Chapter 182

Content Warning: There is mention of a minor character’s suicide attempt

A surprised Yelena looked up at Ben, who was standing on a platform.

‘Kiss the bride?’

This was not part of the plan. Ben winked a wrinkly eye at the flustered Yelena.

“…!”

Yelena snapped her head towards Kaywhin, who also seemed flustered. But then, his hands moved.

Kaywhin supported Yelena’s waist with his left hand and lifted her chin lightly with his right. Yelena stood frozen with wide eyes.

‘He’s doing it? For real? Just like that? We’re going to kiss…’

Kaywhin lowered his face. His warm breath tickled Yelena’s peach fuzz as his face came closer. Yelena curled her toes and nervously squeezed her eyes shut.

Then, she felt a soft touch next to her lips.

“…”

The light and careful touch branded her skin. Then, its warmth fell away. Yelena’s eyelids quivered as she opened her eyes.

‘Ah.’

Yelena staggered, not realizing that her legs had given up.

“Yelena!”

Kaywhin hastily caught her.

“Are you okay?”

“…I’m okay,” Yelena barely managed to reply, letting out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

Why was she so nervous? Her heart beat loudly and rapidly.

She looked at the guests after barely managing to calm down. Perhaps in the guests’ eyes, it looked like Yelena and Kaywhin had actually kissed. She could see them covering their mouths with surprised expressions.

On the other hand, Ben, who had seen everything up close, seemed to be rather disappointed. Nonetheless, he faithfully continued the ceremony.

“Now, the bride will toss her bouquet. Will the person who will be catching the bouquet please come forward.”

Aendydn awkwardly came forward among the guests, making a strange face. Yelena tossed the bouquet high up in the sky.

***

The back garden, where the small reception party was being held, was boisterous. The castle knights and servants took turns attending the party, laughing and chatting as they enjoyed food and drinks.

“Rosaline, thanks for being my bridesmaid.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Rosaline smiled lightly in response to Yelena’s greeting as she enjoyed a glass of champagne. This morning, Yelena had received a letter from her saying that she’d be visiting the ducal castle. She must have left right after sending the carrier pigeon because she had arrived at around noon.

“Yelena! I just got your letter. And I heard about the search for the Marezons. Too many things happened to you while I was away from the countdom, I don’t know where to start…”

“I see. I’m getting married today, so why don’t you be my bridesmaid since you’re already here?”

“What?”

“…The first thing you told me as soon as I arrived was that you were getting married. Do you know how surprised I was? If I had known sooner, I would have come with my husband.”

“Forget it. He must be busy, no need for him to go out of his way.”

Yelena shook her head and then suddenly asked, “By the way, why did you leave the countdom?”

Rosaline had been away for longer than expected. Yelena hadn’t been in touch with her since she had been kidnapped by Incan and only now were they finally seeing each other’s faces.

“Well… Yelena, you know Mileya, right? My second cousin.”

“I know her. We met briefly at a party a long time ago.”

Although Yelena couldn’t really remember her face, she easily remembered the name. Rosaline nodded and continued.

“Yeah, she… attempted suicide not too long ago.”

“Attempted suicide?”

Yelena gasped and froze where she had been reaching for her champagne glass on the table.

“Her engagement was broken off.”

“Broken off?”

“Apparently, her financé had another lover since before the engagement. I don’t know who though.”

Rosaline sighed with a frown.

“But something bad must have happened to his lover’s family. And Mileya was worried sick every day. And then…”

“Her fiancé broke off the engagement?”

“Mhm. He told her he couldn’t marry her and left.”

“Oh my.”

Yelena felt deep sorrow. Truthfully, this kind of thing happened often among nobles, but it was different when it happened to someone you knew.

“He’s trash. He shouldn’t have gotten engaged in the first place if he was going to do that.”

“My thoughts exactly. The problem is that Mileya, that foolish girl, had feelings for him.”

Rosaline pressed her forehead with the hand that wasn’t holding her champagne glass, as if thinking about the situation again made her head hurt.