Her heart remained heavy because of her father. Her complicated mind about how to start the conversation actually settled down when she faced her father’s name.

「Hudson Hardin」

Though she couldn’t hear her father’s words and wouldn’t get an answer, Chloe showed herself as she was. The regret of not knowing that the day her father visited the capital would be the last, and…

The greeting that she would now visit with Andert.

‘I hope you’re at peace there.’

The title of Viscount Hardin had been a name plagued with scandal throughout his life. And he had closed his eyes unjustly at that. Chloe earnestly wished for peaceful rest to accompany such a father.

Her steps, picking up the parasol she had set aside, slowly left the cemetery. It was a trip to Hanover she had been considering since setting the wedding date.

As Chloe turned back with a somewhat lighter heart, a familiar voice reached her.

“Miss, did you finish your greetings well?”

The one who approached as if she had been waiting was Maya.

Maya, who had been invited to the wedding, had arrived in the capital yesterday. Working at Countess Declen’s summer villa, she had received a few days off and rushed over.

Maya, who had been praying for Chloe’s happiness from afar, had doubted her ears when she first heard the news.

‘To think Miss would continue the marital bond with the cold Duke again! Why on earth…’

Not knowing what had happened between the two in the meantime, she was at a loss. But after seeing the Duke who visited Chloe last evening, Maya’s thoughts began to change gradually.

On the surface, he was undoubtedly the same Andert Dietrich as before. But his eyes looking at Chloe contained undisguisable affection.

Above all, the eyes of the Miss sitting across from her husband-to-be sparkled like they had stars embedded in them. Though she hadn’t shown it, there had always been a shadow on her face since becoming part of the Dietrich family.

‘But to show such a bright smile.’

Maya, who had boarded the carriage heading to Hanover Station together, cautiously opened the conversation. Perhaps it was due to an old woman’s concern wanting to confirm the happiness of Chloe, whom she had watched over since infancy.

“Miss, does the Duke treat you well?”

Chloe immediately read the worry contained in the careful question. After all, Maya had always prayed for her well-being by her mother’s side.

“Of course. So don’t worry. I promised Mother that I would live well with Andert.”

“Yes, yes. Oh my, as I get older, the only thing that grows is tears. How foolish of me to cry at all times. If you’re happy, I have nothing more to wish for.”

“Don’t cry anymore.”

Chloe comforted the wrinkled hand and reassured the other with the brightest smile. Maya, who had been constantly wiping away tears, nodded with a relieved face.

This was a decision made by the thoughtful Miss. So this time, it would truly be a different marriage than before.

The train station, which had somehow drawn closer, began to appear through the carriage window. Since they needed to catch a train to the capital, they had to get off soon. Maya neatly folded her handkerchief and put it in her pocket.

It was enough if Miss Chloe was happy. So she decided to add the Duke’s well-being to her prayers for the Miss from now on.

* * *

It was noon, with sunlight so bright it dazzled the eyes.

As 12 o’clock approached, guests began arriving at the church where Chloe and Andert’s wedding was being held. But according to the bride and groom’s wish for a quiet ceremony, the number of guests barely exceeded thirty in total.

Countess Declen, who had entered the interior, took her seat next to her husband and son. Since it was a ceremony that simplified complicated formalities, even the church didn’t look much different than usual.

In many ways, it was a solitude that fell short of the Dietrich name’s value.

But since it was their wish, it wasn’t something a third party could intervene in. The only option was to believe what Raymond had told her, as if being deceived.

“Mother, they will live well. Andert cherishes Lady Chloe greatly, so put aside your worries now.”

“Raymond, how can a person change so easily in an instant? For Chloe to live as a wife with a husband whose nature is cold, there would be no end to what she must endure.”

“From what I’ve seen, Andert truly loves Chloe Hardin. Since he became aware of those feelings after the divorce, they’ll live better than anyone.”

If Chloe could live well as her son said, what more could she wish for?

Countess Declen, who had been reminiscing about her friend who was Chloe’s mother and had departed the world first, opened her eyes that had been gently closed.

The protagonists of today, the bride and groom, were standing on the platform. Just looking at them like this, they were a graceful couple like a beautiful painting.

Chloe, dressed in a pure white dress, was as beautiful as a fully bloomed flower. Of course, there was no need to mention Andert with his unnecessarily fine stature.

She decided to take comfort in the fact that the two made an impeccable match, at least in appearance.

“Now, would the bride and groom please face each other.”

At the kind voice of the officiating priest, Chloe slowly turned to Andert. He was the man she would face as a husband after pledging their marriage vows.

She had been the one who wanted a quiet wedding. She felt no attachment to a grand, splendid ceremony—she had already experienced that once, during a time when everything was hard and even her husband-to-be had been painfully distant.

So rather than receiving congratulations from many people, she wanted it to be a time to fully reflect on their meaning to each other. But she couldn’t unilaterally assert such intentions. After all, from Dietrich’s position, there would be many guests to invite.

So when she asked Andert’s opinion, she didn’t have high expectations.

“Andert, I think the wedding is enough as a place where we promise to become husband and wife. The most important thing is that it’s a meaningful day for each other. What do you think?”

“Let’s do that, Chloe. Whatever you want.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve already received the most important gift.”

To the question of whether it was really okay, he asserted that it didn’t matter.

With a face saying not to worry about anything else at all. Since Andert Dietrich wasn’t the type to speak empty words, there was no reason to worry about anything else.

Thus, Chloe, standing at the altar on the day Andert was born, held a faint smile. Then the eyes of the man who had been looking at her all along filled with an even warmer light.

Chloe smiled brightly, containing the joy spreading deep in her heart. It was a marriage decided entirely by her own will. So she wanted to be happy with Andert for a long time.

“……I hereby declare that these two have become husband and wife today.”

As the officiating priest, who had been continuing with the long congratulatory address, completed the marriage declaration, applause poured out. The sincere congratulations of the guests continued for a long time.

In the resonance blessing the two who had formed a bond as husband and wife again, Andert bowed his head to kiss the bride. It was a reverent kiss, as if reaffirming the solemn marriage vow.

For the first time, he felt happy about this day when he was born, because he could be with Chloe. So he wanted to remember today, which he would never forget for eternity, even a little more.

Andert, who had straightened his head, gently grasped the hand wrapped in lace gloves.

His gaze, tracing Chloe’s ring with his fingertips, fell upon the necklace that boasted its presence. He didn’t have an aesthetic eye for jewelry. But it was clear that the mysterious yet brilliant light suited Chloe, who was more dazzling than anyone.

The reason he participated in the auction while contemplating a wedding gift was for one reason.

“Depending on the angle of the light, it’s a jewel that spreads light as if a brilliant sun is rising. It’s literally a diamond containing a sunrise that can be seen anytime.”

A diamond containing a sunrise. After hearing the introduction, Andert finally looked carefully at the auction guide.

Chloe often gazed at the sky where the sun rose and set for a long time. So this seemed better than anything else. Of course, when she learned the identity of the gift, she expressed reluctance, saying it seemed too extravagant.

In fact, whether it was a necklace or a ring, they had no meaning in themselves to him. What mattered was that Chloe was the one he wanted to give all of it to.

“Andert?”

The affectionate whisper broke the moment when he was uncharacteristically lost in sentiment. Even though it was just his name being called, even that was moving.

Andert turned his head slightly to look at Chloe, who had become his wife.

“Shall we go now?”

As if answering the question posed to him, a flower path leading outside, where bright light poured in, unfolded before the two. Chloe gently placed her hand on the arm that was firmly extended instead of a hundred words.

Andert took his first step onto the white cloth, matching the pace of the sparkling shoe tip.

Chloe, because of you, all these moments were precious. Because I’m with you, I wanted to add meaning even to this single step.

For me, love didn’t need complicated explanations or flowery rhetoric. Chloe. With that one name, I could answer everything.

So at the end of the many days we will face, I wanted to humbly confess.

That my love was all you.