Chapter 9
‘Maybe it’s because he doesn’t go out much? His skin is really white… and somehow he’s tall, with broad shoulders, yet his overall lines are so graceful. No wonder clothes look so good on him. Wow, his fingers are slender, and his hands are beautiful too. He really looks like some god from mythology…’
While Violette quietly admired every detail of Narsia, secretly harboring a faint hope for their future, the Imperial Envoy, smiling gently, asked him:
“Do you, the groom Narsia Kegrainner, take the bride Violette Rascal as your wife, to cherish and love for all your life?”
“Yes, I do.”
Violette froze for a moment at his answer, given so confidently, but before she could dwell on it, the Envoy turned his gaze to her.
“Do you, the bride Violette Rascal, take the groom Narsia Kegrainner as your husband, to cherish and love for all your life?”
“I do…”
Responding to his answer, Violette spoke immediately, though her voice wavered slightly in the slightly embarrassing moment.
“By this declaration, Narsia Kegrainner, the groom, and Violette Rascal, the bride, are now united as husband and wife.”
As the Envoy’s words concluded, thunderous applause filled the garden. Violette’s mind flashed through countless weddings she had seen before. At the end of the officiant’s declaration, couples traditionally celebrated by softly kissing.
Thinking this, it felt natural that they should kiss too. Just as Narsia slowly turned to walk back down the wedding aisle, Violette quickly called out to him.
“Narsia!”
He turned his head toward her, but before he could react, Violette swiftly pressed her lips against his. A cheer erupted from the onlookers.
Smiling brightly as if saying “that’s enough,” Violette returned to her original place, leaving Narsia staring blankly, astonished by her boldness.
Unbeknownst to Violette, even as they walked down the aisle arm in arm, Narsia’s expression remained dazed. As they exited amidst the guests’ congratulations, he delicately touched his lips, as if confirming the sensation.
“Your family seems to have an unending stream of celebrations. Truly, congratulations on the wedding.”
“Ha ha, thank you for coming, Countess.”
The formal reception had been underway for three hours, yet Violette had barely had a moment to sit, being pulled around to greet guests. Most were unfamiliar to her, having come to see Argon and the Duke’s family, but as the bride, she couldn’t just ignore them.
‘Wow, this is exhausting…’
Standing beside Argon with his constant cheerful smile, Violette felt utterly drained. She never enjoyed such noble gatherings, and this day—her own wedding, surrounded by adults—was like sitting on a bed of thorns. Had it not been for the occasion, she would have left long ago.
After hours of forced smiles and meaningless small talk, her mouth was parched. And since that morning, she hadn’t even had a single cigarette.
‘I just want one cigarette…’
Despite forcing a smile, her thoughts were consumed by cravings. Her hands even trembled slightly from withdrawal. Reaching her limit, she scanned for an excuse to step away.
She spotted Narsia, looking pale. Like her, he seemed to be dragged along by his parents, mingling among guests but kept close.
“Father, I’m going to step aside and talk to Narsia for a moment.”
“Ah, yes, yes, go ahead!”
“Oh my, we’ve kept the bride too long.”
Even though Violette was the bride, everyone seemed unusually excited. She shook her head slightly and approached Narsia. The Duke and Duchess, noticing her, smiled gently.
“I hate to say this myself, but isn’t she just beautiful? Now I see why our son fell for her at first sight.”
“Ha ha, indeed. Seeing them together, even today, is like looking at a painting.”
Overwhelmed by the praise, Violette simply smiled awkwardly. Then, speaking loudly enough for others to hear, she addressed Narsia.
“Honey, shall we step outside and get some fresh air?”
The tender address immediately sparked a flutter among the nearby guests. Thanks to her, no one noticed Narsia’s slight embarrassment.
They walked to a gazebo deep in the garden. After ensuring no one was around, Violette leaned against one of the gazebo’s pillars, exhausted.
“Wow, I thought I’d die! Why won’t they leave? I’m so tired.”
“….”
“Where was it… ah, here!”
Skillfully, she retrieved a small mahogany box hidden among the vines, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between her lips. Lighting it, she finally looked relieved.
As she exhaled, she noticed Narsia frowning.
“Oh, you’re not smoking, right? Won’t you mind the smell? I’ll just go over here…”
“You pervert.”
“Huh?”
“Pervert. And a sexual offender.”
Taken aback by his serious tone, Violette looked around, but it was just the two of them there. Confused, she pointed at herself.
“Me…?”
Narsia didn’t answer, just stared silently. Feeling wrongly accused, Violette made a bewildered face.
“Why am I a pervert? What did I do…?”
Instead of replying, Narsia turned his head, covering his lips with one hand, clearly worried. Realizing his intention, Violette’s face flushed crimson, and she dropped her cigarette to the ground in shock.
“That… that’s an exception! It’s the wedding, isn’t it? A little show shouldn’t matter!”
“…You kissed me just for appearances. Without asking me.”
“It was just a kiss, why are you making a fuss?”
Violette tried to laugh it off, thinking he was teasing, but Narsia remained serious, avoiding her gaze.
Noticing the subtle downturn of his lips, Violette cautiously asked,
“You… never kissed anyone before, did you?”
“…”
“Really? Not even a kiss, just a peck?”
Seeing his ears slightly redden, Violette was stunned. She herself had little experience with romance, yet this was just a simple kiss.
A grown adult, yet he had never even had a peck until now? She couldn’t believe it.
“I’ve never really had a partner, nor much experience with the opposite sex…”
Narsia mumbled sincerely. Realizing this, Violette finally recognized her mistake.
Though it was a small kiss, proceeding without his consent, especially since it was his first, carried significant weight.
“Oh, I’m sorry… I thought it wouldn’t matter to you. Had I known it was your first, I truly wouldn’t have… I swear.”
Violette’s apology made him avert his gaze awkwardly. Yet she still found him puzzling.
“Narsia, even if we separate in a year, legally we’re husband and wife, right? Weren’t we supposed to act like a good couple? You didn’t say anything, but I should have expected this at least. Surely you didn’t think we could act as husband and wife without any intimacy?”
“I just thought we’d live together… not that this would happen.”
Seeing Narsia nibble his lip and fidget, Violette thought seriously,
‘He’s a complete novice.’
She hadn’t married for love either, but now that she was married to such a beauty, she had expected some form of romantic life. Living together, showing affection, and maybe developing feelings—that was her assumption.
Yet after a single kiss, he wanted to keep three meters between them. Her anticipation of romance completely vanished.
