Chapter 40
Aurora felt Barrett's accusations were unreasonable. She scoffed and said, “We just got married today, and you’re already yelling at me. What will it be like in the future? These soldiers have fought alongside you and witnessed our love. Even if I didn’t tell you beforehand, who doesn’t prepare extra tables for a big wedding? And about them leaving their posts, that’s not for you to worry about. General Lane is an understanding person.”
Aurora’s strong stance made Barrett back down a bit. He didn’t want to argue on their wedding day. He asked, “So, they left the barracks with General Lane’s permission?”
Aurora hadn’t actually asked General Gideon Lane. She had simply ordered the soldiers to attend. But she thought this detail wasn’t important and believed Gideon would understand. Avoiding the question, she retorted, “It’s your poor planning that’s the issue. Go ask around—who doesn’t prepare extra seats for a big wedding? I don’t know who organized this wedding, but it’s so disgraceful. How can you blame me?”
Barrett felt guilty because he knew she had a point. Large families often hosted open parties for the common folk and usually prepared extra tables. If his mother and sister-in-law had set up an open party, the soldiers would have had places to sit without taking the guests’ seats. His frustration shifted to Amelia, who had organized the wedding. But seeing Aurora’s flushed face from drinking and recalling how warmly she had interacted with the soldiers, he suddenly felt annoyed.
“You should stop drinking and return to the room,” said Barrett.
Now that all the guests had left, Aurora realized there was no point in celebrating with the soldiers any longer. No one was there to see her unique qualities. She nodded. “You should ask your sister-in-law why the wedding banquet was so poorly managed.”
“I’ll talk to her. Let me take you back to the room first,” Barrett replied.
The joy of the day was completely ruined, and he felt humiliated. He especially recalled Prince Jerome and his wife’s looks of disdain and the incomprehensible remark they made when they left—it was the worst insult Barrett had ever received!
Aurora was also furious. All the guests leaving was humiliating. She was the only female general praised by the Empress Dowager, and today should have been her moment to shine! Instead, it turned into a complete embarrassment. She blamed Rebecca and Amelia for this mess. Aurora thought they were too stingy to host a proper party, which offended the guests and led to this situation. Although she was boiling with anger, she didn’t want to ruin her wedding day further. She decided to hold back and confront them tomorrow.
Even though Aurora didn’t have control over the household affairs, as she was the second lady of the Warren family, she couldn’t tolerate such frugality and disgrace.
Back in their new room, Aurora grew increasingly upset. Since she learned that Barrett was divorcing Carissa and that she would be joining the Warren family as a rightful wife, she had been looking forward to this grand wedding. The king had granted them this marriage for their military achievements, and it should have been unprecedentedly glorious. After all, the guests were all of high status—royal family members as well as civil and military officials with their families. It was grander than when Carissa had married Barrett.
Aurora had hoped to meet these influential figures during the wedding toast, especially the officials from the Ministry of Defense and the Civil Department. They had yet to confirm her military rank, and she was growing impatient. But all her plans were ruined by Amelia’s miserly and poor arrangements, making Aurora a laughingstock in the capital. Aurora could already imagine Carissa’s gloating expression when the latter heard about what happened today. Thinking of Carissa’s smug expression made Aurora even angrier, but she had no outlet for her frustration. In a fit of rage, she flipped the table of food and wine in the room!