The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 62 - The False Wedding 1

And so, the day of the wedding finally came.

“What a beautiful dress. I heard Lord Gerald had it made just for you, Lady Eliza.”

“…I see. That makes me happy.”

Surrounded by Mathilda and the maids, I wore a pure white wedding dress, the symbol of happiness, and was dressed up beautifully.

But the reflection in the mirror looked far from happy. My face looked terrible. I touched my cheeks with both hands and kept practicing how to smile again and again.

I kept telling myself I had to stay strong, and just then, the baron and baroness arrived.

In their hands was a silver key. I realized it was for the shackles I had been wearing since I came here.

“Eliza, you look so beautiful.”

“Yes. I’m happy to see you in your wedding dress.”

The baron and baroness cried as they praised how I looked in the dress again and again. Each time, I wanted to scream that I wasn’t Eliza, and my heart felt like it was being crushed.

I couldn’t help but hate Gerald. This was never how I should’ve worn a dress like this.

The baroness, telling me to enjoy myself today, gently removed the shackles from my legs. I was finally free to move.

I should’ve been happy to finally get a chance to escape, but when I looked at the bruises the shackles left behind, I only felt sad.

“Sadie, you look amazing. I’m so happy we reached this day.”

“Thank you. You look wonderful too.”

Gerald came to pick me up, dressed in a white tuxedo. His beautiful looks made it shine even more. The maids and the baron and baroness all let out admiring sighs.

“Shall we go? …That bouquet?”

“I made it for today. Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s very pretty. It’s delicate, just like you.”

Mathilda kept her promise and prepared the flowers I asked for. She secretly gave them to me yesterday afternoon.

Last night, I turned them into a small, lovely bouquet. Now, I held it wrapped in ribbon.

Gerald also complimented the bouquet. He pulled out a few flowers and slipped them into his chest pocket.

“For you too. They look good on you.”

“Thank you.”

Gerald smiled happily, then greeted the baron and baroness, and took my hand.

Instead of leaving from the front door, we went through the back and quickly boarded the carriage.

“Sorry for the plain carriage. I used magic to reduce the shaking.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry.”

The carriage wasn’t like the ones nobles usually used. It was a simple wagon meant for carrying goods. No one would imagine that Gerald and I were inside.

Even if no one noticed I had switched with Mabel, Rufus had visited the baron’s house recently. He must be wondering about Mabel’s condition.

That’s why Gerald must be this careful. It was clear that he had made detailed plans to make sure nothing went wrong today.

“I was so excited about today that I couldn’t sleep last night. Ever since I met you, Sadie, I’ve dreamed of a day like this.”

He was truly thrilled. Gerald talked more than usual. I just nodded and smiled so I wouldn’t ruin his mood, hoping that his excitement would make him careless.

—Surely, the moment I could escape would come only once.

I tightly clenched both hands and looked toward the closed carriage window, keeping my smile.

After about three hours of riding, we arrived at the western forest.

There were no people around. We got out at the edge of the forest and walked along a paved path.

“…Wow.”

We stopped in front of a large cathedral. Its beautiful design made me stare without thinking. It looked even more divine and lovely than I remembered as a child.

As I looked up, Gerald gently took my hand.

“Sorry, we don’t have much time. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

We stepped inside the empty cathedral. No one was there to bless us as we walked down the wedding aisle.

This was definitely the moment when Gerald was most relaxed. After all, his dream was coming true.

When I glanced up at him, he was smiling happily. Knowing what I was about to do made me feel guilty.

But I bit my lip hard and made my decision. I stopped walking and looked down.

Gerald also stopped right away and leaned in to see my face.

“Sadie? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick—?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

At that moment, I threw the bouquet in my hands right at Gerald’s face.

“Ugh…!”

Gerald groaned, covering his eyes with one hand and dropping to one knee. Tears poured from his eyes without stopping. I knew it was working.

“W-What… are you…?”

I said “I’m sorry” again, then kicked off my shoes, turned away, and ran.

I could hear Gerald’s voice behind me, but I just pushed my legs forward as hard as I could.

—This was something I learned back in that place, to protect myself among the women there.

By combining certain flowers that grew there, it created a tear gas effect. It caused strong pain in the eyes and made someone unable to see for a while.

The women, who were weak and powerless, had learned such self-defense tricks. I almost got attacked once too, and after Gerald saved me, another woman taught me how to make it.

No one would ever think a simple bouquet could be that dangerous. I knew the maids checked very carefully when I changed into the wedding dress to make sure I wasn’t hiding anything.

That’s why no one expected me, someone without weapons, to be able to hurt Gerald.

But I’d heard it only worked if it was very close to the face. It had been a big risk—but I had to try.