Bridal Lessons - Chapter 3
The fact that she, a penniless bride without a dowry, was blocking the path of a man admired by not only the ladies from the leading families of the empire but also foreign princesses and noblewomen, was something Rosen only recently realized.
She also learned that there had been opposition amongst the vassals when he first brought her in as a child. He had never mentioned such things to Rosen, and all the servants at the grand duchy were kind, so she had been completely unaware.
Her decision to hasten what she had been contemplating for some time was made after hearing rather specific rumors.
“Did you hear? They say His Highness, the Grand Duke of Lutèce, is having secret meetings with the daughter of a foreign noble family… Apparently, he’s so smitten with her that he even bought her a mansion as a gift!”
“Oh my, then what about Lady Dana?”
“Honestly, even if she’s the sister of his friend, he didn’t get engaged to her because he liked her in the first place. His Highness has no obligation to take care of his friend’s sister forever, right? It would be best for everyone if she just left on her own…”
The rumor that Iscarion had bought a grand mansion in a picturesque region to gift to a noblewoman he favored had been circulating for quite some time. Coincidentally, around the time Rosen heard this rumor, Iscarion often left the grand duchy for personal matters.
It was unprecedented for him to travel alone, leaving Rosen behind. If it had been an official schedule, he would have informed her in advance to ease her worries. He would leave the castle as if it were a matter of course and return a few days later, treating Rosen as if nothing had happened.
Could it be true, as people said, that he was secretly meeting a lover?
Initially, people were curious about the identity of the woman rumored to be the Grand Duke’s secret lover.
When it wasn’t clearly revealed, attention shifted to her beauty. The rumors grew more detailed, suggesting that the Grand Duke’s lover was so beautiful that it was blinding, or that she had a figure that seemed like a goddess incarnate.
Rosen, having nothing and lacking confidence in her own appearance, naturally became more insecure.
Of course, her maids, a few noblewomen she knew, and close friends constantly praised her beauty. They would say she looked like a doll made of white sugar or that her rose-colored eyes resembled precious jewels, but those were overly generous, subjective compliments. Viewing her through the eyes of young men would undoubtedly be different.
Rosen had subconsciously come to believe that she was not attractive to the opposite sex, as she had never once received an invitation to dance or go on a date from any man. Not even at private parties or casual outings with female friends, where her engagement status wouldn’t be known.
Even so, if Rosen had been certain that Iscarion loved her, she would never have decided to leave him, no matter what people said about her holding him back or being shameless.
However, Iscarion did not see Rosen as a woman at all. He treated her strictly as a younger sister.
While it was understandable when she was younger, even after she had her coming-of-age ceremony and two more years had passed, their relationship remained purely platonic.
Being his fiancée was only nominal. In reality, their relationship was akin to that of siblings with a significant age gap, or a guardian and his ward. Therefore, Rosen intended to be the first to suggest the annulment of their engagement, knowing he would be struggling with the difficulty of asking her to leave.
“Rosen.”
“…Yes?”
Lost in her thoughts, Rosen hadn’t heard what he said. When their eyes met, Iscarion, instead of reproaching her, smiled softly, his eyes crinkling gently. Tilting his head slightly, as if to peer into her hidden thoughts, he spoke again.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“I was asking about your brown-haired friend who always sticks close to you. I haven’t seen her all night at the party.”
“…You mean Sylvia?”
“Yes, that’s the name.”
“Oh… Sylvia went to receive bridal lessons. She’s getting married next spring.”
“Bridal lessons?”
He seemed somewhat surprised, a faint smile lingering on his lips. With a graceful motion, his large, well-groomed hand, which seemed unbelievable for someone who once wielded a sword daily, lifted his glass.
Bridal lessons.
This was a longstanding marital custom in Kylon. It involved bringing the bride-to-be to the groom’s house in advance to educate her.
‘Bridal lessons’ were mainly conducted in reputable noble families, with some variations in content and method according to family traditions. Typically, an experienced noblewoman from the family would be in charge, but if no suitable person was available, a high-ranking priestess from the temple might be invited.
The lessons usually covered how to manage the household as the family’s matron, oversee the servants, prepare for seasonal events and various banquets in accordance with the family’s customs, and, in some cases, basic sex education for families eager to secure heirs promptly.
However, there was a more important reason behind these ‘bridal lessons’ than the apparent official pretext.
