Chapter 7

The Weller Marquess family owned a much larger and grander townhouse than the Drimore family. From the gate, a carriage led to the entrance.

Friedrich, who was to be her husband, did greet her, but it was only a formality. He did not smile and quickly retreated to his study. Although she had been prepared for this, it was clear that she was not welcomed.

Lidel was led by the butler up the large central staircase in the entrance hall, walked down a long corridor with a high ceiling, and came to a large double door.

"This is Lady Lidel's room."

When the butler opened the door, Lidel saw a beautifully designed tea table, comfortable sofas, and chairs. In a large ceramic vase, large roses in red and pink seemed to welcome her arrival. In the bedroom she was then shown, there was a canopy bed with beautiful fabrics. The opulence made Lidel flinch and feel bewildered.

(Could it be that I am being welcomed...?)

After taking a break to drink tea, the fitting for her wedding dress began immediately. It was a luxurious white dress adorned with pearls, and the satin fabric shone. The pearl and diamond decorations were astonishing. It was hard to believe that she would really wear something so expensive, and it felt almost unreal.

After that, she received an explanation of the ceremony procedures, visited the temple where the wedding would take place, and exchanged formal vows in front of the priest three days later. The wedding was surprisingly simple, considering it was a marquess family, except for Lidel's lavish wedding dress.

Everything progressed in a surprisingly hurried and matter-of-fact manner. As a result, Lidel could not really feel like she had become someone's wife.

The sudden marriage and the significant change in her environment were overwhelming. She felt as if she had been left behind in an unfamiliar life.

◇◇◇

The servants were all kind, hardworking, and attentive to Lidel's needs, but her communication with her husband was through written notes via the butler. Was he so unwilling to see his wife, or was he as eccentric as rumored? In this uncertain state, Lidel did not know how to behave in the mansion.

Moreover, the conditions of the marriage were unusual. The contract Lidel had with the marquess was to manage the estate in his absence and protect it and the servants from troublesome relatives.

Meals were, of course, separate, and even when there was a need to communicate, direct conversation was impossible, and the written notes were unexpectedly difficult for the 18-year-old Lidel.

Because she thought of him as her husband, she felt sad and hurt, thinking she was disliked or avoided. If she could just think of him as an employer, it would be easier.

"Perhaps I'm something like a head of the servants...?"

Lidel muttered to herself while drinking her tea after the meal.

◇◇◇

Three days later, she attended a ball at the palace, which also served as her debut. Friedrich gifted her a champagne-colored, elegant dress and a large emerald necklace adorned with diamonds, suitable for a marchioness. The sleeves were the latest fashion, puffing out gracefully.

The dress and accessories complemented Lidel's soft light brown hair and young grass green eyes beautifully. The pearls and diamonds she received at the wedding were also magnificent, but she felt hesitant to accept such extravagance given her debt. Everything, even her undergarments, was smooth and comfortable, something she had never experienced before.

When the maids styled her hair and applied makeup, praising her beauty, her loneliness eased, and her spirits lifted.

Then, for the first time, they rode in the same carriage to the palace. There was some discussion in the carriage, but the atmosphere was mostly silent and awkward. Friedrich's response to Lidel's gratitude for the dress and accessories was minimal, and her spirits quickly dampened.

As they got out of the carriage and Friedrich escorted her to the venue, his escort was somewhat awkward, and it was clear he was not used to women. He kept a moderate distance from Lidel and never tried to get closer, making her feel more like he was afraid of her rather than disliked her.

(…Could it be?)

Lidel looked up at her tall husband curiously. He did not appear nervous, but there was no opening for conversation.

He had said when they first met that they should not interfere with each other. Was casual conversation strictly forbidden? Lidel sighed softly at her husband, who kept his heart and mouth closed like a shell. She thought they would have a long relationship, and even if they could not be a normal couple, she wanted to close the distance between them, but it seemed impossible for now.

After the Weller Marquess family greeted the nobles they knew, Lidel was introduced to Sir Tony Andrea, a knight and Friedrich's colleague. He had always served as Friedrich's deputy on the battlefield and had a long-standing relationship. Unlike Friedrich, Tony was friendly and cheerful, making Lidel realize that there were various types of military men.

Then, Lidel danced one dance with Friedrich. He was not a bad dancer, but his lead was somewhat awkward. She had heard that he did not often socialize, and it seemed he was not used to dancing.

While Lidel was thinking about this, he whispered to her, "I am a soldier. Anything can happen. If something happens, rely on Tony."

The moment Lidel looked up in surprise, the dance ended.

Immediately after, he was called to the royal box. It seemed his contributions in the war two years ago were recognized, and he now had the trust of the royal family. He was having a serious conversation with the second prince of the country.

This was Lidel's first time attending a ball in the capital. It was much more dazzling than she had imagined, like entering a different world.

Perhaps because she had married without much preparation, everything felt like a dream, and she could not grasp the reality of the situation. As a result, she was not as excited or nervous as she thought she would be.

Standing alone was pointless, so Lidel moved to the wall. She took a drink from a server, sat down, and, with nothing to do, picked up a golden-brown pastry. The buttery aroma melted in her mouth, and it was the most delicious pastry she had ever tasted. She tried the hors d'oeuvres on the neighboring plate, which were also incredibly delicious, making her feel that the trip to the palace was worth it just for the food.

However, the noblewomen had been observing her from the beginning, and none of them approached her. They were whispering that her fiancé had been taken by a commoner cousin, and she had been quickly sold to the marquess family. Moreover, it was a marriage with a significant social gap.

Everyone seemed unsure about how to approach Lidel. She even heard rumors that she would be divorced soon. The social circle was even more gossipy than she had heard. They covered their mouths with fans and giggled, saying, "That girl is just a decorative wife," making her feel increasingly uncomfortable.

"Lidel."

Just then, she heard her name and looked up to see Yvonne. Hadn't Yvonne said she would not participate in social events this year because of some trouble?

In any case, it was the last face she wanted to see since leaving her hometown.