Chapter 45

“It’s all done.” Ashuna, who had just finished dressing me, brushed away the thin cloth that was covering the mirror and revealed my image. “You look beautiful. His Highness will fall in love with you again when he sees you.”

I took a good look at myself in the mirror.

Each strand of my hair was smoothed to perfection, and seemed to glow as if lit from within. My light green eyes were bright against my fair skin, and my lips were painted an eye-catching red.

A body that I thought was someone else’s body but was actually mine.

Olivia.

The name rolled off my tongue less awkwardly than before. Maybe I’d get used to it more and more as time went by.

This name, this body.

Life as Olivia.

Staring at myself, I slowly shifted my gaze to the dress.

The crystal beads stretched long to the floor, drawing an elegant silhouette. As expected, the pure white dress fit me perfectly.

“How did they make a dress this beautiful?”

“According to the boutique’s chief tailor, all the craftsmen there stayed up all night working on this dress.”

“Ah, then I think it would be better to remove the hair accessories.”

“What? But it’ll be too flat if you remove everything,” Ashuna dissuaded me, but my thoughts remained the same.

The tiara on my head was too heavy, and that wasn’t even accounting for the jeweled clips that rested on my head. When all the colorful accessories hanging from my head were removed, my neck felt lighter.

I heard a knock and a voice announcing the visitor.

“Ma’am, your master is here.” Ashuna grinned. “Just in time. ”

I finally turned to the door, double-checking my appearance for the last time.

Ashuna held the dress carefully so that it didn’t get wrinkled.

My heart began to pound, prompting me to take a deep, calming breath. “Come on in.”

The brief movement of the door opening felt particularly slow.

I saw spotless black leather shoes and slowly raised my eyes.

Perfectly fitted trousers and a vest with golden buttons, a jacket embroidered with golden thread and a richly colored silk tie…

By the moment I finally saw Lennox’s face, I was already breathless.

My heart, which had barely calmed down, began to beat recklessly again.

He looked brilliant and absolutely at ease in his formal wear.

Lennox, in the same way that I was, was also staring in surprise. He did, however, catch himself in the middle of it and quietly stepped closer first.

I inhaled sharply. His pristine white shirt and tie was right in my line of sight. I could feel his breath, and I could almost imagine him taking a nervous swallow as his Adam’s apple bobbed through the collar of his shirt.

“Olivia.” The name calling my voice was lower than usual. “Your dress looks good on you.”

The thumping in my chest worsened. I managed to open my mouth, trying not to show my face. “I could say the same for you.”

Fortunately, my voice didn’t tremble.

As he drew a smile, Lennox’s face, which had been intense, became more comfortable.

Did he know that this gentle smile could affect other people so deeply because of how rare it was?

I struggled to shake off my thoughts, so I looked down.

It was then that I saw something in his hand.

“What’s that?”

“Ah.” Lennox, releasing a brief sigh as if he had just remembered that he was holding something, lifted his hand. “This?”

I looked closely, and it was not a simple flower crown as I first thought, but one made of jewels.

Oh, my.

The slender stems, leaves, and even small flowers were delicately formed. I carefully touched the edge of the petals with my fingertips. The platinum and diamond craftsmanship was so elaborate that I felt like I could smell flowers when I put my nose near it.

“In the old stories of Elysium, it is said that a husband gave the bride a flower crown on her wedding day. Over the years, it turned into a headdress.”

“I see.” I nodded. “Thank you. You must have been busy, but you prepared this for me.”

“Do you like it?”

“Very much.”

“Do you want me to put it on you?”

“What?”

“Because you don’t have any decorations on your head. ”

Ashuna, who was apparently still next to me, clapped her hands. “This is exactly what we needed. Madam didn’t like her headdress from before. It seems as though your thoughts are in tune.”

I looked alternately at the hair ornament and Lennox and nodded hesitantly.

“Wait a minute.”

As he approached me, his distinctive, refreshing scent tickled my nose. Soon, I felt the crown rest gently on my head. I could feel Lennox’s hand carefully fixing my hair, giving me goosebumps.

The scent from his body, the touch of his hand, and the breath that brushed the top of my head were too vivid.

As if all my senses were open to him, I held my breath and strained to keep my body still.

“It’s done.” Lennox, who took a step back from me, soon became silent.

Nervous about his reaction, I bit my lower lip gently.

“I would have regretted it if I hadn’t brought it.” A pleased smile began to grow on his face. “Pretty.”

“What?”

“You’re beautiful. The hairpiece, yes, and you, even more so.”

I doubted my ears, gaping at him with a heart that had not yet tired out from all the exertion it was putting itself through.

“If you don’t believe it, see for yourself.” Lennox gently wrapped his hands around my shoulders and turned me towards the mirror. “There.”

I took in the image of us in the mirror.

We looked as romantic as a couple in an old fairy tale, where contracts and deals and conditions had no place being.

But I knew better than anyone else that the facts were different.

Lennox was just keeping his word. As long as the marriage was valid, we would be faithful to each other and do our duty.

Under a contract.

Even though I knew it well, I had a bitter taste in my mouth.

I met his eyes in the mirror by chance.

He smiled and lifted his elbow slightly. “Shall we go, ma’am?”

I quickly hid my agitation. “Alright.” I put my hand on the arm that he had offered to me naturally.

As if nothing had happened and we were truly only business partners.

***

Inside the most sacred place in a temple, two people entered the hall.

The woman admired the temple.

The long rectangular space nearly shone. On the high ceiling, there was a mural depicting the power of the deities, and on either side of it, an arched window.

The interior was bright even without lighting thanks to the sunlight pouring in from the windows. As if guiding two married people, there was a long piece of cloth stretched all the way to the innermost altar.

Olivia, who was briefly overwhelmed by the decadence of the hall, soon walked slowly along the path with Lennox.

With no other people, the entire place was quiet.

Not even the sound of footsteps could be heard.

At last, the couple reached the marble altar—as white as most of the temple interior—and stopped.

In the beam of light that fell like a blessing, the two looked at each other.

The man stared at the face of the woman who would become his wife. His one and only.

“Lennox.” As she awkwardly called his name, with a hesitant gaze, he opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

Still, she could not look directly into his eyes.

“I swear our eternal union before God,” A low, heavy voice began reciting the wedding vows. He continued his oath in a slow but clear voice, and there was no playfulness in his face until the end. “…even death will not defeat this promise.”

At that moment, Olivia felt her heart throbbing in a way that was clearly not just out of nervousness.

But without allowing her a moment to reflect on what was happening, Lennox clasped her hand.

Soon, Olivia’s slender finger was adorned with a ring.

The perfectly cut blue diamond ring refracted the light.

He kissed the ring and her fingers one after another and raised his head. “Olivia.”

Her green eyes came up to meet his, finally.

She hesitated for a moment. A very short one. The eyes that contained all the beauty of a forest looked directly at him.

“Kiss me.” Her eyes were full of promise.

Lennox’s lips drew a fascinating curve. “I will, ma’am.”

Obeying her orders, he slowly lowered his head.