Vulgar Marriage - Chapter 27

Chapter 14.1

On the night before her engagement to Crown Prince Carlos, a young Livi slipped into her mother’s bedroom. She wriggled under the covers and whispered,

— Mother, did you love Father?

She tried to sound confident, but inside, she was far from it.

To twelve-year-old Livi, sixteen-year-old Carlos was anything but a dream match. He was cruel and, like a true child of the imperial family, unbearably arrogant. During their walks in the garden, he would suddenly grab her hand without asking. Just a few days ago, he had even tried to force a kiss on her.

Shaken, Livi had run to her father in tears, begging him to call off the marriage.

Her father had reassured her, saying the wedding was still far off and this was only an engagement. But his words had done little to ease Livi’s fears.

Because, one way or another, Carlos would eventually become her husband.

— I don’t think I love His Highness… What if I can never love him? I’m scared, Mother.

Her mother pulled a young and terrified Livi close, tucking her under the blanket. It had been years since they’d shared a bed like this, not since Livi was a toddler. She clung to the hope that her wise mother would have the answer, so she waited with bated breath.

But her mother didn’t have a solution. She wrapped Livi in her arms and cradled her gently.

— You can still be happy, even if you don’t love him, Livi.

— But what if I can’t?

Livi looked up at her mother’s fair, graceful face. She blinked, waiting for an answer, but her mother said nothing more. She simply stroked Livi’s back with soft, comforting hands.

Her mother’s silence lasted until Livi’s eyes grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.

It had been many years since she last revisited that memory. Carlos Rontaire had been stripped of his title as crown prince three years ago, then unofficially executed when Rontaire II ascended the throne. Their engagement had ended with his death before they could get married.

‘Perhaps it would’ve been better if I had married Prince Carlos.’

If she had, she would’ve died alongside him during his execution and been spared the wretched fate she was enduring now.

Livi’s eyes fluttered open. The unfamiliar patterns on the ceiling reminded her that this was no dream. This was a world without her mother, father, and younger sibling.

“G-good morning, madam…”

A maid standing nearby noticed Livi was awake and greeted her with a deep bow.

“Did you just call me ‘madam’?”

“Pardon?”

Livi repeated the word to herself, tasting it on her tongue. Madam. The Lady of House Celsion. The title felt alien, as though it didn’t belong to her. She said it a few more times before dismissing the maid’s nervous gaze with a flick of her hand.

“It’s nothing.”

Her voice came out hoarse and dry. She extended her hand, and the maid hurried to hand her a glass of water. As Livi took a sip to soothe her throat, the maid hesitated before speaking again.

“Y-you’ve been very ill.”

“…For how long?”

“It’s been five days since you arrived at the castle.”

“Five days?”

“Yes, madam. You had a high fever and wouldn’t wake up…”

Livi glanced at the damp handkerchief and basin of water nearby. The aprons of the three maids bore the stiff, faded marks of repeated soaking and drying.

“You must’ve had a hard time.”

“N-no, not at all!”

The maids scrambled to tidy up the room, all the while sneaking anxious glances at Livi as though they weren’t sure how to act around her.

Once they were finished, they hesitated before stepping forward to relay a message.

“His Lordship said… you may visit the temple if you wish, now that you’re awake.”

Livi remained silent. Why the sudden change of heart? The last time she’d mentioned leaving the castle, he had spewed vulgarities and forbade her from stepping outside. Now, he was granting her permission. She couldn’t decipher his intentions, and the uncertainty unsettled her, but overthinking it wouldn’t give her answers.

“Help me get dressed.”

“Will you be going to the temple right away? Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest a bit longer?”

Livi glanced down at her arms and legs. Her already slender frame now looked skeletal, her limbs resembling brittle twigs. She understood the maid’s concern but had no intention of delaying her visit to the temple any longer. She motioned for the maid to help her out of bed.

“Do I have anything to wear?”

“We’ve prepared some clothes for you, madam. Since the seamstress didn’t have your exact measurements, they may fit a bit loosely. I’ll arrange for her to come tomorrow to make adjustments.”

“That’s fine.”

The maid opened the wardrobe. Livi scanned the garments until her gaze settled on a dark purple dress. It wasn’t black, but it would suffice. The dress plunged just below her chest, paired with an ivory stomacher for modesty.

The maids guided her to the vanity and began styling her hair. As Livi blankly stared into the mirror, she noticed one of the maids gathering her hair to pin it up.

“My hair…” she began hesitantly.

“Shall I leave it down?” the maid asked, pausing.

Livi thought for a moment, then shook her head. “No, you may continue.”

The maid nodded and resumed securing her blonde hair into a jeweled net. Once it was safely pinned to her head, she added a delicate lace veil to complete the look. Now, Livi looked every bit the lady of a noble house.

Livi examined her reflection before turning away. The unfamiliar hairstyle and ornaments felt foreign to her.

“I’ll call for the knights to escort you to the temple,” one of the maids said.

When Livi stepped out of the room, a familiar face greeted her. Hawthorne and another knight stood respectfully outside her door.