kiss.
As if she thought it would just be a quick peck and done.
Her innocent face made him want to tease her. She really had no idea how valuable she was. He was thrilled she had landed in his hands. Maybe he’d play a little.
Elliot stepped forward, extended a hand, and gently tilted her chin upward.
As the couple’s faces grew closer, guests let out quiet gasps of admiration.
When their soft lips met, Evelyn tightly shut her eyes. But the kiss didn’t end immediately. As her eyes fluttered open slightly, they asked silently: Why? What are you doing?
Elliot’s eyes curved mischievously. Rather than pulling away, he leaned in further.
The soft warmth tickled some corner of her heart.
Smooch.
“Woooow!”
“Congratulations!”
Loud applause rang throughout the hall as the orchestra struck up the wedding march.
There was no time to dwell on the surprisingly deep kiss. Evelyn was quickly escorted to a waiting room, where maids helped her change into her evening dress.
The dark purple dress, matching her hair, was just as light as Madame Moria had said.
It clung to her figure, with layers of thin fabric puffing out the chest and hem. A large ribbon at the waist trailed behind her with every step.
“You look beautiful.”
“Amazing, especially for a last-minute arrangement.”
“With Madame Moria’s touch, it was bound to be perfect.”
The noble ladies chatted as they watched the newlyweds receive greetings from the crowd.
“Countess Barrett, congratulations. You must be relieved now.”
The countess exchanged pleasantries with guests but chuckled at the barbed comment.
Before, such remarks might have angered her—but now, they didn’t faze her at all.
She even found them amusing, filled as they were with envy.
“Indeed. Becoming the Grand Duchess was never something we imagined. We are so grateful the Grand Duke sees such worth in our daughter.”
Not even a man in love could do more than he had. The Grand Duke had not only kept his promises of support to the Barrett family but had exceeded them.
All the treasures used in the wedding, the sword gifted to Leonel, the equipment provided to the knights—none of it was cheap.
Of course, there were rumors too. That they had sold their cursed daughter to the Grand Duke in exchange for wealth.
But that didn’t matter.
No matter what others said, Evelyn was a Hero, and someday everyone would know it.
The Countess of Barrett lifted her chin with pride.
“You can’t imagine how well he treats Evelyn.”
She smiled brightly, as though overwhelmed with joy for her daughter.
Seeing such a beautiful smile on a face so similar to Evelyn’s, the noble ladies swallowed their bitter thoughts.
“How can someone become happy by selling another’s misfortune?”
“It’s better than constantly slandering and falsely accusing the innocent.”
At someone’s sneering remark, Countess Barrett replied firmly. A hero like her daughter couldn’t possibly be cursed.
The rumors of Evelyn being cursed had shackled the family for years.
Wherever they went, they were treated like criminals, forced to shrink back.
Even though she believed in her daughter’s innocence, she could never speak up under such malicious scrutiny.
For fifteen years, they had lived like that. But now, the Countess could finally stand tall.
“Evelyn has nothing to do with that tragedy.”
Her confident posture and resolute gaze caused the murmuring nobles to back off.
Especially now that she had married into the powerful House of Grand Duke Graham—they had to be more cautious with their words.
“Of course. There’s no way the Grand Duke would make a poor decision.”
The nobles still standing near the Countess looked smugly at those who were retreating.
You should’ve known better.
Of course, not all the guests were foolish enough to misread the situation.
Those who sensed the Barrett family’s resurgence began to flock around them.
“We’re holding an embroidery gathering next week. Would you be able to attend?”
“Send me the invitation, and I’ll check my schedule.”
The Countess accepted most of the invitations being thrown at her. To raise the Barrett family’s prestige and restore Evelyn’s honor, she had to be active in society.
Her husband and son shared the same determination—and now, the Barrett family was swiftly becoming a central force in the social world.
