TSPCOB Chapter 53

Chapter 53 

“Really? Then what about the wedding tomorrow…?”

Dana’s eyes widened in surprise after hearing my words.

“Sorry. I should have told you earlier.”

“It’s okay, My Lady… Still, it’s a little disappointing. You would’ve looked amazing in a wedding dress…”

As Dana looked disappointed, I smiled brightly, acting like it didn’t bother me at all.

“A wedding dress doesn’t matter. All that stuff is just for show. What’s important is our feelings for each other.”

Did I sound too much like an old soul who’s been through everything?

Dana looked amazed at my words.

With sparkling eyes, she grabbed both of my hands tightly.

“My Lady, that’s so romantic! If the Prince and you truly love each other, then yes, who cares about formalities!”

Dana looked touched, and I forced a smile.

Sorry, Dana. The Prince and I… we’re not in love.

There’s no romance in a relationship that will end in less than a year. That would be like putting a flower crown on a pig’s head.

“Oh no, look at the time! We need to get ready for the entrance. Just wait, I’ll make you the most beautiful bride in the world!”

Even before she finished her sentence, Dana ran into the dressing room and came out with all sorts of things.

“My Lady, let’s get you into the dress first.”

Following her instruction, I stood up, and she dressed me in a soft ivory silk gown.

When I turned to the mirror, my eyes widened.

“…This is…”

My throat tightened, and my voice trembled.

Dana smiled and adjusted the end of the full skirt.

“I asked the butler to alter the late Duchess’s wedding dress for you.”

“Thank you, Dana. I never even imagined this…”

I slowly looked over the dress in the mirror with a flushed face.

The soft ivory silk flowed naturally along my body.

Golden embroidery was delicately stitched at the sleeves, neckline, and hem.

[This golden embroidery means the bride should be treasured.]

I felt like I could hear my mother’s gentle voice from long ago.

My chest tightened, and tears welled up in my eyes.

I pressed my eyes hard to stop the emotions.

While I did, Dana finished helping me get ready.

My silver hair was neatly brushed down to my waist in waves.

A pearl pin tucked on one side added a subtle touch. I liked it.

I nodded firmly in approval, and Dana clapped her hands in delight.

Just then, there was a knock, and the door opened.

“My Lady, the luggage is loaded in the carriage. It’s time to depart for the castle.”

I followed the butler out of the mansion.

As the heavy gates opened, I looked back for a moment.

Thanks to Pierre turning everything upside down, there wasn’t a single trace of my mother’s things left in the house.

I got into the carriage without hesitation.

It felt like a bad tooth had finally been pulled—relieving and refreshing.

***

“Hey! I told you to put the flowers here, not there! How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

“….”

Rachel bit her lip hard, holding back her anger.

How dare some lowborn girl speak to her like this?

She ground her teeth, vowing to give that maid a beating once they returned to the duchy.

As soon as the scolding maid turned her back—

Wham!

Rachel threw the flowers she was holding to the floor.

“So annoying.”

She stepped on the flowers, the petals sticking to her shoe like gum.

Frustrated, she roughly rubbed her foot on the wall corner.

All around her were yellow daffodils. She scoffed.

There are so many beautiful flowers in the world, and they chose daffodils?

And why on earth were they having an outdoor wedding in this cold weather?

Trying to act smart, yet so dull like a bear.

No wonder Alex got tired of you!

She clicked her tongue and pulled out a small mirror from her pocket.

Her eye was bruised and purple, her lips swollen, and her cheeks puffed.

It was hard to tell what her original face even looked like.

She hoped Mila had taken care of the maid she used as a scapegoat.

Heh. Rachel smiled with her swollen lips.

Thanks to resourceful Mila, they found a maid who lived far away and didn’t come often.

No one suspected her. Even the head maid just asked where she got hurt and moved on.

Rachel gently touched her face in the mirror.

It pained her to see her once-beautiful face so ruined, but it didn’t matter.

She knew it would heal perfectly.

Years of experience had taught her how to make things look dramatic—without leaving scars.

Satisfied, she put the mirror away just as the wedding bells rang out.

She quietly joined the group of maids heading toward the waiting area.

Inside the white tent, it smelled of sweat and poor perfume.

Rachel covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve and stood silently behind the other maids.

“Did you see? The princess looked so beautiful today.”

“Yeah, her dress with the golden embroidery was so elegant. I wish I could wear something like that just once.”

Rachel scoffed as she glanced at the admiring maids.

Aselin, elegant? Are they blind or something?

Rachel memorized the maid’s face who praised Aselin.

She’d send them all to prison later.

Gritting her teeth, she heard the wedding host’s voice.

Standing at the back of the maids, Rachel slowly moved toward the wedding aisle.

Soon—

“The bride will now enter!”

The bride walked down the aisle in a white veil.

The groom at the altar was also wearing a gold veil on his head.

Rachel’s narrowed eyes returned to their normal size.

It was odd for a groom to wear a veil, but it wasn’t unheard of among royals.

She dismissed it and stifled a yawn, waiting for the ceremony to be over.

Finally, the closing bells rang.

Aselin and the First Prince walked down the aisle arm in arm.

Through the fluttering veil, Rachel saw Aselin’s smiling red lips.

She looked like the happiest bride in the world.

Rachel glared at her with wide eyes.

She pushed through the crowd and sneaked to the end of the aisle, lighting a fire.

The flames spread quickly along the oil she had poured earlier.

“Kyaa! Fire! Fire!”

People panicked and ran, turning the ceremony into chaos.

Hidden behind a pillar, Rachel watched as the fire rushed toward Aselin.

Just as the flames were about to catch her dress, Aselin threw off her cloak and smothered the fire.

Her movements were fast and precise, her silver hair fluttering behind her.

Rachel’s face twisted.

Was Aselin’s shoulders always that broad?

And not just that—her arms were muscular, her legs firm, her back… so sturdy.

No, not just sturdy—strong.

Something felt very wrong, like being hit on the back of the head.

She tried to leave quickly, but—BOOM! A loud explosion rang out.

Thick smoke filled the air, turning the place into a battlefield.

Rachel crouched low instinctively.

‘What the hell is going on?’

Her fingers trembled as she tried to figure out what had happened.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm harshly and dragged her through the smoke.

She was thrown into a carriage like a sack of flour.

The carriage moved with loud clattering as horses galloped forward.

A familiar voice shouted from above.

“Rachel. I’ve been looking for you! Where were you hiding all this time?”

“…Baron?”

Tears welled up in Rachel’s eyes.

She thought Alex had abandoned her since he never contacted her.

But he hadn’t.

‘He came to save me like a dark knight… He still loves me! And I still…’

She reached out and touched his cheek gently.

“I missed you, Baron.”

Alex quietly removed her hand and answered.

“So this is how we meet again. You disappeared after the wedding, and I had to search everywhere.”

He clicked his tongue and looked at her bruised face.

Rachel smiled sweetly as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Tears glistened in her blue eyes, full of sadness.

“Last night, Aselin barged in and did this to me. I didn’t even do anything wrong… Why does she hate me so much?”

She cried and buried her face in his lap.

Alex placed a firm hand on her shaking shoulder.

“Ouch, that hurts too. She just grabbed anything and hit me! I was too scared to fight back…”

Her sobs grew louder.

Alex looked down at her pitifully, his lips curling with disgust.

“Oh? You mean that is what she hit you with?”

He pointed his chin, and Rachel turned to look—

Her eyes almost popped out.