A small platform, a pristine white v*rgin road, and a wedding arch had been set up in the middle of that field.

It was around the time when guests began to gather around.

“Are you nervous?”

James spoke while Hugo lingered in front of the newly placed mirror, unable to step away. They were inside Hugo’s old cabin, which had been converted into the groom’s waiting room for the day.

“I’m nervous. Extremely so.”

James let out a chuckle as he watched Hugo. His tone remained nonchalant even as he expressed his nervous feelings.

“Whenever I’ve asked if you were nervous before, you never once answered that you were, so seeing you like this, you must really be nervous.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”

Hugo had refreshingly acknowledged his own feelings. He let out a long, nervous breath.

Click.

Hugo and James’s gazes simultaneously turned toward the entrance of the cabin at the sudden noise.

The photographer who had just taken their picture smiled awkwardly.

“It’s better to take pictures this way to capture natural moments, you know.”

“Ah, I see.”

Hugo casually affirmed before turning completely toward the photographer and asking:

“Have you been to the bride’s waiting room as well?”

“Yes, I just took photos there and came here.”

“Take more pictures of that side than here. I’ll need to look at them for a long time.”

Just as he was making this doting remark without any hesitation, Hugo suddenly let out a single “Ah” and stepped closer to the photographer.

“So you’ve seen the bride.”

“That’s right.”

“How was she? Beautiful?”

“Yes, she was extremely beautiful.”

“I thought so. Can you describe in detail just how beautiful she is?”

Hugo hadn’t seen Yvonne in her wedding dress even once until now.

Something about seeing the bride in her dress before the wedding would bring misfortune to the marriage.

Hugo had called it a ridiculous superstition, but Yvonne’s stance was so firm that he had no choice but to comply.

It was just as Hugo was openly displaying his curiosity toward the photographer who had visited the bride’s waiting room—the former cabin of Mr. Oliver—when:

“Boss, please show some restraint.”

James spoke with his lips curled upward, his expression half soul-drained and half exasperated.

Hugo shrugged his shoulders and returned to the mirror, while the photographer fiddled with his camera, trying hard to hide his smile.

“It seems the guests have mostly gathered. I should head out now.”

James said after slightly pulling back the curtain to check outside.

He had to leave a bit earlier as he was in charge of officiating today’s wedding ceremony.

Even as he headed toward the door first, James didn’t neglect his role as secretary.

“Please come out in about ten minutes and stand in front of the wedding arch. Ten minutes. Don’t be late.”

After firmly instructing him, James stepped outside the cabin.

Ten minutes was shorter than expected.

After taking a deep breath at the cabin door to calm his nerves, Hugo finally opened the door and stepped outside.

As he stood in front of the wedding arch as James had instructed, the guests’ eyes poured onto him.

With his tall stature and solid build, Hugo cut a fine figure in his tuxedo.

His handsome face was as attractive as ever, but the difference was that instead of the coldness from before, a sense of tranquility now emanated from him.

Around the time guests were admiring and discussing Hugo’s striking appearance, James, who had been reading from his prepared script to lighten the mood among the guests, finally announced the groom’s entrance.

“Now, the groom will make his entrance.”

At James’s signal, the string ensemble played a gentle melody.

Hugo walked down the aisle under the gaze of the guests for quite some time. Upon reaching the end of that path, he exchanged a brief eye greeting with Lord Allen. Lord Allen was already standing in front of the platform as the officiant of today’s wedding.

“Congratulations, Lord Wenner.”

Hugo responded with a smile to Lord Allen’s quiet congratulations.

Eventually, Hugo’s gaze turned toward the wedding arch from which he had come.

“Our groom seems unable to bear his curiosity about the bride’s appearance.”

Laughter erupted from various parts of the guest seating area, now more relaxed thanks to James’s banter.

In this unfamiliar situation, just as Hugo was turning his gaze to give James a reproachful look:

James, who had been subtly avoiding Hugo’s gaze, spotted someone and hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Ah, the bride has just arrived.”

Hugo’s eyes instantly turned toward the wedding arch.

In the distance, a woman in pure white appeared on the arm of Grand Duke Merriott.

The veil slightly revealing the bride’s face, the snow-white wedding dress, the bouquet  of lily of the valley in her hands.

As Hugo’s heart gradually swelled while taking in her appearance, the bride’s entrance began.

The two people, gradually drawing closer, couldn’t help but smile happily as they caught each other’s gaze from afar.

Mrs. Hans and Daniel’s family, Lord Allen’s only daughter Gracie.

The Rosier Hotel staff including General Manager Raymond, businessmen closely connected with Hugo, and Wenner company employees.

And even some royal family members with whom they had formed connections at royal gatherings.

It was around the time when everyone’s gaze, wishing eternal happiness for the beautiful couple, finally settled in one place.

The footsteps of Grand Duke Merriott, splendidly dressed in uniform, finally stopped in front of Hugo.

“Congratulations, Hugo.”

Grand Duke Merriott offered his congratulations with a face as overwhelmed as the two protagonists of the day.

“Thank you, Grand……”

After a brief pause in his words of gratitude, as if struck by some sentiment, Hugo looked down quietly at Yvonne’s belly before finally speaking again.

“……Father.”

It was undoubtedly a special moment not only for the couple but also for Grand Duke Merriott, who had been unable to see his son for a long time.

After taking in Hugo’s appearance for a while, Grand Duke Merriott handed over Yvonne’s hand while trying to contain his welling emotions.

“May you live happily together.”

Yvonne’s eyes reddened at Grand Duke Merriott’s affectionate words as she thought of her deceased father.

If her father had been alive, he too would have warmly blessed her future path like the Duke.

“Thank you, Your Highness……”

Yvonne, whose throat kept tightening with emotion, finally managed to express her gratitude before taking Hugo’s hand and standing beside him.

After standing face to face, immersed in emotion for a moment, Hugo slowly lifted Yvonne’s veil.

He bit his lower lip unconsciously at her beautiful face finally revealed.

By now, Hugo’s face was completely suffused with happiness.

“Today we have gathered here to bless this beautiful pair of lovers.”

Lord Allen’s officiation finally began.

“They have overcome difficult adversities through love and at last……”

Even as the officiation continued at length, the guests’ moved gazes remained fixed on the two lovers who stood there today to pledge their eternal love.

Smiles constantly spread across the faces of Hugo and Yvonne as they faced each other, rejoicing in finally becoming one.

“……Now, I ask the groom. Do you swear to take Yvonne Rosier as your wife, to respect and love her for life, no matter what happens?”

Hugo nodded quietly at Lord Allen’s question.

“Yes, I swear to respect and love her for life.”

Lord Allen asked Yvonne the same question.

Of course, her answer was the same as Hugo’s.

“Yes, I swear.”

Lord Allen, who had been watching them with satisfaction, eventually brought his officiation to a close.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. The groom may now kiss the bride.”

At Lord Allen’s words, Hugo’s lips gently descended upon Yvonne’s.

The guests spared no applause for the couple who kissed and then gazed affectionately at each other again.

Amidst the shower of applause and congratulations, the couple walked down the aisle together, smiling brightly.

“Congratulations, Yvonne!”

“Congratulations, Lord Wenner!”

Flower petals thrown by the guests beautifully scattered along the path of the couple.

The photographer, smiling along from a distance, captured that moment while wishing for their happiness.

Click. The happy image of the lovers walking down the aisle with bright smiles amidst the fluttering flower petals was eternally preserved in a black and white photograph.

The head of the Rosier family Yvonne, Hugo who would one day become Grand Duke Merriott, and their lovely daughter.

It was their first family portrait.

<By Your Side, Where You Hate Me – The End>