I Became the Master of the Empress

23

After the coronation ceremony,

I am currently in the midst of preparing for the upcoming wedding.

“Your Highness, please close your eyes.”

As I close my eyes before the mirror, a soft puff delicately dabs my face.

-Tap Tap.

Even though it’s a wedding, I never imagined having to apply this much makeup on my face.

To be honest, at this very moment, I find it all too loathsome.

Being familiar with the aesthetic trends of modern South Korea…

I felt uncomfortable applying cosmetics on my face, dusting my cheeks with rouge… and wearing an outfit adorned with frills.

How much time has passed since then?

“Your Highness, it’s all done.”

Finally, as the makeup session ends, I open my eyes and look at my reflection in the mirror.

My face, pale and wan, contrasts with my black hair.

“Horrible.”

Without realizing it, my review slips from my lips.

“Gasp!, Your… Your Highness, was there something improper about my…”

Startled by my remark, the man who applied my makeup starts panicking. I shake my head and reassure him,

“No, it’s not your fault at all…”

It’s just that the culture here is a bit peculiar.

He rises from his seat.

“Your Highness, you look unrecognizable. How about maintaining this appearance in regular days?”

Agrippa’s cheerful smile and comment are rather irritating.

“Really… You are asking this too?”

Agrippa tilts his head at my words as if he didn’t understand the problem.

“It is far pleasant to look at you without your usual dark circles.”

You are one of us here too.

Thinking that, I let out a deep sigh.

“It’s fine… What about the others?”

“Prince Yoanes has arrived.”

At his words, I nod my head and speak.

“Tell him to come in, everything’s ready.”

Agrippa, nodding at my words and leaving, and soon Yoanes opens the door and enters.

“Ha, you look different, unrecognizable. Looking at you now, it seems like you could ignite a fire in the hearts of the female guests with that face.”

Although his comment annoys me internally, I can’t show it, so I reply with a bright smile.

“I don’t know what to do with such compliments.”

Truly, I am so angry, I don’t know what to do with myself.

Yoanes chuckles at my words.

“First of all, congratulations on your marriage.”

I nod at his words.

“Thank you.”

“Well, take this.”

Johannes hands me a leather pouch.

“What is this?”

As I carefully open the pouch, there are a few black pills inside, and the strong scent of a musk rises.

“It’s a potency supplement made by an alchemist. I take it occasionally and women seem to enjoy it. Maybe with this, you can conquer the emperor tonight.”

Looking at Johannes’ teasing grin, I reply with an awkward laugh.

“I’m still young.”

“The younger you start taking care of it, the better your wife will take care of you when you get older.”

– Snicker.

As we both are well aware, we are destined to compete for the supremacy of the empire in a few years… and yet he gives me this…

I feel his joke is over the line.

Whether his gesture is sportsmanlike or sly, I’m not sure.

“I’ll accept it with gratitude.”

“Alright, I’ll be on my way.”

Seeing Johannes about to leave, I casually say,

“Meet me… briefly after the tournament ends tomorrow.”

At that, he grins at my words.

“Alright.”

Just as Johannes leaves, Agrippa comes in.

“Your Excellency, it’s time to start preparing.”

At these words, I nod my head and head towards the wedding venue.

Standing in front of the door of the ceremony hall, I listen to the hymn coming in.

-♬~♪!

Really… I never thought I’d get married.

I never got married in my previous life.

But here, I’ve become a married man, even one who married for strategy.

As the majestic hymn nears its end.

“[Now, His Excellency, Duke Devian Ryan Francesco, will enter. Please give him a strong round of applause.]”

As the MC calls me, the doors to the ceremony hall open.

And the resonating march starts.

-♪

I proceed slowly, brightly on the purple carpet spread on the floor.

On my left, I see the nobles of the Dukedom and my family, and on my right, the Empress, or now the Queen Mother, and Princess Joy.

The Queen Mother looks displeased.

She opposed this marriage, so it’s only understandable.

As I stand in front of the Pope who is presiding over our ceremony, the MC speaks again.

“[Next, Her Majesty, Theodora Augusta, the Emperor of the Empire, will enter. Everyone, please stand up and give her a strong round of applause.]”

At the MC’s words, everyone rises from their seats and applauds.

Then, the door opens again and a woman, her face covered with a white veil, enters in a white wedding dress, the hand of a man clutching hers as they walk into the ceremony hall.

He is known as Yans, the Duke of Lombardi, Theodora’s grandfather.

I calmly dismiss Yans’ scrutinizing gaze.

Sigh… I’m really going to live a long life.

Presumably, if the saying “one who suffers abuses will live longer” is truthful, I might live my entire life without dying.

It’s around halfway when they arrive, and so I approach them.

I bow in greeting to Duke Yans, take the hand of the woman dressed in a wedding gown, and slowly, very slowly, step forward to the Pope.

When the Pope intensely stares at my face, making me feel overwhelmed, the host speaks.

“Now, the two of you will exchange rings. Everyone, please give them a round of applause.”

Soon after, music starts to play.

-♪~♪~♬

“First, the groom, Devian Ryan, will put the ring on the bride, Theodora Augusta’s finger.”

A man holding a heart-shaped cushion steps up to me.

A pair of rings with small red jewels embedded in them rests on the cushion.

I take the smaller one and slowly slip it onto Theodora’s left ring finger.

“Now, the bride, Theodora Augusta, will put the ring on the groom’s finger.”

Upon hearing this, I lift the larger ring to place it in Theodora’s hand.

Her trembling palm.

Maybe it is something she would rather die than do.

Slowly Theodora raises her right hand, softly grabs my left hand, and slowly places the wedding ring on my ring finger.

“With this, the exchange of wedding rings is complete, and in celebration of their sacred wedding, there will be a sermon by His Holiness the Pope. Everyone, please be quiet.”

At that, Theodora and I turn to look at the Pope.

“Both have grown up in different circumstances…”

The pope’s long and equally lengthy speech…

Listening through the gruellingly monotonous speech, despite the effort, I hold on.

Seriously, it’s quite a heavy-going address.

Zoning out during the Pope’s sermon, I had sent him evidence of being a devil worshipper from Valorant, but he gave no response.

I wonder why? Clearly, if they receive evidence of a devil worshipper from Valorant, there should be some reaction…

It’s strange that the papacy, which detests devils, has shown no reaction at all.

In practice, keeping such a distance that killing Valorant and seeing the Pope in person today is the first time.

“And finally, allow me to advise the Grand Duke Deviante. Although the Empress Theodora is your wife, she is also the master of the nation. As her subject, protect her, respect her, and live your lives together.”

Silence encapsulates the hall at that moment.

Then, a muted murmur sweeps through the crowd of guests.

-What… did His Holiness just say…?

-Is he expressing an intention to oppose the Grand Duke?

The nobles present in the ceremony started murmuring at the Pope’s seemingly formal, but subtly political statement.

And then, the flustered emcee hastily…

“The… the next is the wedding vow…”

Unable to finish his sentence, because I raised my hand signaling him to stop…

“Per Pope’s advice… I will always protect and respect Theodora, and serve her faithfully as a follower of the Emperor.”

These words aren’t a joke, they’re heartfelt.

At least when I am around. I will prevent anyone else from mistreating her indiscriminately.

This is my vow.

Upon hearing this, the Pope’s eyes shine as he speaks.

“Let’s see if you truly mean that.”

At his words, I nod in agreement.

“I keep my promises well, Your Holiness.”

As soon as I finish speaking, the emcee quickly wipes his sweat with a handkerchief and announces,

“The marriage vow shall now commence.”

At this, the Pope focuses his gaze on me and solemnly asks,

“Groom, Deviant Ryan, do you swear before the Almighty that you will always love the bride, Teodora Augusta, and will stand by her whether in hardship or joy for the rest of your life?”

At the Pope’s question, I open my mouth.

“I swear.”

At my words, the Pope looks at Teodora.

“Bride Teodora Augusta, do you swear before the Almighty that you will always love the groom, Deviant Ryan, and will stand by him whether in hardship or joy for the rest of your life?”

There’s momentary silence after his words.

Leisurely, I wait for her response.

After all, she has no choice but to answer.

“I… swear…”

When Teodora answers in a soft voice, the Pope declares,

“By the Name of the Almighty El, I now pronounce the two of you husband and wife.”

Upon the words of the Pope, the emcee continues,

“Then, as evidence of these two’s marriage, please seal it with a kiss.”

At the end of the emcee’s words, I turn my head to look at Theodora, who is veiled in white.

It dawns upon me that I couldn’t even properly see her face in the ceremony hall before.

The veil, heavier than I had thought.

To the one wearing it, the outside world would be semi-visible; to others, only her chin would be visible through its length. I carefully lift it.

A woman of breathtaking beauty stands before me.

Even on ordinary days, the empire’s most beautiful woman’s heart-throbbingly gorgeous face, amplified with makeup.

This… is unfair, isn’t it?

Could there be an angel in Heaven as beautiful as she?

Her beautiful gray hair, blushed cheeks, and lips are as beautiful as to provoke such a thought.

I forget what I should do momentarily, looking at Theodora, who lightly closes her eyes, seemingly embarrassed by this situation, and her flawless snow-white skin.

I was momentarily lost in her face, full of beauty and mystique.

Ah… I was about to kiss her, wasn’t I?

The only way to conclude the wedding ceremony is to kiss her in front of the guests…

Suppressing my throbbing heart, I slowly lift her face…

I press my lips against hers.

I faintly sensed the lovely aroma of strawberries.

And then…

-Congratulations!

“Congratulations!”

“Honor to you!”

And so, our married life began.