Just then, Letitia spoke again with a faint smile.

“Since there’s essentially no proposal in political marriages. You were thinking of proposing through the wedding ceremony, weren’t you?”

“??”

“I’m truly impressed by Your Highness the Grand Duke’s deep thoughts.”

“???”

“Since Her Highness has never received a proposal, receiving one now would be another precious first experience for her.”

Theo felt dazed, as if he’d been hit hard on the head by Letitia’s words.

“Above all, you thought you should first ask for Her Highness’s permission and whether she wants to have a wedding ceremony, right?”

Theo nodded with a bewildered expression at Letitia’s storm of explanations.

I see.

He couldn’t just bring up having a wedding ceremony.

He needed to plead and beg Yuelina to have a wedding ceremony with him.

Theo sighed at this belated realization that had suddenly come to him.

Letitia clasped her tiny hands together as she watched Theo’s dumbfounded expression.

Was it successful?

After obtaining information at the Tea-Pie gathering that Yuelina hadn’t had a wedding ceremony with Theo, Letitia had made a promise.

To definitely repay Yuelina’s kindness.

Noble ladies had to enter society sooner or later, whether they liked it or not.

Yuelina was Theo’s legitimate wife, not a second wife or a mistress.

Yet not having had a wedding ceremony could become a significant flaw to be pointed out someday.

Of course, it was reassuring that Yuelina had the Tea-Pie members who seemed like good friends.

But social circles weren’t maintained by such narrow relationships alone.

Letitia hoped Yuelina wouldn’t be slandered by others like she had been.

Though Letitia had only seen Theo briefly, the perceptive child easily noticed.

That when Theo looked at Yuelina, honey wasn’t just dripping, but overflowing.

If Theo hadn’t thought about the importance of a wedding ceremony, Letitia was going to remind him of that fact.

However, fortunately, Theo had already been considering the wedding ceremony.

Then they could move on to the next step.

The question was how to properly lead up to the wedding ceremony.

Thanks to her five older sisters, Letitia had indirect experience with love marriages, political marriages, and even remarriages.

Her sisters who had married after confirming their mutual feelings and receiving proposals would wear ecstatic expressions whenever they talked about the moment they were proposed to, as if returning to that time.

Among nobles, those who had such experiences were extremely rare.

Most nobles had political marriages after all.

So Letitia wanted to create an exciting moment for Yuelina too.

Thankfully, it seemed her words had hit home with Theo.

Theo, after agreeing with Letitia’s words, came to see the child in a new light.

Letitia wasn’t a chick.

Nor was she an annoying presence like Asarim.

Letitia was a talented individual he needed!

Theo was genuinely glad he could talk with Letitia while Yuelina was away.

He had almost made a big mistake with Yuelina. He was already an awkward and inadequate husband in every way.

He couldn’t let his foolish and hasty self ruin Yuelina’s precious first moment.

Yes.

He needed to propose to his wife to have a wedding ceremony.

Of course, it was ironic to propose when they were already married…

But what did the order matter?

Rather, he was relieved that he could ask just for a wedding ceremony instead of marriage.

Theo didn’t want to propose to Yuelina asking her to marry him.

Marriage was a given.

He wouldn’t accept refusal.

Having Yuelina by his side was now completely natural for Theo.

If not, he would have gone so far as to imprison her and make sure she could never leave his side.

Theo fell into deep thought.

Even if the marriage was forced…

Letting Yuelina choose the wedding ceremony was also an opportunity to show a husband’s generosity.

But how should he propose asking for a wedding ceremony?

Should he compose a song for Yuelina?

Should he visit a jeweler first?

Theo stroked his chin in contemplation.

“Was I late?”

Just then, Yuelina opened the door and came in. In one hand, she held a plate with chestnut pie.

Yuelina placed the chestnut pie on the table with a satisfied expression.

“Theo, you said you wanted it, right? So I made it myself earlier.”

Theo looked at the chestnut pie that Yuelina had made herself.

The glazed candied chestnuts looked very appetizing.

Above all, his heart felt warm knowing that Yuelina had remembered his words and prepared this.

“I’ll take my leave now, Your Highness the Grand Duke, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

Just then, Letitia carefully rose from her seat.

“Oh? Letitia, won’t you eat?”

“I just remembered I have homework to do before going to the villa tomorrow. How could I have forgotten?”

Letitia glanced at Theo. He could instinctively tell.

That Letitia was trying to give them space.

Theo was deeply moved.

He couldn’t let the Bios Empire steal this chick who was not only perceptive but also had impressive information gathering and planning abilities.

Theo resolved to create a significant position in the principality for the child once she graduated from the Imperial Academy.

“Letitia, why don’t you eat before you go?”

At Yuelina’s earnest voice, Letitia scratched her head awkwardly.

“…If you’ll allow it, could I have just one piece? I’ll eat it when I need a concentration boost while doing homework.”

“Letitia.”

Just then, Theo called Letitia in a low voice.

“Yes, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Two pieces.”

“Pardon?”

“To work that brilliant mind, you need to eat at least two pieces.”

Theo served two very large pieces of chestnut pie onto a clean plate.

* * *

After bathing, Yuelina put on a long nightgown that reached her ankles.

She tried to hide her nervous face as she opened the bedroom door where Theo was.

Theo had also finished bathing, so his hair was still damp.

He was sitting at the table beside the bed, scribbling something in a notebook.

“You’re here.”

Theo stood up when he saw Yuelina enter.

Yuelina smiled awkwardly at him.

“Were you working?”

“Just organizing some thoughts.”

“I see…”

“Would you sit for a moment?”

Theo pointed to the chair opposite him.

Yuelina hurriedly walked over and sat down.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

He stood behind her, holding the towel that was wrapped around her shoulders.

When Theo took hold of her hair, Yuelina’s body stiffened from tension.

Last night, she had accidentally fallen asleep while talking with Letitia.

But today, she had given Letitia plenty of Yas leaves and bought her a real doll.

Letitia wished her sweet dreams as she said goodnight.

So tonight, she would really be sleeping together with Theo in his bedroom.

Yuelina’s heart fluttered at that fact.

Even though it was natural for a married couple to share a bedroom, it felt strangely unfamiliar and ticklish.

Since coming to the cold north, she rarely sweated no matter how hard she worked.

But today, her palms kept sweating, and her nape was so hot it felt feverish.

Theo carefully dried Yuelina’s dripping hair with the towel.

Yuelina flinched whenever his rough hands touched her nape.

Every part of her body tingled, from her heart to her toes.

“Yuna, the chestnut pie was delicious.”

“Really? Thank you.”

Yuelina smiled shyly at Theo’s praise. She knew without seeing her face.

Her flushed face must look just like a ripe tomato. She was glad Theo was behind her.

“Yes. The chestnut cream was perfectly sweet, and the candied chestnuts were perfectly savory.”

“…You know that’s the tenth time you’ve said that?”

After tasting Yuelina’s chestnut pie, Theo had been singing its praises all evening.

Moreover, even though it seemed like it would be too sweet, he had finished all the remaining pieces.

As a result, Yuelina hadn’t been able to eat a single bite of the chestnut pie she made. But she felt satisfied just watching Theo eat.

“That’s because it was really delicious.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Perhaps because the room was warm, Yuelina’s hair dried quickly.

Theo hung the wet towel on the opposite chair and looked at Yuelina.