Villainous Marriage

—One month after the duel with Mauro.

With the public disclosure of his attempted murder of Letitia, the Bertoli family had utterly collapsed. By now, Mauro was probably regretting his actions to death in a prison cell. Serves him right.

Meanwhile, Letitia and I had been enjoying peaceful days since then—

“Ugh… I’m getting nervous…”

“Pull yourself together, Lord Alban. You must set a better example as the groom.” Sebas gently advised.

“I-I know. But when you think of it as your own wedding…”

I adjusted the lapel of my tuxedo, letting Sebas fix my necktie. Yes, today was our wedding day.

…Whose wedding, you ask? Mine and Letitia’s, of course.

The whole thing started with a single comment from her.

‘Come to think of it, we haven’t had a proper ceremony. Wouldn’t it be appropriate to have a wedding if we’re going to be husband and wife?’

I immediately agreed, saying, “Let’s definitely do it!”

Come to think of it, we became husband and wife without any proper ceremony. Letitia’s arrival was so sudden. After the storm, solidifying our bond with a proper ceremony wasn’t a bad idea. And frankly, I really, really wanted to see Letitia in a wedding dress. She was bound to look gorgeous.

Harboring that slight ulterior motive, I arrived at the day, but—

“I don’t know, I wasn’t this nervous even when I cut down the first Goblin… My heart is pounding like crazy right now…”

“That is a good thing, my Lord. A wedding is a grand stage celebrating a new chapter in your lives. Young Lady Letitia-sama would be disappointed if you did not show some tension.”

“Is that how it works…? No, you’re right. Alright, time to focus.” I gave my cheeks a sharp slap.

Seeing me, Sebas chuckled softly. “It brings back memories, my Lord… I witnessed a similar sight at your father’s wedding.”

“My father’s?”

“Yes, he was extremely nervous just before the ceremony and was slapping his own face. Nostalgic, indeed.”

Huh, I didn’t know that. I actually knew next to nothing about my parents. They died before I was old enough to remember. And I wasn’t particularly interested. Sebas was practically a father figure to me. Still, to think I was feeling the same way my father had felt was somewhat poignant.

“Master and Madam, and now Lord Alban and Young Lady Letitia-sama… It is an honor for this Sebas to attend the Odrant family’s wedding for two generations of son and father.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel like a Master worthy of the title. But to me, Sebas, you’re like a father.”

“! Lord Alban…! Sniffle, to hear you say such a thing… Your Old Butler is truly happy! My efforts in looking after you since you were a brat have paid off!”

“Don’t call me a brat. Well, I was a brat. Anyway, shouldn’t you be heading over to Letitia now?”

“Oh, quite right, indeed.”

The plan was for Sebas to walk Letitia down the aisle.

…Ideally, I would have wanted one of her blood relatives to fulfill that role.

—Despite Mauro’s capture effectively proving Letitia’s innocence, the Barrow family had made absolutely no contact with her. Were they still viewing her as a stain on the family? Or did they feel guilt for having treated her as a non-person? I didn’t know.

Thinking they were too cold, I considered forcibly contacting them. But Letitia gently advised against it, saying, “It’s fine. Let’s just have a small ceremony, just the two of us.” If Letitia was fine with it, I wouldn’t say anything more. Her happiness was the most important thing.

“I shall go to Young Lady Letitia-sama’s side now. Lord Alban, I shall see you before the altar.”

▲ ▲ ▲

Letitia Barrow-Odrant: Side View

…Having finished my preparations, I was alone in the waiting room. I was waiting for the final touch: the veil-down. The plan was for Sebas to do it shortly.

Since I had no family or relatives attending, he was the most suitable person. The maids of the Odrant house, however, were very kind and thoughtful, perhaps finding it too lonely for me. They had been by my side and talking to me until a moment ago, but I asked for a little alone time to compose myself.

I might have been a little selfish, I admit.

But… honestly, I hadn’t expected this myself. To be this excited for a ceremony with the man I truly came to love.

It’s strange. My heart won’t stop pounding. In fact, the more time passes, the faster it beats. I wasn’t even this nervous at the engagement party with Mauro.

—I can’t quite explain how I feel right now. There’s a vague anxiety about the future. A fear of whether we can maintain a good marriage. But more than that—I’m simply—simply happy. The feeling of joy overflowing in my chest is greater than the anxiety. I can’t sort out my feelings at all.

Honestly, I’m quite flustered inside. This is utterly unlike me. But… it’s not a bad feeling. Maybe it’s okay not to be myself, just for today.

As that thought crossed my mind,

—Knock, knock

‘Young Lady Letitia-sama, it is Sebas. I have come for the veil-down.’

Sebas had arrived. This was the final touch before the ceremony.

▲ ▲ ▲

Ah, crap. My stomach feels like it’s going to flip over from the nervousness. And seriously, my heart feels like it’s going to explode.

I stood before the altar, desperately trying to calm my heartbeat while waiting for the bride’s entrance. The chapel was packed with the mansion’s maids and the people of the Odrant Territory. And of course, all their eyes were on me.

Ah, what was the flow of the ceremony again…? After this, Letitia and Sebas would walk down the aisle, I’d do the veil-up, then the vows and the rings… Ah, no, the veil-up is after the vows and the exchange of rings. Ugh—this is such a pain… I’m so nervous… I’m so scared… Why does the order of a wedding have to be so ridiculously detailed…

Slightly on the verge of tears, I waited for Letitia. Then, “The bride, entering now,” the priest announced.

I instantly composed myself. At the same moment, the chapel’s front doors opened—and the two of them appeared.

Sebas, escorting her as the bride’s attendant.

And then—Letitia, dressed in a pure white gown and a thin veil.

The moment I saw her, all the nervousness and distracting thoughts vanished completely from my head.

“W… wow…”

—She’s beautiful. That was the only thing I could think of.

Inadvertently, it was the same thought I had the very first time I saw her. The same words that came to mind when she first arrived at my house as my bride.

I fell in love with Letitia all over again. But her beauty, clad in a wedding dress, was beyond words. She looked like an angel… no, a goddess.

—Letitia, escorted by Sebas, walked slowly down the aisle. Over the long, deep-red carpet.

Finally, she stood right next to me.

“…”

“W-What is it…? Is there something on my face…?” she whispered.

“Huh? Oh, no, I just think you’re beautiful… Truly… I was mesmerized…”

“I-Is that so. Well, I’ll take it as a compliment,” she replied, flustered.

“It’s not a compliment. You are the most beautiful woman in the world right now.”

“Oh, Alban…! But… I’m happy. Thank you.”

Even through the veil, I could tell her face was flushed crimson and she was smiling.

Ah—I see. I wasn’t the only one whose heart felt like it was going to burst from nervousness. Knowing that, I felt calmer now.

“Now, Lord Alban, you must do your best for the rest,” Sebas whispered with a wink as he finished his role and took his seat away from the aisle.

Letitia and I stood side-by-side before the altar, waiting for the priest’s words.

“Then… Alban Odrant, the groom, do you take Letitia Odrant as your wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to cherish and love until death parts you, for as long as you shall live?”

“I do.”

“Letitia Odrant, the bride, do you take Alban Odrant as your husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to honor and love until death parts you, for as long as you shall live?”

“I do.”

“Then, the exchange of rings.”

The priest handed us the rings, and we turned to face each other. As I went to slip the ring onto Letitia’s finger, I noticed her hand was trembling slightly.

“Letitia…?”

“I’m sorry… I’m a little scared now, after all.” She murmured, her voice trembling just like her hand. “Can a disgraced noble lady like me really be happy…? Do I deserve to be happy…?”

“Of course you deserve it,” I answered, my tone resolute against her anxiety. “No—I will make you happy, absolutely. I will make you the happiest woman in the world.”

I smiled, looking into Letitia’s tearful eyes. It was a smile meant to reassure her. And a declaration of resolve to myself.

“So, look. This is that promise.” I said, gently slipping the gold ring onto her slender, beautiful ring finger. Yeah, the size is perfect.

She still trembled for a moment, but then—

“Alban… I’m truly happy right now. I think this is the happiest moment of my life.”

She took my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger.

“Me too. But Letitia, it’s too soon to decide this is the happiest moment, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“I told you I’d make you the happiest woman in the world. I’ll make you feel that this is the ‘happiest moment’ again and again in the future. So this moment is only the beginning.”

“Oh my… if the ‘happiest moments’ keep happening, do you think we won’t be able to decide on the real happiest moment until we’re old and gray?”

“Exactly.”

“Heehee, well, that just gives us something to look forward to in life.” Letitia chuckled softly.

Ah, she really does look best when she smiles. If I can protect this smile, I’ll do anything.

—I placed my hand on the veil covering Letitia’s face and lifted it.

And then—

Immediately after, the chapel erupted in thunderous applause, and the excitement reached its peak.