Chapter 45

Hazel wanted to ask if Monday was too soon, but she simply smiled, feeling grateful for the efforts of the staff who had decorated the ship like a wedding hall and even obtained permission from the temple.  

All Hazel wanted was to marry quickly and enjoy a short honeymoon with the Duke before the baby arrived.  

Three days passed quickly, and the grand wedding took place.  

The ship docked at the port of the Servian Empire was adorned with pink and white fresh flowers, while the exterior was wrapped in luxurious lace decorations.  

Curious citizens, who had no prior connection to the couple, began gathering around the port, intrigued by the unusual wedding.  

“Bam-ba-bam—.”  

The sound of trumpets announcing the start of the wedding echoed, and the orchestra assembled at the center of the ship began playing soft classical music.  

The sound of applause filled the air as if it would shake the ship, and Kaiden, dressed in a navy uniform embroidered with gold thread, stood at the podium. Shortly after, Hazel entered, holding Nordic’s hand, wearing a pure white dress adorned with beads.  

Hazel, so nervous that her clasped hands trembled slightly, didn’t even notice the song playing. Seeing this, Kaiden gently wrapped her small hands with his large ones.  

“Thank you, Your Grace.”  

“It’ll be over soon. Hazel, you look stunning today.”  

“And you look incredibly handsome, Your Grace.”  

As Kaiden patted her small hand rhythmically, Hazel’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal.  

Once the High Priest finished the wedding vows, the staff began whistling and cheering from all directions.  

“Whistle—. Live happily ever after!”  

Amid the staff showering them with flower petals and cheers of congratulations, Hazel and Kaiden walked down the virgin road.  

“Hazel, you’ve really grown up now.”  

Nordic and Kate hugged Hazel tightly, wiping away their tears, as the tempo of the previously calm music picked up slightly, signaling the start of the banquet.  

At the center of the banquet stood a three-tiered chocolate cake made by Dillizard, surrounded by champagne and an abundance of appetizing finger foods.  

“Hazel, it’s been a while.”  

Lily, who had removed her hooded black robe, stood in front of Hazel. Her appearance seemed familiar, causing Hazel’s eyes to widen.  

“Could it be… the Rose Mask…?”  

“Nice to meet you, Hess.”  

Lily affectionately whispered Hazel’s alias, used during the secretive social gatherings.  

“Thank you so much for coming, Lady Rose.”  

Overcome with joy and familiarity, Hazel called Lily by her alias and embraced her warmly.  

“This is a gift from me to you, Princess.”  

Hazel handed over a small gift box.  

“A gift?”  

“Yes. I’m so sorry about last time. And thank you for handling Young Marquis Humohr so well.”  

When Lily opened the box and pulled out a mirror with a red ribbon tied to its handle, Hazel hurriedly closed the box.  

“A mirror?”  

“It’s not just any ordinary mirror. It might help you find your other half, Princess.”  

As Lily looked puzzled, Hazel gave her a look of encouragement, as if to say, “Just trust me.” Then she waved toward Kaiden.  

“As you can see, I don’t need it anymore.”  

“You seem happy.”  

“Yes, I’m absolutely, absolutely happy.”  

Hazel smiled so brightly that her eyes nearly disappeared.  

“I guess I won’t see you at social gatherings anymore. Write to me anytime; I’ll be waiting. And congratulations on your pregnancy.”  

“Thank you, Princess.” 

The doctor had said Hazel had entered a stable phase, so Kaiden decided to bring along the doctor who had been conducting her regular checkups.  

Thanks to this decision, Hazel now received exceptional care from two doctors.  

“My dear daughter, see you in three months.”  

“Yes.”  

“Stay healthy, alright?”  

“Yes, but with Duke Kaiden by my side, what’s there to worry about?”  

Hazel wiped the tears from Kate’s eyes and hugged her tightly.  

After the banquet, the couple planned to head to Starshade Island, their honeymoon destination, before traveling to the Cliang Kingdom.  

As the atmosphere of the banquet ripened, time passed quickly, and the staff began dismantling the wedding decorations to prepare for departure. Soon, dawn broke.  

“Did you sleep well, Hazel?”  

The honeymoon suite, arranged by Head Maid Claire, was the sunniest room on the ship and was furnished similarly to a room in the Erban Marquisate mansion, ensuring Hazel wouldn’t feel out of place.  

Feeling touched by the thoughtful gesture, Hazel woke up in a good mood.  

“Yes, I slept very well.”  

“Wasn’t the preparation for departure noisy?”  

When Hazel shook her head, Kaiden spread his arms, asking for a hug.  

“Are you still not going to tell me today?”  

“Tell you what?”  

Hazel, nestled in Kaiden’s arms, tilted her chin up playfully.  

Even as the loud sound of the ship’s horn announcing its departure echoed, Kaiden remained glued to Hazel’s side, carefully stroking her slightly swollen belly.  

“So, what’s my score?”  

“Hmm. Your Grace, don’t you need to go outside?”  

“Philip will take care of it. Hazel, tell me.”  

“Hmm…”  

Although Kaiden had persistently asked before, wondering if he ranked higher than Humohr, Hazel found his mix of affection and mild jealousy endearing. She deliberately kept him guessing.  

This time, too, she refused to tell him, turning away and playfully pushing against his firm chest.  

“Hazel.”  

Lowering his voice, Kaiden grabbed the hand pushing against his chest and wrapped it around his waist.  

Before her eyes was the chiseled, statue-like chest she had longed to touch, and when she tilted her chin slightly, she could see Kaiden’s breathtakingly handsome face.  

Every day felt like a dream.  

Hazel, now visibly pregnant, stroked her belly and nuzzled her head against Kaiden’s chest.  

“Your Grace, our little Star is telling you to stop asking.”  

The baby’s nickname was “Star,” as Hazel wished for every day to shine as brightly as a star.  

“Honestly, Hazel.”  

At her adorable complaint, Kaiden kissed her forehead repeatedly and gently tidied her slightly messy hair.  

“Your Grace, no matter how many times you ask, I won’t tell you. So just give up.”  

“Come on. So, I’m ranked higher than Humohr, right?”  

“Of course. And I just like you, Your Grace.”  

This time, it was Hazel who spread her arms, asking for a hug. Kaiden, with a wider smile, opened his arms even bigger and pulled Hazel into a tighter embrace.  

“I love you, Hazel.”  

“I love you more.”  

“No, I love you more. Hazel, you’ll never be able to love me as much as I love you.”  

Kaiden’s hand, stroking her back, was as gentle and warm as it had been when she was younger, and just hearing his breath above her crown made Hazel’s heart race.  

Kaiden scored 98.9 points.  

But now, those scores didn’t matter at all.  

Because…  

No matter what anyone said, the Duke was her perfect, 100-point husband.  

***

「To Evan.  

The subjugation seems to be dragging on, but you’re strong, so I’m sure you’ll manage.  

This might sound surprising, but I want to marry Hazel.  

P.S. I’m not asking for permission.  

It’s not like I’d give up on marrying her just because you opposed it.  

Still, I felt you should be the first to know, so I’m writing this letter.  

And don’t even think about bringing Howard Ryan along.  

From Kaiden.」  

Reading the letter, Evan smiled faintly as he wiped the blood of a beast off his sword with a cloth.  

Then, opening a pink envelope, Evan burst into hearty laughter as soon as he read the first line.  

It was the first letter he had received during this subjugation, and it was from his beloved sister, Hazel.  

「To my dearest brother Evan,  

I believe you’re doing well because you’re so strong.  

I’m going to marry Duke Kaiden. Please congratulate me.  

P.S. Half of this marriage is because of you, so don’t even think about stopping it.  

You never let me leave the house—how was I supposed to meet anyone?  

From Hazel.」  

Evan stroked his overgrown beard with his hand, folded Hazel’s letter neatly, and tucked it into the innermost pocket of his coat.  

“I knew this would happen.”  

Evan laughed heartily, sheathed his gleaming sword, and pulled out a palm-sized piece of jerky from his pocket.  

Whistle—.  

The distant sound of heavy breathing grew closer until a large, brown-furred figure sat in front of Evan. Its posture, with its front paws firmly planted on the ground, was impressively dignified.  

“Howard!”  

Evan roughly patted Howard’s face as if he adored him to death.  

“Here, this is the boar you caught. It’s been dried perfectly for eating.”  

As Evan stroked Howard’s glossy brown fur with his palm and handed over the jerky, Howard barked happily and wagged his tail.  

Howard was a dog Evan had recently grown fond of.  

On his way back from a subjugation mission, he had found Howard injured and bleeding in a corner of the forest. After nursing him back to health, Howard had started following Evan everywhere, treating him as his master.  

“Now I’m even jealous of a dog.”  

Evan glanced at Howard, who was chewing on the jerky, and lightly tapped Kaiden’s letter with his hand.  

A month later, when Evan received Kaiden’s wedding invitation and a small portrait, he threw the sword he had been polishing onto the ground.  

“Kaiden, you b*stard!”  

「To Evan.  

Hazel is pregnant.  

Since I don’t know when your subjugation will end, we decided not to wait and went ahead with the wedding.  

P.S. I thought you’d be curious, so I’m sending a portrait as well. Don’t get too mad. You’re about to become an uncle soon, so you should only say nice things.  

From Kaiden, soon-to-be father of Star.」  

In the palm-sized portrait, Hazel and Kaiden were smiling happily at each other.  

Seeing his sister’s radiant smile for the first time in a long time, Evan lay down beside Howard and laughed heartily.  

“Hahaha, Kaiden is the perfect match for Hazel. Who could have chosen better? Right, Howard?”  

“Woof, woof!”  

Howard barked and wagged his tail as if he understood, even licking Evan’s cheek.  

Looking up at the clear blue sky that stretched endlessly, reminiscent of the wedding day, Evan wished for Hazel’s happiness.  

“Be happy, my dear sister Hazel.”  

And to my friend, Kaiden.  

-The End-