Chapter 28

There was a time when the nobility had nothing on their secret table of discussions aside from the new Grand Duke of Benvito.

In particular, there was the incident where the previous Grand Duke Benvito, who was in good health, handed over the Grand Dukedom to his son as soon as he came of age and then suddenly died.

Most of them were speculative conversations at the gossip level. Still, the stories were plausible for the most part, though others still had their odd twists.

But with the news of the glorious victory, the rumors were soon to disappear. All that was left was a victory chant and a grand feast of celebration.

“Why can’t you answer me?”

As Asella hesitated, unable to speak further, Calix smiled in amusement.

“Do you know why I chose you?”

“I don’t know…”

“We both know that it isn’t true.”

Calix’s lips curved into a more profound smile, but unlike his smiling lips, his eyes were not smiling at all, giving her a creeping feeling. As a result, she couldn’t help but swallow her dry saliva.

“You know what kind of person I am.”

“Let me go… please…”

“Don’t you?”

Asella shuddered with the fear that racked in her body. The thought that he would kill her someday seized her mind.

Calix was right; she knew him.

Based on all of his appearances, he was the perfect aristocrat. People were easily dazzled by his wealth, prestige, superior lineage, mesmerizingly beautiful appearance, and outstanding abilities.

While people were so enamored by his war achievements, it was that sometimes they forgot the cruelty hidden within.

The truth was, Calix Benvito didn’t even bother to hide his true self.

“You know, war is quite something.”

“Please, don’t do this…”

Asella managed to shake his hand off, but it was to no avail. He held her face even tighter.

“Especially if the spoils are worth anything.”

Calix leaned down and put his lips close to Asella’s ear. Goosebumps rose on her neck as his hot breath brushed against the sensitive spot.

His red eyes shone, and for a moment, a strange sense of possessiveness filled him.

“Asella Benvito.”

Asella felt as if the land she had been standing on was going to collapse in on itself.

She was clearly reminded of her place in the world, right here, right now.

She would not be able to break free of Calix Benvito. She would live her whole life as his family, as she was now, and die as his grand duchess. Even at death, the name of Benvito would remain on the monument of her tombstone.

The Chartus name would be gone forever.

“It will be your name for the rest of your life.”

He declared in an expressionless face before making his way out of her room.

Yes, today was her wedding, and there was absolutely nothing to do to escape it.

* * * *

“My Lady, it’s time for you to go.”

Asella attempted to brush off his words and straightened her back without saying a word.

Her dress, painstakingly crafted by Madame Efredieu, flowed down her slender body like waves. The pure white dress, lavishly made of silver threads and the highest quality laces, created a clean and beautiful silhouette. The dazzling glow continued from the top half of the dress, where transparent jewels dangled all across it.

As the two maids fixed the hem of the dress and carried its tail, Asella started moving slowly. Her movement was as smooth as a stream of flowing water.

The weather was miserably lovely. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was blue and clear without a single cloud.

The garden in front of the marquis’s mansion was crowded with people, and it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that there was no place to step foot in the spacious garden. After facing the vivid green grass, Asella finally raised her head and was momentarily dazzled as she faced the tremendous amount of people.

“Please come this way.”

Asella put pressure on her legs as she stepped forward slowly.

She was standing in the middle of a lawn with a long white dress wrapped all around her, but as she followed the path, her eyes met with the sight of the Grand Duke, Calix Benvito, as he stood there.

He too wore an all-white ceremonial gown. Only the brooch that secured the long cape, which came down from his shoulders to near his calves, shone with gold.

Asella shifted her bouquet to one hand. She gently lifted the hem of her dress with both hands and bent her legs slightly in greeting. Her legs trembled, but fortunately, it wasn’t showing from this angle.

“You’re here.”

Calix remarked, nodding briefly and extending his hand to Asella. Her lake blue eyes fluttered as if she didn’t know what he meant, and Calix began to laugh lightly.

“You have to hold it.”

“Oh…”

Asella slowly raised her hand to hold his.

He stared at her fragile hands, trembling nervously. Then, just as the woman’s fingertips were about to touch his palm…

He grabbed the white, delicate hand as if to snatch it away.

“…!”

Startled, Asella nearly shook his hand away.

Due to the ongoing trauma of abuse and violence, she was not accustomed to touching someone’s hand. As she recalled the horrifying moment of pain and suffering, she broke out in a cold sweat.

Asella breathed heavily in the field, holding her chest as it rose up and down. She was just so nervous that she didn’t even know what to do.

But before she could even calm down… the wedding ceremony began.