“Congratulations on your marriage. I’m Mavy Derobel. If you have time later, could we have tea together?”

“Of course, madam.”

I answered with a bright smile to Count Derobel.

She was someone who, in the past, I wouldn’t have dared to look at directly.

It felt strange and novel that such a person was now congratulating me on my marriage.

I maintained a straight posture until Count Derobel left the room. Only after the door closed did I relax and lean back slightly against the chair.

At that moment, the door opened with a click.

I quickly straightened my posture and checked who was coming in.

“Claire, you shouldn’t be in a relaxed posture even if no one is watching.”

Fortunately, the people who came in were Miss Veronica and Duke Anstis.

“Miss!”

I stood up, delighted to see them. Miss Veronica approached and gave me a light hug to express her joy.

“And how can you still call me ‘Miss’? You’re about to become the mistress of the Berzel ducal family from today.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been calling you that every day, so it’s hard to adjust to calling you differently.”

I smiled sheepishly at her point.

Seeing my reaction, Miss Veronica also smiled at me.

“Still, you need to get used to it. You can’t keep calling me that. Come on, try saying ‘Sister’.”

“Ah, um, S-Sister…”

As I awkwardly followed Miss Veronica’s instruction, she beamed with a wide smile.

“That’s right. From now on, keep calling me that.”

“I’ll try my best.”

It felt incredibly awkward to change the way I’d been addressing her since childhood. But as Miss Veronica said, I needed to be careful with how I addressed people now.

“Were there any problems?”

I nodded with a bright smile at her concern.

“No, everything was fine. Everyone was very kind.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I could guess what she meant by asking me this.

What we had been most worried about all this time.

Anyone could guess that even though I had become an adopted daughter of the Maynard family and was about to become the mistress of the Berzel ducal family, I would still have to endure unfavorable gazes because of my commoner background.

Of course, they had nothing to gain by treating me poorly.

Not only Alex but also the Maynard family was behind me.

And that wasn’t all.

Those who had attended Duke Franz’s trial last time would have witnessed Miss Veronica and Duke Anstis showing an unusual atmosphere, which would have played a part too.

“And as I’ve said many times, if anything happens, you should tell me. I’m your sister now, so I’ll help you as much as I can.”

“Yes, I will… Sister.”

I almost reflexively answered with ‘Miss’, but seeing her slightly pouting expression, I quickly corrected myself.

I smiled sheepishly, feeling embarrassed by my repeated mistakes.

“Well, it looks like it’s about to start, so we’ll be going now.”

“Yes!”

After they left, I remained in the bride’s waiting room, taking slow deep breaths to try and calm my nerves.

“Miss, it’s time for you to enter.”

Avina, who had been waiting, approached me after receiving a report from another maid.

I nodded, clenching and unclenching my trembling hands.

As I stood up, Avina and the other maids tidied the hem of my dress.

“This way, please.”

Following her guidance, I left the waiting room.

We walked through the corridor and arrived at the garden of the Pareni Temple. The garden was filled with nobles, all watching for my entrance.

I tried my best to calm my mind, but it wasn’t easy to control.

“The bride, Claire Maynard, is entering!”

At the priest’s announcement, the orchestra began playing music for me.

Sweet melodies filled the garden.

I raised my head and saw Alex in the distance. He was staring at me intently, waiting for my arrival.

Before starting, I checked his appearance. He was wearing a black tuxedo, which was more sophisticated than usual. The tuxedo accentuated his tall stature and build well.

The path to where he was standing seemed particularly long.

I swallowed dryly and took a step forward. The gazes of the people followed me.

It was the first time I had attracted the attention of so many people, and I felt my mouth go dry. Moreover, thinking that all these people were important figures to me made me feel even more dizzy.

Perhaps noticing my nervousness, Alex approached me.

He extended his hand to me, seemingly to escort me.

I looked up at him, surprised that he had come to meet me when he should have been standing in front of the high priest with me.

“Let’s go together.”

Alex suggested.

He was looking down at me with his usual kind and affectionate gaze.

Strangely, the moment I faced him, I felt my nervousness disappear without a trace.

“Claire?”

When I didn’t respond and remained still, Alex called out to me.

As if waking from a dream, I came to my senses and looked at his hand.

His hand, much larger and warmer than mine, was extended towards me.

I raised my head again to look at him and placed my hand on top of his.

“Let’s go.”

I whispered to Alex, reassuring him with a smile of my own.

He, who had been momentarily frozen, nodded slightly to show his agreement.

I started walking down the wedding aisle, holding his hand.

However, with Alex’s reassurance by my side, it wasn’t as burdensome as before. His breath seemed to calm me.

‘Alex will always protect me’

I found myself thinking without realizing it. He would always hold my hand like this.

“Are you very nervous?”

He asked in a voice soft enough for only me to hear.

“Aren’t you nervous too, Alex?”

I asked him back, wondering why he would ask such a thing.

“No, I’m just as nervous.”

“And yet…”

“I’m in awe of the fact that after today, I’ll be married to you, Claire.”

“……”

I closed my mouth tightly at his unexpected words.

I still couldn’t get used to Alex’s glib attitude. It was the same now. Just hearing those words made my face feel hot. It also felt a bit warmer around me.

I glanced at him discreetly, and Alex smiled calmly.

“How about now, are you less nervous?”

“No. I’m still nervous.”

Although I should have said no, the truth was that my nervousness hadn’t completely disappeared, so I answered honestly.

“Oh dear.”

Alex let out a low chuckle as if he found it troublesome. Seeing this, I smiled slightly.

“But… it does feel a bit better than before.”

Hearing that, he smiled with satisfaction.

We bowed our heads in front of the high priest and then straightened up. The high priest also greeted us respectfully.

“Then, we shall begin.”

The priest waiting beside us announced the start of the wedding.

The high priest in front of us continued his prayer to the goddess to bless our marriage.

After the blessing, the high priest looked at us both with a benevolent smile.

“Now, we will proceed with the marriage vows. Husband, Alexander Berzel. Do you swear to take Claire Maynard as your wife, to respect and love her for life?”

Alex nodded without hesitation and answered.

“I swear.”

The high priest nodded with a warm smile.

Then the high priest looked down at me.

“Wife, Claire Maynard, do you also swear to take Alexander Berzel as your husband, to respect and love him for life?”

At the high priest’s question, I glanced at Alex.

“Yes, I swear.”

I answered with a confident voice, and Alex curved his lips into a smile.

“Very well. Now, both of you, face each other and seal your vows with a kiss.”

I slowly turned to face Alex. Although it wasn’t our first kiss, at this moment, kissing him in front of everyone felt as nerve-wracking as a first kiss.

I saw Alex slowly lowering his head towards me. I closed my eyes tightly, frozen in place.

Soon after, I felt his touch on my cheek. I, who had reflexively shrunk my neck, raised my head following his touch. Then I felt a warm and soft sensation on my lips.

But it quickly parted, leaving a sense of longing.

“Very well. Now, I declare in the name of the goddess that these two are married.”

The high priest’s declaration woke me from my dazed state. Then applause erupted.

“Claire.”

“Yes?”

As I turned to Alex, still feeling a bit dazed, he looked down at me with a gentle gaze.

“I love you.”

After saying this, Alex approached me again. I flinched slightly at the following kiss, but soon slowly closed my eyes.

I surrendered to the sweet sensation in my chest, feeling his love.

And now, I truly realized that I had married Alex.

<The End>