The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 158 - Side Story Chapter 15

Shaking my head as if to say “what can I do with him,” I walked up to the altar with Dillian.

As my eyes met Aaron’s, who was officiating the ceremony, his gentle blue gaze curved into a soft smile.

“On this day full of blessings…”

As Aaron began to speak, the once-bustling surroundings fell into a respectful hush.

His speech was warm yet solemn, graceful and sacred.

Even Dillian looked upon him with reverence.

I raised my gaze a little higher above Aaron, to take in the statue of Obellus above.

Father, are you watching? If you’re there, please bless my love—our future together.

I engraved Obellus into my eyes and Aaron’s words into my ears.

“—Do you vow to love and be with one another forever?”

“I do.”

“Yes, I vow.”

Following Dillian’s vow, I echoed mine. He tightened his grip on my hand, and I gently patted the back of his in response.

“Then, before the divine, I solemnly declare you husband and wife.”

As Aaron finished the ceremonial blessing, cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

Dillian lifted the veil that had covered my face. When I raised my eyes to meet his, I saw a subtle tremble and shimmer in his gaze.

“You’re really my wife now.”

“And you’ve become my husband.”

Dillian’s large hands gently cupped both my cheeks. Rising onto the tips of my toes, I softly closed my eyes.

I felt his trembling breath—and then, the warmth of his lips touched mine.

Congratulations, my child.

At the soft voice that brushed past me like the wind, I smiled quietly.

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

I groaned as I rubbed my sore shoulders.

Having smoothly finished the ceremony, we moved to the ducal mansion—because we couldn’t exactly be raising a toast inside a holy temple.

After greeting all the guests and mingling with the slightly tipsy attendees, my body was screaming for relief.

“If I lie down now, I’ll pass out for sure…”

Once I had washed up, my limbs had gone limp, and I felt like I’d black out the instant my head hit the pillow.

Mustering the energy to clear my fatigue, I sat at the vanity.

“I need to blow-dry my hair before Dillian arrives.”

But even after drying my hair, Dillian didn’t appear.

“That’s strange. He’d usually show up first to wait for me.”

I stared intensely at the door, but it remained closed.

“Did he get cold feet on our wedding night?”

I tried not to believe it—yet as time passed, I worried more and more.

Wrapped in the shawl I’d thrown over the sofa, I reached for the door handle just then…

With a sudden bang, the door swung open and his solid form collapsed into my arms.

“Dillian… ah!”

Unable to support his weight, we stumbled back and the door slammed shut.

He pushed me until my knees hit the bed—thud—and I tumbled onto it, with him landing on top of me. He pressed his face into my neck and took a long breath.

Haah….

After several deep breaths, he mumbled, “I… I thought I was going to die.”

“Dillian, why were you so late? I thought you’d changed your mind.”

“The blame lies with those damned fools.”

He ground his teeth. While I hadn’t been held up, he’d apparently been swept away by drinkers.

‘Of course. Schumann and Maymie must’ve been pestering him.’

Knowing their antics well, I felt pity and gently stroked his hair.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“I nearly left you alone, Ria. They forced me to drink—I had a hard time.”

“They were terrible.”

I patted his back in comfort, and he smiled lowly, brushing his cheek against my neck.

His soft skin grazed my hair, and a tickle bloomed.

“Hee—ticklish.”

“Just ticklish?”

His lips landed near my ear as he whispered, making goosebumps rise.

Sensing my reaction, he traced kisses down my neck, making me squirm with every brush of his lips.

“Ugh, wait!”

Trying to settle, I found my legs dangling off the bed’s edge. When I pushed at his chest, that only seemed to provoke him more.

He grabbed my hands, pinned me under him, and hugged my waist tightly—no space between us.

“Dillian, please… calm down…”

“Why? We’re married now—my dear.”

The address “my dear” tumbled from his lips, and I gasped.

“‘My dear’…?”

“Yes, my dear.”

He traced the line of my lips tenderly with his own.

“Ria, relax.”

His tone was sweet as honey—but his actions were bold.

“We can’t waste our wedding night.”

A smile played at my lips.

“…Who said we’d waste it?”

I wasn’t ready to sleep—definitely not from waiting.

Feeling bold, I turned my head and whispered near his ear.

“Let go of me. I want you to hold me.”

His eyes sparked fire at my invitation.

“You’re intent on shattering my heart.”

Despite the intensity of his gaze, he loosened his grip. In that moment, I slipped out from under him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Pressing my lips to his ear, I teased sweetly.

“That would be a problem. Remember—it is our night.”

“Christ…”

He sighed as I shifted away with a soft shove against his shoulder.

“I knew you’d be impossible.”

“Liar. You were just trying to win.”

He laughed lightly, unbuttoning his shirt.

His strong form settled over me.

Our lips met, and we explored each other.

The night deepened around us.

 

 

*****

 

 

 

I blinked open my dry, heavy eyelids.

“It’s… afternoon already?”

Normally I’d be bustling about—but on the bed, I couldn’t move a muscle.

‘All because of him.’

My skin was drying out, but his face was full of life.

“Ria… breathe, okay?”

“Dillian, you look good…really good.”

“I can’t believe you—your exhaustion pains me.”

“You did this to me.”

Even when I cried begging him to stop, he never let go.

I glared sharply, but he just smiled, ignoring my fury.

“Now, we need a proper meal so you can recover.”

I lacked the energy to hurl the pillow, so I let him take charge and served myself with gratitude.

‘Why do I feel like he’s enjoying all this?’

Despite the hassle, his face as he brushed my hair glowed with happiness.

“Rest again tomorrow if you need.”

“No, tomorrow we go.”

Going any later would make it feel less like a honeymoon.

Originally we planned to leave today, but I didn’t have the energy to ride in the carriage—we postponed it by a day.

“We must leave tomorrow, no matter what.”

Clenching my fist with resolve, I hesitated mid-sentence.

“It might not be your idea of a honeymoon destination…”

I trailed off, watching him closely. He shook his head and gave a soft smile.

“Even if it’s hell, as long as I’m with you, it’ll be fine.”

“I don’t want hell…”

“Then I’ll carry you away—fast, and safely.”

Something about hearing that from him made those words feel true.

“That’s reassuring, husband.”

“‘Husband’,” he echoed—and couldn’t suppress his grin. Seeing the joy on his face made me smile too.

“Ria, the place doesn’t matter to me.”

“Really? No backtalk later.”

“Promise.”

He knelt before me and kissed my knuckles, looking up at me with eyes full of affection.

“Whatever that place is, it’ll be paradise with you.”

He didn’t say the words “I love you,” but it felt like the most beautiful declaration.

I opened my arms and hugged him tightly.

“I feel the same. Wherever we are, it’s paradise.”