Translator: Nox

Chapter 73

Chapter 73: The First Commoner Princess Consort

A tremendous roar erupted from behind them in an instant.

As Leonard, standing before Noah and Olivia, began to walk amidst the roar, sacred music echoed throughout the cathedral.

Lucy and the flower girls, who had been waiting inside, followed behind the priests carrying the Emblems, scattering flowers on the floor as they walked.

Leonard stepped onto the flower path created by the flower girls first, followed by Noah and Olivia. For today, Noah came before Crown Prince Usher. Usher walked behind his brother, watching his back as if guarding him.

Children dressed in white sacred robes lined the sides, singing in beautiful voices, and behind them, countless nobles rose in unison to pay their respects to the royal family.

Even those who had been constantly criticizing Olivia, avoiding the Queen Consort's ears before the royal family's entrance, could not dare to open their mouths at this moment.

"Since she has no family, His Majesty is escorting her."

"Is that all? Where is a bride without bridesmaids? Well, if she has no family, would she have friends?"

"The royal family's reputation is in tatters. What was Prince Noah lacking that he fell for such a woman?"

"She has a pretty face, doesn't she?"

"Then he could just make her a mistress. Frankly, even as a mistress, she's of a low class."

However, they could not dare to discuss 'class' as they watched the bride and groom enter, led by Leonard II and with the Crown Prince behind them.

After watching the scene silently for a while, someone whispered softly.

"She seems to have been born with one good thing."

"What is it?"

"Luck."

Those beside her nodded blankly. Even so, their gazes slid along with Olivia.

The bride's dress shimmered with a mysterious hue in the colorful light passing through the stained glass on the side.

Thousands of hidden pearls gleamed within the folds of the voluminous dress that occasionally wrapped around the Prince's legs.

The Tiara bestowed by the Queen Consort shone brilliantly, reflecting the sunlight pouring from the ceiling, and beneath it, her neat and tidy features held a refined beauty, like the dress.

Today, she was like a single, elegant lily.

Herot's messengers surrounded her, as if warning those who had vowed never to treat the commoner who had succeeded in rising in status as Astrid.

As Lucy, who played the role of the flower girl, scattered the last handful of petals on the floor, the priests carrying the Emblems parted to the sides. Her mother on the left smiled with her eyes and nodded as if saying she had done well.

As the relatives who had been flower girls together returned to their parents' arms, Lucy also tried to run to her mother. Her father's hand stopped the girl's steps.

Lucy smiled brightly at the familiar warmth that wrapped around her shoulders and looked up. Leonard looked down at his daughter, who was smiling radiantly with a flower crown on her head, and gave her a benevolent smile.

Leonard took a step back while holding Lucy's hand. Then, Noah and Olivia, whom she had never seen before, were imprinted on the girl's retina.

"Wow..."

Lucy exclaimed without realizing it.

She was used to seeing her grown-up brother, so she wasn't impressed, but it was Olivia's appearance that captivated the girl's heart.

Seeing Olivia with a white Veil draped over her, the girl's chest swelled greatly. Even as she turned around, holding her father's hand, Lucy couldn't help but turn her head to look at Olivia.

"Lucy."

Only when Usher approached and called her name affectionately did she come to her senses. As Leonard took his daughter's hand and sat beside Beatrix, Usher also sat beside his mother.

Margo stared silently at Olivia as she approached step by step. When the image of the fifteen-year-old girl gritting her teeth and walking through the academy overlapped with her, Margo's heart ached.

Just as her eyes were about to turn red, Noah and Olivia, the main characters of the wedding, finally stood before the Archbishop. Then, the sacred music that had been echoing through the cathedral ceiling stopped, and the priest rang the bell.

Olivia released the hand she had been holding with Noah, held the Bouquet with both hands, and straightened her back.

The moment that had been unimaginable was finally here, but it was much more bearable than she had thought. Unlike before, when she had to overcome everything alone, the fact that there was someone walking this path with her was a great comfort.

Olivia felt Noah's presence beside her and raised her eyes.

As Noah took off his ceremonial hat and sword and handed them to the priest standing beside him, the Archbishop looked back and forth between the two and preached about the duties of a married couple based on faith.

Olivia often nodded and listened to his words, while Noah was extremely indifferent, so the Archbishop eventually ended up speaking only to Olivia.

No matter how you look at it, you seem to be listening to my words well and will have to reform your husband, sister.

When the sermon, which had been going on endlessly like a song, ended at some point, Noah, who had been enduring boredom, finally raised his eyes.

The Archbishop stared at the Prince with wide eyes.

Since you haven't listened to a single word I've said, at least make this vow properly.

The Archbishop suppressed those feelings and recited the vow first.

"I, Noah Astrid, take Olivia Liberty as my wife and vow to cherish and love her for the rest of my life."

Noah repeated the Archbishop's words exactly, without missing a single syllable.

"I, Noah Astrid, take Olivia Liberty as my wife and vow to cherish and love her for the rest of my life."

As his vow ended, the Archbishop turned to Olivia with a gentle gaze and recited the vow in a much softer voice.

"I, Olivia Liberty, take Noah Astrid as my husband and vow to cherish and love him for the rest of my life."

Olivia also took a breath and repeated his words exactly.

The Archbishop looked back and forth between the handsome man and woman once each, then announced that the vow ceremony had been held.

"With this, the two have made a vow before God, which must be kept until death separates them."

Soon, a priest who had been waiting approached Noah and Olivia. Olivia handed the Bouquet she was holding to him, then turned halfway towards Noah.

The pulse that had been calmly subsiding surged again.

Noah slowly extended his left hand to her. He was wearing smooth, glossy black gloves today as well.

Olivia stared silently at the hand that kept making her feel small and sometimes excited.

She had never dared to imagine that such a thing would happen.

Olivia carefully undid the button on her wrist, then pulled the glove down and off. Then, his long, straight fingers were revealed. The clear sunlight passing through the ceiling created a small pattern on Noah's hand.

Olivia supported his palm with one hand, then put the ring on his long, straight finger. As the ring passed his neatly shaped fingernail, passed the smooth curve, and finally reached the end of the knuckle, Olivia raised her eyes.

Then, she immediately met his green eyes. Fearing that her pounding heart might be heard in his ears, Olivia quickly lowered her gaze and breathed slowly.

Turning her body a little more and raising her left hand, this time Noah took her hand. He pulled and untied the ribbon around her wrist, which was decorated with delicate lace, then gently removed the glove.

A white, small hand was slowly revealed.

Looking at the small hand with pink fingertips, Noah suddenly recalled the small hand that had been untangling the thread entangled in his hand.

He didn't think such a day would come back then.

As if he could hear the cautious applause from that day, Noah unknowingly pulled his lips and smiled.

As everyone's eyes were pouring in, the relatives who saw the Prince's smile up close began to stir.

Leonard, who was looking at his son's face head-on, also smiled and whispered to the Queen Consort.

"Look, Trixie. That's what he's like."

Beatrix couldn't help but smile as well.

Goodness. Noah Astrid is smiling in such a place with such an expression.

Noah gently slid the wedding ring, which was set with a thumbnail-sized diamond, onto Olivia's ring finger. The ring suited her white, slender finger very well.

Since they had exchanged rings, all that was left was the vow kiss.

Olivia recalled the sensation of her lips being gently crushed last night and looked at Noah with earnest eyes. Unable to say it, Olivia widened her eyes to express her intention.

Noah immediately realized what Olivia was thinking from her face, which was full of earnestness and shining black eyes.

Not like yesterday, Your Highness.

Just do that, Your Highness!

He shouldn't laugh, but Noah kept laughing because Olivia was so funny.

Feeling like he would really burst out laughing if he waited any longer, Noah reached out to Olivia's ear before the Archbishop could even finish speaking.

"Oh my, oh my!"

"Goodness!"

It was common to only tilt one's head without touching the bride's body, but the Prince boldly supported the bride's head and tilted his head.

Olivia closed her eyes as she saw Noah approaching.

He was a comet that had suddenly appeared in her life, and a tsunami that overwhelmed everything. Feeling the overflowing sea covering her, Olivia earnestly wished for a short time.

Please don't let me be just a yoke that you couldn't escape from.

Please don't let me be just a heavy responsibility on both shoulders.

His soft lips touched her lips lightly and then fell away.

It was definitely a different kiss than yesterday.

Olivia let out a short breath, which she had been holding back, and opened her eyes. Noah removed his large hand that had been supporting her head and whispered with his lips.

'Okay?'

However, the wedding hall had already become a place of quiet uproar.

Leonard kept whispering to Beatrix to look at that, asserting that he was not a bad father.

Those who knew the cynical and languid Noah were very confused by the smile that had appeared on the Prince's face just before the kiss and blinked their eyes.

Really, is Noah Astrid in love?!

Was that floating rumor real?!

That's why he kissed so unconventionally!

However, Noah was not concerned about such murmurs, and Olivia was just relieved and satisfied with the reverent(?) kiss, unlike yesterday.

As a result, only the bride and groom were at peace.

The Archbishop looked back and forth between the couple, who were looking at him with the same expression, as if he was dumbfounded, then solemnly declared.

"With this, I recognize the marriage of the two before God."

And with that, Olivia Liberty became Olivia Rosemond Astrid.

It was the moment when Herot's first commoner-born royal was born.