In the Midst of Revenge on Cinderella - Chapter 67

After kissing Cahirun at the jousting match, public opinion towards us was divided. There were still disapproving gazes, but also those who viewed it as a romantic love.

While I intended to publicly announce our relationship with the golden rose, I didn’t expect that kiss to have such a big impact. Fortunately, Floria was still tolerating it for now.

These days I was busy with wedding preparations. There was no time to delay due to the king’s worsening health.

“Please raise your waist a little more.”

Since I didn’t have any elders or chaperones to consult, Cahirun called his aunt, his late mother’s older sister.

Eliza Rein was a strict but kind person.

Through her, I learned that ‘Cal’ was Cahirun’s childhood nickname. Using a childhood nickname with his maternal family’s surname as an alias showed he cared quite a bit for his mother’s side.

Eliza liked me very much from the start. I wondered if she hadn’t heard rumors about me since she lived in a provincial estate isolated from society, but that wasn’t the case. She simply had infinite trust and love for Cahirun.

“If it’s a woman Cahirun chose, I can trust her.”

Eliza was very kind to me for the sole reason that Cahirun cared for me.

The stories she occasionally shared about Cahirun’s childhood were quite enjoyable. Sometimes when I heard mischievous anecdotes, I would tease Cahirun, and he would grimace but laugh willingly.

Thanks to Eliza, the wedding preparations proceeded smoothly.

I sighed as I looked down at the pile of unopened letters.

The Violet family had been sending letters almost daily since learning I was marrying Cahirun.

There was no need to read the contents. The letters that had previously occasionally requested pocket money and gifts now contained even more blatant demands. They intended to use me to revive the family again.

But more problematic was that they might commit some outrage against Floria by using me. I was worried about inadvertently offending her and facing the consequences.

“They’re not family, they’re enemies, enemies.”

Thinking it would be the same content as always, I unenthusiastically opened and read a letter, then jumped to my feet. It said the family was now in Samian territory. Samian was not far from the capital.

“Ah, damn it.”

Their intention to enter the palace before the wedding was obvious. I clutched my aching head and slumped over. Just then, someone gently stroked my hair. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“What’s the problem?”

I turned my head slightly to see Cahirun looking down at me. It was the first time seeing his face in a while, as he had been away for days inspecting the flood damage in Hamburg territory.

“When did you return?”

“Just now. Did something happen?”

Cahirun glanced down at the table and snatched the letter from my hand.

There was no reason to hide it, so I just watched quietly. A sneer flashed across Cahirun’s lips as he quickly scanned the letter, then quickly disappeared. The Violet family’s scheme was apparently obvious to him as well.

“You sighed earlier too. Don’t you want to meet your family?”

“No. Nothing good will come from meeting them now. They’ll definitely use me to provoke Floria. They’re already grinding their teeth at her.”

“That would be troublesome.”

Cahirun furrowed his brow. After pondering for a moment, he asked lightly.

“How about I scare them a little?”

I hope your ‘little’ and my ‘little’ are the same degree. Unable to be sure of that, I shook my head.

“No matter what, they’re family, so that doesn’t seem right.”

Of course, I didn’t feel any blood ties to them who weren’t really my family, but it was a matter of principle.

“I suppose you’re right?”

Though he answered nonchalantly as if he had expected that, his face clearly showed he didn’t accept it.

“Well, if I give you an urgent signal later, please secretly make me faint or something.”

If they act outrageously in front of Floria, what else can I do but that? That would keep their lives safe too. It’s better than an enraged Floria sending pigeons or ordering Shana to use magic.

Cahirun nodded seriously at my words.

“Have you chosen your wedding attire?”

“Yes.”

The Hilic Kingdom had a strange custom of not seeing each other’s wedding attire until the day of. It was a kind of superstition that doing so would lead to a long, happy, and peaceful married life.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you in your wedding dress.”

“It’s just a contract marriage anyway.”

“Contract, contract at the end of every sentence. It’s going to form a callus on my ears.”

Cahirun frowned in displeasure.

“Do people in contract marriages kiss?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”

I glared at Cahirun, wondering how long he was going to milk that incident where I had closed my eyes as if entranced.

“You keep harping on about the contract, so I felt a bit competitive.”

“Even in a contract marriage, that level of skinship can happen as needed.”

I answered somewhat defiantly. And immediately regretted it. Cahirun’s expression became very mischievous.

“I see. Alright. I’ll look forward to it.”

…What are you looking forward to?

“What… are you looking forward to?”

Cahirun just smiled faintly as always at my bewildered gaze. That smile made me even more uneasy.

Unaware of my anxiety, time passed quickly, and on the morning a few days before the wedding, the Violet family finally arrived at the palace. Not just me, but Cahirun as well went out to greet them.

As soon as she saw me, the Countess rushed over, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Reneola! My poor daughter!”

Poor what, when did you care when you were driving me to my death? I looked down glumly at the Countess who clung to me, sobbing loudly.

“Sister!”

My still immature sister Eliya also ran up and hugged me. I had worried about her finger joints after she sent hundreds of letters demanding why I wasn’t sending catalogs, but unfortunately they seemed fine.

I listlessly comforted the two people clinging to me on both sides, shedding tears. The Count also looked like he wanted to say something, but seemed unable to open his mouth due to maintaining face. Cahirun greeted him in my place.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Cahirun de Hilic.”

The Count had an ‘oops’ expression. Normally, the noble subject should greet the royal first, but Cahirun extended his hand first, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

The Count quickly wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and grasped Cahirun’s hand. The Countess sniffled and scolded him.

“Dear, really. Why are you being so formal with your son-in-law? Reneola’s husband is like our son now.”

“Dear, he’s the First Prince. How dare we treat him casually?”

The relatively tactful Count rebuked her. As he said, it was only natural to show proper respect to Cahirun, regardless of his relationship with me. I inwardly shook my head at the Countess who lacked discretion. I was already worried about the future, with her acting like this from the start.

“It’s alright.”

Cahirun smiled faintly. I could see he was enduring for my sake.

“See? But where is that Floria? Why isn’t she showing her face when family has come from afar?”

The Countess looked around and asked.

“Not Floria, but Her Highness the Second Princess. You should watch your words, Mother.”

“Does becoming a princess cut off family ties? There seems to have been some misunderstandings between us, wouldn’t it be nice to clear them up now?”

I didn’t know the Countess was this unreasonable. She seemed to be feeling elated that the First Prince would soon be her son-in-law.

“Her Highness the Second Princess went to the detached palace with His Highness the Second Prince.”

They probably went to personally inspect the mithril mine. The mine was near the detached palace.

“Didn’t you tell them we were coming?”

“No.”

When I answered curtly, the Countess clicked her tongue. She seemed to have wanted to put on airs in front of Floria. The Countess, visibly disappointed, soon grabbed me and urged.

“Show this mother around the palace.”

“Me too, me too! I want to see too, sister.”

With both arms linked by the two, I had to move my reluctant feet.

The Violet family appeared at Cahirun’s dinner invitation decked out in all sorts of finery, and made various demands as if they had always lived in the palace.

“You should warn us if there are spices! I almost coughed disgracefully in front of my son-in-law! I can’t eat this, bring something else.”

“Don’t you have white wine? I’d like to drink something from the Sobian region, at least 50 years old.”

“The meat seems a bit tough.”

I squeezed my eyes shut at their behavior as if they were royalty themselves. Thanks to them, my already low reputation was hitting rock bottom and digging even further down. Cahirun gave me a subtle look.

‘Want me to make you faint?’

I barely resisted saying yes, please do that.

‘It’s fortunate Floria is at the detached palace. I must make sure they absolutely don’t meet before the wedding.’

But this wish of mine did not last long. I had dragged the Countess and Eliya, who were ransacking my dressing room, out to the central garden, only to run right into Floria who was looking for me.

‘No, why are you here!’

I clutched my forehead at this shitty coincidence. If I had known this would happen, I should have left them alone no matter how they trashed my closet. But it was too late for regrets now.

Floria’s expression, frozen for a moment, soon took on an intrigued look as if she had found a new toy. Unaware of this, the Countess and Eliya confidently faced her with me at their backs. I alone grew pale like a shrimp caught between fighting whales.