The Flower That Was Swallowed by the Beast - Chapter 49

Jamie had returned after promising to strengthen the security, but Elly couldn’t take her eyes off the bedroom door.

In the meantime, Christina was busy. The servants had filled a bathtub with water, spices, and petals.

Iris put a face mask on her face with cucumbers covering her eyes as she bathed. After she was done bathing, she dried her hair and brushed it for a long time.

By that time, Elly was doing what Christina had told her to do, so the thought of wolves seemed to be out of her mind.

It was almost 4p.m. when Iris put on her makeup, hair and dress.

“I thought I would have a lot of time…”

Even in her previous life she had never dressed up like this when going to parties.

“A bride’s preparation, no matter how much time she has, it’s never enough.”

Christina said seriously as she looked into a jewelry box.

“Since it’s a black dress, I think a white necklace would be good. How do you feel about this?”

Christina took out a fancy necklace and put it against Iris’ neck.

“I like it.”

“Wait no, it doesn’t go well with your hairstyle. I think this is good.”

Christina took out another necklace.

Iris couldn’t tell the difference between the first and second necklace. Elly, who was reflected in the corner of the mirror, also had a look on her face that said she didn’t know.

“Well, is this better?”

“I think they’re all similar.”

“They’re not all similar. The ambience it gives off is very different.”

Christina comes from a family of artists, so she must have a unique eye for things, Iris thought.

“I think this necklace is better. If you wear these earrings here…No, wait. These earrings are a little faded. Rather, you should wear these.”

It took a long time to pick out the accessories.

She heard the small sound of music as she put on the earrings.

It looks like the party has started.

The first party of the rehearsal took place at the banquet hall in the main building.

“Oh, my. Oh no. We haven’t even picked a hairpin yet.”

“Christina. I think this hairpin is good.”

“No, Miss Iris. This hairpin doesn’t show off the color of your hair. Since the earrings are white, you’d better match the hairpin to the dress. Well, this is…No, this is better.”

It wasn’t until Iris put on a hairpin with black pearls and had her hair fixed in place that she could catch her breath

Knock, knock-

She heard a knock as she put on her heels.

“It’s time to head down.”

Keivrand seemed to have knocked because he couldn’t wait.

Christina looked up and down at Iris who was in heels and smiled satisfactorily.

Iris was relieved.

She was nervous that Christina might have said she wasn’t ready.

“You’re beautiful, Miss Iris.”

“Right. I’ve never seen a woman as beautiful as you, Iris. Wow, it’s really awesome…”

Pak-!

Christina hit Elly in the ribs.

Watching Elly glare at Christina, Iris smiled softly.

“I want to see that beautiful woman too.”

Keivrand anxiously said from outside.

Iris walked slowly toward the door.

Then, Christina opened the door.

Keivrand, who had been waiting anxiously, widened his eyes when he saw Iris. He just stared at her for a while without saying a word.

“Count?”

Christina sang softly.

“Oh, my.”

Keivrand covered his mouth with one hand.

“I never could have imagined…”

“Isn’t she beautiful?”

“I can’t even put it into words, Christina. I can’t even speak.”

Christina smiled proudly and spoke with pride as if she had been praised.

“Today’s Countess Green will be talked about for a long time. She’s the first woman to wear a dress like this on the eve of a wedding.”

* * *

Britney wore a light pink dress that might look a little plain.

At first, she was going to wear a fancy dress and undermine Iris, but she changed her mind when she found out the Crown Prince was coming.

She thought it would be better to look like a broad-minded sister in a modest dress than to compete with Iris.

However, it wasn’t really a modest dress. Although the dress looked modest, it was made using high-end fabric. She also wore colorful accessories and hairpins.

And even though Britney’s contingency was so dark to the point of looking gloomy and it contrasted her colorful necklace with dozens of diamonds, no one told her.

“Britney, don’t do anything unnecessary at this party. Okay?”

Duke Reuben Whittle warned Britney several times before they entered the party hall.

“I got it.”

Britney, who was already responsible for all the expenses of this wedding, had no choice but to answer obediently.

“You don’t have to try to look good in front of the Crown Prince. Since I’ve already spoken to his camp, the Crown Prince will be the first to ask you for a dance. Until then, just pretend you don’t know. Okay?”

“I got it.”

Now Britney was more concerned with the Crown Prince than Iris.

Since the Crown Prince would never ask the bride, Iris, to dance anyway, she was convinced that she would be his first dance partner. Her heart swelled just imagining the jealous eyes of the nobles the moment she stood in the hall holding his hand.

True to the party being hosted by Countess Melanie Jennel, the party hall was decorated splendidly.

However, that didn’t catch her sight.

‘Iris isn’t here yet. She’s the main character, so she’ll come in later. But it doesn’t matter. No matter when she comes, I’ll still be the first dance partner.’

There were some faces she recognized.

Those who recognized Britney came up to her and chatted for a while.

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived.”

At the words of the servant guarding the entrance, the conversation quietly stopped. Only the subtle music piece played by the band was flowing in the hall.

The door opened and Iobet appeared.

Britney stopped breathing and stared at him.

She felt it when she first saw him yesterday, but Iobet was truly a handsome man.

If Keivrand was like the moon in the night sky, Iobet was like the sun on a brilliant day.

Bright blond hair, fair skin, and blue eyes clearer than the sky. Tall and broad shoulders, light itself seemed as if it was scattering around him.

Iobet, who walked in a dignified manner, smiled brightly.

“I’m not the main character of the party, so don’t be too nervous and enjoy yourselves.”

After he was done talking, Britney watched as those who wanted to look good to the Crown Prince approached him.

Britney wanted to keep an eye on the Crown Prince, but she remembered her father’s words to pretend not to know. Thus, she hung out with the other children nobles.

“There’s a story that the Crown Prince has Miss Britney in mind to be his Crown Princess, is that true?”

Someone asked in a small voice.

“It’s just a rumor.”

Britney pretended to be modest.

“Since Count Green has gotten married, the Crown Prince has become more popular. The families who were seeking the position of Countess Green have now turned to the Crown Princess.”

“Duke Whittle must be proud. The youngest daughter has become Countess Green, and the eldest is rumored to be the Crown Princess.”

“A rumor is just a rumor in the end.”

Britney smiled gracefully at the young ladies who gave her envious looks.

“Instead of all the rumors, I’m here to congratulate my sister. I’m looking forward to seeing how pretty my sister will be today.”

“I’ve heard that Count Green is fascinated by the Countess’ beauty.”

At someone’s words, Britney burst into irritation, but managed to smile.

“Of course. Our iris is really pretty.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I wonder if Count Green will be able to hold onto his senses after seeing how pretty she is.”

Their voices talking about Iris contained a sense of familiarity.

Britney thought it was better that they were looking forward to it. The more you expect, the more disappointed you will be.

Everyone had dressed up and worn their best outfits, all for the purpose of attending Green’s party.

No matter how famous the designers of Iris’ dresses are, it’s still a designer dress. It won’t be much more beautiful than the one worn by the ladies here.

“Count and Countess Green have arrived.”

At the announcement, the music stopped this time. That was the courtesy shown to the party organizer.

The Crown Prince and the group of people near him also turned to the entrance.

The moment the door opened, Keirand and Iris were revealed.

“Ah!”

“Waa.”

“Oh, my.”

“Wow.”

Unknowingly, exclamations rang out here and there.

It couldn’t be helped.

At the wedding rehearsal, it was normal for the bride to wear a dress of pure white or similar color.

But Iris’ dress was so intense that they couldn’t even see Keivrand standing next to her.

A black dress that spreads brilliantly around the calf, with one shoulder exposed and revealing a curve that follows from the waist to the hip.

The gold yarn embroidered in the dress didn’t shine too much, and Iris’ fair skin glowed brighter in contrast to the black dress.

Pearl bracelets, earrings, and necklace made the dress look elegant rather than sexy. And the black pearl hairpins with pinkish silver hair made a strong impression.

It wasn’t a suitable dress for everyone.

The ladies and young children here had to admit that it worked because it was Iris. The flower of Duke Whittle.

Everyone was curious about her, and now they realize that even her beauty overshadows the rumors.

The features that filled the small fair face were perfect even if you look at them one by one. Even the violet pupils in her large eyes were the prettiest color of any accessory. The thick red lips, located under the perfectly shaped nose, were moist as if they were about to spill fresh nectar.

While Iris walked slowly across the hall holding Keivrand’s hand, everyone looked at her without even breathing.

Even the swaying hem of the dress didn’t catch the eyes of the guests.

At the unrealistically beautiful face of Iris, even the band’s performers couldn’t take their eyes off her.

The band had to start playing again the moment the Count and his wife entered the hall, but they had forgotten about it.

But no one noticed such a thing.

Iris Green.

Because at this party, at this very moment, she was music.

“Thank you for gracing us like this.”

When Keivrand opened his mouth, the band started playing again and people could breathe again.

The women felt ashamed that they had forgotten to breathe because of Iris’ appearance, and the men were jealous of Count Green, who had taken possession of that beautiful woman.

The party resumed after Keivrand’s greeting, but the atmosphere was different.

“Count Green is great, but no matter what, after all, a man is a man. I really didn’t want to believe the rumors that he got married because he was possessed by a woman’s face.”

“I know. But really…Wow, she’s prettier than the rumors. No, it’s more intense than beautiful.”

“I can’t believe she thought to wear a dress like that. Doesn’t she have any self awareness as a bride?”

“It’s not set by law. Isn’t it enough if it suits her?”

“Well, it’s fine if it suits her.”

The women glanced at Iris and made various assessments.

Britney didn’t like the fact that there were more positive reviews of Iris than before.

But she didn’t show it on her face and stood upright.

Originally, the first dance starts with the party organizer, but the Crown Prince could start first because he was of higher status.

The only person who can ask the bride, Iris, for a dance before the wedding was the Crown Prince since he had the blood of the Emperor flowing through him. But Britney believed that the Crown Prince wouldn’t ask Iris for a dance.

When a man of high standing asks the bride to dance before a wedding, it is like promising her the protection of his family. The protection of the royal family wasn’t something granted to just anyone on a whim.

Even the great Countess Melanie Jennel wasn’t protected by the royal family.

“Ah!”

“Heuk!”

At this time, there was a greater exclamation than when Keivrand and Iris entered.

The Crown Prince was walking towards Iris.

== Translator’s Note ==

1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .