Ch#33
At that moment, she seemed to stop breathing as well. A faint tremor traveled through their touching lips. Even when he opened his eyes amidst the applause of the guests, she still had hers closed. Her neatly arranged eyelashes were exceptionally long.
When she finally opened her eyes and looked at him, Jared realized a bit late that her eyes were silver in the sunlight. In the daylight filtering through the temple windows, the woman’s gray eyes were a transparent silver. Just like the bridal veil he had just lifted.
Meeting those eyes, Jared held his breath again. Amidst the downpour of applause.
After the wedding ceremony, they cut the cake and drank champagne at the outdoor reception area. Escorting the bride to greet each guest individually consumed a significant amount of time and physical energy.
By the time they moved to the dining hall after that process, he had almost lost his appetite. It was around 9:00 PM when they moved to the Great Hall after forcing down a moderate amount of food. Since the wedding had started around 4:00 PM, it had been five long hours.
“Are you tired?”
Jared spoke to the woman, who was focused on the dance.
They were currently on their third dance with the guests at the reception. In the slow tempo of the andante, the dance moves were complex and difficult, making it disadvantageous for much conversation, but they had practiced enough for today that it wasn’t a major problem.
His bride, too, looked up at him without a hint of fluster.
“I’m alright.”
“Then smile a little. Happily.”
Jared spoke, pulling up the corners of his mouth as if giving a demonstration.
“It seems the photographer wants that.”
At his words, Rosalyn shifted her gaze slightly toward the camera. Then she immediately returned her eyes to his face. In the hazy light of the chandeliers, her eyes were gray once more.
Calm gray eyes.
Jared maintained his smile as he looked into those eyes. Rosalyn wore a similar expression as she faced him. Just then, a pop—the sound of a flash—echoed from across the room. Praying the photographer was satisfied, Jared skillfully continued the high-difficulty movement of crossing arms with his partner.
He wondered if modern cameras could capture moving people well these days. He wouldn’t know. Just how much more these latest machines had advanced was beyond him.
The advancement of technology brought convenience and nuisance simultaneously. Automobiles were certainly more convenient than carriages, but cameras were incomparably more bothersome than portraits. That wicked machine was gradually dragging the nobility of high society out before the public. Ever since printing technology improved and photographs began appearing in newspapers, the beauty of noblewomen had become far more important than before.
If one could not go against the flow of the times, it was wise to utilize it to the fullest.
“Are you really going to send those photos to the newspapers?”
“My aides seem to think it will be beneficial.”
“Do you think so as well, Your Grace?”
“Yes.”
Jared replied firmly and wrapped his arm around his partner’s waist. As the distance between the two closed abruptly, their lower bodies nearly touched. He could feel her dress brushing against his legs.
“Why? Are you reluctant?”
They moved their steps while standing close together. Rosalyn no longer lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze. When performing this move, one had to look straight into the other’s eyes. Jared thought the complex movements of the andante were quite interesting.
“If you think so, Your Grace, then I am fine with it.”
He gazed down at the woman as she replied demurely. Saying she was ‘fine’ meant she was ‘reluctant but would accept it.’ It was an answer that cost him nothing.
“Good.”
It would be even better if things continued this way in the future. Adding that thought internally, he withdrew his hand from her waist.
The melody of the andante flowed slowly. The man took the woman’s hand and pushed her outward. The woman moved as far away from him as possible, then lightly let go of his hand and spun once. The skirt of her dress puffed up roundly like a flower.
Among the many people, the white light of the wedding dress stood out prominently. Rosalyn had kept that pure white dress perfectly intact until now. For over five hours, perfectly white and neat.
Therefore, there was nothing to lose by keeping such a woman by his side. Rather, it was a gain. Rosalyn might become a Duchess who shone brighter than his mother. She might become a Duchess who garnered more attention than his sister-in-law.
It would certainly be no hindrance to him becoming a better Duke than his father or brother.
‘Since the article about a love marriage was published, there is great interest in the wedding as well. If you utilize this actively, it will provide indirect help in promoting your businesses. It will be a direct benefit to the department store.’
This was the Gilded Age. The power of money was becoming stronger than anything else. The fact that the Glenn family had absorbed ruined nobles to possess thirteen titles, and had become the only family capable of rivaling the Imperial Family today, was ultimately due to money.
Jared’s wise ancestors knew that securing gold was the new way to maintain dominance. Having lived as a son without inheritance rights, Jared had also learned the power of money with his whole body—that money was the basic condition for dignity, honor, and pride.
Above all, he needed a goal. He couldn’t spend his whole life guarding this mansion like a helpless dog. If he had to live as a Duke anyway, wouldn’t it be better to be a Duke who achieved more excellence than anyone else?
‘The prospective Duchess is a beautiful woman. If you utilize your relationship well, I believe you can gather continuous interest.’
Jared agreed with his aide’s opinion. His fiancée was certainly a beautiful woman. On that day, among the women who had come to his ball, there were several who could be called beauties, but looking back now, he couldn’t remember what a single one of them looked like.
So, did I just pick the prettiest woman? That was a truly intellectual standard.
Jared felt a sudden sense of self-derision at his own level as he looked at the person who had made him reconsider his intellect.
Rosalyn was especially beautiful today. The guests praising her as a beauty was not a mere social pleasantry at all. It might be due to the effort put into her grooming as a bride, but Jared thought she drew even more attention because of that off-the-shoulder dress.
The deeply carved neckline emphasized her elegant neck. The prominent collarbones and the delicate bone structure of her shoulders were sensual. A few strands of hair that had escaped her updo also caught his eye. Rosalyn’s thin, straight brown hair was so smooth that it felt as if it would slip through his fingers like sand if he ran his hand through it.
Looking at her, Jared thought once again: why hadn’t a woman like this married until now? Was it simply out of a sense of responsibility for her younger siblings? He was curious, but he had no intention of asking her directly. The same question would surely be returned to him.
He did not want to talk about that subject. If possible, forever.
The slow and tricky dance continued. Jared caught his partner’s hand after her spin and pulled her toward him, lightly embracing the woman as she was drawn in before pulling away slightly for the next move. The two were now facing each other again.
“You look truly beautiful today.”
He smiled.
“Since I’ve taken such a beautiful bride, there’s no harm in showing off a little.”
Like a man in love.
“Smile, Rosalyn.”
Happily.
Jared knew that the protagonist of today was this woman. The bride occupied the largest portion of the wedding and was what people wanted to see most. A young and beautiful Duchess in a pure white wedding dress.
The woman the Duke loved.
Pop.
The flash went off. Jared hoped the photographer had captured a perfect masterpiece. Wouldn’t it be good if even that added some utility to this marriage?
“You also look a little tired, Your Grace.”
The woman spoke cautiously as she scanned his face. He thought he had built up quite a bit of skill in hiding his fatigue. Of course, she might have said it on purpose to emphasize her altruism. Or she might have said it simply because she had nothing else to say while dancing face-to-face.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry. You must be the one who’s exhausted.”
“I’m fine as well.”
He smiled at the woman who gave him a spirited grin. Rosalyn had not made a single mistake. However, as he watched the woman playing the part of the perfect bride for five long hours, a bitter taste filled Jared’s mouth for no reason.
Unshakable elegance. He felt somewhat displeased with this woman who was like a textbook example of a noble.
“That’s a relief.”
Showing a kind smile, he tried his best to be relieved. In fact, it was a relief. Because the most important procedure of this wedding still remained.
After one more group dance, the ball would conclude, and the two of them would head to the bedroom. It would be troublesome if the bride became exhausted before they could even spend their first night together.
