Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 74
Louise tensed and bowed her head upon seeing Emperor Leonhart, who had come to attend the wedding. This was the third time she had seen him since receiving the order to spend the night with Richard and visiting the capital to get approval for their marriage.
Despite the scandalous rumors about the proxy consummation that Cherinia had already spread, Richard had turned the situation around by publicly taking responsibility, a move that the Emperor greatly disapproved of.
However, Richard strongly asserted the emperor’s promise to allow him to marry the woman of his choice at the time of his choosing after sharing a bed with Louise for two months. Reluctantly, the emperor had to agree.
“Even so, I cannot permit the marriage given your current status.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Fortunately, my aide, Count Anais, has no daughters. Aside from your brother, who is serving a sentence of hard labor, you have no family now. So, the Count will officially adopt you and your younger sister as his daughters. Make sure to express your gratitude later.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Although she had received permission for the marriage, Louise was filled with anxiety that the emperor might change his mind and retract his decision. As these thoughts ran through her mind, Leonhart approached her.
“Lady Ridcel, or should I say, Lady Anais now?”
The emperor’s next words reached the extremely nervous Louise.
“Congratulations on your marriage. Take good care of my brother.”
“Oh, Your Majesty…”
Louise looked up with a face full of emotion. At that moment, the young crown prince came running from a distance.
“Auntie, hello! I wrote a letter because Uncle Richard is getting married!”
“Thank you, Your Highness. You write very well.”
Louise bent down to meet the young prince at eye level and smiled brightly. Beside them, the emperor cleared his throat, obviously pleased with his son’s praise.
“Brother, Leo has become much more mature since seeing his little sister.”
“That’s right! And now, I’m going to get another sibling! We’ll meet them in winter!”
“A third child?”
“Yes! That’s why I heard Dad can’t do anything to Mom! Auntie, please have a cute baby soon! I want to play together with everyone!”
“…Leo! Quiet.”
Leonhart hurriedly covered the crown prince’s mouth, but the words had already been said. Louise noted that Empress Estelle was not present at the wedding, suggesting she was expecting. No matter how unpredictable relationships between men and women could be, she wondered what had transpired during that time.
“A third child? What happened?”
Richard, conscious of his nephew, held back further remarks, instead looking at his brother with a mixture of bewilderment and exasperation. Leonhart quickly made his escape.
“Ahem, ahem— The ceremony will start soon, so we can discuss this later. I must leave right after it ends, so consider this my farewell. Let’s go, Leo.”
“Brother! I’ll visit the capital later!”
Richard shouted to his brother’s retreating back, seizing the opportunity. Leonhart, holding his son’s hand, waved awkwardly as he disappeared.
At that moment, the clear sound of bells announcing the start of the wedding echoed, signaling the entrance of the bride and groom.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
Richard extended his hand politely, and Louise, with a smile, took it.
***
“And now, the groom may kiss the bride, sealing your vows of eternal love and trust.”
Under the warm spring sunshine in the outdoor ceremony, the joyful wedding reached its final step amidst grand blessings. As they walked down the aisle, flowers showered down upon them, blessing their bright future. Just as they reached the end of the aisle, an artist asked them to pause for a moment to capture the memorable scene on canvas.
“Alright, please stay just like that for a moment! Yes, look at each other warmly, exchange loving glances, and get a bit closer…”
With her arms around Richard’s neck, maintaining a position where their lips almost touched, Louise found it awkward and burst into a giggle. Richard, meeting her gaze, raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s a bit… difficult.”
“That’s a problem. I don’t plan on letting you sleep at all tonight.”
The garden, filled with flowers and bustling with numerous guests, had lost its decorum after the high priest declared the marriage solemnized.
Standing close enough to feel each other’s breath, Richard and Louise conversed quietly amidst the commotion.
“Oh, and the right of the first night is officially abolished across the Empire.”
“That’s great news!”
“But it will take about a day for the decree to be delivered everywhere, so it will be officially effective tomorrow.”
“Then… today is the last day that custom exists?”
“Yes, and fortunately, we’re the only ones getting married in the estate today.”
Richard subtly lifted the corners of his lips.
“So, will you grant me the right tonight?”
“…My lord.”
Louise, expecting to be too flustered to respond, instead gave a soft smile. She stepped closer and whispered as she adjusted his cravat.
“It will be me who claims you, my lord.”
Momentarily at a loss for words, Richard finally broke into a low laugh.
“Yes, you’re right.”
Unable to contain his rising affection, he pulled his beloved into a tight embrace.
“Not just tonight, but tomorrow and the day after. I’ll give you everything. Every night left in my life will be yours.”
“Richard…”
She had stormed into his indifferent life, captivating his gaze, entangling him completely, and now, binding him forever with her love. Richard knew he would spend his life wrapped around this little woman, and he was willing to embrace that happy fate.
“Who knew you would make me so powerless.”
As he murmured with a hint of laughter, Louise gave him a sweet, reproachful look, as if saying it was too late to feel wronged.
“Didn’t you see this coming?”
“No.”
Richard gave a genuine smile. The world, painted with beautiful hues since knowing her, was a marvel. Perhaps this day had always been destined.
From the moment he first saw Louise bravely stepping in front of his procession, he might have sensed he would fall in love with her. Beneath the dazzling rain of flowers and the sunlight piercing through, he held his brightly smiling bride close and whispered,
“I knew from the moment I first saw you.”
—The End.
