Viol 30
Extra Story: A Gorgeous Wedding
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THE morning of a wedding is like a battlefield.
I understand that now.
“Ma! Whose suit is whose?!”
“That one’s mine!”
“Maybe I should wear something else…”
My family was already flustered by the formal attire they weren’t used to. Well, I couldn’t blame them. After all, we were genuine farmers, just ordinary common folk.
“Don’t panic, for goodness’ sake! There’s a complete set for each person, isn’t there? Viol has already arranged for someone to dress you up, so there’s nothing to fret about.” Ma barked impatiently. Compared to my father and younger brothers, Ma’s preparations were the most complex.
In the case of aristocratic weddings, the families usually prepare in their own residences, and the groom prepares in a separate room attached to the royal palace. But I was commoner-born, and my residence is rather small.
And, of course, I don’t retain the kind of servants who could dress me appropriately for such an occasion.
Duke Qumildy was concerned, so he arranged for someone to come and dress us all in formal clothes. He’d even arranged for a tailor to make us all a custom-made set of clothes suitable for the ceremony. Of course, I paid for it, but left to my own devices I’d have had no idea what kind of clothes the groom’s family should wear. I felt extremely grateful.
Everything that needed to be arranged was. All that was left was to get dressed. The whole family would gather in a separate room the royal palace had prepared for me, all getting dressed together. Right now, everyone was restless.
“These kinds of clothes don’t suit me,” Ma fussed.
“Nonsense, woman. You’re beautiful. That’s why I married you. I can’t wait to see you all dressed up to the nines.”
Pa sounded happy. He was usually gruff and reserved about his compliments, but it was true that Ma was a beautiful woman, popular in the village.
Sure, she wasn’t very refined, but her face was as pretty as any noble lady’s. The outside would look the part well enough.
“I’m looking forward to it, too!”
“And me!”
“Me too!”
As we were talking, I heard a modest knock.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
The gentleman and lady who opened the door and entered were classy. They looked older and quietly confident.
“Eep…”
I heard a small squeak. My youngest brother, Michel. I knew how he felt. I was surprised myself. I’d thought that someone more like a maid would come.
“Congratulations on your happy day. The weather is beautiful, forespelling a most fortuitous union.”
“Thanks.”
“We will be responsible for the hair and makeup.”
“Oh, thank you very much. You’ve probably heard already, but we don’t know anything about all this. We’ll entrust everything to you. Please do what you can so we’re not an embarrassment to the duke and duchess.”
“You can leave it all to us.”
The old gentleman smiled softly. Half a step behind him, the older lady beamed as if to say that we were in safe hands.
“This way, please, Mother of the Groom.”
“R-Right!”
The older lady guided Ma to another room. No doubt to give her some privacy to dress, even though we were all family here.
“Shall we begin?”
The old gentleman clapped his hands together, upon which the door opened, and several maids bustled in.
My younger brothers jumped, straightening their spines.
“Ack! Hold on!”
“I… I can undress by myself!”
“Please, don’t!”
I heard weak protests from behind, but they would have to deal with it. I found it daunting, too, at first. For us commoners, having our clothes stripped off and put on by young girls, our hair messed with, and makeup patted onto our faces is nothing short of embarrassing.
I always hated that, so I got ready for the balls and such myself. But today, I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t risk causing embarrassment to Lady Seren and her family.
The old gentleman took care of me, and despite his elegant gestures, he quickly dressed me in a tuxedo as if by magic. Professionals are something else. It felt so different from when I dressed myself. For some reason, nothing pinched or bunched, no matter how I bent or stretched.
The clothes hung better, too, and I looked like I was standing straighter. I wondered how he did it.
As I was looking at myself in the mirror, I suddenly heard a wretched scream from the next room.
“Gahhh!!! I’m dying! I’m being killed! Help meeeeeee!”
“Oh no!”
“Ma?!”
“What happened?!!!”
Naturally, we were all alarmed. Pa slipped out of the reach of the maids and ran to the door.
“There is no need for concern.” The old gentleman left my side and was with Pa in a flash, holding his arm.
“Let go! What did you do to Verna?!” Pa shouted.
“Please, there is no need for concern. It’s what a lady needs. Sometimes it takes a little pain to be beautiful.”
Then it came to me.
“A corset?” I guessed.
“That’s right. A woman’s waist must be slim and beautiful.”
“Screaming like that over a corset?!” Pa yelled, his face pale. If it hadn’t been for the old gentleman holding his arm tightly, I was sure he would have dashed into the next room.
“Pa, it’s okay,” I said. “Calm down. I’ve heard that aristocratic women are squeezed into their corsets by the force of two people.”
Pa was raging, so I tried to placate him. I saw my brothers in the corner of my eye, looking pale. Poor saps. I hoped this wouldn’t traumatize them.
“That’s why noble women are so… Er… hourglass-shaped?”
“I thought those waists were unnaturally slim.”
“Ma’s gonna be killed!”
I could hardly blame them for being worried after a scream like that.
“I’m sorry, but my mother can’t wear a corset that tight,” I said. “Can’t you just skip that step?”
“That’s right, she’ll feel sick during the ceremony.”
“Hmm… I see. I am sorry that this was not taken care of in advance. Our top priority is to see you all looking your very best. Let’s stop.”
“Yes, please do.”
“My internal organs are going to pop out!!!”
From the next room, Ma was still wailing about how she was being killed. I wanted to rescue her, and fast. I held my breath and watched the old gentleman leave the room. Soon, the next room became quiet, and we all sighed in relief.
“Good. She’s stopped shrieking.”
“Man, it must be tough to be a noble. Is Ma okay?”
“Sounded super scary!!!”
“And that Miss Seren has that done to her every day?! How is she still alive?!”
Father looked relieved. My brothers still looked frightened. They’d all seen the darker side of aristocratic glamour.
The old gentleman reentered the room, looked around at us, and smiled kindly. “I have instructed the maids to adjust to a looser fit so that your mother will be able to eat unimpeded. Please rest assured.”
“Thank you.”
“Verna… Is my wife okay?” Pa asked.
“Yes, don’t worry. She was pleased to learn that we would be using a looser fit. Your wife is already in good shape. That should be enough.”
“Oh, thank the heavens! Ma’s going to live!”
“We’ve frightened you. Please forgive me for not being more considerate.” The old gentleman wiped away the tears on Michel’s cheeks with a pure white handkerchief. And then he spoke quietly and encouragingly to him. “There is nothing to fear anymore. Please leave it to us. Now, we’ve lost precious time. Let’s finish up at once.”
At those words, the waiting maids all got back to work at once.
I, too, had my hair tied back with a slim bow.
I wondered if Lady Seren was also busy with these kinds of preparations. Thinking that, I let out a laugh.
No, no.
No doubt she was busy getting ready, but I doubted there was this kind of fuss going on.
What would my bride look like? I couldn’t help but feel excited to see her.