If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Side Story 1

“A letter has arrived from Northwest.”

As Sarah returned from the teahouse, a maid handed her an envelope decorated with a lovely wildflower pattern.

Even at a glance, it was easy to tell who the neatly placed letter on the mail tray was from.

“Thank you, Jane.”

Beaming with a broad smile, Sarah took the letter and went up to her room.

Carefully slicing open the envelope with a letter opener, she opened the card inside and let out a squeal.

It was a wedding invitation written in Georgiana’s own handwriting.

Even before reading the content, Sarah was already choked up. She dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.

Knowing everything Georgiana had endured, just hearing of her wedding was enough to bring a sting to her nose.

Sarah was earnestly wishing, more than anyone, for the kind and beautiful Georgiana to have a happy ending.

It felt as though Georgiana’s happiness would return to her as well.

“At this point, I’m totally justified in being jealous, right?”

Anthony, in a bathrobe, gave her a sulky look—when had he even come in?

Water dripped from his damp hair; it seemed he had just finished washing.

Ever since receiving Georgiana’s letter, Sarah had completely forgotten about him, but she lifted her chin defiantly as if nothing had happened.

“Mr. Anthony, it doesn’t make sense to be jealous of a close friend. Still, since it’s cute, I’ll let it slide.” Sarah tiptoed over and kissed him on the cheek.

“That’s the first time I’ve been called cute since I was three.”

“That’s strange. You look incredibly cute to me. You know the saying, when a man starts to look cute to a woman, that’s the end.”

“What’s the end?” he asked in a softened tone.

“It means she’s completely in love.”

Anthony stretched his arms out and pulled her into a tight embrace, looking at Sarah’s smiling face.

Her petite frame was enveloped by Anthony’s, who was far larger than average.

A cascade of kisses poured down on her face like a waterfall.

Even amid that, Sarah was careful not to crumple the letter, prompting Anthony to snatch it out of her hand.

Looking at the neatly written letter, he scrunched up his face. “What the hell, this is totally different from the one I got.”

“Anthony, you got a letter too?”

“Of course. But the one I received was obviously scribbled by Henry. I know that guy’s handwriting well.”

Sarah giggled at his pouting lips. “But yours was sent directly by the Vice President. You should treasure it for life.”

“True. First things matter the most, after all.”

He paused for a beat and then said with a mischievous grin, “With that in mind, since you’re the one who took my first time, Miss Sarah, you’ll have to take responsibility for me.”

Anthony pulled Sarah by the arm and slipped his hand inside her robe.

She could feel how aroused he was.

“What are you doing? That’s lewd.” Blushing, Sarah averted her eyes.

“You’re the one who got me like this, and I’m the lewd one?”

With those words, Anthony guided Sarah to the bed.

Clothes came off in an instant.

After a passionate round, as Sarah lay in the post-coital haze, she picked up the letter again and read it over.

“Looks like they’re not holding the wedding at Northwest Cathedral but at a small church.”

Contrary to the expectations of a grand wedding of the century, Georgiana and Locke had chosen a small church near Northwest for their ceremony.

“Right? Count Rivern had said he was looking into the cathedral.”

“It’s such a Georgiana-style wedding.”

The last time they met, Georgiana had briefly mentioned the wedding.

She had said that, with the country still in chaos after the war, there were too many pressing issues like resettling freed slaves and supporting war orphans.

Georgiana had sincerely said that an extravagant wedding would be inappropriate under such circumstances.

Even as the President’s granddaughter and the Vice President’s bride, no one would’ve criticized a grand ceremony—yet Georgiana’s firm values shone through.

“Sorry, but mine’s going to be big.”

Anthony, who had wrapped his arms around her from behind, nuzzled her crown.

“Big?”

“Yeah. Our wedding’s going to be at the biggest cathedral in the West. I want everyone to see my woman.”

“What?”

Sarah burst into a helpless laugh.

“I’m not joking. We should get married next year. Oh, but this isn’t a proposal, so just take it as a heads-up. I’ll do the proposal properly.”

Hearing that, Sarah quickly turned around and looked up at him.

“What did you just say?”

Her widened eyes blinked in surprise, filled with the sight of him smiling with his eyes crinkled.

“What are you so shocked about? Obviously, next year’s our turn.”

He shrugged his shoulders like it was the most natural thing.

“Y-you need to get permission first.”

Sarah’s voice trembled.

She had no intention of parting from him, but still, for the wedding, she wanted her parents’ blessing. More than herself, she was worried about him.

“I already got it.”

Anthony responded nonchalantly and clasped her hand.

“I was waiting to share the happy news, but it got pushed aside by your friend’s wedding announcement.”

“I—is that really true?”

“It is.”

“Anthony…”

It was hard to believe. Anthony’s family had openly opposed her. They hadn’t approved of her background or the reason she had come to the New World.

Because of that, she had thought she might never receive their permission for the rest of her life.

Still, she had resolved that as long as she could stay by his side, she would endure.

But Anthony had crossed all those walls alone and come back with their blessing.

Tears streamed from Sarah’s eyes.

As Anthony gently wiped them away, he said softly, “Next year will be our year.”

At his words, Sarah smiled brightly through her tears.

***

The church decorated with juniper branches and red mistletoe—the emblems of winter—was filled with warm cheer.

Though it was a modest venue for a wedding between the two most famous people in the New World,

the invited guests practically represented the entire leadership of the region.

Those invited exchanged cheerful greetings as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Reporters who had only heard the news late rushed in droves, but the area around the church was thoroughly secured.

With security personnel lined up all around, the reporters had no choice but to photograph the people passing by from a distance.

“They’re clearly important people, but this is intense.”

“Well, it’s the Vice President’s wedding. You’ve got to understand. The President’s coming too.”

One reporter nodded, never setting down his camera.

“Yeah, safety comes first.”

As they huddled against the bitter cold, people carrying large pots approached them.

“These are warm soups prepared for the reporters by Lady Leona herself.”

The unexpected kindness widened their eyes.

The savory aroma filled their noses.

Their frozen hands thawed instantly as they wrapped around the warm bowls.

“Soup for reporters… seriously?”

“She’s also building public schools, they say. She’s really extraordinary.”

“Right? I’ve never seen anyone care this much about reporters in this weather.”

“I thought she was just pretty, but clearly, there’s so much more to her.”

Gathered in small groups, they sipped their soup and exchanged whatever information they had about Georgiana.

One of the reporters said, “At first, I thought it was a waste for the Vice President to marry anyone—but now, not at all.”

“I agree completely.”

As the reporters murmured among themselves, the sky gradually turned white with snow.

Falling snowflakes slowly drifted down like blessings upon their heads.

One reporter, who had been watching the road, shouted, “Hey—look! They’re coming!”

The reporters all scrambled to ready their cameras.

Because the bride was the highlight of any wedding, they were even more eager than when photographing the Vice President.

The carriage moved slowly along the snowy road and finally stopped in front of the church.

Pulled by white horses as pure as the snow, it looked like a scene out of a fairytale.

As a footman stepped down from the first carriage and opened the door, all eyes turned in unison.

The first to step out was President Angus Rossmann, leader of the New World.

Dressed in a deep navy suit, the President wore a gentle smile as he extended his hand toward the interior of the carriage.

In a moment that seemed to stretch on for minutes, the bride appeared, holding his hand—dressed in pure white.

The only jewel she wore was a tiara set atop the veil draped over her hair, but the graceful and dignified dress highlighted her beauty all the more.

As she carefully took her steps, snowflakes fluttered down upon her like blessings.

All the reporters had their cameras ready, but faced with this scene, they were so awestruck that none of them pressed the shutter.

For just that moment, as if the world had stopped, everyone held their breath.