Chapter 3

"Wipe away your tears, you have to go in later. Haven't you always wanted everyone to see this dress?"

Adrian patiently straightened Vivian's collar until she finally stopped sobbing, then looked at me again.

"Alright, go tell them that we'll let this matter drop."

His tone turned cold again.

"The guests are waiting, don't make me spend time coaxing you today."

He even chuckled when he recalled what I had just said.

"As for canceling the wedding... Nora, are you willing to do that?"

After saying that, he turned and walked inside with Vivian in his arms without looking back.

After ten years of relationship, he doesn't believe I'll leave.

I lowered the carriage curtain and said to the driver:

"Let's go."

The wheels started turning again.

I didn't bother to gather my wind-blown hair, letting the ribbons securing the veil slip down and hang over my shoulders.

The driver listened to the whole thing, turning back several times, but in the end he couldn't resist.

"Miss, forgive my bluntness, but the way he treats you is really not the behavior of someone who wants to marry a partner."

He shook his head.

"The day my wife and I set off together, the road was all muddy. I didn't want to get her new shoes dirty, so I carried her in the door."

Carry it on your back?

The fingertips slowly curled up.

Adrian also carried me on his back.

That late autumn, we returned from a neighboring town when a torrential rain washed away the wooden bridge over the river.

I fell into the water, my leg was cut by a broken piece of wood, and I couldn't even grab onto the tree roots that stretched out from the shore.

Adrian unfastened his cloak and jumped down without hesitation.

The current carried us far away, but he never let go of my hand.

After we got ashore, he retrieved the cloak he had left by the bridge, wrapped it tightly around me, and carried me to find a doctor.

His clothes were completely soaked, and his arm was bleeding.

But all the way, he kept calling my name and asking me to answer repeatedly, as if he was afraid that I would lose my voice on his back.

When the doctor took me, his legs suddenly went weak.

At that time, I never doubted his love.

The driver remained silent for a moment after hearing this.

"Given this, how could he possibly bear to part with it now?"

I gently shook my head.

Perhaps, he began to change little by little from the moment Vivian returned to his territory.

We had arranged to visit his parents, but he could cancel at the last minute because she had just returned and needed someone to accompany her.

He promised to pick me up from my shop on a rainy night, but left me alone at the door until the lights went out, because her carriage had broken down on another road.

Later, I lay on the doctor's bed waiting for him, and he stayed by her side, watching the festive bonfire burn all night.

Vivian always said that she would not accompany anyone.

Adrian then had a perfectly legitimate reason.

Since she didn't want to be his partner, all those hugs, companionship, and favoritism could be interpreted as care between friends.

I take a step back, and he thinks he can take another step back.

Even today, I can wait until my wedding.

When the carriage stopped in front of the inn, the driver asked me if I needed to stay and wait there.

I paid for my return trip.

"No need, we won't be going to the castle today."

As I spoke, I realized my voice had calmed down.

Adrian probably thought I was just temporarily unable to bear the injustice, that I would go back and have a good cry, and then I would put on my dress again and appear in front of him.

He felt there was no need to even chase after them to ask a question.

But this time, I'm really tired.

The hotel owner saw me return alone and stood up in surprise.

I didn't explain, and carried the heavy hem of my skirt upstairs.

Remove the hair accessories, wash off the makeup, and then take off the dress.

Lying back in bed, staring at the wooden beams above my head, I was still somewhat dazed.

Just last night, I was tossing and turning in this bed, thinking about what to say first when I saw Adrian today.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

She was the female apprentice who delivered pastries to the castle for me.

She was holding a bouquet of white flowers. When she saw that I had changed out of my evening gown, she paused.

“This is… something Miss Vivian asked me to return.”

I recognized the ribbon on the bouquet.

I tied it myself in the early morning.

She carefully handed the flowers over.

She said she had only taken a quick look around, and the flowers were still in good condition, so you could continue using them when you came in later.

The petals were crumpled, and the hanging ribbons were stained with wine.

I looked down at myself for a long time.

The female apprentice hesitated, then added:

She also said that Adrian did not tag her, and asked that you not misunderstand because of a few celebratory moments.

I held the bouquet.

What did they do?

She did not answer immediately.

I looked up and smiled at her.

Tell me.

She then began to speak slowly.

Adrian led Vivian down a flower-strewn corridor, and the guests rose to toast them.

Someone called Vivian the bride, and she smiled and responded; Adrian did not correct her.

As the musicians began playing the first dance tune, he reached out his hand to her.

That piece of music was the one I chose.

I once practiced with him, and when he stepped out of step, he blushed and laughed for a long time.

Now, the person standing in his arms is Vivian.

"Then they sat down at the head table."

The female apprentice's voice grew softer and softer.

"Someone egged them on to drink from the same glass. Miss Vivian took a sip first, then brought the glass to Adrian's lips... and he drank from it too."

I closed my eyes.

They did not make any markings.

The bride's entrance, blessings, and first dance have all fallen on someone else.

The bouquet in her arms exuded a sweet fragrance.

I once imagined with great anticipation that I would hold it and walk towards the man I had loved for ten years.

Now it has been returned to me, reminding me that someone else has already walked that path for me.

I suddenly chuckled softly.

It turns out that, at the wedding, he only left me with the final mark.