I Became the Regretful Male Lead's Sister (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
The morning of the wedding day.
With solemn faces, my maids and I woke up, tense for the immense preparations ahead.
It was completely different from Maximilian’s wedding preparations, being a man.
The dress, jewelry, makeup tools, shoes, and stockings.
The head maid, checking meticulously for anything forgotten, shouted,
“Is there anything we’ve missed?”
“Yes!”
The maids’ booming voices were enough to overwhelm me.
“We’ll make sure this wedding is a success. Everyone, stay sharp.”
“Yes!”
“Then, to the cathedral!”
The maids, their spirits high like soldiers heading to war, charged forward.
Looking out at the dusty window, I turned at the chilling sensation behind me.
“Then let’s begin our preparations.”
At the head maid’s face, her eyes gleaming like a mad scientist, I instinctively swallowed hard.
‘Is this really okay?’
I started to worry about this wedding.
* * *
The bride’s preparation room in the cathedral.
I bit my lips tightly to avoid screaming.
“My lady! Just hold your breath a bit longer.”
“Ugh, I can’t… I can’t do this anymore!”
The corset, tightened to the point I could barely breathe, nearly killed me.
A heated argument broke out between me, saying I couldn’t take it, and the maids encouraging me to tighten it more.
Finally compromising at a reasonable point, I leaned against the wall, panting.
Is marriage this difficult?
“I almost died.”
“You won’t die from that, my lady.”
The head maid, with sharp eyes, checked my makeup and attire.
She turned me around several times, insisting there must be no flaws.
I knew why she was so disciplined.
With my mother, a once-in-a-generation figure, gone, she worried about the gossip of those predatory nobles.
I didn’t care much, but knowing her intentions, I went along with it.
“All done, my lady. Please stand.”
At the head maid’s words, after finishing the adornments, I stood up.
I turned to face the mirror in front of me.
My long, glossy blonde hair was intricately braided and firmly pinned.
Decorated with small blue diamonds, my updo was surrounded by silver branch-shaped ornaments.
My cheeks, dusted with crushed pearl, glowed softly, and dark eyeshadow made my features stand out.
It was far more beautiful than I’d imagined.
Jaina’s face was already pretty, of course.
“The dress suits you perfectly. Our taste is flawless, isn’t it?”
With the wedding rushed, there was hardly time to tailor a dress.
So, we had no choice but to hurriedly order one from a familiar boutique.
‘I didn’t expect much, but it’s nice.’
The custom-ordered wedding dress was perfectly made for my figure.
It bared my shoulders, with thin white fabric fitted tightly from chest to waist, adorned with silk flowers of varying sizes for added elegance.
The skirt, made of multiple layers of tulle, looked even more voluminous.
“Indeed. They must have worked hard despite the short time.”
Finally, the head maid took out the necklace Teresa had given me from its box.
The blue diamond, with its mystical glow, sparkled under the light.
The head maid must have recognized it as an exceptionally valuable item.
And rightly so, as a diamond of such size, clarity, and craftsmanship was rare.
“Now, kneel a little.”
“Okay.”
With the veil and tiara added, the mirror reflected a complete bride.
I’m really getting married.
It felt like a dream until just moments ago, but suddenly everything became real.
While I was marveling, a knock came at the door.
“Ahem. Is everything ready?”
“Yes. Please come in, Duke.”
The head maid quickly opened the preparation room’s door.
My father’s eyes, meeting mine, were filled with tears.
“Confound it, was there a need to marry so soon?”
Father still firmly believed Nathaniel and I had some sort of relationship.
Having given up on convincing him otherwise, I played along to avoid trouble.
“It’s not like I wanted to do this.”
At my curt reply, Father gave me a slight glare.
Yes, I know there was no other way.
Our great male protagonist rejected the imperial family for love, not his house, and it just so happened the crown prince was lying on his daughter’s bed.
‘Ugh, what bad luck.’
I let go of all my ambitions.
From now on, my safety was the priority.
Though he appeared as a cute dragon, Nathaniel was a notorious tyrant in the original story.
If he didn’t like something, he’d make it disappear without a trace or drive people mad with his boundless power.
He was both meticulous and callous.
‘I’ll become a sycophant.’
I decided my path to survive by his side.
Whether he treated me well or not didn’t matter.
Flattery and praise were my way to survive.
“Let’s go. The ceremony time is approaching.”
At Father’s words, I nodded.
With the resolve of a soldier heading to battle.
Passing through the lavish corridor, I stood side by side with Father before the ornate door.
My body trembled with tension.
To think I’d end up married so absurdly.
Of all the things I’d experienced since being transported to this world, none felt as intense as today.
“Nervous?”
“No, not nervous.”
My voice and Father’s voice both trembled.
“Tch, trembling like that and pretending to be tough.”
“Come on, you’re trembling too, Father.”
We bantered until the sound of brass instruments announced the entrance.
It was partly to ease each other’s tension, but perhaps also because it might be our last chance to talk as father and daughter.
After marriage, bantering like this would likely be difficult.
“Live happily. If Nathaniel bothers you, let me know.”
“Will you help if I do?”
“I may not do much, but I can lie down in protest. And I have friends who’d join me.”
As we talked about Father’s protest skills, the sound announcing the bride’s entrance rang out.
I instinctively gripped Father’s hand tightly.
“I’ll live well. Don’t worry.”
“I know you will.”
And the central door opened.
Stepping inside, I was overwhelmed by the cathedral’s splendor and grandeur.
The high ceiling, visible only by craning my neck, and the stained glass casting colorful light on both walls.
And the red carpet down the central aisle, adorned with lilies and roses.
Father and I stepped onto the carpet, walking slowly down the virgin road to the piano’s accompaniment.
At the end of the virgin road stood Nathaniel.
Was it my imagination, or did he look a bit like a demon?
I swallowed hard instinctively.
Nathaniel, standing on the platform, came down the steps to take my hand.
His hand felt about five degrees colder.
I glanced at Nathaniel, gauging his mood. The crease in his brow suggested he wasn’t pleased.
‘Is he angry?’
We weren’t strangers, but Nathaniel seemed awkward.
We ascended the platform together and stood before the Pope.
Who would’ve thought the Pope, whom I saw up close just a month ago, would officiate my wedding?
The Pope, with a reluctant expression, began the blessing.
“Now, the two shall share the oath’s kiss.”
Learning from last time’s failure, perhaps?
Even the part about confirming our willingness for the marriage was completely omitted.
Nathaniel, seemingly dumbfounded, twitched the hand holding mine.
We faced each other.
Despite all the fanfare about a love marriage, it felt like the first time we truly faced each other.
‘It was different when he was a dragon.’
His pretty, red lips twitched as if to speak, then closed.
Perhaps displeased with the situation, Nathaniel’s long eyelashes trembled.
Soon, his cool hand touched my cheek.
Am I really going to kiss?
I couldn’t believe it, but following what countless media had taught me, I tightly shut my eyes.
A soft breath grazed my nose and cheek.
Moist lips lightly brushed near my mouth, like a feather, then parted.
“I now declare the two husband and wife.”
The Pope’s resounding declaration brought a sense of relief.
I dumbly looked up at Nathaniel’s face.
Still frowning, he pulled my hand.
And so, the wedding ended.
* * *
I realized the wedding wasn’t the end only after it was over.
After the ceremony and reception, the maids rushed in and whisked me away.
They removed all the hair accessories and stored the jewelry in a box.
They also loosened the corset that had been tightened to the point I could barely breathe.
‘Phew, I feel alive.’
…Or so I thought for a moment.
“This way, Your Highness.”
The title ‘Your Highness’ felt so unfamiliar.
I was dragged by the maids to the bathroom.
Soaking in a large bathtub, I had my shoulders and arms massaged to relieve fatigue.
They washed my hair and rubbed scented foam on my body.
“We’ll prepare you perfectly for the first night.”
Gasp.
I had completely forgotten.
I’d thought of cuddling a cute dragon, not spending the first night.
After all, I’d spent far more time with Nathaniel as a baby dragon than as a human.
“Your Highness?”
My face grew hotter.
The bathwater, being warm, made it rise faster.
I shot up from the tub.
“That’s enough bathing. Let’s… prepare.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I wanted to see the nightgown they’d prepared.
I needed time to mentally prepare.
And the chemise they brought surpassed my imagination.
I understood why, in romance novels, wandering in nightwear got you labeled as crazy.
“This… it’s practically like wearing nothing!”
“The allure is in the almost-seen, Your Highness.”
The maids, delighted with the garment, fluttered its hem excitedly.
As the thin fabric flapped before my eyes, my mental state fluttered too.
“Come this way. We’ll apply cream to soften your skin.”
They took my dazed self and proceeded. They applied cream to soften my skin and laid me on a massage bed to relax my entire body.
“We’ll see you tomorrow, Your Highness. If you need anything, pull the bell cord.”
After dressing me in the barely-there nightgown, the maids left the room.
In the marital bedroom, it was just me and the large bed.
“Sigh.”
Sitting on the bed’s edge, I let out a long sigh.
Was it nerves?
My hands kept sweating.
Why didn’t I think about the first night?
I couldn’t understand my past self.
It was hectic, sure. No, I’m the one who’s hectic now.
Sitting there, dazed, I turned at the sound of the door opening.
“Gasp.”
Nathaniel, in a thin robe, stood at the door with his usual expressionless face.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
Hahaha, Nathaniel looks cute, he’s funny, he looks like a kid on a picnic