Chapter 7
Chapter 007.
The ceremony was nearing its end.
The bishop, who was in charge of the congratulatory address, solemnly opened his mouth.
Beside the bishop, who had been dispatched directly from the Vatican, was a familiar face.
‘I wondered why the young ladies kept looking over there.’
The figure standing beside the bishop with a faint smile on his lips was noticeable even without doing anything.
Every time his light silver hair softly swept across his forehead, every time his violet eyes blinked, I could hear the young ladies of my age swallowing nervously beside me.
Only Reinia was waiting for the congratulatory address to end with a sulky expression.
“I’m starving, why is the congratulatory address so long?”
“They’re congratulating the marriage, we should be grateful.”
“The intention of being friendly with the neutral Miller Dukedom during a power struggle with the Imperial Family is too obvious.”
“It’s not that you dislike the bishop, is it?”
Reinia pursed her lips without saying anything.
The youngest Holy Knight, who ‘stole the hearts of half the female students at the Academy’ standing over there, was thoroughly hated by Reinia, who was sitting next to me and grumbling.
“Is it because you got caught betting and making bets at the Academy?”
“Do you think I’m the kind of kid who gets angry because I had some petty cash confiscated? I hate that he sided with the teacher’s authority and oppressed the students without loyalty more than that money.”
‘She’s really sulking.’
I should have stopped at just joking around.
Reinia wasn’t the one who opened the illegal gambling den, but Reinia was the one who won the most money in that gambling.
“I’ll make it clear, Jen reported it.”
The reason for the report was that the cries of the children who were addicted to gambling and lost money were too noisy.
The person who only ‘executed’ the confiscation according to the professor’s orders had no reason to be more hated than Jen, who reported it.
However, Reinia still glared at the face that everyone admired with a sullen expression.
Soon, the bell rang, signaling the end of the main ceremony.
Everyone began to disperse to change into clothes suitable for the banquet.
“I’m going to talk to Mom for a bit.”
“Okay, then. I’ll go change first.”
I sent Reinia ahead first and was about to approach Mom to have a brief conversation before the banquet.
“Lady Merian.”
“Bishop.”
As I bent my knees to greet him, he raised his hand and smiled with a good-natured face.
It is often said that the smiling face of a politician cannot be trusted, but the calm atmosphere unique to priests felt different from other nobles.
“Should I call you Miss Miller now?”
“I will be organizing the registry soon, so you can call me that.”
Someone who suddenly appeared from behind me answered instead.
When I turned around at the moderately pleasant voice, I saw familiar blonde hair.
In the middle of the lavishly decorated wedding hall, his appearance was even more noticeable.
Is this what an angel in the green looks like?
His upright posture seemed to make the atmosphere even more mysterious.
“Is that not Vice Duke Miller?”
“It’s been a while, Bishop Vincent.”
The way they greeted each other as if they knew each other was familiar.
The bishop gave me friendly words.
“It was good to see the handsome bride and groom, but Merian’s appearance of blessing the couple was also impressive. She is more mature and polite than others of her age.”
“That’s our Merian.”
My face flushed at the excessive flattery.
It was the moment I opened my mouth at Orion’s absurd agreement.
The bishop raised his hand and called someone.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced you yet.”
At his gesture, the person who had been quietly standing behind him stepped forward.
Calm purple eyes turned to me.
Without me needing to give a signal, he bent his eyes into crescents as if he had read my mind and bowed his head with a smiling face.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Merian. My name is Vertein, and I am inheriting Gremias's Holy Bloodline, though I am lacking.”
The unique pattern indicating that he was a Holy Knight was prominently visible on the back of his hand.
His appearance facing Orion was enough to attract the attention of many.
Attention was focused on the gentle Holy Knight with a spring-like warmth and the rational but beautiful Vice Duke.
Seeing the bishop’s face looking at my reaction with a pleased smile, I felt like I knew.
‘He’s trying to use a honey trap.’
Vertein Gremias was an ideal knight in a fairy tale that anyone could see.
Excellent skills, humble personality, and outstanding appearance.
He is the perfect person to be the first love of a girl who dreams of a beautiful love story.
In fact, he is also the object of envy for many female students at the Academy.
So, he must be thinking of introducing me and gaining my favor.
“Merian Button.”
A faint sadness could be seen in Orion’s eyes as he looked at me, who was still following the Button name.
“The two young men and women are truly a good match……”
“They are too young. I think the two of them need to be separated a bit.”
Orion interrupted the bishop before he could finish speaking.
He looked at Vertein and said clearly.
“At this time, I think you should be focusing on training at the Training Grounds as a Holy Knight.”
“One of my duties is to assist the bishop.”
“You only need to protect the bishop.”
Orion stood in front of me, blocking my view completely.
I blinked, looking at his back that completely blocked my view.
When the bishop took a step to the side to talk to me, Orion also moved his body to the side.
“Thank you for the congratulatory address. I’ll see you next time.”
No, I haven’t even said hello yet.
Orion was chasing away the bishop who had been dispatched with the favor of the Vatican.
‘If this is also a reason to maintain neutrality, it’s amazing.’
In the end, after the bishop gave up on talking to me and promised to see me at the banquet, Orion volunteered to take me directly to the dressing room.
While walking through the quiet passage, he spoke.
“The ceremony ended safely.”
“Yes.”
When I tilted my head slightly at the repeated coughing, Orion was looking at me with a flushed face.
“Well, then.”
His voice was strangely excited and trembling.
“Since the two of you are married and have started a family.”
He looked at me with sparkling blue eyes.
I was reflected in his blue eyes like glass beads.
I was a little embarrassed by his eyes, which looked like a child full of expectations.
Then, when his mouth opened, I was definitely speechless.
“Try calling me Older Brother.”
“Orion Older Brother.”
As if all the boring moments of the ceremony existed for this moment, he pushed his face forward, full of anticipation.
Seeing my expression, he compromised slightly in a few minutes.
“Okay, it might still be awkward. If Older Brother is difficult, you can start with Older Brother first.”
“I can wait.”
Why are you waiting?
What are you waiting for?
I pretended not to hear and turned my head and said quickly.
“Thank you for taking me.”
“It’s okay. Escorting ‘Sister’ is my job as ‘Older Brother’.”
Weren’t some words emphasized too much?
I ran away to the dressing room as quickly as possible, avoiding his sparkling eyes.
Then, I asked the maid who brought the dress that had been prepared in advance seriously.
“Where is the emergency exit here?”
I sincerely wanted to run away.
* * *
Fortunately, after changing my clothes, the owner of the blue eyes who had been urging me to call him Older Brother was not visible in front of the door.
Instead, Reinia, who had changed her clothes first, greeted me and put her arm in mine.
“How long are you planning to stay at the banquet?”
“I’m just going to say hello and come out.”
“That’s a relief. I hate the nobles’ fake gatherings.”
“I know. But how reassuring it is to have you with me.”
I know that Reinia, who rarely attends local salons or gatherings, is staying here for the banquet for me.
When I expressed my sincere gratitude to my reliable friend, Reinia nodded lightly.
“Nobles are, you know, high-class thugs, so it’ll be difficult for you to deal with them. I can’t help it. I have no choice but to help.”
“You’re a noble too.”
“I’m talking about those stuck-up guys who have middle names from birth.”
Reinia’s grumbling continued.
It couldn’t have been easy for a rising noble from a merchant background to settle into the nobility.
Slander, contempt, and disregard for her background must have played a big role in making Reinia cynical.
When I lightly patted Reinia’s arm as if to comfort her, she smiled brightly.
“How great is it that my friend is eating at the same table as a high-ranking noble? Those who used to mess with me are all dead.”
“We’re perfect now. I have money, and you have a high status.”
“Lenny. You didn’t become friends with me because of my status, did you?”
Reinia smiled and said confidently.
“Still, it’s good to have power.”
While I was speechless for a moment at my overly realistic friend’s words, someone walked slowly from the opposite side.
Reinia’s hand holding my arm tightened slightly.
The hallway covered by curtains was dim, but the silver hair, as if sprinkled with glitter, was noticeable.
He smiled with a kind face.
“May I offer you my arm, Lady Button? And Lady Locke?”
“Wow.”
Reinia trembled beside me.
I poked her in the side at her crumpled face as if she had seen a nightmare.
Vertein just smiled as he looked at Reinia.
It was obvious that the two of them would bicker if I left them alone, so I opened my mouth first.
“I didn’t even think you would attend today.”
“I know that the Miller Dukedom is neutral, but it’s also true that they have strong military power. Even if it’s difficult to win them over, the intention is to look good.”
“You should just pray, why are you here doing politics?”
Vertein smiled bitterly at Lenny’s muttering and changed the subject, pretending not to notice.
“By the way, Jen must be quite angry.”
“Hmm……”
Actually, I didn’t think much of it, but after seeing the guests who came to the wedding, my thoughts changed a bit.
Indeed, marrying a ‘Duke’ was a little different from before.
After realizing that it was a bigger deal than I thought, Vertein’s words resonated even more.
I was also starting to worry about Jen’s reaction.
“For now, I’m just going to think about finishing the banquet safely and going back.”
“I will escort you, ladies.”
He bowed politely and stood behind us with a gentle smile.
As we entered the banquet hall, I could feel the gazes focusing on my back.
Avoiding the surprised rabbit eyes of the women, I turned my head and met Orion’s eyes, who was widening his eyes even more in a corner of the banquet hall.
‘What happened?’
Why are his eyes so moist?
Orion’s eyes were full of moisture as he looked at me.
