Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 91

It was a perfect day. The preparations for the wedding, as well as the weather, were flawless—clear and bright without a single flaw.

Guests arriving at the banquet hall for the wedding couldn’t help but marvel at its grandeur from the entrance. The interior was beautifully adorned with an abundance of flowers. White floral decorations cascaded from the pillars, newly painted in vibrant colors and gold leaf. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, radiating dazzling light. In addition to these, golden candelabras, elegant paintings, and sculptures lined the walls—all rare and exquisite pieces, difficult to see elsewhere.

The space wasn’t just extravagantly decorated. The central floor, where the bride and groom would walk, was lined not with a red carpet but with a mosaic tile pathway, perfectly straight. This was the historic mosaic design of the Carlisle family, reserved only for special occasions. Its precision and intricate details surpassed those of any painted artwork, so much so that it was said an angel descended briefly from the heavens to create it before returning above. On one side of the hall, large windows with aged stained glass cast soft, colorful sunlight into the space.

The banquet hall, a harmonious blend of tradition and opulence, was neither excessive nor lacking in any way. It was hard for anyone to believe that such a perfect wedding had been hastily arranged within a month. Lucius’ directive—to rush but ensure nothing was amiss—had been flawlessly executed.

The guests filled the seats, eventually crowding the second floor. Now, they waited with eager anticipation for the main characters of the day, the bride and groom, to appear.

Amidst this, Carl hurriedly ran off somewhere. Bursting through the door of the waiting room adjacent to the banquet hall, he gasped as he exclaimed,

“Y-Your Grace! The necklace has arrived!”

Lucius was in the middle of checking his attire one last time in front of the mirror. He quickly approached Carl.

“I was so anxious I could hardly breathe, but it’s a relief it arrived on time.”

Handing him a small velvet box, Carl leaned against the wall, his exhaustion evident. He wanted to grumble about feeling on the verge of collapse, but he was too out of breath to speak.

“Would it be alright for me to see Brianna now?”

At Lucius’ follow-up question, Carl nodded and, after catching his breath, replied, “Yes, the ceremony will begin shortly, so the lady should be ready by now as well.”

“You’ve done well, Carl. You’re the best.”

Lucius expressed his appreciation with a brief compliment, patting Carl on the shoulder. Carl’s chest swelled with emotion for a moment. Unlike Daniel, who often gave compliments like “excellent” or “well done,” Lucius was sparing with praise. Hearing “the best” from Lucius was the highest form of acknowledgment Carl could imagine.

With the box in hand, Lucius headed straight to the waiting room where Brianna was. His steps were noticeably lighter, and a gentle smile graced his lips. As he walked, he imagined Brianna’s reaction upon receiving the gift. While he had given her countless pieces of jewelry and accessories before, this necklace was a special present he had personally commissioned.

What expression will she have when she hears that I designed it myself? Perhaps she’ll be moved. Maybe she’ll realize, even faintly, the special feelings I hold for her.

I hope so.

With anticipation, Lucius opened the box slightly to take a look. The necklace inside, just as he had envisioned, rested on the dark blue velvet lining. The teal gemstone, radiating a brilliant light, perfectly mirrored Brianna’s eyes, while the surrounding diamonds were just as splendid. With this necklace around her neck, Brianna would undoubtedly shine as the most beautiful woman in the world.

My bride. The only woman who will fall asleep in my arms and bear my children. Mine alone.

Satisfied, Lucius closed the box with a contented smile. He soon arrived at the door to the waiting room and raised his hand to knock.

When Lucius opened the door, Brianna stood with her back to him, facing a mirror. The mere sight of her from behind made him pause in admiration, unable to move.

Brianna, dressed in a cream-colored wedding gown, sparkled with beauty. Her long, straight neck was fully visible as she swept her hair over one shoulder, reminiscent of a deer’s elegance. The silk fabric of her dress flowed gracefully along the contours of her figure, accentuating her slender frame and refined presence.

Until now, Lucius had met countless women lauded as beauties in society, but none of them had ever impressed him with their beauty.

Only Brianna Everett. Just looking at her was enough to take his breath away.

He soon met her eyes reflected in the mirror. Her teal eyes, initially filled with surprise, gradually began to show signs of fear. The moment he saw it, Lucius realized something. Unlike his slightly elevated mood, she seemed ready to run away from here at any moment.

Her face was pale, and her lips trembled slightly with tension. The hand holding her bouquet gripped it so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand stood out. It was a clear sign that she was forcing herself to stay despite her desire to abandon this marriage.

No, it’s already too late, Brianna. This marriage of ours is a contract; it can’t be broken just because of a fleeting change of heart. You’ve stepped in too deep to escape now.

Murmuring those words internally, Lucius soon called her name in a soft voice.

“Brianna.”

Lucius slowly approached her with measured steps, not too quick. At the same time, he pulled a necklace from its box and wrapped the chain around his fingers. Once the maids had discreetly left, only the two of them remained in the room.

Brianna erased her earlier anxious expression and turned to smile at him. But such a contrived smile wasn’t what he wanted. Lucius wished that one day, even if not today, she would look at him with a genuine, happy smile.

Lucius draped the necklace around her neck.

“This is…”

“It’s a wedding gift. I had it custom-designed, but it took longer to make than I anticipated.”

Instead of the joyful smile he had hoped for, she showed a puzzled expression. Anticipating this, Lucius promptly fastened the necklace around her neck.

When his fingers brushed the nape of her neck, fine hairs stood on end as she shivered slightly. At that moment, he had the urge to run his tongue along that white neck and leave his mark with his teeth. He wanted everyone in the banquet hall to immediately recognize that she belonged to him.

But he knew such an action would scare her away, contract or not. Now was the time for patience.

After securing the necklace clasp, Lucius looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“It’s a necklace made of beryl. I’m glad I could give it to you without delay.”

“Ah…”

Brianna traced the pendant with her fingers before gathering her skirt and bowing her head.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Her polite response was excessively formal, as if she were receiving an award rather than a wedding gift. Unable to hide his disappointment, Lucius’ face briefly revealed his emotions, prompting Brianna to try harder to express her sincerity.

“It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen. It’s far too precious for someone like me…”

As she glanced at him for reassurance, she stopped mid-sentence, realizing that even her words of gratitude felt insufficient. Lucius let out a bitter smile.

Yes, from the beginning, he hadn’t expected her to open her heart so easily. This was a matter only time could resolve.

“Yes, both you and I will need more time.”

Someday, a time would come when she looked at him not out of obligation but with affection. Until then, Lucius’ role was to protect and cherish her, ensuring she became so deeply rooted here that she wouldn’t dare consider leaving.

“I will do my best to avoid bringing shame upon you or your family.”

At her continued words, Lucius gazed at her silently.

“After all, it’s only right, considering you’ve had to enter into this unwanted marriage because of me.”

Brianna regarded this marriage as nothing more than a means to quell rumors. Though he had always known, hearing her confirm it now didn’t feel good.

“I know what you want from me, Your Grace. It’s for me to quickly bear an heir. I will do my utmost to make that happen.”

“What I want…”

Lucius repeated her words quietly. In truth, he had no interest in an heir. What he wanted was Brianna herself. An heir was merely a natural outcome of the blissful time they would share together. She spoke as if she knew everything, but in reality, she knew nothing at all.

Not the real reason for this contract marriage. Not the dark, hidden desires he kept buried deep within him.

That was why Lucius asked her:

“Do you even know what you mean by doing your utmost?”