Secret Wardrobe of the Duchess

Chapter 30

The short time of the sunset passed and darkness started to fall, but Edgar didn’t come. As it got darker outside, Ann’s face started to turn dark as well.

“… the meeting must have been extended.”

“Yes.”

“He must have no choice, the king must be insisting that he stays.”

“It’s okay, Ann.”

“… Lady Berner.”

Unlike Ann, who was anxious, Rubica just thought it was fine.
If the wedding couldn’t be done properly because of the king’s fault, wouldn’t he feel guilty and declare the marriage as invalid?

‘That would be nice, I wish he doesn’t come….’

But regardless of her wishes, the arrival of Edgar’s carriage was announced when the moon was up in the sky.

‘Oh well, I guess it was worth hoping for.’

***

As soon as Edgar arrived at the abbey, a servant helped him get dressed. It had taken Rubica hours to wear her wedding dress, but it took him only about 10 minutes.

He had practically lived in his carriage for three days, but his skin was still as smooth as marble. He had sprinkled just a few drops of water on his hair, but it looked like as if it had been combed with expensive oil. The servant was quietly impressed at this.

“Where is Carl?”

“He is back at the mansion, preparing for the wedding feast.”

Edgar slightly frowned. The servant flinched, wondering if he had made any mistake.

“And the bride?”

“She finished preparing a long time ago. The priest is waiting as well.”

He tried not to sound as if he was blaming his master and carefully put the circlet on Edgar’s head. His blue eyes didn’t lose their beauty underneath the luxurious circlet. They rather had a strange brilliance. Edgar lightly nodded, checked his cuff buttons for the last time and walked to the hall.
A priest, who had been waiting for him, smiled and opened the door for him. What he saw next was enough to surprise even him.

‘… they did this in a day?’

He had known Carl and Ann were an excellent butler and housewife for a very long time, but he hadn’t thought they would prepare everything so perfectly. The hall was lighted with candles floating on the water which glowed in the dim light along the aisle.

The white flowers under the candles created a fantastic mood, it was as if the hall was in another world. Rubica soon entered the hall. On the dress’ silhouette hiding in the dark, golden embroidery gleamed with the candles’ light.

With each of her step, an afterimage like a beautiful bird soaring up to the sky lingered with the embroidery’s movement. A breeze came from somewhere and lightly stroked the mysterious golden mist before going away. Over the scattered mist, the red and full lips showed themselves for a short moment.

The only red, splendid flower blooming amongst white flowers.

It was as if everything in that space was existing for her. Too late, Edgar realized his mouth was dry. Some kind of liquid floated up under his chest and filled up his head. He hadn’t felt such a feeling since when he saw splendid fireworks on his father’s shoulder.

People called that feeling thrill, but he saw a face beautiful enough to thrill others in the mirror every day. He scarcely felt thrilled at the beauty of something else. He just froze there and tried to find out how to define that unfamiliar feeling for a long time.