Chapter 33

There were several reasons for their decision. Among them, there was no arguing with the fact that the tiara, which was flaunting its presence above Asella’s head, played a significant role.

“Oh my god, look at that sparkle.”

“I never thought I’d see the Glory of the Goddess in a wedding hall.”

“I thought I was mistaken.”

“Did you hear that it was an engagement present?”

“Before. I can’t tell you how surprised I was.”

“Well, rumors can be unreliable, can’t they?”

Asella Chartus- no, rumors of the new Grand Duchess, now Asella Benvito, had circulated even before the wedding.

Nobles were a race that pretended to be honorable and clean on the surface. Still, they loved gossip more than anyone else, regardless of age or sex.

The topic of many social gatherings often began with a bad word about someone and ended with an accusation.

As such, Asella, who had taken her position next to the most coveted man in the aristocratic society of the Harmenian Empire, Calix Benvito, was forced to be on their cutting board from time to time.

Naturally, the majority of the rumors were not good.

“I got the wrong idea because I heard rumors saying that she didn’t even have a dowry ready.”

“I mean, does the Benvito family need a dowry in the first place?”

The story of Philip’s refusal to provide a dowry spread through the servants’ mouths in the mansion. As Asella predicted, it only made the rumors grow worse.

Of course, it was before the wedding.

“But His Excellency, the Grand Duke, really cherishes her…”

“Did you see how he kissed her on the forehead?”

“Yes! Also, what he said after that while everyone was watching! I’ve never seen him acting kind and gentle in my life.”

The same thought passed through their heads at the same time.

“Come to think of it, I heard it was love at first sight.”

“I saw the article come out too. I didn’t think it was possible.”

Although it was rarely the case, even among the nobility, marriages were not always arranged for political reasons.

A relationship based on love and affection…

Of course, such a case was very rare enough to be talked about over and over again and maintain the news headlines for weeks.

But those who witnessed the kissing of Asella and Calix wondered if perhaps this union was that kind of marriage.

He was a Grand Duke known for his lack of mercy, cruelty, and ruthlessness in the way he handled things.

‘But it seems that the great Calix Benvito had an exception for this rule.’

This fact alone was a reason enough for them to try to look good to the new Grand Duchess.

* * *

Asella was preoccupied with the congratulations being showered upon her.

In fact, all she had to do was listen to the people around her whispering and nod her head a few times. But there were more than one or two such people, and after a few repetitions of this, a feeling of intense exhaustion washed over her.

Last night, she was filled with anxiety and had a restless night. Early in the morning, she was taken by the maids to prepare for the wedding, a long bath, fixing her hair, makeup and wearing the wedding dress.

In the midst of the constant tension, without a moment’s rest, her overworked body ached.

“Asella.”

It was Calix who came to her rescue.

Asella flinched for a moment. She still wasn’t used to her name coming out of his mouth. When she finally managed to clear her throat, she parted her lips and answered.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Calix dismissed the crowd that had gathered around Asella. Or, more accurately, the nobles whose feet had gone numb as soon as he approached quickly left the scene…

“Isn’t the dress uncomfortable?”

After a bit of hesitation in her reply, Asella nodded.

Her dress, made by Madame Efredieu , was made of the most lustrous and lightest fabric.

It had surprisingly little weight compared to its volume and length, and it was stretchy and easy to move in. It was not too revealing; due to that, there was no need to be aware of people’s eyes and cover up anything.

But it wasn’t as comfortable as her daily clothes.

Calix looked at Asella’s face, which seemed even paler than before, and he knew for sure that he was right.

“Why don’t you rest for a while? And change your dress.”

“Is that okay?”

“There is no one here who would dare complain about the Grand Duchess taking a break.”

Calix glanced elsewhere, and a maid approached them. He gave her a brief greeting.

“See you later.”

The maids led Asella to Rebecca’s room. It was also the place where she and Calix would spend their first night.

They were going to spend the night there and leave for the duchy early tomorrow morning. It was a very short schedule, considering the fact that a wedding reception for a noble couple usually lasted for several days.

However, for the first time in a while, she was rather glad when she heard about it.

“Your Excellency the Grand Duchess, I will help you change your dress.”

When the title she had been called by was changed, Asella realized that she was now married.

She had left her family, become someone’s wife, and her last name had changed.

“Could you turn your back for a moment?”

The maids were speaking much more politely than before. They were also more careful in their manners. The difference was so evident that she could feel the change.

They also saw the wedding clearly with their own eyes and heard the conversations between the invited guests.

Thanks to that, they made the quick judgment that staying low and being humble would help them stay safe.

She felt a little miserable at the sight of them.

As time went on, she became used to giving up and letting go, but every once in a while, something inside her ached.

It was the same now, too.

People’s attitudes changed drastically even when the Grand Duke had shown a little favor. The servants of the mansion, who had neglected her and had treated her carelessly, had utterly changed their colors and flipped their attitude.

He was right when he had said, “For your own sake, act.”

And so, Asella was miserable.

The reason why they changed was not because of herself.

“What dress would you like to change into?”

Asella slowly looked through the wedding party dresses the maid had brought her. Like her wedding dress, they had all been made by Madame Efredieu, and they all looked magnificent.

“This.”

“A good choice, Your Excellency.”

She didn’t actually care what she wore. All the dresses in the line were white, and those dresses weren’t made for her but for the people who would see her.

On the wedding day, the two main characters wear white.

It was the same for the ceremony and for the reception that followed.

It meant that they should draw their future together as if they could draw anything on a white paper.

But Asella did not have any expectations for that kind of future.