The Flower That Was Swallowed by the Beast - Chapter 57

A red cape decorated with gold threads, the crown of the Divine Kingdom over his head, and a long cane with a red gem at the end.

It was the Holy Father.

The Holy Father, who didn’t even bless the Emperor in person, was going to officiate the wedding to congratulate Count Green on his marriage.

At the incredible sight, everyone even forgot to breathe. The guests thought they were dreaming.

The Holy Father, with a long white beard, walked slowly and stood in front of the officiating table.

He looked at the guests with benevolent eyes.

“Today, here…”

When he said up till there, Iobet jumped up. Starting with Iobet, other guests came to their senses and stood up.

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty!”

Everyone bowed their heads to show their respect.

The Holy Father smiled awkwardly.

“I’m not the main character of today. Everyone relax and sit down.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was even heard by people far away.

They all looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

Most of the guests were new to the Holy Father’s face. It was the first time even for Iobet, the Crown Prince, to have seen his face this closely.

“Now, come on. Please sit. We can’t proceed with the ceremony like this.”

Only after the Holy Father spoke one more time did everyone sat down one by one.

Meanwhile, Britney sat motionless, staring at him.

‘What’s this?’

Something ridiculous has happened.

‘The Holy Father…why is he here?’

The Holy Father officiating.

He didn’t even come to the royal weddings, so it was even less possible that he would care about Iris’ wedding.

Indeed, this is ridiculous.

Even if Britney marries the Crown Prince and invites all the royal families of the countries on the continent, there’s no beating the Holy Father.

The story of the Holy Father coming to bless Iris’ marriage will spread across the continent in no time.

And she was sure everyone had the same thought on their minds.

‘To be blessed by the Holy Father, I’m going to have to prostrate in front of Countess Green from now on.’

Britney hated it.

She hated thinking about Iris being treated like that.

But what can she do at the wedding where the Holy Father officiates?

She could only barely manage to breathe with a devastated look on her face.

Whatever her feelings may be, the wedding has to be conducted without any problems.

“May God bless those who came to witness the wedding of Count and Countess Green today.”

The Holy Father even blessed the wedding guests. They were so moved that they felt their souls leaving their bodies.

When he glanced at Jamie, Jamie shouted.

“Here comes the groom.”

The band played a cheerful piece.

Following the blue wedding path across the middle of the aisle, Keivrand walked and stood in front of the officiating table.

But no one paid him any attention. This is because they were busy capturing the face of the Holy Father, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many.

It would be the same for the bride’s entrance.

A softer and gentler music that was different from the groom’s began, and no one turned their eyes even though Iris got out of the carriage. Only the people of the Green family looked back.

Originally, no matter how ugly the bride is, everyone would pay attention to the bride, and when the bride walks halfway along the wedding aisle, they should get up and clap as if they were moved by her beauty. Now that everyone was distracted by the Holy Father, Iris was unlikely to be applauded.

Britney tried not to look back at Iris, thinking it serves her right.

She wondered what kind of dress Iris wore, but she wanted to make her feel like she wasn’t getting attention from anyone.

So she didn’t see it, but the happy smile on Iris’ lips never disappeared.

Iris, who got off the carriage, breathed heavily and stood in front of the arch. She stood there and waited for a while.

The Holy Father smiled kindly at Iris. Then, he raised his palm up as if presenting her.

“Look. Isn’t the bride truly beautiful?”

At his words, everyone followed the Holy Father’s hand to Iris.

“Ah!”

“Wow!”

“Gasp!”

Breathless exclamations flowed here and there.

The bride standing under the white arch was beautiful enough to make them forget the Holy Father.

At this time, a device hidden in the wedding arch burst, making the light sky and light pink petals scattered like snow.

Only then did Iris walk down the wedding aisle.

Slowly with her chin slightly raised, she walked in anticipation of the future at the end of this path.

By the time she reached the middle of the aisle, Keivrand, who was standing in front of the officiating table, stepped down and reached out his hand to her.

She overlapped her hands on his. He kissed her lightly on the back of her hand, and then turned toward the officiant.

The groom and bride walking side by side were as beautiful as a dream, so the guests couldn’t even afford to think it was strange that Reuben, the bride’s father, didn’t accompany Iris down the aisle.

When Keivrand and Iris stopped in front of the officiating table, the Holy Father blessed the two and began officiating.

* * *

‘Should I go with the title, “A one-of-a-kind wedding that has never been seen before and will never be seen again,” or the dubious title, “God Ordained Love.”‘

Sitting in one of the guest seats, Witting was lost in thought as he listened to the Holy Father officiating.

‘She’s clever. Countess Green.’

He had wondered when he received the invitation.

Nobles have never sent a wedding invitation to a reporter before. A splendid wedding that the common people couldn’t even dare to imagine. And journalists of the common people who would never write good articles about them.

Looking around, he realized that he was the only reporter who had received an invitation.

‘I’m sure the reason is because she wants to draw me to her side. But, I’m not so easily moved.’

Naturally it wasn’t that he disliked Iris. He thought she was an interesting woman.

However, if Iris did something wrong, he would write an article that relentlessly criticized her.

‘I have no choice but to write a good article today.’

A wedding where the Holy Father officiated, who can write it in a bad way?

It was a wedding that deserves to be praised with all kinds of rhetoric.

However, even if there was a big problem at this wedding, the Holy Father’s officiating alone would overshadow everything else.

So Iris would have invited Witting regardless. To have this wedding be more widely known. And to spread the story of how Count and Countess Green had been blessed by the Holy Father throughout the continent. If it’s his writing skills, he’ll be able to inflate the wonderful moments of this wedding by ten times.

Anyway, he thought she was a clever and interesting Countess. He thought she’ll be able to bring him a lot more interesting articles in the future.

‘I’ll do as you wish, Countess. Also, it seems my value will go up when I’m the first to release an article on this.’

* * *

It was a perfect wedding to be remembered.

As soon as the wedding ended, the Holy Father left the estate with no time to greet guests.

Before the Holy Father got in his carriage, he spoke to Keivrand.

[Come see me soon.]

No one saw him leaving behind those words.

It was only Keivrand and Iris who knew that this situation was created because the rookie priest had offended the Green Family and had made a bet with Keivrand.

The bride and groom rode in the same carriage.

While the two left to change into their dresses for the reception, the guests stayed in the banquet hall and praised the parents of the groom and bride on the wonderful wedding and their wonderful children.

In the meantime, Britney was sitting motionless and chewing her lower lip. It was hard for her to control her expression because she was jealous.

‘The Holy Father. The Holy Father officiating!’

She didn’t even realize that Iobet, who was next to her, had left his seat.

When she found out that Iobet was sitting next to her, she had planned to try this and that to revamp her image that she had ruined at the last party.

However, the moment she saw the Holy Father, the Crown Prince’s presence was wiped clean from her mind. She was so angry that she felt like crying.

She was barely holding it in, so the words from the ladies, who knew her and had approached her, became the final straw.

“I’m so happy for Miss Britney. Iris Whittle, no, Countess Green, had such a glorious wedding. It must have been lovely to see.”

Lovely to see? Should Britney feel honored?

Britney’s temper flared, but she managed to smile.

“Yes. I was worried that my sister who’s lacking would never get married, but I’m glad.”

“Oh, what if she’s lacking? As a woman, all that matters is that she’s born beautiful.”

Britney was dumbfounded.

This young lady usually took the lead in cursing Iris in front of Britney. Saying that these days it wasn’t enough to just be pretty. And that women should be capable, and that those who grow up too protected are unattractive.

She had been talking about such things a lot, but now all of a sudden all a woman needs is beauty.

But this is the reality. There will be no bad stories about Countess Green in high society for some time to come.

Unless Iris does something so unforgivable that can’t be overlooked, she will be treated as carefully as the Empress.

As a family member of Iris, Britney knew she had to hold her ground, but she couldn’t stand it any longer.

The mere thought of people flattering Iris after she comes back from changing her dress made her stomach boil. She might really scream at the sight of it.

Britney turned around and moved her feet as if she were running away.

“Brie.”

It was Denise, her mother, who caught her.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving. I can’t stay here any longer. Let’s go back home.”

“It’s not that I don’t understand how you feel, but you know we can’t. Like it or not, we’re Iris’ family. What would people think of us if we left before Iris even came back? I’m sure there will be gossip.”

“It doesn’t matter what people say. I don’t know what I’m going to do if I stay here like this. I’m leaving. I have to leave.”

While Denise and Britney were whispering with one another, people were looking sideways to see what was going on.

Britney felt like they were talking behind her back.

[I’m sorry for Britney. Her sister married first, and even the Holy Father officiated the wedding. Whatever she does now, she’ll be told it’s worse than her sister.]

Wouldn’t they be having such conversations?

‘Why should I stay and hear that? Iris was born to a maid! She’s not really a princess! If everyone knew she was of low blood, would the Holy Father have officiated?’

Britney wanted to announce Iris’ origin.

Countess Green, who everyone looked up to for being great. She wanted to tell everyone what kind of girl she was.

Keivrand and Iris, who had changed into their reception dress, returned when Britney was trying to shake off Denise’ hand to leave the banquet hall.

“Wow!”

“Ah, how beautiful.”

The guests exclaimed as they watched the newlywed couple reappear.

Even Britney was speechless.

However, Iris wasn’t particularly more beautiful than before.

The way everyone was looking at Britney earlier was now directed at complimenting Iris, as if they wanted Britney to hear.

Britney thought there was no difference between them and a dog wagging its tail in front of a person with food.

‘Childish things. Doing something so petty as if they can’t live without it. They don’t even realize how they look the more they change their attitude.’

It was when Britney was cursing people with all her heart.

“Don’t suddenly rush in like this, Grand Duke.”

“Let go of me! I have the right to be here!”

“The right…You don’t even have an invitation…”

With Jamie’s troubled voice, a man stormed into the reception party. He was a tall man with red hair and red eyes like fire.

Not caring about anyone’s eyes, he walked forward with a cane in hand, as if he was the only one who exists in the world.

Walking like that, then standing in front of Keivrand, he lifted up his cane and pointed it at Keivrand as he shouted.

“Keivrand Green! How could you do this to me? You didn’t invite me to the wedding!”

== Translator’s Note ==

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