CH 41

“According to the selection of the wedding dress, Your Grace, the jewelry must be changed again, and the hair and makeup must be redone.”

Elysia’s mouth widened, hearing that she had to start all over again every time she changed the dress.

“I think we should go now. Catherine must have arrived by now.”

“But, the sun hasn’t even risen yet…”

The sun hadn’t yet risen even after many hours and painstakingly bathing and massaging her and touching her make-up and hair. That way, she could see how early Estelle had come.

“Originally, the bride has to finish everything before the sun rises.”

Even the Countess had never woken her up so early in the morning to do work. It was the first time she had been outside on bluish dawn. In the first place, Angelina did not allow her to go out, lest she escapes.

A massive black carriage stood in front of the Count’s castle. The only carriages she had ever ridden were the County’s carriage and the public carriage that anyone could use.

“Ah… Is this Grand Duchy Raphael’s carriage?”

Just looking at it was overwhelming, and the large carriage made her cringe the moment she saw it. She couldn’t help but open her mouth at the immense majesty.

“Oh, you’re asking if this is the Grand Duchy’s carriage?”

“Yes…”

“It is true that this is the Grand Duchy’s, but it is not a carriage used externally.”

…Not a carriage for external use?

It was as large as two or three of the County’s carriages were connected together. The material seemed so hard that it looked like it can block bullets.

Come to think of it, there was no emblem of the Grand Duchy on the carriage. The black dragon she had been tired of seeing for a month was nowhere to be seen. Normal nobles engraved patterns differently from common carriages.

“This is a private carriage.”

Elysia was surprised to hear that there was a separate private carriage. She wondered how rich they were to have such a gorgeous carriage even though it was a private carriage. It was comparable to the official carriage of any noble family.

“Come on, let’s get going.”

“Elysia!”

As she was about to get into the carriage, she heard a voice suddenly call out from behind her.

“Brother…?”

It was Edward, whom she hadn’t seen in a month after the decision to marry Damon was made.

“How did you get here… No, did you know I was going now?”

The County was exceptionally quiet, as if they didn’t know she was leaving at this time.

“Your Grace? You must go quickly.”

“Wait, wait a minute.”

She was seeing Edward’s face for the first time in a month. Even though he had deliberately avoided her, Elysia could not understand why he had appeared at this moment.

“Brother!”

It was pitiful to see Edward running, gasping with a strength where he could not even run. Now, if she really left, he would be alone in the County.

“Elysia…”

He was hesitant, as though he had something to say. It was because of the way Estelle and the maids looked.

“I’ll be going to the ceremony soon, so please wait.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The hand that was holding her tightly was desperate. he had forgotten that Edward had only her. Elysia was worried about how he would be able to hold on when she left.

“Don’t worry too much, brother.”

“Yes…”

“Your Grace…!”

Elysiacouldn’t talk to Edward any longer because she had to leave to where Estelle’s voice was calling out to her.

“Sorry, I have to go and try on my dress for the last time.”

“No, it’s okay.”

She knew she had no choice but to fix the wedding dress until the last minute. She was probably the toughest case Catherine had ever had.

Even Elysia felt that her body was changing day by day.

Her body, which was thin because she could not take in proper nutrients, gained weight day by day, and her dimensions changed. She was a customer that made Catherine have a hard time with the dress.

“I think you look better than a week ago.”

Eating three meals a day and eating snacks was more effective than she expected.

A balanced diet changed her body from being small and unsightly like a dwarf. Now, Elysia had reached the point where she looked similar to Rowena. In fact, before, she was so thin and crooked that she could hardly be believed as an adult.

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I think you’re a little taller too.”

Now, she began to look like a human being. Until then, it was correct to see her like a rat in the kitchen.

Was it all thanks to Damon…?

‘Then what’s the point? Like a witch who raises and then eats the children, the only end is death…’

* * *

“Your Grace, you must get off now.”

Hearing Estelle’s words, they arrived at a splendid temple. Caesar’s Empire did not have a separate state religion, but usually, nobles were married in temples. The greatest merit was that the pope, who could not be easily met by ordinary people, was in charge of the wedding.

Commoners said that just receiving the priest’s blessing would make it a sacred marriage and they are blessed. It could not have been more popular because it was a marriage blessed by the Pope himself.

“Are you new to the temple?”

“Yes…”

The only places she had to go out were near the Count’s castle, so Elysia never came to the temple. Moreover, the temple was not easily accessible to unauthorized visitors.

“I have already been informed that Madame has arrived.”

It seemed that it was in a hurry, seeing it was unlike Estelle, who was always calm.

“Your Grace, are you here?”

As they entered the bride’s waiting room, Catherine, who seemed haggard, greeted them. The bags under her eyes and the dark circles were telling how hard it was. Those red, bloodshot eyes looked like those of someone who had stayed up all night.

“Catherine! Are you okay?”

“I am fine. Hurry… Finally, we can fit the dress.”

Even though the dresses she checked a week ago looked like finished products, the dresses in front of her now were even more gorgeous and beautiful than that day. As Catherine said that she was doing the last correction, it was as if she had used all of her hands.

“The wedding dress was not completely sewn today to adjust the size.”

At first glance, the white wedding dress mixed with sky blue was made of high-quality fabric, so it was shiny and soft. The moment she put it on, the feeling of sticking to the body and flowing down was very nice, rather than uncomfortable.

Laces and pearls also became denser and richer.

“Fortunately, it looks like it’s sized well enough, so I don’t have to fix it too much.”

“Your Grace, you are so beautiful.”

Catherine, who was clapping her hands, looked really excited.

Seeing that, Elysia smiled brightly looking at how much she must have suffered. The lower part of the dress moved gracefully with every move she moved. The rich fabric hides her skinny body, making her look more stylish.

“What kind of wedding dress will you choose?”

At her words, she glared at the five wedding dresses. They all had different charms, but what caught her attention was fixed.

“I…”

“Don’t worry about the color of the family. Choose the dress you like.”

“I would like the yellow and blue dress.”

Actually, she decided on that day what dress she would choose. She didn’t want anything too flashy. Elysia knew it was dazzlingly beautiful and sophisticated, though if she wore it she would be compared to Damon. He was the one who collected all the beautiful things in the world.

No matter how flashy she wore, she wouldn’t even reach his toes. She liked to wear something that suited her, since she would be compared to him in flashy clothes… The groom would be more beautiful than the bride.

“The Grand Duke… what did he choose?”

If Damon chose a color that was too opposite to hers, that could be a laughing stock.

“Grand Duke has decided to choose according to what Your Grace chooses.”

“Did Catherine make the Grand Duke’s clothes…?”

“Yes. Both of you made five sets of clothes with the same concept, so don’t worry about that.”

‘…No wonder.’

Catherine couldn’t have been so tired that she only made her own clothes. It would make sense if she made all Damon’s clothes as well.

“I will tell him what color Your Grace has chosen.”

“I need to measure correctly for the last time, could you please wear all the wedding dresses?”

Catherine looked so tired that she could not disobey her while she urgently moved salon staff. The next moment, she murmured.

“Ah! I almost forgot the veil, the veil.”

Estelle clapped her hands urgently. At that, Elysia held out the veil she had brought.

“I finished it.”

“Your Grace…?”

It was that kind of look — the look in her eyes that she couldn’t believe Elysia made it. It was true, although she couldn’t reveal who made it. If she was to say that this veil was made by Damon Raphael, Estelle might have passed out.

Even she herself couldn’t believe what she had experienced. No one would believe she embroidered it herself. Besides, if the rumors spread, it wouldn’t do her any good. A bride who wore a veil made by the groom…

Obviously, gossip will remain.

“Is it true that Your Grace made this?”

She had to say she made it, but it was something that she couldn’t even say with empty words. As such, her embroidery skills were the worst, so Estelle would not have had any expectations. Nevertheless, she couldn’t even tell the truth about it though.

Elysia opened her mouth with difficulty.

“Yes…”