A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 7

“Miss, Miss. You need to get up.”

 

A hand gently shook her shoulder, and Olivia’s eyes opened, gazing blankly at the ceiling.

 

“I apologize, ma’am. But you need to get up now.”

 

The cute freckled maid was nowhere to be seen, and a middle-aged woman was waking Olivia up.

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

The moment her ashen eyes met hers, Olivia jumped out of her seat.

 

She looked around, as if she had awoken from a dreadful dream.

 

“This isn’t a dream.” 

 

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

 

The maid shook her head apologetically.

 

“No, it’s all right.”

 

“You must hurry and get ready, the priest will be arriving soon.”

 

The maid’s touch was careful, but her movements were swift.

Gently stroking Olivia’s back, she roused her from her sleep as Olivia took in her surroundings, trying to make sense of the situation.

 

As the quilt was swiftly moved aside, the two maids behind her stepped forward to assist her.

“‥‥‥We’ve changed rooms.”

 

The room she had been in before collapsing lacked windows.

 

Olivia hesitated for a moment, as the sunset setting outside the window caught her eye.

“Yes. This is the room you’ll be using as the new mistress.”

 

The woman’s lips curled into a soft smile, but her eyes remained businesslike.

 

She was likely the head maid in charge of the mansion’s interior.

 

Prompted by the maids, Olivia hastened her movements.

 

She was lowered into a warm tub and swiftly bathed by deft hands.

 

Under the maid’s touch, the ashen tangle of hair regained its original hue.

 

“It’s like moonlight.”

 

At the maid’s comment, Olivia examined her hair closely as she gently held a strand.

 

With improved nutrition, her hair could become a beautiful silver shade, reminiscent of the moon.

 

“It’s getting late. Please hurry.”

 

The maid’s voice spurred their hands to work faster, wrapping up the wedding preparations sooner than expected.

 

“I hope the rush hasn’t been too overwhelming for you.”

 

Olivia stood before a full-length mirror.

 

Her second wedding gown.

 

Her second wedding.

 

To her first husband.

 

The dress was simple yet elegant, with silk draping gracefully over her body.

 

As obtaining exact measurements was a struggle, hidden glass head pins had been artfully positioned by her capable maids, thus matching Olivia’s contours. 

 

“It doesn’t matter.”

 

It shouldn’t matter.

 

This wedding was merely a step toward revenge.

“Let’s go, “a maid on duty whispered, and the head maid nodded before turning to Olivia.

 

“Please proceed, as the priest has arrived.”

 

The mansion was shrouded in darkness.

 

Even the scattered lights couldn’t dispel the pervasive gloom.

 

Olivia followed the maid’s lead with measured steps.

 

“Please enter.”

 

Her heart raced as she stood before the darkened door.

 

Taking a deep breath, Olivia steadied herself in front of the closed door.

 

“All is in order.”

 

With a soft click, the door swung open, revealing a dimly lit parlor.

 

Though dim, the lighting lent an air of dreaminess to the room.

 

Vinter and Baron, who had been arranging Lucas’s attire, stepped aside as Olivia entered.

 

“My beloved bride has arrived.”

 

Lucas’s rough voice caused Olivia’s heart to skip a beat.

 

A younger priest, clad in pristine white robes, stood slightly trembling on an improvised dais.

 

Olivia gazed down at the red carpet, then slowly raised her head.

 

From her peripheral vision, she caught sight of Lucas extending his hand toward her.

 

“Don’t tell me you need more time, now do you?”

 

“I don’t.”

 

“I understand. My spirited bride doesn’t leave me any choice but to fall for her.”

 

Lucas’s tone sounded casual, yet Olivia sensed an underlying impatience.

 

She closed her eyes briefly and opened them, taking a resolute step forward.

The priest officiating the ceremony trembled but continued with his task. 

 

When the witnesses, Vinter and Baron, had taken their oaths, Lucas looked at Olivia.

 

“Do you, Lucas Viterpan, take Briella Ford to be your wife, to cherish her to the end of your days?”

 

The young priest’s trembling stopped somewhat as the ceremony progressed.

 

So it was.

 

Olivia’s scattered thoughts began to coalesce.

 

Ah, that’s right. She’s Briella now.

 

Briella Ford.

 

Olivia’s eyelids fluttered as the realization of her new name set in.

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

Lucas’s gaze was piercing.

 

At Olivia, who was now Briella.

“Do you, Briella Ford, take Lucas Viterpan to be your husband, to cherish him to the end of your days?”

 

“I do.”

 

And with those words, she began to erase the name Olivia from her identity.

And then it happened. 

 

She felt a large hand wrap around her waist.

 

“Ahhh.”

 

She’d forgotten.

 

After the exchanging of vows, there is, of course, the kiss of commitment.

 

By the time she realized it, it was already too late.

 

Lucas’s lips met Briella’s.

 

His kiss was gentle and slow.

 

Under the warmth of his kiss, Briella closed her eyes again.

 

“Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

 

The priest’s gravelly voice filled the candlelit room.

 

A touch.

 

Lucas’s fingers brushed Briella’s lips.

 

As the warmth of his lips faded, Briella opened her eyes.

 

“At last, we’re now a couple blessed by the gods.”

 

Lucas whispered as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist, a stark contrast from the day prior.

 

“Congratulations on becoming my true master.”

 

“Master, that’s a bit of a mouthful,” replied Lucas.

 

Their conversation caused the priest’s face to turn bright red. 

 

The rumors that always circulated about Lucas Viterpan were so different from the man standing before him now.

 

Lucas Viterpan had always been known for his aloofness and unapproachability, especially toward young ladies.

 

“Well, now that I am your master, shall I give you orders?”

 

“Of course, I’ll do my best to make sure your faith is well-placed.”

 

Apparently satisfied with Briella’s answer, Lucas turned, still holding her.

 

“Then. If you’ll excuse us, we’re off to spend our first night.”

 

The young priest expressed puzzlement over Lucas’s words. 

 

It was an unusual wedding. There were no celebrants and no reception.

 

The bride had never been seen in public before.

 

Yet the groom’s eyes seemed genuine as he looked at his bride.

 

“Do you think we can leave now?”

 

The priest nodded, and Lucas swept Briella into a quick hug.

 

“Your Grace!” Briella called out in a hushed tone, startled by the sudden increase in height.

 

“They say this is how things are done on the wedding night, and I’m new to marriage.”

 

Lucas picked up Briella and strode briskly out of the room.

 

The priest smiled broadly as he watched them leave.

 

It was a shock that Lucas Viterpan’s wedding, of all people, was the first wedding he had officiated since becoming a priest.

 

But he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in seeing a couple who truly loved each other.

 

“Aah!”

 

The pin securing Briella’s dress in place pricked her in the waist.

 

It occurred when Lucas lifted Briella in his arms to run up the stairs.

 

“Great, isn’t it a little early for giddy moans?”

 

They were in front of the center staircase.

 

A space where no one would be shocked to see the two.

 

Briella frowned, raising a hand to her reddened cheeks.

 

Lucas studied her face carefully.

 

It wasn’t just that she was uncomfortable being held.

 

“What’s this?”

 

Lucas’s face turned cold at the pin near her shoulder blade.

 

“Is it an issue?” 

 

This woman, who’d already slept in his rooms, was concealing the pain she felt as if it weren’t a problem. 

 

“I was rushing to get ready, and my dress didn’t fit.”

 

Briella answered quickly.

 

Lucas’s stony face softened somewhat at her response.

 

It was only then that she realized that his brisk pace had slowed to be more considerate.

 

“You can set me down now.”

 

Unconcerned with Briella’s demand, Lucas carried her up the center staircase to the second room she had awoken in.

 

Thud.

 

And when they were finally alone, the smile that had graced his lips a moment ago had vanished.

 

“You don’t have to put up with this foolishness.”

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Wary of pins pricking her again if he set her down, Lucas extracted a pin from Briella’s dress.

 

A silver pin clattered to the floor.

 

“Your Grace!”

 

She cried out in surprise.

 

The dress around her body slumped.

 

 Designed to be off-the-shoulder, the slightest movement threatened to cause the dress to slip off. 

 

“You forget, we’re married; we should be able to do better than this.”

 

Briella bit her lip at Lucas’s words.

 

Clearly, his idea of marriage was different from hers.

 

A gust of cold air rushed up her bare back.

 

Barely holding onto the front of her dress, Briella’s body quivered.

 

“What?”she asked.

 

Lucas, who had removed all the sharp pins from the dress, draped his jacket over her shoulders.

 

The large black jacket remained draped around Briella’s body.

 

She looked up at him as she clutched Lucas’s garment.

 

“What happened to the woman who stood in front of me as ‘The Golden Rose’ and demanded my hand in marriage?”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“Listen to me, Briella Viterpan. I didn’t just marry you; I’m staking my life on this, so if you don’t intend to do right by me, why don’t you walk away now?”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“Revenge isn’t something done halfheartedly.”

 

Lucas swept his hand across Briella’s face as she curled her lip.

 

He felt pity for her, seeing her tense and shivering like prey about to be devoured.

 

He wished he could offer her a way out of this damned situation right now but that wasn’t happening, not now at least.

“I’m willing.”

 

“First, warm up that shivering body of yours.”

 

Lucas tugged on Briella’s hand and led her to a chair.

 

Her shivering barely stopped at the touch of the soft velvet couch.

 

“This is your identity; take a look.”

 

Lucas said, pointing to the envelope on the table.

 

It was her new identity, created while she was passed out in the comfort of her own bed.

 

Briella Ford.

 

The illegitimate daughter of a nobleman in the north of the Empire.

 

Not a bad choice, considering Lucas had been in the north prior to coming to the capital.

 

“You and I are married, madly in love.”

 

Filling his wine glass, Lucas walked over to Briella and handed her the glass.

 

“Love?”

 

Briella pondered his words.

 

It was a word that had never felt right to her.

 

She had never felt it from her parents or her husband.

 

The only time she truly felt love was when she carried her baby, now dead inside her womb.

 

Still, she pulled herself together and looked up.

 

“Strange woman.” 

 

Lucas was observing her.

 

Briella looked so sad at the word love.

 

Had she lost someone she loved?

 

Perhaps she had.

 

She wouldn’t give her life so eagerly simply to avenge the death of the Empress she formerly served.

 

Lucas looked into her unfamiliar, dark green eyes and held out his glass.

 

Briella took it wordlessly.

 

“To our marriage.”

 

Lucas raised his glass.

 

Briella followed suit and raised her glass.

 

Clink.

 

The two glasses clinked, making a distinct, sharp sound.

 

At the same time, twelve bells rang out from the east side of the palace.

 

It was the sound announcing Empress Olivia’s death.

 

The two did not move until the twelve chimes were finished.

 

He had already learned of Empress Olivia’s death through Briella.

 

Still, his heart sank.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Lucas’s dark eyes focused on Briella.

 

“For what?”

 

“Your first official event after our marriage is the Empress’s funeral.”

 

‘My funeral.’

 

Had she not jumped into the carriage’s way, she would have been stuck in the middle of the crowds, unable to see up close. 

 

“I don’t care, whatever it is.”

 

Of course, it didn’t matter.

 

As long as she could put Gusto six feet under, she was willing to attend her own funeral.

 

While Briella was mulling over what had happened to herself in the last few days, Lucas was looking out over the palace and capital.

 

“Your Grace?”

 

Lucas chuckled softly at Briella’s call. It was the kind of laugh that kept him from weeping.

 

“Thank goodness,” he said, “or we wouldn’t have gotten to the wedding.”

 

She wondered if he genuinely considered it to be a good thing.

 

At Briella’s skeptical glance, Lucas downed the wine he was holding in one gulp.

 

It wasn’t a toast to the wedding but rather a sorrowful farewell for the death of an erstwhile lover he had failed to protect.

 

“May you be at peace in the next life.”