JUST GOT MARRIED

"DOES His Eminence hate me?" Zoe asked in a shaking voice. Her whole body trembled when the chilly breeze swept over her. Thus, she hugged Isaak's arm and snuggled closer to his warm body. "Isaak, you can control the wind, right? Do something about the cold breeze."

"I'm sorry, but I can't make the cold breeze warm," Isaak said apologetically. "Just stick closer to me."

"Mm."

She was already stuck to Isaak like glue, even if he didn't say that.

The reason she trembled like a wet chick at the moment was because of Yosef Geronimo. That damned High Priest poured water over her and Isaak. Worse, they weren't allowed to change into dry clothes.

It didn't end there, though.

Yosef asked her and Isaak to walk from the main building to the vast garden of the temple. Apparently, their destination was the pavilion that she couldn't see yet. She was getting annoyed, but she would admit that the colorful and sparkling magic stones lined up on either of their sides of the pathway were pretty.

[They look like fireflies– big fireflies, at that.]

"Don't hate Yosef too much," Isaak said gently. "He poured holy water on us to get rid of the toxin in our bodies."

"Toxin?"

"We had booze earlier," he explained. "A couple can't get married if any or both of them are drunk, drugged, and/or coerced. The god that Yosef serves is very particular to that rule."

"Then why did His Eminence make us drink earlier?!"

"He's not that keen to bless our wedding."

"I knew it," she said, then her shoulders slumped. "He hates me."

"Yosef actually cares about you, Zoe," the ghoul duke said. "In fact, he told me that I'm bad for you. Apparently, crazy bastards like me are only attractive in fiction, but end up abusive and toxic partners in real life."

"Omo," she said, impressed by the High Priest's sharp perception. "His Eminence speaks pretty and wise words."

He frowned. "Do you also think that I'll end up as an abusive and toxic partner?"

"Everyone has been toxic at some point in their lives," she said. "And so, I believe that as long as you're capable of loving someone, there's always the possibility of you ending up being abusive. Especially if you're the type to get possessive and obsessive."

The Grand Duke flinched, but she pretended not to notice.

[I don't remember if there are instances in the novel that he acted like a yandere for Eunice Harper. But I know that Isaak is possessive of the things that he believes to be his. Plus, a possessive ML is typical among romance fantasy books.]

"Zoe, why do you sound like you've fallen madly in love with someone to the point that you became abusive?"

"Nah, it's the opposite."

He turned to her with a curious gaze. "Someone fell madly in love with you to the point that that person has turned abusive?"

"It wasn't romantic love, but…" she trailed off, then she changed what she was about to say. "Nevertheless, it was suffocating."

"May I know what happened?"

"We ended up almost killing each other," she said with a shrug. "He tried to confine me, so I fought for my freedom."

"He… tried to confine you?"

"Yeah," she said, then she looked up at him with cold eyes. "So if you try to do something like that, I'll kill you. Confinement isn't romantic– it's oppressive and totally not my style."

"Okay, I won't confine you."

She squinted her eyes at him. "You sound like you considered it."

"I have many enemies," he said vaguely. "I just thought that my estate is the safest place for you and Princess Runa."

"Ah, I see," she said, relieved. "I mean, that kind of mindset is understandable. Plus, I also think that your estate is the safest place for us since, at the moment, both Princess Runa and I are powerless without you." She smiled at him. "I'm glad that it's only at that level."

"Then what kind of confinement were you thinking of earlier?"

"The kind where I won't be allowed to leave my room and talk to anyone else?"

He stopped walking, then he turned to her with a shocked look on his face. "He did that to you?"

"For a short while," she admitted. "But, as I said earlier, I fought for my freedom."

Actually, she couldn't remember exactly how she fought for her freedom back then.

[Why does it feel like the memories of my previous life are becoming blurry?]

"Good job," Isaak said, interrupting her thoughts. "It's just a shame that you didn't kill him."

"I can't– he's my oppa. I mean, my older brother."

He blinked as if he was surprised. "Your family seems to be as complicated as mine."

"Yeah," she said. "Humans from my previous world are just as bad as the humans here." She raised her hand and gently flicked his forehead. "Stop looking like you're planning to murder my oppa. It's not like you can reach him, anyway."

"It's not impossible," he said with a shrug. "After all, you were able to get here. I'll ask Yosef about it later."

"Don't be too bothered by it," she said, then they walked again. "I already made him pay for what he did, Isaak. If my revenge did not satisfy me, then I wouldn't have chosen to stay here. I hold grudges, you know?"

"Mm," he said, as if he was thinking. "Now I know why you always seem on edge."

"I'm always on edge?"

"You have your knife attached to your leg, right?"

She gasped softly. "How did you know?"

"I saw the silhouette of the knife holster attached to your leg when you got drenched and your dress stuck to your body," he explained. "But I have a feeling that you always have your weapon with you. Moreover, I notice that every time we arrive at a new place, you scan the area and your eyes linger on objects that could be used as murder weapons. Then, you immediately look for an emergency exit. It's as if you're ready to fight and flee anytime."

She laughed softly. "The fact that you noticed all of that only means that I'm still lacking."

"No, you're discreet about it," he said. "I only noticed because I've lived on the battlefield half of my life. You're doing good, Zoe. In fact, you're comparable to mid-tier assassins. You're natural at hiding your bloodlust. I believe that your skills will improve if you learn to hide your presence."

"How do I hide my presence?"

"Shall I teach you?"

She nodded eagerly. "Can you also teach me how to use my Mana?"

He remained silent.

"Why?" she asked, confused. "Is it because my Mana is weak?"

"Yeah," he said hesitantly. "I'm not underestimating you. But according to my resources, Lady Zoanne's constitution has been weak ever since she was a child. There are instances where Mana strains its user's physical body. I don't want you to get hurt, Zoe."

"Zoanne's body isn't weak," she said confidently. "I'm not saying this just because I wanted to learn to use my Mana. It's just that I noticed something strange."

"Something strange?"

She nodded before she explained. "My previous body is fit and used to fighting. When I entered this body, it didn't feel any different from my original body."

"Well, it's not uncommon for people in this world to hide their real strength."

"Isaak, I feel like Zoanne is shrouded in mysteries," she said, worriedly. "I think I have to tell Marquis Rochester the truth– that I am not his daughter."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded firmly. "Zoanne also told me that I'm free to do that. Plus, the marquis deserves to know the truth. Although I have to do it after we deal with Count Ratliff." She let out a sigh. "If Marquis Rochester takes back the Dragon Lair once he gets mad at me, will we be forced to get a divorce?"

"I don't think the marquis is a petty person," he assured her. "And I don't think he'd hate you for something that you didn't wish to happen."

She gulped before she asked. "Isaak, do you think the marquis won't blame me for Zoanne's death?"

"If the marquis is truly the wise man I know, then he wouldn't," he said. "But if he bullies you, tell me. I'll wage war against the marquis and gobble his territory up."

She laughed softly because she knew that he was only making a joke to cheer her up.

[Right?]

"You really took your time coming here, huh?"

She was surprised when she heard Yosef's voice.

[We're already here?]

As if to answer her hidden thought, the entire garden suddenly lit up.

The pavilion in the middle of the garden was particularly bright and beautiful. And the fact that Yosef was there only made the view prettier.

[Oh? The pillars of the pavilion are made of gold! So extra!]

"Welcome, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Viotto," Yosef greeted them cheerfully, then he bowed politely to them. "It's an honor to bless the wedding of a ghoul and a zombie."

Zoe and Isaak could only sigh and shake their heads at Yosef's playfulness.

***

"SINCE you don't have wedding rings prepared, just kiss each other, and let's get this done and over with."

Zoe stared at Yosef dryly.

[I know that he's the carefree type, but I didn't expect him to be this lazy.]

"Come on, don't look at me like that," Yosef complained lightly. "I've prepared all the necessary documents for this wedding on such short notice. I want to sleep now."

"Well, he has a point," Zoe said, changing her mind about Yosef's attitude. "The ceremony isn't important anyway, since we're only doing this for our own agenda. However…"

The High Priest smiled slyly at her. "'However?'"

She smiled brightly at him. "Do it right next time."

"Next time?" Isaak asked, curious. "There's a 'next time?'"

She turned to Isaak and nodded. "I promised Dal that if we fall in love for real during our contractual marriage, we'll choose my wedding dress together."

Yosef whistled, but she and the ghoul duke ignored the High Priest.

To be honest, she said "if" instead of "when" because she didn't want to be too confident.

Although she wouldn't hold back just because of Eunice Harper, she still needed to guard her heart well. If she and Isaak spent more time together, the possibility of Isaak falling in love with Eunice Harper would decrease since she already took the original female lead's role. Still…

[The possibility is low, but never zero.]

"That sounds good," Isaak said in a somewhat happy voice. And although his face remained indifferent, his eyes seemed to sparkle in delight. "Since that alcoholic bum doesn't want to do it right, should we do our ceremony the way you're familiar with? How do people get married in your world?"

"It's different for every culture," she explained. "But in our country, the bride and the groom just exchange rings and vows. Then, they kiss."

"Ah, we don't have rings," he said remorsefully. "Should we just exchange vows?"

She nodded eagerly. "Sounds fun. Should I go first?"

"Alright."

"I only have one vow for now as your wife," she said, then she held his hands because she felt awkward just standing in front of him. Thankfully, he didn't look upset by the sudden skinship. "Isaak Viotto, I won't let you go hungry."

Yosef laughed loudly, but she just ignored the High Priest.

Her eyes were focused on Isaak's smiling face.

His smile at the moment was one of his rare, genuine smiles worth melting for. Ah, this was a real person. Not a book character, but a person with feelings.

[Just how many chapters did it take me before I accept it as reality?]

"I also only have one vow for now," Isaak said, then he gently squeezed her hands. "Zoe Kim, I won't end up as an abusive partner to you."

Zoe smiled, then she closed her eyes.

The kiss that sealed Zoe and Isaak's wedding was sweet and chaste.

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'I Won't Let The Ghoul Duke Go Hungry!' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3