Whenever the wind blew, the scent of flowers mingled with the sand and the gentle jingle of camel bells could be heard in the distance.

Seria and Kashan walked slowly along a narrow alleyway.

Shops draped in deep blue cloth lined the roadside, their owners fanning themselves lazily as they dozed.

Children ran past with water jars balanced on their heads, laughing brightly as if the jars weighed nothing at all.

Amidst that peace, Seria suddenly remembered the thought she’d had when she first met Kashan.

‘Back then, I thought the Kuth people were all cannibals…’

Children’s faces passed through her field of vision, looking so innocent and pure that her old assumptions now seemed shameful.

They were such clear, joyful little beings, able to find delight even in carrying water jars.

As Seria stood watching them, Kashan’s gaze followed hers. After a brief hesitation, he spoke carefully.

“Seria.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to have a child?”

Startled, Seria parted her lips but couldn’t answer right away.

She hesitated, flustered.

“For me, anything is fine. What matters most is your opinion.”

“I—I think I should, of course. As a woman, continuing the family line is important, so—”

“No, no. Not that kind of answer. Seria, I’m asking what you think. Not what a woman is supposed to do or anything about heirs. Your opinion is what matters to me.”

For a woman of the empire, pregnancy and childbirth were paths assigned at birth. There had never been room in that path for something like opinions.

‘A woman who can’t bear children is useless… so of course I should, shouldn’t I?’

Her chest tightened. It wasn’t just fear; it was the unfamiliar anxiety of having to look directly into her own heart for the first time.

As Seria grappled with her thoughts, Kashan’s large hand gently brushed her hair back. Silken strands slipped through his thick fingers.

Seria drew a quiet breath and lowered her gaze.

“You don’t have to answer right now. I just wanted to know what you felt.”

Since coming here, it had always been like this.

There were many things she now had to think through and decide on herself. In the past, she had simply waited prettily like a doll in a luxurious mansion for the husband she would one day marry.

“What if… I said I didn’t want to have a child?”

“Then I was going to take medicine to prevent conception.”

Kashan cut gently into her words, answering as if he could read everything in her expression.

“That’s why I asked, so you don’t have to trouble yourself with heavy thoughts. All right?”

His face drew closer, his voice soft and persuasive, his expression warm. Not even her parents had ever supported her opinions like this.

Seria gazed at him for a long moment, then parted her full lips.

“Kashan.”

“Mm?”

“Thank you.”

Her voice was plain, sincere.

Kashan answered it only with a gentle, pleased smile.

“And… I love you. Truly.”

The sapphire engagement ring he had given her was still sparkling on her finger.

“I love you too, Seria.”

***

After returning from their trip to the oasis, daily life became busy again. With the wedding approaching in earnest, both Kashan and Seria had many things to prepare.

Fortunately, Alkutar—once thrown into chaos by the influx of imperial visitors—had regained its original quiet and peace.

“K-Kashan…”

Seria peeked her head through the door of his office and called softly. Kashan, who had been buried in a mountain of documents, brow furrowed, rose at once to greet her.

“Yes, come in.”

“I have something to tell you.”

Kashan inclined his head as if to encourage her to continue, gently brushing her hair back as she approached.

“I… about our wedding.”

“Yes?”

“I want to… make it a little smaller.”

Seria squeezed her eyes shut and spoke with all the courage she could muster.

Although her voice trembled slightly, she managed to finish her sentence with rare firmness and boldly state what she wanted.

The request was so trivial, yet she was shaking so much.

Kashan let out a quiet laugh as he watched her delicate shoulders quiver.

A gentle, careful touch brushed over her closed eyelids.

His gaze slowly traced the lines of her face and his hand naturally slid to her waist.

When she felt his firm fingers trace the curve of her side, Seria drew in a sharp breath and slowly opened her eyes.

Their gazes met in the space between them.

Kashan smiled softly.

“Is that what you came to tell me?”

“Y-yes… yes.”

“Seria, if that’s what you want, of course I don’t mind.”

“But if the ceremony is smaller, the number of guests will also—”

“It doesn’t matter. We can cut out all the unnecessary ones.”

“R-really?”

The unexpected, wholehearted response prompted Seria to ask repeatedly.

For imperial nobles, a wedding was an opportunity to display the wealth of both families.

While preparing for a Kuth wedding, she realized that the upper class here was not so different after all.

“So you thought I would say no to something like this?”

Kashan tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled.

Seria was still looking dazed. She had no guests of her own to invite.

While preparing for the wedding, she had feared that the hall would be filled entirely with his guests.

She had spent days worrying and wishing for a small ceremony with only a few close friends and family instead.

Such a thing was unimaginable in the Empire.

That was why she had been so afraid that Kashan might be shocked or refuse.

But, once again, he nodded without hesitation.

“I should be the one apologizing. I should have told you sooner that I’m fine with anything you want.”

Kashan gave a wry smile and gently patted her back.

“If there’s anything else you want, you can tell me anytime. Seria, whatever you wish for… I can give it to you.”

“Thank you… truly…”

“So, have you decided on the dress you were worrying about?”

“T-that! That’s a secret.”

“My bride certainly has many secrets.”

Kashan spoke playfully and kissed her on the cheek.

Seria smiled in his arms, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from curving upwards.

Even as they continued to nudge and tease each other, her shy smile never faded.

***

Time moved quickly, and before they knew it, their wedding day had arrived.

Some people disapproved of Kashan marrying an imperial woman, but he paid them no mind.

With trade between the Kuth tribe and the Empire now flourishing, such objections held little weight.

The ceremony was held in the center of a garden, next to a greenhouse.

Although the guest list was small, the space was filled with flowers grown especially for this day.

White peonies, cream-colored roses, and pale pink veil flowers bloomed in dense clusters radiant yet refined.

Each time the breeze swept through, a soft floral fragrance drifted gently into the air.

Sunlight rested peacefully over the quiet garden.

Seria stepped out from the greenhouse through the scattered petals along the path.

“Seria…”

Kashan stood waiting, spellbound, a soft smile on his lips, holding out his hand.

Since Seria had insisted on keeping her dress hidden until the ceremony, this was the first time he had seen it.

He couldn’t gather his composure.

His cheeks flushed as he stared at Seria walking towards him.

With each step she took, petals stirred beneath the hem of her gown.

The dress was pure white, simple in design yet flawlessly crafted.

Delicate lace embraced her waist, and the silk shimmered faintly in the sunlight — quiet, graceful, and impossibly elegant.