TNBTW | Chapter 19

The ever-dutiful steward Bill had once retrieved a Social Registry for the fledgling duchess, who was about to encounter high society for the first time.

The registry was a compendium of the key figures of the social elite, complete with portraits and succinct summaries of their backgrounds.

For nobles who had been part of this world since childhood, it was a trivial document. But for Edith, who had been a noble in title only, it was immensely useful.

‘That gentleman is the second son of the House of Hermann. The man sitting behind him is Count Turner. And the one beside him is….’

As Edith observed the guests through her wedding veil, she began to discern the Emperor’s intentions.

In her previous world, as well as in this one, celebrations were pivotal family events. In an era where lineage held great importance, such occasions carried even greater weight.

A wedding wasn’t merely the union of two individuals; it was a social stage—a declaration of status, influence, and power.

Upon announcing his marriage, Duke Devion had sent invitations to each prominent household. Though this had occurred only three weeks prior—a bit delayed by societal standards—it wasn’t enough to rouse criticism from the capital’s nobility.

Yet, the guests attending their wedding today were not the representatives of their families.

They were children, siblings, or, in some cases, distant relatives from cadet branches of their noble houses.

The message was clear.

On the surface, it seemed like an act of snobbery by the established nobles, refusing to acknowledge the young duke. But in truth, it was a calculated move—a challenge directed at Duke Devion, the Emperor’s staunch ally.

And it was evident that this affront had not gone unnoticed by the Emperor.

It might have been tempting fate to ruffle such a dangerous figure, but in the end, the blame would fall on the one who dared provoke him.

“If I’d known the Empire’s future would all gather here today, there would’ve been no need for a separate spring banquet at the palace. What a pity.”

The Emperor’s voice carried the sharp edge of sarcasm, though it was delivered with a pleasant smile.

He had spoken softly, yet his words resounded in the ears of all present, their weight unmistakable.

No one had anticipated that the Emperor would grace the occasion of Duke Devion’s wedding—a non-royal, no less—with his presence, let alone deliver a congratulatory address.

Edith found herself almost pitying the pale-faced young nobles trembling under the Emperor’s gaze. Almost. After all, who had the time to worry about others in such circumstances?

As Edith scanned the room, her gaze landed on a particular figure, halting her train of thought.

Her limited view had obscured it earlier, but there he was—Grand Duke Valesia.

It seemed the Emperor had personally invited him to lend his support to Skyle. This confirmed what Edith had suspected: the Emperor’s appearance was far from spontaneous.

‘…Young Lady Valesia?’

The Grand Duchess was absent, but seated beside the Grand Duke was his daughter, Lady Vivianne Valesia.

 

With a ding, the familiar chime of a system alert rang in Edith’s ears, and a status window appeared.

Though it had been some time since she’d last encountered the young lady, Vivianne’s condition was as severe as ever—if not worse.

‘I didn’t even think it was possible to exceed 100 in Focus!’

Even Luna of the Hedon family, known for her extreme Focus, had never surpassed a Focus level of 90. Yet Vivianne’s was a staggering 120.

Edith’s astonishment quickly turned to alarm as she noticed another detail.

‘Her Affection dropped? By 20 points?’

Affection represented how much a child liked Edith—a measure closely tied to their level of trust.

Typically, it began at “0” upon first meeting, fluctuating with time and interaction before settling at a steady level.

But Edith had only met Vivianne once—and briefly at that. She wasn’t even certain their gazes had met during that fleeting encounter.

Frankly, Edith had always been popular with children, both in the past and now, owing to her gentle demeanor and features.

Though Vivianne was 11 years old—no longer a small child—Edith had never been disliked by children her age before.

‘Then, why?’

Utterly baffled, Edith racked her brain for some answers.

Had she done something to offend the Grand Duke’s daughter? No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t recall anything. They never even had a conversation in the first place!

‘Could there be some misunderstanding?’

Calming her restless thoughts, Edith reassured herself.

‘If there’s a misunderstanding, I can clear it up.’

Since she had done nothing wrong, she resolved to mend their relationship if given the chance to converse. With that, she flashed the most gracious smile she could muster at Vivianne.

Under the canopy, Vivianne’s shadowed violet eyes met Edith’s gaze, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though there might be some reaction.

 

 

Then, the Affection dropped again. The reason was clear: because she smiled!

‘What? Why? No, seriously, why?’

Why had it fallen again?! Edith turned her head with an awkward expression, caught between laughter and tears. She couldn’t shake the strange feeling of a prickling gaze on the back of her head.

“Is something wrong?”

Lost in her chaotic thoughts, Edith was startled by the soft voice coming from beside her. She glanced instinctively to see Skyle, standing perfectly still, his gaze fixed on the Emperor.

‘I guess I was thinking about something too obvious!’

Though she had tried to be discreet, Skyle’s awareness seemed to suggest otherwise.

“Oh, no, not at all.”

Mortified, Edith straightened her posture and replied in a hushed tone.

Though she didn’t want to lie, she couldn’t very well explain that she seemed to be disliked by a child she’d barely met. Especially since she herself didn’t understand why.

‘What could I possibly say? “I think I smiled too unfavorably?”’

That was unthinkable!

Thankfully, Skyle refrained from asking further questions. Though her unease lingered, Edith resolved to focus on the ceremony.

“The Robeden Empire has reigned supreme on the continent for a year now. Though it may sound like a long time, it’s been but the blink of an eye. The war began over a decade ago, after all.”

The Emperor’s congratulatory address was far from the usual blessings typically spoken on such occasions. But then, his presence here was anything but ordinary.

“Countless individuals contributed to Robeden’s triumph. Tragically, many of their names remain unknown. But their sacrifices built the Empire we stand in today.”

At this, the Emperor’s gaze settled on Edith with a benevolent expression, as though offering solace to the child of a forgotten warrior.

Edith felt an inexplicable lump in her throat and nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Though she had no memories of her father due to the abrupt nature of her transmigration, she vividly recalled her mother’s struggles to raise her alone.

She knew the Emperor’s words were not meant sincerely for her.

In truth, they were veiled rebukes: “While some died on the battlefield for the Empire, other nobles idled in comfort here in the capital.”

Yet, recalling the looks of curiosity and suspicion cast her way by the other nobles—“What house is this Brussels, anyway?”—she couldn’t deny feeling a flicker of solace in his words.

“I intend to build an Empire where heroes are never forgotten.”

That remark was likely a declaration of his intent to elevate the Brussels family as a shield for Duke Devion. But even so, the gesture was not insignificant.

At the very least, with the Emperor’s endorsement, fewer children like her would endure hardship in the future.

And that was enough. Edith lowered her head slightly in gratitude.

“After traversing through such a dark time, we are met with this joy today.”

The Emperor’s tone lightened, a faint smile gracing his lips as he attempted to lift the somber atmosphere.

“Let us bless this beautiful couple, the architects of Robeden’s future. May their days ahead be filled with fortune.”

As he concluded his address, scarlet rose petals fluttered down upon the white carpet.

It was the moment Edith Irene Brussels and Skyle Elliot Devion became husband and wife.