Chapter 84

* * *

"Have you definitely finished the collection?"

"Yes, Duke."

At Erhardt's question, Baron Amantha nodded.

"But it's a huge loss to give up on the distribution of the new holy stones like this."

"Who said we're giving up?"

"Excuse me?"

Erhardt tapped the marriage contract with the emblem of the Eastern Temple and said,

"Just because we responded to the collection request, it doesn't mean we said we wouldn't distribute them."

He smiled.

It was a very beautiful smile, but Baron Amantha knew.

Erhardt's smile was like a harbinger of the end.

"The new holy stones will be entrusted to you."

"Excuse me?"

"Think of it as a gift to your daughter-in-law's family."

It meant he wanted Amantha to do his best to protect Ellie.

Feeling the heavy responsibility, Baron Amantha nodded.

"Ah, and one more thing."

Erhardt stopped Baron Amantha, who was about to leave.

"Why don't you let Jirit handle the holy stones once?"

"Excuse me? I am very grateful, but Jirit is still lacking. Why my son…."

"Because Ellie follows Jirit more than me."

The duke's voice, which seemed strangely filled with a murderous aura, made the baron shut his mouth.

"…So Ellie can freely express her opinions."

Erhardt's gaze fell on the names of the children written in the signature section.

* * *

Finally, the wedding day arrived.

I woke up at the crack of dawn and was dozing off.

Since the bride and groom were so young, there wasn't much to prepare, but it still had to be done.

"Miss Ellie. It's time to get up."

"Ugh… Is everything ready?"

"Yes."

With the help of the maids, I finished preparing and looked at myself in the mirror.

Perhaps because of the nice dress, I looked prettier than usual.

The pure white dress, adorned with pink ribbons, gave off a strong bridal vibe.

"Oh, how lovely."

"The best day ever."

Ivana and Asel, holding their cheeks, had a blissful look on their faces.

"Is it okay? Do I look strange?"

"There is no one cuter and more beautiful than Miss Ellie in this world."

Ivana's assertion made me feel embarrassed, and I smiled awkwardly.

"Shall we get up now?"

Mae, who had finished smoothing out my dress, said.

As I stood up, the slightly curled hem of the dress fell completely, revealing its original shape.

"Miss Ellie. Just a moment."

Mae pinned a flower to my ear.

She stroked my hair and smiled faintly at me.

"You look beautiful."

It was a bit strange to hear Mae say such things, so I stared at her blankly.

"Miss Ellie, are you ready?"

At that moment, the door opened, and Ante came in.

"Wow, you really look beautiful!"

"Really?"

"Yes. The Duke will probably not be able to take his eyes off you… Ouch!"

"Who said you could see the bride so casually?"

At that moment, the Duke, with a fierce look on his face, pushed Ante away.

The Duke, who usually left his chest open, was dressed in a uniform with all the buttons fastened up to his neck today.

Perhaps because of that, his expression seemed even more twisted today.

"Tsk. Anyway, boys just don't know how to wait…."

The Duke, who had been grumbling, stiffened when he saw me.

"Is… something wrong?"

"…."

Even when I asked, Duke Schuetz remained silent.

"Excuse me, Duke. Ahem."

"…."

Ante cleared his throat loudly. The Duke's lips moved slightly and then closed again.

"Duke…?"

I called him cautiously. When our eyes met, his face became even more fierce.

'…It seems something is wrong.'

But today, even I thought I looked quite beautiful. I was excited about wearing the dress.

I felt a bit embarrassed and tried to compose my excited expression.

Then, something landed on my head. It was the Duke's hand.

I opened my eyes wide and looked up.

"…You look very beautiful."

"…!"

"I mean it."

Worry was evident in the Duke's gruff voice.

'Just like a father who doesn't want to give his daughter away.'

My heart was touched again.

As I pouted, the Duke smiled faintly and said,

"Shall I be your father today?"

"…Excuse me?"

It seemed as if he had read my thoughts, and I asked in surprise.

"The person who walks the bride down the aisle is the father."

If you want it.

The Duke, who had been stroking my head, lowered his hand and offered it to me.

He was wearing white gloves instead of the usual black ones.

Only then did I realize this was a wedding.

I took a deep breath and placed my hand on his large one.

"Shall we go, my daughter?"

The Duke, perhaps trying to ease my tension, raised an eyebrow and asked playfully.

A natural smile escaped my lips. I giggled and nodded.

"Yes, Dad."

* * *

Given the age of the bride and groom, the ceremony was simple, but the venue was as splendid as any noble's.

Only close retainers and a few people were invited as guests.

Blessings from people I didn't know were unnecessary. The people here were the most important to me.

Soon, the announcement for the bride's entrance was heard. As I stepped onto the wedding aisle, I saw Damian standing at the podium.

Damian, with his hair neatly combed, was dressed in a uniform and looking at me.

His cheeks were even redder today, and he seemed quite nervous. I couldn't help but smile.

The officiant announced the bride's entrance. I walked down the aisle holding the Duke's hand.

On the bride's side, Baron Amantha and his wife were seated.

According to the documents, I should have entered with Baron Amantha, who was my legal father, but….

"Miss Ellie. I would like to, but my life is more important, so I will refrain."

I couldn't ask the baron any further after he said that.

'But the Duke took my place…'

Seeing the guests' faces turn pale, I could imagine how fierce the Duke's expression was.

'He was smiling just a moment ago.'

It was strange why he suddenly looked so terrifying.

I covered my mouth with the bouquet and whispered to him,

"Duke, your face."

"What face?"

The Duke asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Your expression, your expression. It's not good."

"I am, right now, very happy."

But why does a happy person look like that?

"…Just a bit complicated."

"Complicated?"

"Yes. I'm happy, but also irritated. My heart is complicated."

The Duke muttered as if chewing on his words.

'What kind of emotion is it to be happy and irritated at the same time?'

Before I could figure out his mixed feelings, the entrance was over.

The Duke let go of my hand, and I stood next to Damian.

"Hi."

"…Hi."

We exchanged greetings lightly.

"You look really handsome today, Damian."

"…Ellie."

"Uh?"

"Ellie, you're the most beautiful in the world."

Damian, blushing to the tips of his ears, replied.

Even if it was just a formal wedding, it was still a big day, and he looked quite nervous.

He seemed like a boy in a dream.

"Ha… You're so adorable."

"If only I could touch your cheeks…."

As always, Ivana and Asel were being silly. Mae, who was standing beside them, straightened my dress and came over to us.

"Miss Ellie, a moment."

"Uh?"

Mae took the flower from my ear and….

Brought it to Damian's mouth.

"Are you going to ignore this too?"

"…?"

"It might help you relax a bit."

Damian, blinking, accidentally put the flower in his mouth.

Mae smiled faintly and stepped back, and Damian, now with a flower in his mouth, looked at me in confusion.

"Mae!"

Ivana quickly pulled Mae away.

The sight of the young bride and groom with a flower in his mouth was so cute and adorable that I couldn't help but laugh.

"Ha ha! You look so beautiful, Damian!"

"…."

"You're so cute. The best!"

Damian, still holding the rose in his mouth, laughed awkwardly, not knowing what was happening.

The guests' faces lit up with smiles as the young bride and groom laughed together.

Despite his confusion, Damian didn't take the flower out of his mouth.

His appearance was so cute that I couldn't help but laugh again.

The officiant, looking at us with a warm smile, said,

"Now for the kiss of promise…."

"What?"

The officiant, startled by the Duke's fierce question, quickly shut his mouth.

"Th… That's just a formality… Ahem. I apologize."

He cleared his throat again.

"Don't feel too pressured, just a light kiss on the cheek…."

"Do you want to die?"

The officiant's face turned pale as the Duke's eyes turned menacing.

"But… there are traditions…."

Unfortunately, he was a man of strong professional ethics.

The Duke's aura became so sharp it seemed like he was emitting aether.

I didn't want to see anyone die on my wedding day.

Just get it over with quickly.

'Hmm… a light kiss on the cheek should be fine, right?'

Damian, still holding the flower in his mouth, had an innocent look and was just blinking.

"Damian, look over there."

"Uh?"

Following my gesture, Damian turned his head, revealing his peachy cheeks.

This was my chance. I lightly kissed his cheek.

Damian's eyes widened. At the same time, the flower he was holding fell to the ground.

"Wh… What…."

"Sorry, but they said we can't become a couple without a kiss."

"Kiss…."

The word seemed to tickle Damian, and he pouted. His peachy cheeks turned red like a ripe tomato.

The sight of the young bride and groom kissing was so cute that the guests burst into applause.

Jirit looked like he was about to cry, and the baron had a rare smile on his face.

"Congratulations, Miss Ellie."

And the baroness, who had lost some weight but had a bright expression, was smiling too.

"…Officiant, who called you?"

Everyone but the Duke.

"Th… That is…."

The servants trembled at the Duke's question. One wrong word could mean death.

"Th… Then, I will conclude the marriage contract here!"

The officiant quickly acknowledged our marriage.

I held Damian's hand tightly and looked at the Duke with a face that said, 'What are you going to do now?' The Duke muttered in a menacing voice.

"Ante."

"…Yes."

"Bind that officiant immediately. Make sure he can't run."

Leaving the officiant's frightened cries behind, the Duke, looking down at us, stroked my and Damian's heads.

"Congratulations. This much is sincere."

"…."

"From now on, we are family."

At the Duke's declaration, the people clapped.

Their gazes, warmer than the sun, made me smile broadly.

That's how I became the daughter-in-law of the Duke's family.

The daughter of a thief. Lowly blood.

The useless child known as 'me' gained a new name and family today.