For My Birthday, I Was Gifted Five Husbands - Chapter 54
‘No, more importantly.’
Eugenie examined Carter with a look reserved for a charming lunatic.
“Carter. Why are you returning to work during our honeymoon? Do you want to show me your work habits?”
“Not at all. Do you think I’m that much of a workaholic?”
Carter took Eugenie’s hand and smiled brightly.
“We’re going to have our first night together here, Eugenie.”
“What?”
“In a place blessed by God, just the two of us.”
Was her friend about to commit sacrilege? She gasped at the thought, but where Carter led her was the prayer hall, filled with a sacred atmosphere.
What Carter wanted was…
“You want us to have a covenant ceremony just between the two of us?”
“Exactly. Just us, without anyone else.”
Carter winked and used a playful tone, as if trying to charm Eugenie like he did in their childhood.
“The wedding ceremony was beautiful, but let’s have this special moment just for us.”
“But we’ve already settled all the legalities…”
“Still! To be honest, I felt a bit sad that the bride wore the dress that the Napier bast….guy procured.”
Carter pulled out a shallow box that had been stored on the altar in the prayer hall. Inside was a graceful veil that made Eugenie raise an eyebrow. Delicate silver jewels were woven into the lace, glimmering softly.
“Carter, what is this?”
“It’s a gift my mother received from my father.”
“Oh.”
“I wanted to give something special to my bride too.”
Eugenie gazed down at the veil with a puzzled expression. It seemed that Mr. Livingston, despite his humble appearance, had given his wife extravagant gifts in his younger days.
Meanwhile, Carter, who had been grinning, noticed Eugenie’s expression and his smile faltered slightly.
“I knew it was a contract, and I thought I could handle it just fine. But…”
“But what?”
“I find myself wanting more.”
Carter lifted the delicately folded veil with both hands and carefully offered it to Eugenie. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, scattering rainbow hues across them.
“I’m fine with you having someone else as a husband too, but today, for just one day, I want to be your husband.”
“…….”
“Is that not possible, Eugenie?”
If someone else had said it, she would have retorted that their legal relationship made no difference. However, with Carter, it was much harder to respond that way.
‘Yes, I’ll give him what he wants, and I’ll feel less guilty about it.’
What did it matter that she had once rejected his confession as a child? Eugenie wrinkled her nose as she carelessly tossed the lacy veil over her head.
‘If you’re going to do this, you could at least give me a heads-up.’
As Napier had said, even with her hopeless fashion sense, she knew that a floral cardigan paired with a striped dress wasn’t exactly wedding attire.
Still, Carter beamed at her as if he was seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom after a long winter.
“You look lovely, Eugenie. Truly beautiful.”
“The priest is just spitting on his lips and lie… Who’s going to officiate?”
“The groom, of course.”
“How ridiculous. It’s not like cells can spontaneously divide.”
“Now, the bride must remain silent. We will begin the marriage vows.”
Carter skillfully brushed aside Eugenie’s mumbling and firmly grasped her hands so she couldn’t escape.
“Groom Carter Arthur Livingston vows to take bride Eugenie Norton as his wife, promising to love her always, in all circumstances.”
Suddenly, Eugenie thought about how much Carter hadn’t changed since he had confessed all those years ago, whether they were seventeen or twenty-four now.
It was amusing that they had rushed into a legal marriage, yet he still seemed anxious, as if he anticipated rejection.
“Then does bride Eugenie Morgan Norton vow to take Carter Livingston as her husband, promising to love him always, in all circumstances?”
Eugenie nearly brushed her hand against the back of her neck out of embarrassment. Remembering that she was wearing the veil made her feel a bit shy, so she muttered softly.
“…I do.”
And when Carter smiled as if he was the happiest man in the world, she felt as if chains had been wrapped around her ankles.
“Thus, the groom and bride pledge to love and respect each other as lifelong partners and to build a harmonious family.”
So when her long-time friend lowered his head to kiss her, the initially gentle and light kiss deepened, and she found herself without the strength to pull away.
