Bala: The Duke's Contract Wife

The Fastest Marriage Ever (2)

"Priest, why don't we just exchange rings and the vows? Looks like His Royal Highness has to hurry up and go on an expedition with his knights. The security of Maraina and the Montserra Empire is more important than the wedding ceremony."

The last thing Rose could think of was that the Duke was deliberately making his departure on the same day as her wedding day. Rose didn't know what the man expect to see from her by doing this stunt. Of course, this was a disrespectful act towards Rose. On her wedding day, Rose, a noblewoman from another country, was abandoned by her husband. On the night they were supposed to spend it together, Rose was forced to spend it alone. 

However, Rose understood the logic of it. Yesterday, the Duke gave his residence staff the impression that their relationship was quite intimate. It was clear to make the staff not treat Rose arbitrarily. But in front of his knights, Victor didn't care to give any false impressions. He told all his knights, to the people who were with him often in live and dead situations, how Victor truly viewed the real Rose.

That Rose was an 'outsider' at the Maraina residence.

It doesn't matter.

A thin smile etched on Rose's face. Victor had no idea that for years, Rose had felt like an 'outsider' in her own home. Victor's actions were nothing compared to what Rendre and Anisa did. The man's actions did not hurt Rose in the slightest.

When they cover their ears to you. All you have to do is scream louder. That was what Rose would be doing right then and there.

The hall of the room immediately became silent after hearing Rose's words. Everyone looked at her with round eyes, some confused and some shocked. A man with gray hair and gold-colored armor chuckled.

Rose had studied the military colors in the Maraina. Silver armor was for front-line troops, copper uniforms were for archers, spies, and scouts. Folden armors were for the vice generals and division chiefs. Finally, black armor was for her future husband, the General, and the Duke of Maraina.

Before the priest spoke again, Rose walked straight to another man armored in gold color. He was the one who was present when Rose signed the marriage contract with Victor–Johan was his name. Rose took the smaller ring that Johan was holding and put it on her ring finger. The ring proved too big for her. So, Rose finally put it on her thumb. She could hear more knights holding their laughter in the hall.

Then she took a bigger ring and stretched out her other hand. Victor, still with the sharp look, put his big hand over Rose's hand. But instead of putting it on Victor's middle finger, Rose turned Victor's palm and placed the ring just like that.

"Instead of you having to take it off later when you have to fight, it's better not to wear it first."

She then looked at the priest. "Reverend," called Rose, "I accept this man as my husband."

The priest had a moment of pause. His jaw seemed to drop. He didn't believe that Rose had the courage to do all that.

"Uh... you know, I'm not... Oh, does the Duke of Maraina, Victor Maraina, accepts Rose Fullmeir as–"

"I accept her as my wife." Victor's voice was heavy, and the tone was even colder.

"From now on, I declare you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the reverend continued to say with sweats gliding on his forehead.

"I think we can skip this too. Isn't the Duke's time too precious to be thrown away like this?" Rose's words made the old man who had previously chuckled, carefreely laughed.

The priest was seen frozen on the spot. All eyes fell on Victor, waiting for the response of the man with the highest status in the room.

Unexpectedly, Victor approached Rose. He held both of her shoulders and whispered so that only Rose could hear.

"That's how excited you are to kick me out of my own house, huh?"

"Of course not," replied Rose in a contrived sweet tone, "I'm just worried about the safety of the Montserra Empire if I hold the Duke for too long. How can I be selfish like that?"

Victor's cold face broke. The man smirked at Rose. Their eyes clashed in an inner war. Behind their scornful words, the two people felt a little challenged to each other.

Rose was convinced Victor had never met someone like her. In two simple acts, Rose had distorted the chivalry's view of the knights about her. Now they can no longer ignore Rose, even if Victor kept ignoring her.

Rose, in her own way, had stated to the public that she was not an ordinary floral decoration at the Maraina residence.

Victor relinquished his grip on Rose's shoulders and turned his body towards the knights. "We'll start the expedition as planned." With those words, the soldiers parted to pave the way for Victor to walk up to the door of the room. When Victor had disappeared behind the door, the knights followed him one by one.

The old man in the golden armor turned to Rose as he reached the door. He bowed slightly to Rose, a gesture of respect. The girl replied with a nod too.

How funny life is.

The last person to come out of the room was a boy. Paul Maraina. The boy was staring at Rose. His big green eyes were like looking for something inside her.

Rose knew that look.

That was the look she used to give to Rendre and Anisa. The look of searching for a father and a sister figure who would never love her.

Paul was looking for a mother figure from her. And Rose would not be able to give him that. So she looked down at the boy with an icy stare. As cold as her red-eye beads could give. The boy shivered at the receiving end of her gaze and quickly exited the room. The reverend came out of the room with his bible book afterward.

Only Rose was left in that room, finally. Still wearing a wedding dress complete with a veil and a bouquet. She didn't know why her legs were so tired. She took off her shoes and seated herself on the steps in front of the altar.

She exhaled, embracing the feelings that have often been with her. Loneliness.

Rose laughed bitterly in her own heart.

How many minutes did the ceremony last? Haha... I don't think it even reached three minutes!