Chapter 10

“Hahaha.”

I covered my mouth with the bouquet to hide my laugh. How long has it been since I was in a relationship? It was over two years I think.

I unintentionally distanced myself from dating since my life had a lot of hardships.

I think this side of mine allows me to love someone from a book. Yet, when I think of Apollyon, a feeling of lust is awakening.

Thinking like this made me feel like a pervert. Yet my intentions weren’t impure.

Both of us were adults and a couple starting from today. It would be strange if I didn’t think about things like this. Besides, it was one of the obligations we had to accomplish in order to get rid of his curse!

I felt guilt all of a sudden.

“Oh my, you must be quite nervous.”

A boutique employee that’s fixing my dress spoke. They were putting glitter powder on my collarbone and making final checks to ensure the dress from getting messed up.

“…What? Oh, yes.”

I replied, putting on an awkward smile. They thought I was acting strange because I was nervous.

“It’s the bride’s entrance soon!”

I took a deep breath with the call from outside. I thought I wouldn’t be nervous, yet when the time came my heart started thumping crazily.

I maintained a straight posture with the help of the servants. I readied myself to face the banquet hall and Apollyon.

“The bride is entering!”

Getting out of the waiting room, father appeared being neatly dressed at the start of the wedding walkway. He was on the verge of crying. The sight of the Emperor sitting on his throne came to my sight.

But, why was the Emperor here…?

I put my trembling hand on my father’s tense arm.

When the processional started playing, I walked alongside my father with the pace of a turtle.

“Petunia… hic.”

I could hear my father crying but I couldn’t hear his words well. The inside of my head was hazy.

There weren’t many guests but at first glance I could tell that they’re people from high class. The way they were dressed to the way they sat and their auras were all unique.

‘If it’ll be an outdoor wedding, wouldn’t any other place be the same as the Royal Palace?’

It was a mistake to think like that.

In the banquet hall, flowers that are difficult to see in summer were in bloom and lots of magic stones were hung on branches lighting up the hall. Since wizards were quite rare, the price of these magic stones must have been enormous.

The dress glistened brightly with the magic stones’ light. Diamonds embedded on the dress reflected mysterious colors splitting the lights. That moment was proof that I was the main character.

The flower girls threw petals on my way as I paced forward. Perhaps the petals were covered in pearl powder, but they showed off their pretty colors as they fell down.

In fact, I was worried. The sudden marriage, with Apollyon and I becoming the perfect topic for gossip was quite worrying.

If the wedding was glamorous they would see it as extravagance, and if it was modest they would see it as shabby.

I wasn’t worried about the wedding, but Apollyon getting hurt again if the guest seats were empty.

However, all my worries were pointless.

The flowers with subtle colors were fresh, and the pleasant breeze was cool. It felt like I was at a fairy’s wedding in a fairy tale.

All the guests were blessing the couple’s future with smiling faces. I didn’t even know any of their names but I felt grateful.

I looked forward as I heard my father sniffing once again. In front of me… stood the Emperor.

My happiness, which was at full points, dropped by half. Even in the original novel, the Emperor was mentioned only as a figure.

I wanted to avoid the Emperor’s gaze. However, the veil I was wearing was designed to be worn while my hair was still down, with that, it was impossible to hide my face behind the veil.

I didn’t even see the president in my past life, seeing the Emperor right in front of me now was…

While I was about to take my eyes off the smiling Emperor, a large figure stood in front of him. I was certain no one was there a moment before.

As I raised my gaze, my eyes caught a man’s back standing at the end of the wedding walkway.

His dark purple hair looked black under the light and his wide back tightly pulled his tuxedo, as if not a single wrinkle was allowed to appear. His handsomeness was certain even just by looking at his jawline starting under his ear.

It was the male protagonist of the original novel; Prince Apollyon Theavritte, the man that will stand beside me starting from today.

***

Stopped at the end of the wedding walkway, I placed my hand on Apollyon’s just as I learned in bridal class.

Apollyon flinched as he was surprised, then soon relaxed his arm so we could link arms.

When I glanced at him with the side of my eye, I noticed he was wearing a mask. However, since it was a wedding, instead of a black mask he was wearing a neat white mask.

The mask was covering about two-thirds of his face, hiding every part except half of his forehead and under his philtrum.

I examined his face as he bowed his head. My ears didn’t even catch the Emperor’s words. Even without listening I could guess that he was wishing us to be together until our black hair turned white…

What…?

I remembered my hair was blond. Looking around everyone’s hair was rather colorful. Everyone in the Inkledov family had blond hair. The Emperor watching the ceremony had silver hair and the petal girl had crimson hair.

It was hard to find someone with black hair. At least, Apollyon’s dark hair looked closest to black.

I listened to the officiant, deciding that I should focus on the ceremony.

“…Does Apollyon Lain Theavritte, the Grand Duke of Theavritte, pledge to love Petunia Beatrice Inkledov as your wife forever till death do you part?”

“I do.”

Ah, was there chocolate instead of his vocal cords? Apollyon’s voice was soft, sweet and low-pitched.

“Does Petunia Beatrice Inkledov, the eldest daughter of Count Inkledov, pledge to love Apollyon Lain Theavritte as your husband forever till death do you part?”

“I do.”

The Emperor’s blessing followed our oaths.

In such a bright atmosphere we placed our wedding rings on each other’s ring fingers.

A small violet sapphire symbolizing the House Theavritte, was delicately decorating the wedding ring. The Diamond’s design that got wider towards the edge was very beautiful.

I heard that violet sapphire was quite rare. How did they get this? I once again admired Theavritte Household’s wealth and ability.

“Let the two seal their oath with a kiss, promising to be together for the rest of their lives from now on.”

I came to my senses when I heard the word, kiss.

Oh yes, the kiss!

Afraid of keeping the Emperor waiting, I turned towards Apollyon. Then I fully saw his face which I had taken only a glance.

At the same time, Apollyon too turned towards me. His lips that weren’t covered by the mask were red and thick. My excitement that had been dying ever since I noticed the Emperor began to show up again.

Unlike my eyes which were focused on Apollyon’s lips, Apollyon’s pupils were constantly avoiding to look.

His eyes, which looked like still water under the evening sky, were full of anxiety.

Don’t worry about anything dear male lead. I’ll take care of everything!

I raised on my tiptoes to kiss Apollyon, who was quite taller than me. However, unlike my move Apollyon didn’t didn’t bend cooperatively.

I tried to raise my head further, but at that moment, something soft and warm touched my forehead.

His lips, which touched my forehead for a while, retreated within seconds.

I stared at Apollyon with a puzzled look. As soon as our eyes met, he turned his head away.

“With this, the oath of the two is…”

Wait, I was supposed to kiss him. Was this it?

“Then lastly greet both families…”

Excuse me, your Majesty! You told us to kiss, the Empire’s kiss is just putting his lips on my forehead?!

I bowed to the family members of Theavritte Household holding back the anger that’s rising inside of me.

What was this? What kind of kiss was this! I wanted my kiss.

When it was time to greet the bride’s family, I couldn’t hold back my tears because of the kiss I couldn’t take.

It was a moment I was looking forward to! How could he take away my moment!

I felt like a child who got deprived of their candy they wanted so much. However the Countess seemed to mistake my frustration tears for happiness tears that of a bride who is getting married.

That wasn’t it! Not it! Not at all!

I wanted to shout loudly but there were too many guests. Before I did anything the guests stood up and applauded the married couple.

I turned my head towards Apollyon slowly. Then Apollyon, who caught my glare, turned his gaze away. His throat rumbled as he swallowed.

Oh, he was aware of his guilt as well.

I couldn’t glare at the Emperor, so instead I glared at Apollyon with a deadly look in my eyes. Feeling my burning eyes, he tried to pull away his arm but I didn’t let go of his arm, linking it more firmly.

Both his face and his arm I was holding got whiter.

Looking at him, I promised to get my revenge.

Tonight he was going to die in my hands.