novelraw Chapter 378: With such a beauty at home, even a monk like Ignatius Leclair would be tempted
Chapter 378: With such a beauty at home, even a monk like Ignatius Leclair would be tempted
January 8th, the day of the wedding, Bessie Leclair woke up early. The usually heavily guarded gates of the Leclair Family estate were rare to see wide open.
Eighteen bridesmaids and makeup artists crowded the Leclair estate early in the morning. By the time Bessie had donned her wedding dress and finished her bridal makeup, it was already close to ten o’clock.
Due to the bride’s distinguished background, only the hotel portion of the wedding was open to the public. The ceremonies at the estate were simplified, retaining only traditions like the groom arriving to pick up the bride and the newlyweds offering tea to their elders. As for other livelier traditions, they were omitted. Truth be told, even the most unruly of the South Seas aristocrats wouldn’t dare bring their exaggerated antics to the Leclair estate.
When Jocelyn Yeager arrived with the groomsmen, Delphine was already up. She had applied light makeup and changed into a floor-length gown in a pale pink hue. Holding a simple clutch, she descended the stairs with graceful ease.
The groomsmen Jocelyn brought were all young men from prominent South Seas families, ones he had been friendly with in the past.
Amidst the crowd surrounding the bride and the eighteen bridesmaids, Delphine caught everyone’s attention as she descended. Her skin was as smooth and pale as ivory, her beauty refined like a cold jade sculpture. The pale pink gown revealed her delicate collarbones and her slender, rounded shoulders. Paired with her finely chiseled features and reserved demeanor, this exquisite combination unexpectedly overshadowed the charm of the eighteen bridesmaids. Possibly, only Miss Squire from the South Seas, famed for her beauty, could compare.
The young aristocrats had their eyes fixed on her, startled by her elegance. One person, quick-witted, remembered that Delphine supposedly had a vague, complicated relationship with Ignatius Leclair and coughed deliberately, snapping the group out of their daze. They each reflected silently—keeping such an enchanting woman in the household, even a monk like Ignatius wouldn’t remain indifferent.
Delphine paid no attention to the subtle commotion among the young men, her gaze falling directly onto Jocelyn. Dressed impeccably in a custom-tailored suit, he looked as composed and dashing as ever despite several months apart. His gentle smile lingered on his face, yet it didn’t reach his eyes.
Their eyes met briefly. Delphine stepped forward to offer her congratulations, her tone clear and unclouded by hidden sentiments.
A bitter pang struck Jocelyn’s heart. He wanted to say a few words to her, but before he could, several alluring bridesmaids surrounded him, pulling him away towards Bessie.
Jocelyn turned to steal one last glance at Delphine. The distance between them was neither too near nor too far—separated by the bustling crowd and the unstoppable march of time. Seeing her, a solitary woman standing in the corner of the hall, her cold detachment unwavering, a strange ache surged within him. From this moment on, they would dwell on opposite shores of life’s river, with no chance of crossing back to one another.
After a flurry of celebration, the newlyweds performed the tea ceremony for their elders and were then whisked away from the Leclair estate to the main venue of the wedding. In an instant, the magnificent estate was left barren, with only the servants staying behind to tidy up the courtyard.
This wedding was not accompanied by a banquet hosted at the Leclair Family estate, so aside from Delphine, there were no other principal figures left at home. Even Mrs. Gu went out adorned in her complete jewelry set, excitedly joining other society ladies to compete in display and prestige.
After lunch, Richard Shaw had already flown from Imperial City to the South Seas. Sitting in a wheelchair and dressed neatly in a pristine suit, the man carried himself with a stoic charm. Accompanied by two officers, he was ushered into the hall.
It was the first time Delphine had seen him in formal attire, and the sight struck her visibly. After a prolonged pause, she finally spoke, "Ignatius went to the wedding venue early this morning. If you’re looking for him, Mr. Shaw, you’ll have to go to the hotel."
Richard chuckled lightly, nodding with a smile. "Old Leclair asked me to bring you to the wedding venue. He’s too occupied today to do it himself."
Richard couldn’t help but feel helpless—coming all the way to the South Seas only to end up serving as the babysitter.
Delphine fell silent for a moment. Accompany Richard to the wedding venue? But she had already promised Leah.