Venice’s pride soared. Since it was a design she’d revised while getting scolded by Jade, her satisfaction doubled. Rosana could see their hard work at a glance.

“It’s nothing much.”

“Didn’t you overwork yourself?”

“Lady Rosana, you did nothing wrong. His Majesty was the demanding one.”

Venice shook her head, saying she didn’t even want to imagine that time. Before it reached Rosana, it had been repeatedly rejected by Jade’s hands. He’d expressed dissatisfaction, asking if this was the best they could do.

“It’s my fault for not quickly designing a dress that would maximize Lady Rosana’s beauty.”

Venice laughed cheerfully, but the faint sound of grinding teeth could be heard. Rosana smiled awkwardly.

“More importantly, you should try it on quickly. Only after wearing the wedding dress can you truly be called a bride-to-be.”

Then everyone moved busily. Several people attached themselves to Rosana to help her into the dress. The perfectly sized dress had no discomfort whatsoever. The staff who’d helped Rosana try it on while sweating profusely caught their breath. Then they all applauded in unison.

“Lady Rosana. You’re incredibly beautiful.”

“I think so too…”

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Rosana smiled as brightly as possible. She felt like her surroundings had brightened.

“Now… it’s really beginning.”

A life living with her true family. It was a symbolic token. Not documents made of writing and seals, but a wedding dress they’d both carefully chosen was the proof. That their hearts were connected.

Swept up in the overwhelming emotion rising in her chest, small tears formed at the corners of Rosana’s eyes. They were tears of joy.

Just then, the door burst open from behind. As expected, the staff alone had their limits in stopping him. She could see the staff who’d been forced to step aside, unable to match his strength.

“Who could stop His Majesty?”

Venice gestured for everyone to step back, saying she’d expected this. 

That’s what you should have done from the start, Jade laughed confidently. He was the one who’d ultimately won the tense tug-of-war.

He must have tried on his ceremonial robes too, as his outfit was somewhat different from before. Jade stopped dead in his tracks the moment he saw Rosana. 

Now he understood why they said you shouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony. Walking up to Rosana with large strides like he’d never hesitated, Jade took her hand.

“I want to hold the wedding right this instant. You’re so beautiful.”

Rosana giggled.

“You look handsome too, Jade.”

His ceremonial robes were simple. Because they lacked distinct features, they were an outfit that brought out his charm to the fullest. Just as a smile was about to form on Jade’s lips, he saw the tear droplets slightly formed in Rosana’s eyes. His brow furrowed.

“Why did you cry?”

Rosana hastily wiped away her tears.

“No, it just feels real now. That I have a true family… and that I’ve erased them and found my own life. These are tears of joy.”

Rosana smiled brightly. Jade gazed intently at Rosana.

“Hmm, tears of joy… I didn’t like seeing you cry, but this kind isn’t bad. In that sense, I’ll make you cry more. But this is the last time. I’ll make you happy for life without making you cry.”

“Pardon?”

Rosana tilted her head at Jade, who was muttering incomprehensible words. Then slowly, one of his knees bent down.

“Rosana. I said I had something to tell you.”

“Ah…”

Rosana’s heart stirred with anticipation. She waited patiently for Jade’s mouth to open. However, his lips, which had twitched several times, ultimately pressed shut. 

Jade, who’d been kneeling for a while, roughly tousled his hair, his mind seemingly complicated. He carefully selected and chose his words with a narrowed brow.

He wanted to make a perfect proposal that anyone would see and hear as flawless, but…

“I don’t know what to say at times like this. I never thought such a moment would come…”

Jade decided to show it through action first and pulled out a small box from his chest. When the lid opened, a diamond-studded ring caught the eye.

Rosana lost her words looking at the brilliantly shining ring. The same ring was already sitting on his left ring finger, though she didn’t know when he’d put it on.

“Ahem, this is embarrassing, so I’ll only say it once.”

Jade scratched his cheek and murmured quietly.

“Um… I never thought a woman I’d love would appear in my life. But you appeared. You, who wasn’t afraid of me at all even when looking at me. It was a new experience. Kneeling like this was something I couldn’t even dream of. Giving you flowers every time or eating with someone were all firsts for me too.”

“Jade…”

“Every morning, afternoon, night. Be with me. For life… I’ll stay by your side as your family. You stay by my side too. …That’s what I always said.”

Seemingly dissatisfied with what he’d said, he added more.

“I can be certain of one thing. That I can make you happier than anyone else.”

Rosana held back the surging emotion welling up inside. Moving her lips slightly, she barely managed to say.

“I… already knew that.”

She was a happy person. She’d overcome all the hardships until now for this moment. Watching Rosana’s trembling eyelashes, Jade said.

“Oh no, don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying.”

“That’s a bit disappointing in its own way.”

Rosana laughed softly. Jade slowly slipped the ring onto Rosana’s left ring finger, telling her to take it now.

“You can’t run away anywhere.”

“I’m the one who wants to ask that of you.”

She smiled broadly like a flower petal soaked in spring rain.

* * *

Jade hummed a pleasant tune while working. Work had piled up as much as the time he’d spent with Rosana. 

He should have sighed at least once, but every time he moved his pen, the ring that caught his eye kept the smile from leaving his face. At his noticeably pleased appearance, Malek shook his head.

“Was it successful?”

“Ah, yes. Rosana was very happy too.”

“That’s fortunate. To think she was pleased even with Your Majesty’s clumsy expression.”

Jade glared at Malek, but Malek paid no mind. He had to say at least this much. Malek was the one who’d moved his feet faster than anyone to cover up Jade’s mistake that wasn’t quite a mistake and prepare everything perfectly.

Though it was his own proposal, he’d even asked for advice on how to confess. In response, Malek had brought him an armful of reference books.

“It ended well, so that’s what matters. Isn’t it good as long as Rosana’s happy?”

“I suppose so.”

“Right, is the Empress’s palace renovation going smoothly?”

“We’ve already investigated through the maids and are perfectly remodeling it according to Lady Rosana’s tastes.”

“Good. Ah, there’s something among the furniture that needs special attention.”

Watching Jade suddenly become serious, Malek narrowed his brow. A premonition that something absurd would come out of his mouth…

“The bed. The bed. We’ll be together often, so wouldn’t a spacious one be better?”

“…”

Malek barely hid his souring expression. However, the small sigh he exhaled had already escaped.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I was already anxious being far away, but once we’re married, she’ll be right next door.”

Jade nodded with satisfaction. Thinking of her surprised expression when entering the Empress’s palace made him feel pleased.

Except for his childhood, he’d almost never stayed up all night. Especially dreaming of a happy future while waiting for tomorrow was a first. He was counting down the days until the wedding.

“Ah, how are they doing?”

“They’re staying quiet. There were attempts to contact Lady Rosana, but the knights are blocking them well.”

“After such an incident occurred, I can’t easily let them meet. Check thoroughly for other dangerous objects. They won’t back down easily. Their eyes were brimming with venom. In what way is she a loving and wise duchess?”

Jade recalled the eyes wide with shock and horror. The Duchess had been trembling finely with anger. Yet everyone mistook it for grief…

Were those the eyes that looked at one’s own daughter? There was a clear difference in how she treated her two daughters.

“I’d rather not even invite them to the wedding, but…”

He couldn’t go against Rosana’s resolve. Seeing Jade tapping the desk without concentrating on the documents, Malek cleared his throat.

“Your Majesty, there isn’t much time left until the wedding.”

“I know.”

“So you need to move your hands busily. Marriage isn’t the end, is it?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Don’t I know Your Majesty? Won’t you take a break for a while after the ceremony? You should enjoy a proper honeymoon. To do that, you must handle urgent matters first.”

As Malek said, he’d made plans to go on a trip somewhere. Rosana hadn’t properly seen Diovaha…

“For reference, travel is not allowed. Go after national affairs stabilize. You seem to have forgotten, but as an empire, you must lay a good foundation first so that a strengthened empire can be passed down for generations. You must think of the future.”

“Perceptive fellow.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Jade’s eyes and hands began moving quickly. And the wedding day approached moment by moment.

* * *

“Lady Rosana. It’s finally today! You’re nervous, right?”

“Yuna, calm down.”

Celine calmed down Yuna, who was making a fuss. She could see that the person who’d told her not to be nervous was even more nervous herself. Celine took Yuna out with her.

It had already been well over three months since coming to Diovaha. And today was finally…

Rosana clasped her finely trembling hands tightly. The wedding was now approaching. Many things had changed, and she’d realized many things. Rosana blankly raised her hand. Seeing the ring sparkling in the sunlight, emotion surged within her.

This was the problem lately, happening so often. Rosana gripped the hand with the ring tightly with her other hand.

“Lady Rosana! Let’s go quickly!”

“Alright.”

When Rosana left the palace, she saw Jade waiting by the carriage. Seeing him made it real. 

The fact that her name would now be tied to someone else. She couldn’t hide her flushed face. He spoke, knowing Rosana’s excited heart.

“Don’t be too nervous.”

“…Aren’t you the nervous one?”

“It’s not nervousness but anticipation. Anticipation that you’ll soon be mine.”

He kissed Rosana’s lips lightly like a bird pecking at feed.

The wedding venue had been selected outdoors, reflecting Rosana’s wishes. The two who’d arrived here a step early before preparations stood side by side, looking at the wedding venue that generously displayed its pure white beauty without a speck of dirt.

What stood out most were the round arch and platform. And on both sides of the white stone path that Rosana and Jade would walk, grass grew densely, emitting spring-like life energy.

The chairs for attendees and the flowers decorating the pillars that made the surroundings more beautiful filled Rosana’s chest with emotion.

“Didn’t you wish to hold the wedding with flowers? To contain the meaning of a new beginning. Do you like it?”

“Yes…”

Rosana answered in a trembling voice.

Then a throat-clearing sound came from the side, and Malek said.

“It’s time to part.”