Chapter: 601
Sitting quietly in the bride’s waiting room, my body ached and I was bored out of my mind. I’d much rather head out to the front of the wedding venue to greet the guests with the Minister, but—
“If you go, something will definitely go wrong. Just stay put.”
“Ugh…”
Thanks to my mother’s unbreakable lockdown, I couldn’t take a single step outside the waiting room.
It was really unfair. I wasn’t a criminal or anything; the bride, the star of the show, wasn’t even allowed to move freely? It’s not like I wanted to do something reckless. Isn’t it natural for the host of the wedding to welcome the guests?
“Madam, while Eri can be quite lively, she knows her boundaries. There’s no need to worry too much.”
I nodded vigorously at my father’s words.
True. I might be a bit more cheerful and energetic than others, but I’m not clueless. I wouldn’t mess up at my own wedding ceremony.
“Do you still trust Eri?”
However, my mother maintained her stern demeanor.
“Absolutely, absolutely do not let her out of here. We can’t allow even the slightest possibility of ruining the wedding. We’ll just stay here until it’s over and then quickly send her off with her husband.”
At the hint of madness in my mother’s eyes, both I and my father, along with the rest of the family, shuddered.
“I also agree with Mother’s opinion.”
“Oppa?”
Even my older brother, who had been silent, raised his hand in support of my mother.
“I believe nothing will go wrong, but if a tiny accident happens during the wedding and it gets canceled, what will come next? If we can avoid disaster with a little caution, then we should be cautious.”
“Come on, that’s overly dramatic. What are the odds that something will go wrong on the wedding day?”
“Given that Eri, the daughter of a Marquis, is only getting married just before turning thirty, it was a high probability.”
With that, my father fell silent.
“No, Father. Don’t do that. Please defend me a bit more.”
“Our Eri has been through a lot preparing her makeup and dress. If anything gets messed up, we’ll have to fix it again, so she should just sit quietly.”
My father used the excuse of makeup and dress, but I knew he had been swayed by my mother and brother to lose his trust in me.
How unjust. Shouldn’t the bride, who is supposed to receive love, congratulations, and heartfelt farewells, be treated like this? This feels like abuse, pure abuse!
‘If I say this, I’d get hit, right?’
Still, I couldn’t let that complaint out loud.
I saw both madness and happiness in my mother’s eyes. She was genuinely happy, having worried about when I would get married, if I’d end up living alone forever.
While all my siblings got married, I hadn’t even managed to find a partner, which worried my mother. When I joined the notorious Information Department, my mother had clutched her neck in distress. Now, she had gotten to the point where, instead of worrying about me finding a partner, she wanted me to live healthily.
And finally, that troublesome daughter had brought home a perfect bridegroom—well, mostly perfect if we overlook the fact that he has a few other wives. It would be stranger if she wasn’t delighted.
“I’ll stay quietly until the end of the wedding.”
“Good. That’s a wise decision. You should enjoy your honeymoon instead of getting tired out by the wedding preparations.”
As I nodded my head obediently, my mother’s demeanor softened, and she gently patted my shoulder.
I really shouldn’t reverse my words and ask, “Can I really leave?” because that would bend me in a direction that should be avoided at all costs. I must prevent that.
“Eri.”
While having various discussions with my family, a senior appeared with the maids.
“Your Highness.”
“Please don’t bow. I’m here as a friend of the beloved junior, not as the Empress.”
At her words, my half-bowing family awkwardly straightened up.
The senior had connections with the Masalo family even before marrying His Majesty. Since she often visited in the academy’s holiday breaks, we had no choice but to develop a bond.
Thanks to that, our family could treat her more familiarly than other nobles. That said, if we crossed any lines, we’d face the wrath of both the royal family and the duke’s family. We certainly weren’t looking to end up like Epsilon.
“I prepared a small gift to celebrate my friend’s wedding.”
With tender respect, the box held by the Empress was transferred to my mother’s hands.
“Having already received an unpayable kindness from Your Majesty, how can I accept such a precious gift? Please take it back.”
I couldn’t possibly embarrass the Empress, so I quickly accepted it, but my mother respectfully bowed her head and handed the box back.
But what is this precious thing they’re talking about? Can’t I just sneak a peek inside?
“If Mother won’t take it, I’ll take it—”
“Eri!”
“Ugh!”
I felt my cheeks being pinched like cheese by my mother.
My makeup! My makeup is ruined!
Upon seeing my face, the Minister spoke in a small voice.
“What happened in the waiting room?”
At those words, I couldn’t help but grin. My makeup was perfectly done, but if my cheeks were a little pink, the Minister would notice every tiny detail about his wife.
“I’ve had so many things happen. It’s really exhausting.”
“From what you’re saying, it seems like you’re still okay, then.”
I felt a tinge of disappointment. Sure, I was fine, but isn’t he being a bit careless? Isn’t it time for someone to comfort me by asking who’s been making my wife struggle?
‘Maybe it’s because he’s younger, he lacks sensitivity.’
What does it matter if you have multiple wives? The husband has a life shorter than mine, and all his other wives are younger than him. So, it’s only natural he lacks the finesse to deal with someone older.
Trixie? Her age only counts as 20% of the real deal, so she’s an exception. Applying that 120-years-elven rule must be unfriendly to statistics.
‘Then again, I do prefer ‘younger’ folks.’
I turned my gaze to the Moderator as the Minister’s attention was diverted again, raising my smile again.
One of the Minister’s many charms is that he’s younger. Although having poor sensitivity is a bit regrettable, it could not be considered a flaw.
‘Who would have known it would lead to this during our first meeting?’
Thinking back to our initial encounter, I couldn’t help but chuckle. That day flipped my mundane life in the Information Department upside down, as the job became something I was looking forward to.
The previous head of the Information Department was strict, boring, quiet, lacked conscience, and was utterly dull. I had hated the thought of working under such a person, so much so that I toyed with my resignation letter multiple times. If someone had told me to go back to that time, I might throw that letter straight away.
But then the tedious chief disappeared with the fall of the faction of the Second Prince, and after the Minister of Finance briefly filled the gap, our Minister, who was the Fourth Manager, took the helm. His swift promotion meant the list of previous heads of the Information Department didn’t even include the Minister of Finance.
Anyway, although the dull leader was gone, I didn’t expect much. A 19-year-old noble getting suddenly promoted to the chief wouldn’t make much sense to have high hopes.
‘But rebelling against him would be foolish.’
Even with the abrupt change, the chief was still the chief. Despite being only 19, he was a veteran who had experienced the war. Yup, he’s a noble for sure, and next in line to become the Imperial Count.
Moreover, rumors said he was regarded by the Vice-Captain as a son, and the Emperor, who was just crowned as the Crown Prince, clearly supported his appointment. That’s how, unlike the other members, I could acknowledge his authority and act as formally as before.
“Feel free to treat me casually. No need to be so stiff.”
“Well, since we’re losing all but the senior officials here, there’s no point in keeping up formalities.”
Up until that moment, I had been thinking that way.
As the existing senior officials rebelled against the 19-year-old chief and left, the Minister swiftly appointed new ones and declared an overhaul of the entire Information Department. In that process, the stiff and dull hierarchy and traditions of the department vanished, which was a bonus.
I could hardly contain my excitement. Would I even get to meet a boss like this again in my lifetime? I certainly wasn’t complaining. So, I took the Minister’s words and put in my utmost effort to act comfortably with him.
From that point on, the Minister turned into the light of my life. He transformed my daily struggle in the Information Department into the joy of my existence.
“Minister.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
As I whispered softly, the Minister for some reason shot me a puzzled look, then subtly smiled.
“Even if you say that, I won’t be seeing you at night.”
“Oh, that backfired.”
I returned his sudden joke with another tease.
It may have been a lighthearted and casual atmosphere for a wedding, but that’s how our relationship had always blossomed.
‘…Thank you.’
Once again, I whispered my gratitude inwardly.
For being an irreplaceable boss. For being my irreplaceable husband.
For bringing joy to my once mundane life under a dull superior’s rule.
*
When the ceremony finally concluded, I wept torrents as my fifth mother-in-law.
“I was so worried about when that girl would marry; I feared she might live alone forever and just die… Thanks to you, I can finally put that worry to rest.”
She cried to the point that it was painfully apparent to everyone present.
Indeed, Eri truly was an infernal good daughter. How much heartache must she have caused for the Marquis’ wife to sob so tragically?
“You shouldn’t cry already. What are you going to do when you see your grandchild at the end of the year?”
As I smiled and consoled her, the fire in my mother-in-law’s eyes blazed fiercely as she wiped away her tears.
“True, here’s hoping for a grandchild still.”
At my words, her gaze shifted intensely towards Eri, who was beside us.
“Why are you still dawdling here? Hurry up and go to your honeymoon house with your husband!”
“Um… I was just comforting you….”
“Hurry!”
With an intensity that far exceeded my expectations, Eri pouted and grabbed my hand.
“Let’s go. If I stall, I feel like Mother will kick my butt.”
As I burst into laughter for what felt like the tenth time, I lifted Eri up into a princess carry. It would be a disaster if she suffered any injuries to her rear end when we were about to endure days of hard work together.
“Starting today, we’re going all out. Got it?”
“How long are we talking about?”
“That depends on your stamina.”
“Well, then I must surely have a new record!”
With that said, Eri smiled boastfully and shrugged her shoulders.
What’s this? Where’s this sudden confidence coming from? She’s not too weak, but she’s not exactly the strongest either?
‘Only time will tell.’
I wondered if her newfound confidence was rooted in something concrete.
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