Violet Zerotta's Hasty Marriage - Chapter 38
Even amid her unease, time passed quickly.
As she spent her days busy with various preparations, the day of the conferment ceremony approached before she knew it.
That morning, it felt as if not only the entire Count’s household, but the entire capital was abuzz with excitement.
Right after breakfast, Violet began preparing for the ball, using the Countess’s dressing room.
It was the first time in her life she had ever been adorned so lavishly, or spent so long tending to her appearance.
She applied fragrant oil to her freshly bathed body, combed her hair over and over again with a perfume-spritzed brush until it gleamed, then braided and twisted it into a complex updo. That was further adorned with ornate feathers and accessories, set with oil and powder to hold it in place.
Even her fingernails and toenails were carefully trimmed and colored.
She applied powder to her face, redrew her eyebrows, and painted her lips a deep red. The deep navy dress Violet had personally chosen followed the capital’s latest fashion, with an off-shoulder design.
The sleeves, starting just below the shoulders, were tied into a puffed shape with gold-threaded ribbon, and another ribbon of the same color was tied just under the bust to accentuate her chest. The fabric that flowed from the waist down was designed to subtly highlight the curves of her body.
When her nearly half-day-long adornment was finally complete and she looked in the mirror, it felt like someone else was standing there.
Her dull brown hair and eyes—features she had always found plain and unsatisfying—now looked rather refined, perhaps thanks to the power of makeup.
“I thought something classic would suit you better than anything too bold, Your Ladyship.”
At the maid’s words, Violet nodded blankly and slipped into the shoes being brought to her. Then, she stepped out of the room.
From the guest room on the second floor, she slowly descended the stairs to the main hall on the first floor.
Waiting for her there was Aldrick, already prepared.
Violet felt a little nervous. It was the first time she had faced him so elaborately adorned. Even on their wedding day, she had looked far more modest than this.
“Aldrick.”
She called him with a bit of tension in her voice. But Aldrick, with almost no change in expression, only stared at her intently.
Even as he took her hand and escorted her, Aldrick said nothing.
Violet began to feel a little uneasy. Aldrick wasn’t the type to stay silent if he thought she looked good.
The fact that he wasn’t blushing or stammering and calling her pretty was strange.
Even when she subtly jabbed him in the side with her elbow, out of the servants’ view, he didn’t react.
But a moment later, Aldrick groaned softly and whispered to her,
“Don’t touch me. If you keep it up, I’ll end up dragging you back to the second floor right now.”
At those words, Violet stopped jabbing him and obediently lowered her hand.
It seemed Aldrick hadn’t just been idling while Violet was getting ready. He looked noticeably different as well.
With his thick blond hair neatly brushed back and dressed in a knight’s ceremonial uniform, Aldrick looked impressive even taking into account that he was her husband.
Was it his tall stature and solid frame? In formal attire, Aldrick radiated a kind of nobility.
So it really was about money and power after all, Violet thought bitterly.
Of course, Aldrick had been a handsome and dashing young man even without such things. Violet was suddenly reminded of the first time she saw him. When he had appeared in armor at their wedding.
“Dear.”
At her call, he raised one eyebrow playfully.
“Weren’t we supposed to drop the formal speech between us?”
“Well, it’s the ball today. Once we’re back in the territory, I plan to stop completely.”
His slight, amused smile looked so unbearably handsome that Violet coughed awkwardly just to compose herself.
***
People’s tastes may differ, but the concept of beauty in any given era tends to share common standards.
In other words, what looked handsome to Violet also looked handsome to others.
The moment they entered the royal palace’s grand ballroom, Violet could feel the sharp, blade-like gazes of women flying straight toward Aldrick.
She couldn’t say she didn’t understand. Even in her eyes, Aldrick was an extraordinarily fine man.
Looking around the ballroom, there didn’t seem to be anyone as tall or as solidly built as him.
Even among the knights, Aldrick’s physique stood out.
Young noble ladies stole glances at Aldrick’s handsome face, and older noblewomen fluttered their fans as their eyes roamed over his firm build.
And naturally, their gazes drifted from Aldrick to Violet, who stood beside him.
Maybe she was just being self-conscious, but their thoughts felt almost tangible.
How dare a plain woman like you stand next to such a magnificent knight?
That, surely, was what their eyes were saying.
