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103.
Soon, the three black cats that Julian always kept with him made their appearance. ‌‌
Following the black cats, Julian walked forward with confident strides.
He had been looking straight ahead, but he paused for a moment, gazed up at the sky, and broke into a broad smile.
His gaze was directed ‌‌‌toward the highest floor of the Labonne Salon.
Even ‌‌‌his brief smile emanated a sacred atmosphere, as though he were offering gratitude to the heavens.
Thanks to this, exclamations and sighs of admiration echoed throughout the venue.
Usually, tears flowed after the bride made her entrance.
But at the Duke of Johannes's wedding, sobs erupted the moment the groom entered.
They were the cries of young noblewomen and ladies who harbored secret affections for ‌‌‌him.
"Duke of Johannes."
As Julian approached the officiant's platform, Deslatino called out to ‌‌‌him in a clipped voice.
His expression was one of reproach—questioning why the Emperor had been seated in the father's place.
Traditionally, that seat should have been occupied by a cardinal ‌‌‌or pope from the Church.
It had been the same for Julian's father. Throughout history, the father's seat at every Duke's wedding had always been filled by members of the ‌‌Church.
He had wondered why the notification came late, but he never expected the Emperor to be placed in that position.
Yet Deslatino soon found himself forced into a bitter smile.
Leo was staring at him intently from beneath the ‌‌Emperor's feet.
It was a piercing gaze—a warning that any foolish ‌‌move would not ‌be tolerated.
‌
"Congratulations on the marriage."
Julian, who had anticipated a somewhat reproachful tone, received the congratulations with reluctant acceptance.
Julian gave a brief nod of acknowledgment and immediately turned away.
He cared nothing ‌‌‌for what Deslatino might be thinking at this moment.
Soon, Rebecca would walk toward him. Merely imagining ‌‌‌it caused his mouth to go dry.
Presently, soft music began to play.
It was the typical processional music used for the bride's entrance in the Rotandus Kingdom.
"The bride enters!"
All eyes turned toward the entrance where the bride would appear. ‌‌‌
Three white cats wearing golden collars appeared alongside two bridesmaids carrying flower baskets.
The young girls walked ‌‌‌slowly and deliberately, scattering flowers on the ground with slight nervousness.
The two girls, wearing flower crowns and dressed in gowns with layers of skirts puffed out like cotton candy, looked like fairies ‌‌‌from an enchanted forest.
"Wait... I feel like I've seen those girls somewhere before..."
Few people knew Livia and Helena, as they had not yet entered society and their family's fortunes had declined. ‌‌‌
Yet in the narrow world of nobility, it was impossible not to know someone completely.
Those who recognized Livia and Helena covered their mouths in shock.
"Oh, Ophelia...!"
The ‌‌‌three white cats took their places gracefully in front of the bride's section. Helena and Livia stood beside them.
Then the bride ‌revealed herself.
Eyes filled with curiosity suddenly widened in astonishment.
Yet their lips could not help but part in admiration at the bride's graceful gait.
The members of the Montblanc Club who knew the secret lifted the corners of their mouths with satisfaction.
Those who kept a secret felt a special bond when it was finally revealed.
The club members did not openly appear close to one another.
However, the three professors working at the same Theological Seminary were different.
No one found it particularly odd when colleagues exchanged everyday conversation at work.
"This is unbearable—my lips have been itching to speak this whole time."
"But now I understand why. Look at the expressions on those surprised faces. I've never seen such a joyful wedding!"
Salvador and Helen chattered away with exaggerated enthusiasm.
As befitted the wedding ‌‌‌‌of the Duke of Johannes, authorities from all walks of life attended as guests.
Watching those proud figures, who never knew how to bow their heads, standing slack-jawed was quite entertaining.
Teresa too gazed at Rebecca with trembling eyes, unable to look away.
Though she had harbored no romantic notions about marriage since childhood, she found herself thinking that a wedding like this would be worth experiencing once in a lifetime.
She was particularly enchanted by the bride's entrance.
Theo and Danae escorted Rebecca from both sides.
As they reached the aisle, Theo and Danae clasped hands together.
Then, rather than continuing to escort Rebecca, they proceeded to the parents' seats.
It was a unique entrance that reflected Rebecca's wish ‌‌to walk the aisle alone.
"I don't wish to be given away. Father. Once was enough."
As Danae and Theo took their seats, Rebecca began to walk slowly forward.
"Now!"
The moment ‌Rebecca's foot touched the verdant grass, Eustaf signaled the staff.
Instantly, small ‌‌sprinklers embedded in ‌‌‌the lawn began to spray water.
The tiny flower buds hidden within the grass opened ‌as they met the water.
Flowers bloomed beneath Rebecca's feet in ‌‌time with her pace, only to wilt the moment she stepped away.
Simultaneously, the magical stones wrapped around the cherry blossom columns blazed with light.
Thanks to this, the diamonds hanging from every embroidered edge of the dress sparkled without pause.
Rebecca's tall frame carried the train's tremendous length with effortless grace.
The mermaid cut dress showcased every advantage of her figure.
The scale of ‌‌‌‌the production, never ‌‌before witnessed, paired with an equally lavish dress, might have seemed ‌excessive.
Yet the tiara she wore—modest in appearance but radiating elegance—stood at the center, tempering the ‌‌‌opulence with quiet refinement.
Thus Rebecca appeared not as a flamboyant bride, but as one of true dignity.
* * *
"I thought she ‌‌was beautiful before, but seeing her today—she's extraordinary. Like the goddess of spring herself."
Karim whistled from a room on the highest floor of the Salon, which ‌‌‌‌overlooked the Garden.
He lowered the opera ‌‌‌glasses ‌from his eyes and turned casually toward Zeppelin, who trembled beside him.
"How does it feel to have lost such a perfect bride?"
"Shut up."
Though Zeppelin shuddered as if he might bolt at any moment, he could not tear his eyes from Rebecca.
Rather, he could not.
She had become even more perfect.
I had thought there could be no Rebecca more beautiful than she was on our wedding day.
But that was my mistake.
Today's Rebecca—the Rebecca marrying Duke Julian of Johannes, not me—was the most perfect version of her I had ever seen.
As a strange sense of defeat washed over me, I felt as though I wanted ‌‌to die.
Rebecca had walked the entire aisle and now took Julian's hand.
Unable to contain my rage, I shot to my feet.
But Karim seized my shoulder and pressed down with such force that I was forced back into my chair.
"Where are you going? The Duke of Johannes has specially prepared premium seating for you. You should watch the ceremony properly, Earl of Devonshire."
"What are you doing! Karim Latrannis! Remove your hand this instant!"
"My, where did your manners go? Your words ‌‌‌‌have become so curt. Ah, so your memory has returned? ‌‌‌That kind Earl of Devonshire was all an act. ‌‌‌‌How fascinating. Truly amusing!"
Blood vessels bulged in my eyes. With eyes completely bloodshot, I seized Karim by the collar as he pressed down on my shoulder.
"I have to find my Rebecca. Let me out of here now!"
Karim looked down at the pitifully weak arm of Zeppelin, who was ‌gripping his shirt collar.
Though Zeppelin had a more robust build than ‌‌‌‌‌the average man, compared to Karim or Julian, he was nothing but a twig.
"Listen. You seem to be under a misunderstanding...."
Karim's eyes, which had been smiling constantly, suddenly narrowed. He twisted Zeppelin's wrist and forced his hand away from his shirt.
"Ugh, aaah...."
Karim's strength was truly ‌‌‌‌tremendous. When pain exceeded a certain threshold, even screams would not emerge.
Zeppelin gasped for breath, staring at his own wrist as it twisted ‌‌unnaturally.
"You are the weak one here. Having grown up in lofty places your entire life, you seem unaware of your current situation. Allow me to offer you some advice. Anyone can fall to the bottom. Even the Earl of Devonshire."
"St... stop... let ‌me, let me out of here... you provincial ‌‌vagrant...."
Deep wrinkles furrowed Karim's brow.
It seemed ‌‌‌‌Zeppelin was currently in a state where rational judgment was impossible.
Karim glanced down at Julian, who was reciting his marriage vows.
And he gazed at the radiant Rebecca standing demurely beside him.
'What exactly is this woman....'
The savage beast of a man that ‌was Julian had become a shy boy, and Zeppelin, lauded as the Empire's statue, had become a madman consumed by frenzy.
'Is she a witch? No, but her bearing is almost like that of ‌‌‌a general....'
Even he, who did not believe in superstition, found himself suspecting sorcery. Rebecca's aura was peculiar.
Lost in thought, ‌curiosity had taken ‌‌‌‌‌hold of him.
"Ahhh!"
And at Zeppelin's cry, he snapped from his reverie.
"Ah! My apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment. I didn't break any bones, so a few applications of medicine and your wrist will be restored to normal."
"You bastard...."
Karim released Zeppelin's hand.
Zeppelin clutched his mangled wrist and glared at Karim.
Then, seizing the moment when Karim paused to catch his breath, he bolted toward the door.
He could not give ‌‌‌‌up.
The beautiful image of Rebecca, the picturesque sight of her with flowers blooming ‌‌beneath her feet—it kept luring me forward.
"Rebecca... I have to go to Rebecca. I need to get back what's mine." ‌‌‌‌
"Wow. This guy's absolutely insane. Now I understand why Rebecca ran away. Hey, Earl of Devonshire! You're supposed to sit there and just watch."
Karim dragged Zeppelin, who ‌‌‌was lunging toward the door, and forced him into a chair. Zeppelin climbed out of the ‌‌chair and fell to his knees before him.
"I'll give you everything you want. So please, let me get Rebecca back! What do you want? Gold? You're a poor duke. I'll give it all to you. I'll give you more than the Emperor himself. So return my Rebecca to where she ‌‌‌belongs!"
"Hah..."
At Zeppelin's desperate cry, Karim was left speechless and shook his head slowly.
"Ahhh! Rebecca!"
At his firm refusal, Zeppelin beat the ground and wailed.
Karim could not believe the sight of Zeppelin before him and continued to wipe his face in disbelief.
The Runaway Countess Returns
E-book Publication
‌‌‌‌
January 12, 2022
Author

Long Night Sky
Publisher ‌‌

Desert Fox
Published by

Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission Reception

naver.me/54VzzLSn
Blog

blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
Twitter

@wjt_fennecfox

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