65. Wedding

“Cowardly traitor!”

“Felicia, how can you say that to your sister!”

“You know how much I love His Highness the Prince!”

It was more than four years ago. Felicia quietly watched Marie smooth out the wrinkles in her dress, thinking of the past without longing. The people of Akuris all thought her anger would last only three days, but Felicia had no intention of letting go of her rage over her blocked marriage path so easily, and as the moon passed, it showed no sign of fading. In the end, exactly one month later, Felicia, upon seeing Rosia, burst out in anger and even collapsed from exhaustion. Rosia, for the first time, was so frightened by her fierce younger sister that she postponed her engagement to the Crown Prince and even fled to Yulzante.

“My Lady.”

“Is it all done?”

“Count Viamel is waiting for you.”

Her foolish Count seemed determined to earnestly fulfill her request. Without answering Marie, Felicia stared at her reflection in the mirror, wearing a color that felt awkward. It was the first time she wore such a shade, and it felt unfamiliar, but on second thought, maybe it wasn’t unfamiliar—just didn’t suit her. Perhaps it was the tightly twisted updo, leaving not a single strand loose, that made Felicia run her hand over her cold nape several times before finally smiling at Marie, who was waiting for an answer, and walked straight to the door, opening it wide without hesitation.

“Felicia.”

The dark hallway brightened a little, thanks to the open door. Alone, with no one around, the sight of Count Viamel quietly speaking her name looked so forlorn it was almost pitiable. Felicia’s hand on the doorknob turned pale from gripping so tightly. The ring on her left hand pressed between the knob and her fingers, making a soft, unpleasant squeak.

“Yes, Count.”

“…….”

“Will you come in?”

“I wanted to go to the garden with you.”

“There’s still time before the ceremony.”

The tone that used to be so relaxed it was almost annoying had become, in recent days, the reason for her happiness and excitement. Now, every word he spoke to her was full of desperate choice, and Felicia’s heart ached. Thinking that all of this, and even the reason for his final decision, was because of herself, she felt a sense of self-reproach.

“Come in.”

“…I’ll come back in a bit.”

“Marie, please step out.”

Marie and two maids quickly obeyed Felicia’s words. Marie’s worried gaze lingered behind Yuan, who still treated Felicia’s room like a forbidden place, but Felicia had no energy to respond to that concern. In front of the wide-open door, the stubborn standoff between the two lovers showed no sign of ending.

“You said you needed time, Pia.”

“So it could be solved that easily?”

“…….”

“If I’d known you’d follow all my words like divine will, I should have said it that day.”

“Pia.”

Bitterness, resentment, and desperation mixed into sharp words. Felicia criticized herself for being childish and mean, but didn’t try to stop it. As Yuan still showed no intention of entering, Felicia let go of the doorknob and turned away from him as if to say “do as you like.” Because of her updo, the reddish wounds were clearly visible through the pale blue chiffon, and Yuan, remembering he had things to say too, broke his self-imposed taboo and followed Felicia into the room.

“If I asked you to stay by my side until I died, would you do as I wish?”

As soon as the door closed, heavy words poured out. Neither speaker nor listener knew if they could bear the weight, but now that they faced each other, it was up to them.

“If Nadia is already dead.”

“…….”

“If you can’t hold the memorial you longed for.”

Felicia closed the distance, standing face to face with Yuan, since his gaze stayed on her but no answer came. He seemed to treat her words as heavier than divine will, and Felicia desperately hoped he’d accept everything she said just as seriously. Thankfully, it reached Yuan, whose eyes began to redden.

“Can you do as I wish?”

“…….”

“Why did you say you’d help me love you?”

“…….”

“I thought that meant you loved me.”

Relief at his reddened eyes made Felicia finally release the words she’d been holding back. She still hadn’t received an answer, but once her heart burst forth, there was no stopping it. Worried he might run away, she grabbed his jacket lapel, and Yuan reflexively placed his hand over hers.

“I smell it every day.”

“…….”

“Every moment, with every breath, that rotten smell lingers.”

“…….”

“Pia, every time I smell it, I realize I don’t belong here.”

Yuan, feeling Felicia’s grip on his jacket, bent his upper body and rested his forehead on her shoulder. The relationship that started out of duty and guilt had turned into happiness, and the only excuse Yuan could offer for all he’d done was the lingering scent that haunted him for years.

“It’s because I dared to covet you that things turned out like this.”

“…So what do you want to do now?”

“…….”

“Yuan, tell me.”

“This life isn’t mine, Pia.”

“But your feelings for me aren’t someone else’s.”

Felicia knew her feelings had reached Yuan, who had never failed to notice them before. Yet he chose not to answer, hiding behind the same cowardice that kept him from saying he loved her even while promising to help her love him. Seeing his determination to choose his own end, Felicia felt powerless.

“Why is my love always like this?”

“Pia, look at me.”

“I thought you loved me more than your resolve.”

“I love you…!”

Everyone knew what came next, but Yuan never finished the sentence. Felicia let go of his jacket. She had thought it was a lifeline, but it was just an old rope lying in the street. It couldn’t lead her anywhere or save her—just an ordinary rope.

“Storia will close soon.”

“…….”

“You’ll never be able to hold the memorial you wanted.”

“What do you mean?”

Even if it was miserable, there was nothing she could do. Felicia swallowed her tears and breathed slowly. If someone had to die to end things, it was better for Nadia to die than Yuan. It was childish, started because she couldn’t control her feelings for Marhel, but ending it this way was the best way to move on and the only way to save Yuan. Felicia had always known. There was no happiness in her love story, which had started off wrong. She’d just forgotten, because everything with Yuan had been so sweet.

“That life you said you owed, Count, there’s no way to pay it back anymore.”

＊＊＊

The lush trees glowed white and navy under the moonlight, creating an eerie yet mysterious scene. Even without lighting, the garden was bright enough, and already, a small group of guests and people from Akuris sat quietly in their seats at Verdick’s secret invitation. In front of the crystal fountain at the center of the garden, an elderly priest waited for the bride and groom. Since the purpose of the ceremony was clear, the priest’s robe was covered in red vine embroidery on white cloth, marking him as being from the Temple of the Goddess of Marriage.

“Give the order, Your Highness.”

“Just a moment.”

“His Highness the Prince won’t be able to come.”

Before coming to Akuris Mansion, Verdick had left a secret note, hoping it wouldn’t be in the same place, but it seemed no more guests were arriving. Rosia spoke to the attendant quietly waiting for orders in front of him.

“Open the doors in five minutes.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It suits you well.”

Rosia didn’t look at Verdick, only ahead. With nothing going his way—not his brother, nor his soon-to-be wife—Verdick felt a bit of regret, but he couldn’t complain, since he wasn’t innocent in all this. He’d watched the Empress’s obvious schemes, and he’d been the one to anger Rosia.

“The title, Your Highness.”

“…….”

“But it’s a wedding. I wanted family here.”

“…….”

“Akuris is my family now, isn’t it?”

As Verdick spoke nonchalantly to Rosia, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, noticing new things he’d missed before. From the side, her eyelashes were even thicker, hiding her hazel eyes. Her hairband pressed her ears, turning them red, and her shoulders, once round, now fell in straight lines.

“Please forgive me now, Rosia.”

“…….”

“I was too much earlier.”

Every time he looked, something new appeared, so Verdick felt anxious, as if he’d never tire of Rosia. Daring to approach someone untouchable, he whispered quietly in her ear so no one else could hear, and finally, Rosia reacted. Her ears turned even redder, and Verdick, knowing he’d have to remove the hairband as soon as the ceremony ended, smiled slyly.

“So please, let me touch you now.”

“…….”

“Your Highness, we’ll open the doors soon.”

“You heard? Rosia, put your hand on my arm now.”

Even as the attendant spoke, Verdick didn’t straighten up, waiting only for Rosia’s gaze. Eventually, for the dignity of the Crown Prince and herself, Rosia gently pushed his leaning body and placed her hand on his arm. As the doors began to open, the murmurs outside grew louder. Satisfied with the warmth of her arm, Verdick smiled, and Rosia finally looked up and met his eyes.

“Yuan is your family too, Your Highness.”

“…….”

“He won’t kill you.”

Her voice was flat and even. It sounded almost like she was reading a book, not caring about the content, but for Rosia, it was the kindest she could be. She wasn’t softening because of his earlier teasing, nor intending to go along with him. She just didn’t think he was undeserving of sympathy. Since she’d decided to give him everything he wanted, she thought this was a decent start and turned back to wait for the doors to open.

“And you?”

“…….”

“Rosia, what about you?”

“I’m not foolish enough to think of killing the Crown Prince.”

“I’m asking if you’re my family.”

He was especially talkative today. Rosia, thinking Verdick’s voice was still unfamiliar—sometimes lively, sometimes as desolate as a winter forest—spoke quietly.

“I’ll be the Crown Princess now.”

“…….”

“Isn’t that enough?”

With a heavy creak, the doors opened wide, and familiar faces rose to greet the couple. It was a heavy midnight wedding, like those held to cover up a scandal, but everyone, given the occasion, seemed to have forgotten their worries and wore excited expressions. On either side of the priest stood two knights who had been Verdick’s close friends, and, arm in arm, Yuan and Felicia wore matching colors.

‘Cowardly traitor!’

Even years later, Felicia’s shrill childhood voice sounded as vivid as if it were yesterday. Rosia was ready to leave everything behind and finally grasp what she’d been waiting for. She rarely got nervous, but now her mouth felt dry. It was too desperate to turn back, too close to victory to regret.

“Of course I’m not satisfied.”

Just as Rosia focused on her tense breathing, Verdick whispered so only she could hear.

“That’s because I love you too much.”

Rosia needed time to understand his words, but Verdick, unwilling to wait, took her hand in his and strode confidently through the garden. Led by him, Rosia felt a sense of crisis—she couldn’t even take a step on her own anymore—as she walked through the center of everyone’s blessing and applause.