The Art of a Brilliant Political Marriage - Chapter 5

Litte was very skillful. He could dress his master in a gown and style her hair in various ways. However, Cielin could do things for herself as well. After all, she had a long track record of working as a servant in her family’s home. Although Litte helped her with the dress, Cielin fixed her own hair and headed to the dining hall with high spirits, accompanied by Litte. By the way, even without being shown the way, Litte knew where it was. The master assassin already had the entire layout of the mansion in his head.

Watching his master walk with such a light step from slightly behind, Litte grumbled.

“You are too excited, My Lady.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t be, should I?”

Cielin let out a small giggle and cleared her throat lightly in front of the dining hall doors. She had arrived with her heart dancing, unable to help her expectations. It was because she enjoyed things like this too much that her stepmother back home feared her, leading to her failure there.

“I apologize for the wait.”

She instantly put on a modest act and entered the room. The Zikkeldocra family had already started eating. Earl Zikkeldocra sat at the head of the table, and a man who looked like a butler stood next to him, holding open a newspaper for him to read. The Earl gave Cielin a quick glance and immediately lost interest. He treated her as if he hadn’t even realized she was in the mansion. Cielin desperately suppressed the joy bubbling up from the bottom of her heart at this atmosphere of not being recognized as the family’s bride.

“We weren’t particularly waiting, but sit down quickly.”

Her mother-in-law, Onubia, spoke the insult without even looking up. But before Cielin could respond, another voice spoke.

“Mother, there is no seat for my sister-in-law. The only empty spot is brother.”

Her sister-in-law, Vefa, who sat next to the mother, giggled and spoke as if it were a big problem. Indeed, there was only food on the table for the three of them: The Earl, his wife, and the younger sister. There was one empty seat, but as Vefa pointed out, it likely belonged to Saves. Since there was no food there, it was assumed he had already finished and left for work. In any case, it was clear there was no portion for Cielin.

Following the sister-in-law’s words, the mother-in-law furrowed her brow as if troubled.

“Oh, was that so?”

“If we stop to prepare a seat, our warm meal will get cold. Right, Mother?”

“That’s true.”

“That is enough.”

Earl Zikkeldocra spoke up, sounding fed up with the transparent conversation between the wife and daughter.

“I have only one thing to say. Saves is rarely home. You may spend your days as you like, but I will not allow you to touch anything belonging to this family. Understood?”

Did that include the food? Cielin hadn’t received a full explanation from her father, but she knew a dowry had been paid. Even if they were only after the dowry, what did they think of a bride? They were treating her like a thief.

Moreover, the Earl spoke one-sidedly, as if he were finished with Cielin. He then turned his gaze back to the newspaper.

The mother-in-law and sister-in-law continued their meal as if nothing had happened. Only the sound of moving cutlery echoed in the now-silent dining hall.

Cielin had truly become like air. However, she gave a silent bow and left the dining hall.