Getting Married

On the third day of March.

Cecelia Frederick, the fifth daughter of the Frederick family was carried through the side gate of the Archer's residence in a bright chair. Only then did the servants of the Archer family hurriedly replace the funeral decoration with the one of a wedding ceremony.

Three days ago, Elyse Frederick, the first wife of Draven Archer, the eldest son of the Archer family, was carried out from the Archer's residence. She was my elder sister.

But...

She was dead, and I was at my wedding.

***

My elder sister Elyse was the most beautiful girl in the Frederick family. When my father sought to climb the social ladder by linking with the Archer family, he hired the best matchmaker in the city to secure the marriage to the ailing eldest son of the Archer family.

I remember the matchmaker saying that Draven had tuberculosis and would not live past forty. He was also said to be unlikely to have children.

Most families would have avoided such a match at all costs, but not ours. We went for it eagerly.

Yet my father did not say a word, just slipped two gold pieces into the matchmaker's hand.

She weighed the gold in her palm, and even the large black mole at the corner of her mouth twitched as she smiled.

In less than two days, the matchmaker brought back good news.

On the day of Elyse's wedding, the entire Frederick household was decorated with lights and festivity. The celebration was grand.

My father could not stop smiling. After all, the Archer family was a royal merchant household, far beyond the reach of our family, even though the Frederick family owned the best medical clinic in Bulfa.

Who would have thought that in less than two years, my sister would fall into the water and drown?

And Draven, the one the matchmaker said was dying, was still very much alive.

Giving up one daughter was not enough for the Frederick family. My father was not about to let go of the wealth he had gained so easily.

So, he set his sights on me. Less than a month after my sister's mourning period had ended, he sent me into the Archer household as a second wife for the supposedly short-lived eldest son.

The Frederick family had more than just two daughters. I was the youngest, the fifth daughter, and beside me, there was my third sister, Bianca Frederick.

But my father favored Bianca so much that he could not bear to marry her to such a man.

When my father came to me that day, he felt somewhat guilty. He held my hand under the candlelight and spoke for a long time about his helplessness and how he could not bear to part with me.

I just looked at him in confusion. Why couldn't my father admit that he was simply greedy for power and wealth? Why did he need me to believe that he truly cared for me?

We talked until late into the night. I yawned repeatedly before my father finally got straight to the point.

He said that the Archer family's wealth was immense, and no matter how much dowry the Frederick family could give me, it would never be enough. So, instead of returning Elyse's dowry, they would simply use it as mine.

See? That was what he really wanted to say.

So, I had no grand bridal procession, and no friends or family in attendance. I was secretly carried into the Archer's residence in a bright chair.

Even the maid who accompanied me could not help but sigh in pity.

But they did not know the truth. I was willing to become the second wife of Draven.

The white mourning flowers had not yet been taken down from the Archer's residence, and only Draven's house was now adorned with flowers for a wedding.

I sat quietly on the bridal bed, my hands twisting the handkerchief nervously under the veil. Elyse had been the most beautiful girl in the Frederick family. When my father sought to climb the ranks by marrying her to the ailing eldest son of the Archer family, he hired the best matchmaker in Bulfa to secure the match.

The matchmaker had said that Draven had tuberculosis and would not live past forty. He also had no hope of fathering children.

Most families would have avoided such a match, but not ours. We rushed toward it.

My father said nothing, merely slipping two gold pieces into the matchmaker's hand.

The matchmaker weighed the coins in her palm, and the large black mole at the corner of her mouth quivered as she smiled.

In less than two days, she returned with good news.

On Elyse's wedding day, the Frederick family was brightly lit with decorations and full of celebration.

My father's face bloomed with joy. After all, the Archer family were royal merchants, far beyond the reach of the Frederick family, even though we owned the best medical clinic in Bulfa.

Who would have thought that in less than two years, Elyse would fall into the water and drown?

And Draven, whom the matchmaker had said wouldn't live long, was still alive and well.

Sacrificing one daughter had not been enough for my father. He was not about to let go of the wealth and status he had obtained so easily.

So, less than a month after Elyse's mourning period, he set his sights on me and sent me to the Archer family as a second wife for their short-lived eldest son.