The Tragic Male Lead Chose the Wrong Partner Chapter 32

Meanwhile, completely unaware that she herself looked like the very embodiment of grace and divinity, Cynthia was dying inside.

 

‘Never mind the cold, this stings! My eyes hurt! I feel like an ant being roasted alive under a magnifying glass!’

 

Unfortunately, sunlight was her mortal weakness.

 

Thankfully, it was just a soft, filtered glow, not strong enough to burn her. The light that had been shining on Cynthia now spilled down the wedding aisle, eventually falling on Maceira, who stood across from her in full ceremonial uniform.

 

Expressionless, Maceira stared at the glowing bride before him, so radiant she might have been emitting light of her own.

 

To him, Cynthia was nothing more than a shadow cast over the course of his life.

 

‘If the day ever comes when that bright smile of hers fades because of me…’

 

Would it feel satisfying to see her shattered? Or would it leave a bitter aftertaste?

 

Beyond his grim thoughts, thick clouds slowly parted, and golden beams of sunlight fell through the gaps like curtains.

 

“I was watching with the purest, most blessed heart.”

 

“I was the only one who recognized the brilliance of that dress when everyone else laughed!”

 

Afraid they would incur divine wrath for harboring impure thoughts, the guests began shuffling their seats to the sunny side.

 

Cynthia’s shoes sparkled like glass slippers as she walked the aisle that stretched like a path of light.

 

“The princess is definitely the reincarnation of the Frost Queen!”

 

“The princess clearly has been blessed by the goddess! Please let me win the lottery!”

 

“A living goddess of good luck! Please help me find a lover!”

 

The kitchen staff shouted their wishes with such fervor that others joined in, creating an oddly sacred atmosphere. Even the designer from Mary Siren, who had created Cynthia’s dress, clapped with a moved face.

 

She was really lucky. If the skies had stayed cloudy, her magnum opus would have just looked like a plain white dress.

 

At the end of the aisle, Maceira extended a hand toward Cynthia, his face solemn.

 

“Ah.”

 

But she instinctively winced, eyes shut tight from the sunlight bouncing off the jeweled bouquet.

 

Still smiling, Cynthia stepped toward him.

 

‘This was your idea, okay? Not my fault. Also, this thing is heavy as hell.’

 

Maceira, aware of all the eyes on them, quickly forced a faint smile.

 

‘I think I’m going blind. I should’ve ignored the designer when she said the jeweled bouquet would highlight the dress.’

 

To the audience, however, it looked like the groom was simply overwhelmed by the bride’s beauty, blinking back tears.

 

With the glowing gown and bouquet behind them, the couple seemed to be bathed in divine radiance.

 

“The goddess herself is blessing this union.”

 

Madame Lecanosa beamed. Her sisters, Madame Hills and Madame Verace, were the same.

 

Helene, Cynthia’s ‘older sister’ to the public, also smiled. 

 

‘A fake maid parading around like a real princess, and everyone’s eating it up. Pathetic.’

 

“The sun was shining all throughout our ceremony, too,” Helene remarked.

 

Madame Lecanosa nodded in agreement.

 

“Yes, you and your husband were clearly blessed as well.”

 

No one mentioned that it had started snowing heavily the moment the ceremony ended.

 

Meanwhile, Duke Henry Lecanosa was watching Cynthia and Maceira with a strange look in his eyes.

 

‘How come she keeps stealing the spotlight like this?’

 

Though Helene was a true royal, part of the Bariesa royal family line, she never really managed to grab the public’s attention.

 

Fame often brought wealth and power, no matter how undeserved. It is why the incompetent Bariesa royal family managed to reign for so long.

 

It was for that reason that the duke had married Helene, to boost his status by tying himself to the throne.

 

Now he could only sigh.

 

In terms of show business, Cynthia was the perfect star.

 

Not only did she have an extraordinary appearance, but her sunny smile, down-to-earth personality, and the chaotic energy that followed her everywhere made her irresistibly appealing.

 

She was someone everyone liked.

 

Brigadier General Maceira del Vicente was no less of a hot topic. His striking looks and legendary achievements had turned what should have been a stain, his lowborn origins, into a hero’s narrative.

 

That’s precisely why Grand Duchess Charlotte Yorkshire, a Medea’s collateral royal family, had sent him a marriage proposal.

 

At the wedding, Princess Charlotte seated with an impeccable posture and an aloof expression.

 

‘I was curious to see just how incredible the woman he chose to reject my proposal.’

 

Being rejected by a commoner had bruised her ego. She had planned to marry the war hero and raise her royal rank.

 

“Now, the bride and groom, may now seal your vows with a kiss.”

 

The slightly excited voice of the commander-in-chief who officiated the wedding was heard. 

 

Cynthia leaned in and whispered to Maceira, who was lifting her veil.

 

“Are we actually doing this? Or just pretending? Or maybe–”

 

“Close your mouth.”

 

He meant for her to close her eyes, but the phrasing threw her off.

 

Maceira let out a soft sigh.

 

They couldn’t fool the eyes of the numerous guests, especially not with the press in attendance.

 

‘Oh, since he told me to close my mouth, he must mean it’s just pretend!’

 

Cynthia tightly pressed her lips together.

 

“Close your eyes.”

 

His voice was low, almost gentle. Cynthia slowly lowered her gaze and closed her eyes.

 

‘Wait, how do you fake a kiss, anyway?’

 

Cynthia, who had never kissed anyone in her past life, was doubtful for a moment. Just as she was wondering, she caught the faint scent of trees at dawn, and warmth brushed the corner of her mouth.

 

So even a man this cold and stiff had a soft side.

 

She was just realizing it was his lips when she instinctively flinched in surprise.

 

‘This isn’t quite real, but it’s not fake either, is it some kind of advanced technique?’

 

The moment their lips parted and applause erupted, Cynthia felt a little dizzy.

 

Her attention was completely stolen by the firm arm wrapped around her waist.

 

At that moment, Maceira slowly opened his eyes.

 

At this distance, close enough their noses nearly touched, his gaze looked even more mesmerizing. Like a kaleidoscopic sea that shimmered the longer you stared.

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

The words slipped from Cynthia before she realized it. Maceira flinched, then quickly pushed her away.

 

‘Too bad his personality isn’t as pretty…’

 

Reciting the thought in her head, Cynthia spun away smoothly, now facing the officiant.

 

As for the much-anticipated bouquet toss, it was skipped for safety reasons.

 

* * *

 

By the time the ceremony ended, the weather had cleared as if nothing had happened.

 

I could feel it right away, the way people looked at me had changed.

 

It was like… the awe you would feel if you actually met a monk who could levitate and teleport.

 

“Lady Cynthia, shall we get you changed into your reception dress?”

 

I returned to my room and changed into a pale pink gown, layering a cape over it before heading toward the banquet hall. That’s when Carlos approached me.

 

“As your older brother, I will escort you to the banquet hall.”

 

“Sure.”

 

I nodded in agreement.

 

At his subtle glance asking her to excuse us, Dahlia bowed politely and stepped aside.

 

As Carlos led me forward, he lowered his voice.

 

“I imagine it’s hard to accept, watching you marry another man. But seeing you try your best like this… I’m grateful. And sorry, too.”

 

“Try my best?”

 

“You’re making an effort to win his heart, aren’t you?”

 

Carlos gently took my hand, like he was giving a reward to someone who was trying hard for his sake.

 

Would the real Cynthia have been happy to hear that?

 

“I guess I’ve been trying. But it’s not exactly hard.”

 

I looked up at him, expressionless.

 

“And I’m not the only one putting in effort. The brigadier general is trying, too. Relationships go both ways, you know. You don’t take someone’s devotion for granted and use them.”

 

Carlos went quiet for a moment. Then he muttered, voice tight with resentment.

 

“So you think the Brigadier General is sincere to you? Just because he was a little nice to you?”

 

Carlos continued, bitterness seeping in.

 

“There is talk that once he gets what he wants, he’s going to divorce you and remarry the Princess of Medea.”

 

* * *

 

Major Rodriguez, who was coming out of the corner of the hallway, stopped walking when he saw Carlos and Cynthia.

 

He ended up overhearing their conversation unintentionally.

 

“You’re just a disposable tool. Once you’ve served your purpose, he will throw you away, just like father did.”

 

I was not something a brother should ever say to his sister.

 

Major Rodriguez had always felt a strange sense of kinship with Cynthia. Not just because of how they looked, but because he understood her.

 

She was also someone trying to survive in a world where there was no place for her. someone who offered herself up as ‘useful’ just to stay alive.

 

It was because he knew that Cynthia was no different from him.