The Two Marriage Ceremonies (5)
In contrast to the commoner-style celebration from before, this was done completely in the style of nobles. It was extremely suffocating, and I could do nothing but what I was told to do during the debut from two years ago: “Stay still, be silent, and smile.” This was because I was guaranteed to make a fool of myself if I even moved, as an uneducated noble lady. I just clasped onto Cermiane’s arm, emptied my mind of any thoughts except for relentlessly praying for the banquet to be over.
Though I could get out of most noble activities, I couldn’t get out of greeting every one of the attendees and dancing with Cermiane as part of Cermiane’s official introduction to the attendees. I don’t know how to dance. The only dance I know how to do is the one we do at the festivals in the territory, where we all get into a circle and dance. I got the dance over with, by clumsily following what Cermiane taught me right before we started.
I wouldn’t mind if I was the only one who was embarrassed, but Cermiane’s coworkers and superiors were attending as well. I can’t embarrass my husband. Although, Cermiane did tell me, “Don’t worry about it.”
And that was how the banquet, which was nothing but painful, continued for a couple of hours before finally coming to an end. Well, to Mama and Papa, this was probably the least they thought they could do for their youngest daughter, who was getting married off to a low-ranking household. My siblings, who rarely had the chance to interact with me, celebrated my wedding with all their might. I won’t complain.
Nevertheless, I entered the carriage that was headed toward our new home feeling half-spirited. I waved to my entire family who gathered to send me off, and when the carriage started to move, I felt relieved. I can’t do it. I’m not suited for being an aristocrat. Marrying into a high-ranking noble family is out of the question. Being forced to attend lower-ranking social events as a baroness is a no thank you from me too. I really was glad I was able to marry Cermiane, a knight who wouldn’t participate in social events.
After riding the carriage for a bit, after leaving the Caliente residence, we passed through the gates of our mansion. The mansion, with the setting sun casting its rays on, was bigger than I expected. When the carriage doors opened, Cermiane carried me out in his arms. It was tradition for the husband to carry his wife into their new home.
When we got off the carriage, I noticed that there was also a pretty big garden. Didn’t this seem a bit too luxurious for a poor knight? I remember him saying something about inheriting this from his mother… Maybe his mother was an aristocrat.
It was a beautiful and elegant mansion. When Cermiane neared the door, all while easily carrying me, the doors opened. I was surprised. A man whom I assumed was the butler had opened the door. And beyond the door, an elderly lady, most likely a maid, was there, bowing her head.
“Welcome back, My Lord, Madam.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“T-thank you for having me…”
The maid started walking, and Cermiane followed after her naturally.
“You have attendants?”
“Yes, they have been working for us since my mother was alive, and they have been supporting this home ever since.”
Cermiane had been living in the knights’ quarter after his mother passed away, but the butler and the maid, who were a married couple, had apparently been protecting this mansion in the meantime. But still, it seems pretty odd for a self-identifying poor knight to own such a nice mansion and have two attendants. I had my doubts.
But I soon completely forgot about those doubts. I couldn’t help but forget about them. Cermiane, still carrying me, entered the bedroom. Yes. The bedroom. Although it obviously didn’t have a canopy, there was a bed that looked spacious and soft, and I was gently laid down there… Right. I was already this person’s wife. We were a married couple from today.
That was right. Today was the wedding. Tonight was undoubtedly the wedding night. And I was placed on the bed. Ahh!!! By the time I came to my senses, the maid had closed the door and I was left along with Cermiane in the bedroom.
I was completely a maiden through and through, and honestly, since I was never interested in that sort of stuff, I had little to no knowledge about it. Actually, I had seen animals do it to reproduce in the forest a couple of times, but I was pretty sure animals and humans do it differently and have a different procedure. It was different, right?
As if he could see right through me and my worries, Cermiane covered me with his body and simply looked at me while softly laughing right near me. Too close, too close. If I move just a little, our lips would touch. Could he hear my rapid heartbeat?
Cermiane caressed my hair, took off my hair accessories, unraveled my hairdo, and then took locks of my hair, happily kissing them. He looked so happy, there was no way I could tell him, “Let’s stop for today.” Oh dear. Oh dear, what should I do? When my confusion reached its peak, Cermiane chuckled and said,
“Are you scared?”
It sounded like he was taunting me. I instinctively became a little disgruntled. I’ve never backed down from a challenge. Never. I hated losing, and I hated it even more when people thought I grew scared. Thinking that I grew scared and ran away would tarnish my honor. So, I accidently retorted,
“Of course not!”
“I see. Then, it’s okay, right?”
Cermiane gleefully laughed while giving me a deep kiss. O-oh, shoot! He got me! But by then, it was too late.
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