In the Doghouse - Chapter 42
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The solemn music echoed through the chapel, signaling the start of the wedding ceremony. Courtney stood in the grand hall of the temple, her face calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.
No one among the guests waiting inside for the bride could ever imagine that just moments ago, the groom had been hiding under her voluminous dress.
Remembering Richard’s antics made Courtney fume, causing Hendrick to ask,
“Still feeling warm?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The head maid, noticing Courtney’s flushed cheeks, quickly stepped in and gently pulled down her veil. Though her touch wasn’t exactly gentle, Courtney gave her a grateful look.
The maid was the only witness to what had happened earlier. She had walked in just as Courtney was dragging Richard out from under her dress and giving him a good scolding.
‘Your Highness, what are you doing here…?’
For the maid, the issue wasn’t that the Crown Princess-to-be was hitting the Crown Prince. The real problem was that Richard had secretly seen the bride before the ceremony, which was against tradition. Reluctantly, the maid turned a blind eye to Richard’s antics, choosing loyalty over her religious convictions.
Courtney’s face twisted as she recalled Richard’s behavior, but the semi-transparent veil did a good job of hiding her frustrated expression. The fact that he had crawled under her dress was bad enough, but the audacity of his inappropriate actions was what truly annoyed her.
Still, Courtney could forgive him for that, because unlike Richard, she was a reasonable person. However, what had driven her to hit him was what he had said after emerging from under her dress.
‘Courtney, I noticed your panties were wet, could it be…?’
He had said this while rubbing his thumb and middle finger together, as if savoring the sensation, speaking in a voice filled with rapture. The moment he raised his fingers to his nose, Courtney lost all control and swung at him.
Even now, his voice echoed clearly in her mind, and she cursed herself for not hitting him harder. She was marrying this lunatic, after all.
The most infuriating part, though, was that Richard’s observation was true. The dampness of her panties clinging to her skin made Courtney shift uncomfortably as she tried to ignore it.
Before she could fully calm down, the music inside the hall abruptly stopped. It was time for the bride to enter. The head maid led the line of maids who bowed deeply to her.
Hendrick, more nervous than his daughter, trembled as he exhaled.
“Whew, this is nerve-wracking.”
For a man who had lived as a mere commoner despite his title, standing in such a prominent position was a first. Not that anyone would be paying attention to the father of the bride.
Two priests, dressed in formal attire, pushed open the grand doors of the temple. As the guests turned their gaze toward the entrance, Courtney saw her family, the elite nobles of the capital, and even the Emperor, watching with a solemn expression. Despite being someone who prided herself on her composure, Courtney couldn’t help but swallow nervously under the weight of all those gazes.
The moment she and her father stepped inside, the music resumed. Through the hazy veil, Courtney caught sight of Richard standing at the altar. He had shed his usual frivolous attitude and was every bit the perfect Crown Prince.
Despite knowing that it was just a façade, Courtney couldn’t help but be drawn in once more. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, not from the envious gazes of the crowd but from the intensity of his deep stare.
Hendrick, moving faster than planned due to his nerves, walked with hurried steps, making Courtney stumble slightly on the plush carpet.
“Father…!”
She whisper-screamed, grabbing his arm tightly to steady herself. Realizing his mistake, Hendrick slowed his pace. What a mess. Courtney swallowed a sigh.
Finally, they reached the altar, and Richard offered her a radiant smile as he extended his hand. Courtney felt a rush of mixed emotions. She was really marrying this man. Anxiety, excitement, and anticipation all swirled in her mind, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
Her hand slipped into Richard’s arm, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room, despite the crowd watching them.
But the dreamy feeling didn’t last long, as Richard leaned in and whispered something entirely unnecessary.
“Did you change out of your wet panties?”
In response, Courtney pinched the inside of his arm as hard as she could. Her silent plea for him to shut up was clear. Yet, Richard only smiled, seemingly unaffected by the pain.
“Ahem…”
The High Priest, who was the only one to witness the scene of the bride pinching the groom, cleared his throat awkwardly. Mortified, Courtney lowered her head, but Richard remained unfazed, still smiling.
The High Priest began the ceremony in a solemn tone.
“We are gathered here today to witness a most special union.”
While the rest of the guests were thrilled to witness a rare wedding at the Grand Temple, for the bride, the only difference between this and any other wedding was the larger venue and the fact that the High Priest was officiating. The nerves were the same as for any bride.
The real issue was that the High Priest, being the head of the state religion, was also the nation’s champion at delivering long speeches.
His sermon dragged on endlessly before finally declaring the marriage valid. A boys’ choir sang, and just when Courtney thought it was over, he began reciting prayers in ancient tongues, only to launch into another long-winded sermon after the prayers.
