Chapter 16
“Make sure nothing is overlooked. Prepare everything properly.”
“Of course, sir.”
Jade once again meticulously reviewed the preparation list.
“…that’s what he said.”
“As he commands, we shall follow.”
The head maid fully agreed with the Duke’s opinion as well.
Though the wedding had been decided so suddenly, the seasoned maids moved swiftly, excited for the long-awaited arrival of their mistress.
“What do you think of Lady Ada?”
A mere second daughter of a count, and unlike her more distinctive sisters, she stood out so little—she would surely seem lacking as a duchess.
But contrary to Jade’s concerns, the head maid smiled brightly and gave her conclusion in one word.
“She’ll be worth serving.”
Even from the head maid, who wasn’t prone to compliments, this was high praise.
“It’s easy to complain, but difficult to give precise instructions. In that sense, the maids say they find it easier to follow her since she clearly expresses her wishes.”
“Is that so?”
“I heard she took charge of the household early on to support her older sister, who became the head of the family.”
Unaware that these words were meant to find fault, the head maid smiled contentedly and circled items on the dress list.
“It seems our Duke has an excellent eye for choosing a spouse.”
“But still, she’s so plain looking…”
When Jade hesitated, still thinking the younger sister would have been a better match, the head maid gave him a pitiful look.
“That sounds like you don’t trust our abilities.”
Making the bride the most radiant person at the ceremony is the head maid’s top priority.
And the maids of Cromford took immense pride in their work.
As if protecting their dignity, Lady Deblanc never interfered except to make a few specific requests.
“Th-That’s not what I meant at all!”
“Just wait and see.”
Unfortunately for Jade, his careless comment lit a fire in the head maid’s pride.
“This wedding will be supervised by the madam herself.”
Hearing that the perfectionist aunt would take full charge, Jade gulped involuntarily.
Before the wedding, while studying the genealogy of the Cromford family, Frisia gained confidence in her theory.
The former Duke’s youngest brother, Vino, had died young at 40.
The infamous aunt—rumored to be ten years younger than her late husband—was now 30. According to the family tree, that made her only five years older than the current Duke.
If she could dig up something juicy, like a secret between the two, it might be the perfect excuse to break the engagement.
That had been the hope…
“You said you wanted to see me?”
The aunt, 30 years old, was very different from what Frisia had imagined.
With a strong, athletic build and fierce eyes, her height rivaled or exceeded the Duke’s—likely nearly 2 meters tall.
“How can you be so cute? I’m so glad to meet you. I’m Will’s aunt!”
Because of the dramatic height difference, it wasn’t until Frisia sat down that she could look the aunt in the eye and have a proper conversation.
Seeing the bulging veins under the rolled-up sleeves, Frisia gulped hard.
“R-Really. Madam Cromford.”
“Madam? Ugh, drop the formalities. Just call me Auntie. I’m older than you, so it’s fine if you speak informally too, right?”
“Y-Yes. Of course…”
Unable to say no, Frisia nodded repeatedly.
The aunt burst into hearty laughter, gripping Frisia’s hand and shaking it over and over.
“Can you believe that blockhead Will actually agreed to marry someone? I feel like I owe you a hundred thank-yous!”
“Blockhead…?”
How many people in the world could speak of the mighty Duke of Cromford that way?
Frisia racked her brain in front of the aunt who was so far from what she expected.
This isn’t going to work…
The original novel had never mentioned Cromford’s family background, which turned out to be a major flaw in her plan.
The moment she saw the aunt—worthy of being called a real-life warrior—Frisia discarded her original assumptions.
“No matter what anyone says, I’ll protect my sweet niece-in-law. If anyone bothers you, just say the word.”
Frisia couldn’t help but ask carefully:
“By the way… I heard someone in Cromford collects axes?”
“Oh my, how did you know? That’s my hobby. How sweet of you to ask!”
“Then your name is…?”
“Lashita Cromford. You can call me Aunt Lashita, my sweet niece-in-law.”
No way… The Axe King Lashita, known as the most brutal of the Duke’s subordinates, was his aunt?!
Frisia quickly moved to Plan B.
“This wedding must’ve come as quite a shock, but honestly… I don’t think I’m suited for—”
“Hmm?”
One punch from her and I’d go flying.
Carefully choosing her words to avoid offending her, Frisia tried to backpedal.
“Well, it’s just… I thought the Duke’s family might not approve of me…”
“Who the hell said that to you?!”
Startled by Lashita’s outburst, the maids bowed their heads repeatedly.
When Frisia noticed the gleaming blue axe hidden under the hem of Lashita’s dress, her mind screamed in alarm.
“I-It’s nothing like that! I was just feeling a bit down before the wedding.”
Only after insisting that no one had actually said anything did Lashita laugh heartily and slap Frisia on the back.
“It’s natural to feel anxious before a wedding. I drank from a barrel the night before mine!”
Even though she had every reason to dislike this newcomer, Lashita simply smiled and offered Frisia a gift.
“This bracelet is a treasure I took from a dragon’s nest.”
“You raided a dragon’s nest?!”
“Of course. Those who opposed Will becoming the family head shut up after tasting my axe.”
As Frisia recalled the hand axe hidden under her skirt, she felt dizzy.
How could someone talk so casually about bloody purges?
But she dared not say a word—the axe might be coming for her next.
“My nephew’s wedding must be perfect. Anyone who tries to ruin it is dead.”
Boasting of her exploits, Lashita gripped her razor-sharp axe tightly.
Frisia silently prayed to every deity she could think of as Lashita casually peeled an apple with the weapon.
“Fruit is best cut by hand. Isn’t it delicious?”
“Yes. It’s really delicious…”
Any faint hope that the wedding might be canceled went up in smoke.
Staring at the gleaming blade, Frisia silently pocketed the bracelet Lashita had given her.
Time passed quickly, and the wedding day arrived.
After days of crying, Lily faced the now-exhausted Matthew with swollen eyes.
“Matthew, you look awful.”
“You look worse than me.”
“My lady, we have no time for this! Keep the ice on your eyes!”
The nanny gently iced Lily’s swollen, potato-like eyes while quietly wiping away her own tears.
Rose, still half out of her mind, sighed deeply as she stared blankly at the formalwear box from Cromford.
“Without Lady Frisia here, it just feels… empty.”
“I miss her.”
Lily’s tears welled up again before the swelling had even gone down.
Though her shoulder injury had healed with help from the temple, preparing everything in just two weeks had been nearly impossible.
But the Duke of Cromford, claiming she would interfere, never once allowed her to see Frisia until the wedding day.
Time slipped by helplessly, and finally, the wedding guests arrived at the Deblanc estate.
Due to a sudden issue, Count Blado couldn’t attend, so Sohee volunteered to go with Lily.
“Lily! You’re still not ready?!”
“Sohee…”
The Countess of Blado, seeing her young friend with puffy eyes once again, hurried to comfort her.
“Don’t worry so much. My husband says even the Duke’s family seems pleased with the marriage.”
“No way. She’s probably being ignored and tormented right now!”
Rose had repeatedly contacted Cromford, saying she’d prepare a dowry. But Cromford had replied firmly that it wasn’t necessary—and instead sent piles of gifts to the Deblanc estate.
Not just for the sisters, but even for the nanny, the gardener’s youngest grandson, and everyone in between.
Gold, new clothes, and even a newly built servants’ house on land purchased next to the estate. Even the old stable master had been busy moving in.
“They say a man bows to his wife’s family when his bride is beautiful. It seems the Duke has truly fallen for Lady Frisia.”
“I just don’t understand. I can accept that Rose fooled me, but how did I get deceived, too?”
Since Lily’s official debut, Frisia had quit her job to focus solely on supporting her younger sister.
She had gone out more often after becoming friends with Sohee, but the idea that her stay-at-home sister had grown close to the Duke of Cromford remained a complete mystery.
“They say it was love at first sight. Sometimes the decision to marry is surprisingly simple.”
“Countess Blado… Do you know something?”
