My Sweet Deceiver

Chapter 16

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The Virgin Road, covered in satin, was laid in the centre of the garden, and at the end of the garden was an arch decoration made of fresh, beautiful flowers and a pedestal. 

The podium had steps so that the priest could climb up. The podium was carved with a sculpture of Nate with ivory and precious stones.

The garden was luxurious and lavishly decorated. There were golden fountains on either side of it, and ornaments with angel sculptures positioned throughout. It was enough to tell at a glance how wealthy the owner of the mansion was.

Not only that, but a tent was prepared in one corner to block the rain. This is because the summer weather in Lubern was unpredictable and volatile.

The bride’s father, the Marquis of Benchetrit, saw Denis entering the garden, ran out and took his hand.

“Welcome, My Lord.”

“Congratulations on your daughter’s marriage.”

“Thank you for coming too, Prince.”

“You’re welcome.”

“After the ceremony, there will be a reception. It will be a great honour if you can keep your seat until then, My Prince.”

“Of course, Marquis. I’ll be happy to be a part of it, too.”

The garden was full of guests. The guests wondered if they would be able to see the ‘rumoured’ Marquis of Benchetrit.

“Guests, please take your seats. From now on, under Nate’s care, I would like to start the wedding ceremony. The groom, please come forward.”

The priest went up to the podium and started the ceremony.

Wearing a coat made of high-quality Doeskin and a tie made of white and blue silk, the groom looked handsome. Jerome strode forward and stood in front of the podium.

The priest called the bride this time.

Sonia Benchetrit, who was waiting in the waiting room, carefully stood at the end of Virgin Road. The eyes of the guests were focused on the bride.

The bride’s face, hidden under her veil, was barely visible. People chatted among themselves.

“I heard she’s ugly.”

“Well, I can’t see clearly.”

“She looks fine…”

Sonia couldn’t even hear those noises as she walked on the path with the children and stood next to Jerome Merad.

The priest’s long congratulations followed.

“We will be witnesses the scene where both, the man and woman, will become one under the grace of Nate. According to the doctrine, let the two of you swear that you will love and care for each other from this time to eternity.”

“I, Jerome Merad, swear by the holy name of Nate.”

“Swear by the bride as well.”

“I, Sonia Benchetrit, swear before the holy name of Nate.”

“With this, the two became one. Please bless their future where the two of them will accompany each other as they march along the Virgin Road.”

As the bride grabbed the groom’s arm, the two began their march. The guests clapped hands in unison and blessed the two of them.

Tehez remembered her own wedding as she watched the husband and wife get married. 

After her engagement, it was a wedding she had been preparing for a year. She picked a good day from the temple, a spring day, but it was a day of intense rain.

The reception was prepared outdoors, but she remembered that the rain would seep in even if the tent was pitched, so eventually, the indoor hall was opened to welcome guests. At that time, she was not in a good mood, so she did not even know how the time had passed.

Denis returned from thanking those who attended, and there was a faint scent of rain. It was from the outside, as he saw off the guests.

Whenever she thought of her wedding, the faint scent of rain always seemed to linger on the tip of her nose.

“Do you feel tired?”

Denis asked a small question. The reception began, and the bride and groom were having their first dance.

“No. I thought for a second-,” Tehez spoke as she shook her head.

“Our wedding?”

He smiled low and made eye contact.

“…Yes. Our wedding.”

It came as new that he and herself were bound by the word ‘we.’

“You cried that day, didn’t you?”

“That’s not true. But…”

Tehez bit her mouth to say she thought of her deceased mother.

Between him and her, topics related to ‘mother’ were taboo.

“You were beautiful that day, Tehez.”

Tehez raised her eyes and looked at him. His green eyes were refreshing.

“Thank you.”

Tehez couldn’t think of a way to hide her flushed cheeks, so she immediately lowered her head. Her ears seemed to have turned red. 

She was not immune to such words.

“Well, of course, you were wearing the most expensive dress in Valloise, right?”

Denis stroked Tehez’s warm cheeks with his fingertips.

“It wasn’t the most expensive. The most expensive dress was of Queen Marianne, who was the Fourth Queen of Valloise…”

Tehez hurriedly spoke to correct the misinformation, but Denis was smiling at her. It was also to tease her.

“Prince.”

“Yes?”

“No, nothing.”

Tehez just sighed.

“Yes, me too.”

Denis patted Tehez’s tightly clasped hands. Tehez couldn’t decide whether to get mad at him or not. 

The first dance of the bride and groom was over. Applause from the guests followed, and the band began to play bright dance songs.

It was the turn of the guests to dance.

“My wife, hand.”

Denis grabbed her hand and stepped forward. Tehez followed him.

As they stood in the middle of the reception hall, people widened the streets.

“All right, Prince.”

Under Denis’ lead, Tehez began to move slowly. He clasped Tehez’s back with his hand, and Tehez was almost hugged by him.

Tehez had barely recovered her face from Denis’ words earlier. But when she stood close to his chest and danced, her heart trembled.

His arms were warm and comfortable. 

Even though she was just dancing with him, her heart could hardly sink. Although she had done many more things with him…

“By the way, is this my wife again?”

As he got closer again after turning her around once, he whispered in her ear. Tehez noticed that he referred to the Marquis of Benchetrit and Baron Merad.

“That’s right.”

Tehez quietly confessed.

“You can’t just trust me, do you?”

Tehez didn’t answer. It was impossible to say.

As he stretched out his arms, Tehez whirled away from him.

“It’s a bad habit not to answer when you’re at a disadvantage, Madam.”

“Sorry.”

Tehez muttered a little.

“I wish my wife didn’t do anything.”

“What? What…?”

Tehez was bewildered by his remark, such as his clear brilliance. She knew long ago that he hated her intervention. But this was the first time she had heard it directly.

“Get your hands off. I’ll take care of it from now on.”

Meanwhile, after the dance was over, Denis released Tehez’s hand.

It happened at the same time as she was told to take her hands off his matters.

Denis greeted her with his impeccable manners. Tehez let go of his hand and floundered, returning her greetings to him.

He ruffled his collar once, conversed with someone from behind, and strode out. Tehez looked at him blankly.

She couldn’t understand.

Wasn’t it her duty to put him on the throne?

But she couldn’t believe he asked to take her hands off.

‘Is that what he really wants? Or does he no longer need me?’

The bride and groom stood and greeted the guests.

As Tehez was rolling her head to try to figure out Denis’ undertones, the bride, Sonia, approached her.

“Thank you for coming to the insufficient wedding, Princess.”

Tehez cut off her thoughts and greeted Sonia.

“Don’t mention it. It was a beautiful and wonderful ceremony today.”

“Isn’t the person who introduced him to my father, the Princess?”

On Sonia’s side, Jerome stood talking to some people. Jerome smiled loudly, as if he had heard something interesting.

“It was just that there was a proper greeting at the right time and word of mouth. I haven’t done anything else. The two did it.”

Tehez cut it off. 

Sonia didn’t say anything more, but she smiled softly. 

Sonia Benchetrit, the only daughter of the Marquis of Benchetrit, who commanded the central part. 

She did not make her social debut at coming of age, spawning a lot of rumours. Some said she was an ugly woman, and others said she was ill, but for no reason whatsoever.

Sonia was exceptionally smart. At the age of three, she mastered the official language of Valloise and Enland. And at the age of seven, she not only memorized the entire history of Valloise, but also mastered the most demanding ancient languages, all by herself.

The Marquis of Benchetrit was incredibly proud that the century’s genius was his daughter. 

But he couldn’t brag openly. 

It was because Sonia was a girl.

The Marquis was in agony. 

Would he let Sonia out into the world or not? 

There were also several academies for aristocratic women to go to. However, most of them went to the academy for culture and fellowship.

‘Sonia, would you go to the academy? Or do you want to study at home?’

Sonia answered the Marquis’ question with a snap.

‘It’s past time to learn something from the academy. I prefer to study alone, father.’

The Marquis of Benchetrit accepted Sonia’s resolution.

If you are a daughter of a noble family, marrying and helping after taking bridal classes was considered the greatest success of your life.

However, if there was a difference between Sonia and ordinary aristocratic women, it was that the Marquis of Benchetrit generously supported his little daughter.

After Marquis of Benchetrit, his little daughter had the power, position and fortune to do whatever she wanted. He didn’t have to send in marriage, and he didn’t have to force the bridal class she didn’t like.

Sonia, backed by her father, grew up to be a tomboy lady who was brilliant but had no manners. Even that, the Marquis of Benchetrit was pleased. The reason was that there should be at least one thing she couldn’t do.

It was also the Marquis’s intention to support Sonia, 18, without holding a coming-of-age ceremony when she settled down with a new hypothesis of her discovery. However, he could not live with his only daughter forever.

As Sonia grew older day by day, the Marquis began to fear.

He won’t be able to protect his daughter forever. If he died, the Marquis’ vassals might rush like a pack of wild wolves and bully Sonia.

Sonia had to have someone to protect her. It was the result of reasonable inference. He needed to find her a suitor who could protect the Marquis’ property without going against Sonia’s opinion.

He set out to look for a suitor secretly on conditions. It was Tehez, the First Princess, who visited him one day.

‘Marquis, are you looking for a suitor for the Princess?’

‘How did you know?’

‘There’s a man who fits the Marquis’ conditions. Would you like to meet him? However, I have one condition.’

‘What is it?’

‘Please support the First Prince.’

(To be continued in the next episode)