Chapter 31

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Translator: Vine

Chapter: 31

Chapter Title: Part 2: The Start of the Luck-Cheat Marriage

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As befitting the wedding of a war hero who shone in the World War, not only dignitaries from within the country but also many from the Federation states were in attendance.

In the bride's waiting room, Cynthia sat wearing a simple A-line dress devoid of any ornamentation, a translucent lace veil over her head.

Dalia, who had been tidying up Cynthia's stray hairs, gazed out the window at the heavily overcast sky and sank into worry.

'I hope it doesn't snow too much.'

The Lutemia Republic was a frigid, snowy land, and from ancient times, it was believed that a wedding day without snow but with sunlight shining meant the goddess's blessing had descended.

Soldiers, who valued strong bodies and minds, mostly held outdoor weddings and were thus greatly affected by the weather.

Meanwhile, Cynthia was lost in a different worry.

'It's probably cold outside. If it snows during the ceremony, won't I have to go off for survival training in 'Surviving the Snowfields'?'

Dalia, having finished her final checks, spoke up.

"Lady Cynthia, it's time to head to the bride's entrance."

What was marriage?

Even Cynthia, who was on her second go-around at life and thought she'd be immune to tension for her very first wedding, felt her nerves kick in.

Queensguard Count, Karos, and Edford entered the bride's waiting room.

"What is that dress? I thought you'd be thrilled to marry a rich officer."

Edford sneered at Cynthia's plain dress.

Cynthia fiddled with her veil and tilted her head.

"This one's more expensive than the one Sis wore."

"How, when there's not a single gem on it?"

Edford snickered.

The friendly vibe with the brigadier general had been a facade she'd concocted, and his wish that she was actually being neglected seemed to have come true.

He lost himself in delusions of her clinging to him, begging forgiveness.

In contrast, Karos stood silently with a displeased expression.

Queensguard Count leaned in close and whispered to Cynthia.

"Cynthia. Behave yourself after marriage so you don't get thrown out. I'll teach you how to please your husband. Start with small compliments and warm smiles..."

"Yes."

Cynthia replied perfunctorily, barely listening.

Soon after, a servant entered to announce that the duke and duchess would arrive shortly, then left.

"We should go greet them."

The count straightened his attire and exited the room with Karos.

Edford, who looked like he had plenty to say to her, remained behind and asked,

"Regretting not running off with me?"

Cynthia stared blankly at him spouting nonsense.

"Suddenly?"

"Hmph. Pretending to get along won't help. It all shows. I hear the brigadier general despises royalty?"

For once, he was spot on.

'Bullshit.'

Seeing her grimace, Edford thought he'd hit the mark and continued smugly.

"It's not too late. But if you want to change my mind, you'll have to work for it."

"Even if the world were left with just the two of us, I wouldn't like you. The only effort I'll make is preventing the world's end so it doesn't come to that."

"Stubborn to the bitter end, huh?"

He was impossible to reason with. Cynthia muttered under her breath with a weary look.

"Might as well set the flag for total annihilation..."

But Edford kept clinging.

"This marriage is forced on you too. Deep down, you were hoping I'd grab your hand and bolt during the ceremony, right? I wouldn't care if I lost everything."

"Want me to tell your dad everything right now and have you kicked out penniless?"

Cynthia warned coldly, just as the door opened and Queensguard Count entered.

Edford clamped his mouth shut at the sight of his father, looking flustered.

"Your sister's here, Cynthia."

The count's suddenly affectionate tone made it clear the duke and Helen had arrived.

The duke offered kind congratulations with a smile, after which Helen spoke in a tone implying, 'I want to talk alone with my sister. Men, get lost—this is girl talk.'

Cynthia could vaguely sense her anger.

And sure enough, the moment everyone left, Helen's expression sharpened viciously.

"You really buttered up the godmother and aunts, huh. They only talked about your honeymoon plans."

"Why take it out on me...?"

Helen continued glaring daggers at Cynthia. It was obvious she'd worn the plain dress to paint herself as the 'sister who stole the dress' and earn sympathy.

"And I didn't covet your dress. It was just a mix-up by the designer."

"Why explain that now...?"

Under Cynthia's barrage of innocent questions, Helen tamped down her anger and pinched her forehead.

"Don't even think about associating with the duke's family from now on."

"Okay."

Cynthia acquiesced so readily it was anticlimactic.

'What the...? A normal person wouldn't react like that!'

Undeterred, Helen provoked her further.

"You're fake anyway. Don't forget your place just because you entered our family and married a war hero."

"Yeah."

Cynthia half-listened and replied indifferently.

Helen was left dumbfounded.

Normally, aggressive words would provoke an aggressive response.

But this was beyond expectation.

Helen wanted to vent on Cynthia, but she had nothing left to say.

"Don't you ever feel unhappy, angry, or wronged?"

Helen asked.

Cynthia seemed utterly detached, as if inferiority and rage had all evaporated.

She flashed a bright-eyed smile.

"I do. But trivial stuff barely registers."

'Was she always this sly?'

Before their father had staged the marriage scam, Cynthia had been just another servant. If she'd had this bizarre personality back then, it surely would've stuck in memory.

"You definitely..."

Just as Helen parted her chewed lips to speak—

"Lady Cynthia, it's time for the bride's entrance."

Dalia announced the ceremony's start.

Cynthia rose with a gentle smile, looking utterly devoid of any grudge.

"Sis, if you're not entering with me, head to the venue."

Rumble—

Droplets began falling one by one from the sullen gray sky.

"Rain instead of snow? Argh, this is such a bad omen! It's like it's foretelling a rocky marriage for the couple!"

Someone excitedly chattered.

Indeed, thunder and rain signified the gods' sorrow—an absolute worst-case portent.

The guests under the tent clicked their tongues and muttered.

"Talk of the Goddess of Luck watching over her must've been exaggeration."

"Dodging tens of thousands of arrows? That's not scientifically possible."

'Then predicting marriage from weather is?'

The kitchen staff, already Team Cynthia, pouted and grumbled.

The attending journalists scribbled furiously.

Their marriage, stormy from the start... Were the separation and divorce rumors true?

Dalia, watching the journalists like a hawk from behind, yanked a notebook away by force.

"Gah!"

"The ceremony hasn't even started—why spread lies about separation and divorce? Refrain from disseminating falsehoods."

At that moment, the bride's entrance was announced, and Cynthia appeared.

"What is that dress?"

The guests buzzed in surprise for an entirely different reason.

Her attire was so plain it bordered on nondescript—a simple solid-color dress. Only the pale purple bouquet stood out.

"That bouquet's studded with gems? Guess she blew the budget on it."

Snickers rippled from somewhere, and the guests chuckled lowly.

But inwardly, they all thought the same.

'That's an ultra-expensive bouquet only the toughest can claim. Even if it smashes my skull, I'm catching it.'

As desires clashed in that instant—

"Huh?"

Everyone's eyes widened at the unbelievable sight.

A single ray of sunlight pierced the dark clouds, shining down on Cynthia like a spotlight illuminating the protagonist on stage.

The moment the light hit her plain solid-color dress, it erupted in a diamond-like iridescent glow.

It was all pure coincidence.

A guest who recognized the fabric gasped.

"That's... a dress woven from diamond thread? Is that even possible?"

"So the dress itself is made of diamonds?"

"The cost must be astronomical."

Cynthia smiled radiantly. At the same moment, a halo appeared behind her head.

The intricately crafted gem bouquet reflected the light, resembling a saint with a halo hovering above.

"...Lord have mercy."

Her beauty was so dazzling it bordered on divine; someone murmured in awe.

"Perhaps the gods are saddened because we couldn't offer sincere blessings to someone."