Chapter 31 : The Beginning of a Luck-Based Scam Marriage

As befitted the wedding of a war hero who had distinguished himself in the world war, not only domestic dignitaries but also guests from the allied countries attended in large numbers.

In the room, Cynthia sat quietly, wearing a simple A-line dress without any embellishments and a translucent veil.

Dahlia, who was tidying up Cynthia’s stray hairs, looked out the window at the heavily overcast sky, lost in worry.

‘It mustn’t snow too much.’

Since the Luthemia Republic was a frigid, snowy land, it was long believed that sunshine, not snow, on a wedding day meant the blessing of the goddess.

In particular, soldiers who prided themselves on strong bodies and minds, often held outdoor weddings and were thus heavily influenced by the weather.

Meanwhile, Cynthia was preoccupied with a different concern.

‘It must be cold out there, right? If it snows during the wedding, I won’t be sent on some ‘Survive the Snowfield’ survival training, will I?’

Having completed the final check, Dahlia spoke.

“Lady Cynthia, let’s move to the bridal waiting room now.”

What is marriage, anyway?

It was her second life, but even someone like Cynthia, who seemed like she wouldn’t know what nervousness was, felt tense at the thought of facing her first-ever wedding.

***

Count Queensguard, Carlos, and Edford entered the bridal waiting room.

“What’s with that dress? Weren’t you thrilled to marry a rich officer?”

Edford sneered at the sight of Cynthia’s modest dress.

Cynthia fiddled with her veil, tilting her head.

“This actually cost more than the one sister wore.”

“How could that dress possibly cost more when there’s not even a single jewel on it?”

Edford chuckled mockingly.

It seemed to Edford that her supposedly good relationship with the brigadier general was just a facade, and his wish that she was actually being mistreated had come true.

He became lost in fantasies of Cynthia clinging to him, begging for forgiveness.

In contrast, Carlos stood there silently, looking displeased.

Count Queensguard whispered low to Cynthia.

“Cynthia, be sure to behave yourself so you don’t get cast out after marriage. Let me teach you how to please your husband. Start with small compliments and smile warmly…”

“Yes.”

Cynthia answered indifferently, not even listening to the whole thing.

Soon a servant entered, delivering the news that the duke and duchess would be arriving shortly, then left.

“We should go greet them.”

The Count straightened his clothes and left the bridal waiting room with Carlos.

Edford, who stayed behind looking as if he had much to say to Cynthia, asked—

“You regret not running away with me, don’t you?”

Cynthia stared at him as he spouted nonsense.

“Out of nowhere?”

“Hmph. There’s no use pretending to be on good terms. It’s obvious you’re faking it. I heard the general despises royalty, you know?”

For once, he wasn’t wrong.

‘He deserves a beating for saying stuff like this.’

Edford, seeing her disgusted expression, thought he had hit the nail on the head and continued speaking with a smug look on his face.

“It’s too late, even now. But you’ll have to work to change my heart.”

“Even if we were the last two people left on earth, I still wouldn’t like you. The only effort I’d make is to prevent the world from ending so we wouldn’t be the last two left.”

“So you’re keeping up that pride to the very end, huh?”

Communicating with him was impossible. Cynthia muttered in exasperation.

“Might as well just trigger the doom flag and kill everyone…”

But Edford continued to pester her.

“You don’t want this forced marriage either. Deep down, you’re wishing I’d grab your hand and run away with you during the ceremony, right? I don’t care if I lose everything.”

“Then how about I go tell your father everything right now and get you thrown out naked?”

Cynthia warned him in an icy tone just as the door opened and Count Queensguard entered.

Seeing his father, Edford clamped his mouth shut, flustered.

“Your sister’s here, Cynthia.”

The Count’s tone, now very affectionate, made it clear that the duke and Helene had arrived.

After the Duke offered his congratulations with a kind smile, Helene spoke in a tone that implied, “I’d like to talk in private with my sister. The men can get out.”

Cynthia could faintly sense that Helene was angry.

And sure enough, as soon as everyone left, Helene’s expression turned fierce.

“You really buttered up the Dowager Duchess and those ladies well. All they ever talked about was your honeymoon plans.”

“Why are you picking a fight with me over that…?”

Helene continued to glare at Cynthia with venom in her eyes, convinced that Cynthia had worn a plain dress to make her look like “the sister who stole a dress.”

“And I didn’t want your dress. The designer made a mistake and switched them, that’s all.”

“Why are you only explaining that now…?”

Faced with Cynthia’s innocent, questioning look, Helene held her forehead in frustration.

“Don’t even think of associating with the ducal family from now on.”

“Yeah? Got it.”

Cynthia quickly agreed.

‘What’s up with her? No normal person reacts like that!’

Helene didn’t give up and tried provoking her further.

“You’re a fake anyway. Just because you were registered into our family and are marrying a war hero doesn’t mean you should forget your place.”

“Sure.”

Cynthia answered half-heartedly, barely paying attention.

Helene was left stunned.

Normally when someone threw out such aggressive words, an aggressive response in return was natural.

But she hadn’t expected this kind of reaction at all.

Helene was filled with the urge to take out her anger on Cynthia, but she had nothing left to say.

“Don’t you ever feel unhappy, angry, or wronged?”

Helene asked.

Cynthia looked like someone who had transcended all feelings of inferiority and anger.

She smiled softly.

“I do. I just don’t get worked up over most things now.”

‘Was she always this sly?’

Before her father had pulled off this marriage scam, Cynthia had just been an ordinary servant. If she had such an odd personality, she would’ve definitely remembered.

“I swear you…”

Helene parted her biting lips, about to say something—

“Lady Cynthia, it’s time for the bride to enter.”

—until Dahlia entered, announcing the start of the ceremony.

Cynthia rose and smiled kindly, like someone who bore no resentment whatsoever.

“Sister, if you’re not coming in with me, go on to the wedding hall.”

***

Rumble—

From the sullen gray sky, raindrops began to fall one by one.

“It’s not even snowing, but raining? Oh, this is such an ominous sign. It’s almost like it’s a prediction of their difficult marriage ahead!”

Thunder and rain meant the gods were grieiving—it was the worst omen possible.

At this, the guests seated under the tent clicked their tongues and muttered one by one.

“So much for the claim that the Goddess of Fortune watches over her.”

“Dodging thousands of arrows isn’t scientifically possible anyway.”

‘And predicting a marriage based on the weather is scientific?’

The kitchen servants, who were already on Cynthia’s side, grumbled sulkily.

The reporters attending the wedding were busy scribbling away.

The couple’s married life—clouded from the very start… Were the rumors of separation and divorce true?

From behind, Dahlia, snatched the reporter’s notebook by force, her eyes blazing.

“Ack!”

“What is this about separation and divorce when they haven’t even had the ceremony yet? Please refrain from spreading false information.”

Just then, Cynthia appeared as the bride’s entrance was announced.

“What is that dress?”

The guests murmured in surprise, but for a different reason.

It was only expected as she wore a dress so simple and unadorned that the only thing that stood out was her pale lavender bouquet.

“The bouquet looks like it’s made of jewels. They must’ve spent all their money on that.”

A scoffing voice came from somewhere, and soon the guests joined in with low chuckles.

But inwardly, they all thought the same thing.

‘That’s an expensive bouquet that only the strong can catch. Even if it means cracking my skull, I’m catching that bouquet.’

It was at that moment when everyone’s desires intersected—

“Huh?”

—that their eyes widened at the unbelievable sight.

A ray of sunlight broke through the dark clouds and shone down on Cynthia like a spotlight on the main character of a stage.

Once bathed in light, the plain and patternless dress began to shimmer in a brilliant, multicolored glow like a diamond.

All of this happened purely by coincidence.

A guest who recognized the fabric was shocked.

“That’s… a dress made of diamond thread? Is that even possible?”

“Then, does that mean that dress is a diamond itself?”

“The cost must be astronomical.”

Cynthia smiled brightly. At the same time, a halo appeared behind her head.

The intricately crafted jeweled bouquet reflected the light, making her look like a saint with a halo.

“...My God.”

Someone murmured absentmindedly at the sight that was so dazzlingly beautiful it seemed divine.

“Maybe what saddened the gods was us, for failing to truly bless someone.”