Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 1
A marriage disadvantageous to the man
This was a marriage in which the man was at a disadvantage.
On the day of a wedding, when the marble floor reflected the brilliant colors of the temple’s stained glass windows, everyone who was invited muttered the same sentiment.
On the altar where the vow of eternity was meant to be exchanged, the groom stood alone with his hands clasped behind his back. His posture was as dignified as a great tree that would not waver even in a storm.
His jet-black hair and coolly beautiful face, combined with an overwhelming atmosphere, might have been due to his family business of dealing with monsters and rebels.
The groom was a man sharp as a honed sword, with a prominent nose, a strong jawline, and lips firmly closed, all revealing the pride of a strong-willed individual.
However, his eyes, which once shone like a comet, seemed somewhat dimmed by the light shining from behind.
Whether that was really because of that light or not, only Izar Arcturus himself would know.
Someone sighed softly at his appearance.
“I never imagined that His Grace would marry so poorly.”
Who would have thought the Arcturus ducal family would be disgraced to this extent?
House Arcturus was one of the most prestigious families of the empire, and the household that had been leading the fight against demonic monsters for generations.
Thus, they were of high enough standing to be connected with the Betelgeuse Imperial Family.
However, due to the scandal of the previous duke and duchess, the household’s honor had fallen into the deepest mud.
The nobles held their breath, watching the silent groom.
“Still, isn’t it still possible to save face since the bride is a daughter of the Antares Duchy?”
Everyone whispered, glancing at the woman who was being walked down the aisle by Duke Antares.
While she certainly had the qualifications to be Duke Arcturus’s bride as she was a daughter of House Antares… in reality, Atria, the Ducal Lady, with her beautiful golden hair, was sitting on the bride’s family side.
For a very long time, people had thought the Antares Duchy had only one daughter.
A lady whispered in disbelief behind her fan.
“What is this? Did they bring in an illegitimate child?”
“Hush!”
But it was too late for caution.
People who quickly grasped the situation knew without being told.
They knew that the empire had to give Izar a reward for his recent feats and contributions during the latest monster subjugation, but due to the ‘crime of his mother’, he was given a demoted award.
And the ‘demoted award’ chosen by the imperial family was the illegitimate daughter of the Antares Duchy.
Soon, Izar slowly turned his head.
A woman, who was one head shorter than him, approached in a pure white dress.
Only then did a faint glimmer flicker through his dimmed golden eyes. Duke Antares cleared his throat, eyeing the young man’s gaze, as he was assigned the role of placing the leash on him—on behalf of the Emperor.
“Ahem. Then, I entrust my daughter to you—”
Tak.
However, before the father could hand over his newly found daughter’s hand, Izar had already loudly taken her small hand.
Duke Antares’s mustache trembled with indignation, but what did that matter?
The humiliation that Izar was enduring was far greater.
He gripped the bride’s hand, so tightly that it might just break, then whispered.
“It really turned out just as you said.”
“…How so?”
The question prompted the corners of Izar’s lips to curl up in disbelief.
Despite her small, bird-like voice, every question she asked was incredibly bold.
It was the same now, just as she did when she had secretly come to explain the entire circumstances leading up to this wedding.
<To know and suffer, or to suffer in ignorance? Which would disgust you less?>
And surprisingly, the woman’s words came true.
This woman, who had worked as a mere shepherdess in his estate…
Finally, he relaxed his grip on her hand, agreeing.
“Certainly enough, this is less disgusting.”
At least he could mentally prepare for the impending humiliation.
So, he was able to tolerate responding to the pathetic marriage vows with a voice seething with anger.
Somewhat surprised by his demeanor, the officiating priest turned to the bride.
The petite bride was dressed in pure white from head to toe.
Only her brown, flaxen hair and big, light-green eyes, child-like in their glimmer, were briefly visible through the lace veil. Her slender figure was easy prey for those who would derogate her as ‘unremarkable’.
How fragile she looked compared to the man, forged like steel.
The priest, feeling sympathetic, carried out his duty.
“Then, Freesia Antares, do you agree to take His Grace the Duke Izar Primus Arcturus as your lawfully wedded husband?”
“…….”
The woman paused to answer, recalling the silver number that had appeared on her precious button necklace that morning.
340.
This strange mark, visible only to her, faithfully decreased with each passing day. It seemed like a sign from God, showing the remaining days of her life.
And Freesia had decided to use this miracle to marry the same man once again.
The new bride answered firmly.
“I do.”
It was all for one thing.
To see her husband, like a distant star in the night sky yet oh so cruel to her, weeping at her funeral this time around.
T/N: The chapters are halved, so 1 KR chapter = 2 ENG chapters, but I’ll try to compensate with more updates (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
