His black hair flowed down over his forehead, catching on his long eyelashes. Beneath them, his obsidian-like eyes reflected my image.

At first, I fell for his appearance, and when I learned he was the villain, I tried to break up, but Kaien caught me and wouldn’t let me go.

He whispered words of love while looking only at me.

His eyes narrowed. He gave me a charming eye-smile.

“Hup!”

He surprised me with a kiss on my lips.

Holding my breath, the gentle touch against my lips contained a tenderness that treated me preciously.

As he lightly held my lower lip before pulling away, Kaien’s eyes never left mine.

“What did Madam Callian say to you?”

“I heard about your parents.”

“That can’t be all.”

He asked while already guessing.

I shook my head as I cupped his cheek.

“We’ve only known each other for a few days. Why are you so impatient?”

“I hate that you’re paying attention to Callian.”

“You want me to look only at you?”

I burst out laughing because he seemed so adorable. Kaien also didn’t hide his feelings.

“Because you’re mine, Ivy.”

“Hmm.”

His lips pressed against mine again.

Like pressing lips against sweet cake cream, an exquisite feeling flowed in and out through the slightly parted gap.

While leaning against his arm supporting my hips, I realized my feet had somehow settled on top of his.

Hoo, Kaien exhaled a hot breath.

“Looking at this smiling face, I thought I’d like to live with you.”

“Kaien.”

“I promised before. That we would have another wedding when we went to the grand duchy.”

“Oh, did you really mean to do it? Were you serious?”

“I want to undress your bridal gown with my own hands.”

As if showing how he would act, his fingertips traced down my back slowly.

“We couldn’t be together after the wedding ceremony then.”

“Kaien……”

Right after the wedding, due to the temple’s plot, Magnel showed symptoms as if cursed, and everyone was in chaos.

He had suggested having another wedding when he returned to the grand duchy.

I had forgotten about it, but had he kept it in his heart all this time?

I felt moved.

“Do you hate the idea?”

“……No. I don’t hate it.”

I shook my head. My eyes grew warm.

“I like it.”

But Kaien surprised me with an even more shocking statement.

“Then let’s do it tomorrow.”

“What?”

“The preparations are already complete.”

“What do you mean preparations are complete? There’s so much to do. Inviting guests, the dress……”

“Mrs. Moson and Benji have prepared everything.”

Suddenly I recalled how Mrs. Moson and Benji, who had been hovering around me since Madam Callian’s arrival, were often absent. I had thought it was because Callian had come.

I heard a low humming sound.

Kaien softly hummed a famous banquet song.

He placed me on his feet and began to waltz.

Seeing his gentle expression that I loved made me laugh.

I didn’t know why I was laughing, but it felt good. It was like sweet candies tickling in my chest, making a crinkling sound as they bumped against each other.

“I told her that after the baby is born and my health improves, I would visit her around the year after next. At the border.”

Though I had told Callian, I watched Kaien’s reaction.

It meant crossing the Forest of Demonic Beasts.

Even Kaien, who knew what power I possessed and had seen my abilities while walking through the Forest of Demonic Beasts with me, I expected would object. But he just smiled down at me.

“The madam doesn’t know about your power.”

“She doesn’t seem to know at all.”

“She must have been surprised.”

“Yes. So don’t tell her even if she asks.”

“If my Ivy wishes it.”

He trusted me.

Though he knew Madam Callian didn’t think highly of me, Kaien waited patiently.

When I rose on my tiptoes to kiss his lips, his fingers burrowed into my hair and pulled me closer.

Unable to hide my excited breathing, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

***

In winter, most residents of the territory stayed in the grand duchy.

With scattered people gathering, there were many weddings and family gatherings.

For these people, the grand ducal residence created and opened a banquet hall.

My second wedding with Kaien was also held there.

White curtains had been hung to create a solemn and majestic atmosphere, and flower petals floated and fell from the air thanks to Wallit’s flower petal magic.

“Getting married twice!”

“Congratulations, Your Grace!”

“May you both be happy!”

As Kaien and I stood on the wedding aisle covered with a white carpet, congratulations flew from all directions.

It wasn’t as splendid as the Main Hall in the Imperial City. The nobles in attendance were only those living in the grand duchy.

Nevertheless, this second wedding made my heart flutter more than the first.

The people who had worked hard to celebrate Kaien and me.

The residents who had postponed their own affairs to come.

Seeing their faces smiling brightly and sharing our joy moved me deeply.

“Thank you, Kaien.”

I looked up at him.

“I love this so much.”

“Yes.”

When he kissed the corner of my mouth, laughter erupted from all around.

“Your Grace, please control yourself!”

“So eager for a second wedding! The ceremony hasn’t even started yet!”

“My lady! You must take firm control on the wedding night!”

“What more control could she need? His Grace is already head over heels!”

“Haha, that’s true!”

“Congratulations on your pregnancy!”

“Have many children, boys or girls, it doesn’t matter!”

Even the mischievous cheers weren’t unwelcome.

I truly felt celebrated and burst out laughing.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

And so we walked down the wedding aisle for the second time.

Using the excuse that it was a second wedding, we didn’t invite a high priest. We stood facing each other in front of the platform.

“I, Kaien Black Blemer, take Ivy Rabbit as my wife and swear to share in her joys and sorrows for life, and to consider her my highest priority.”

A slight shiver ran through me at Kaien’s vow as he stood in his white wedding attire with golden epaulettes and a noble blue sash.

My husband who would be with me for life.

My companion.

My life.

“I, Ivy Rabbit, take Kaien Black Blemer as my husband and swear to share in his joys and sorrows for life, and to cherish him as I would my own body.”

As soon as my words ended, he squeezed our joined hands and suddenly kissed me.

As my lips were pressed open and my body tilted backward, he supported my waist.

“Wow, he’s eager!”

“Your Grace, take it easy! We’re not finished yet!”

Hahaha, people laughed. I wrapped my arms around his neck amidst the cheers.

Kaien lifted me into his arms and shouted to the crowd.

“The wedding is over! Go enjoy the banquet!”

“Come back, Your Grace! It’s not over yet!”

“How happy he must be!”

“Be happy!”

“Be happy, congratulations!”

The congratulatory words faded as he quickly walked through the corridor to the inner area.

I thought we would go to our room, but he carried me into the greenhouse with the hot spring.

The hot spring greenhouse, which always maintained humid and warm air, had tropical plants with broad leaves like those in the south.

In one corner, there was a bedroom made cozy with white curtains.

Kaien gently laid me on the bed.

When I raised my upper body, Kaien was looking at me, wearing only a white shirt—I didn’t know when he had undressed.

His eyes gazing down at me intensely held burning desire.

He wanted me. My breathing quickened.

“Kaien.”

He wrapped his hand around my calf and removed my wedding shoes, placing them outside the bed. His hand moved inside and took off my white stockings too.

Slowly, intimately, his fingertips brushed past my legs.

“Kaien……”

Kaien climbed on top of me, bracing his arms on the bed. His Adam’s apple moved prominently.

Though it wasn’t our first time, he was nervous like me.

“I’ll try……”

His voice was low and stimulating like a beast’s growl.

Warning of danger, he continued.

“To not be too rough.”

A rain of kisses poured down.

***

The day for the first supply shipment arrived.

The Ice Wall Knights who had come as the advance party would return with the first supplies and relieve the others. In this way, supplies for the entire year would be delivered in three rounds during winter.

The Ice Wall Knights, who had to return to the harsh environment without proper rest, had expressions full of pride.

Because Madam Callian was there.

In the courtyard of the grand ducal residence, knights waited in formation for departure. The supplies were prepared at the city gate.

When Callian, Kaien, the elders, and the administrators holding important positions in the grand duchy all came out, the knights lifted one foot simultaneously and then put it down to signal they were ready.

Well-trained elite knights.

Despite the annual supply departure, people gathered to cheer for the knights. It was their way of showing gratitude.

Madam Callian greeted me politely.

“Thank you for the all-purpose medicine. Its effectiveness will greatly help the knights.”

“If the Marker brothers were here, I would have asked them to make more. It’s a shame.”

For a moment, Callian’s brow subtly narrowed.

“The Marker brothers made it?”

“Yes. It was originally a cough medicine for Wallit the mage, but when they improved it, they discovered it was excellent for treating wounds.”

“Hmm, I see. When I return next time, I’ll meet the Marker brothers then. To think they had such things……”

Hmm? I heard a faint grinding sound from somewhere.

It was the sound of clenching molars.

While I was looking around in confusion, Kaien greeted Callian.

“Take care.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

After receiving greetings from people, Madam Callian stood in front of Administrator Drid.

“Sir.”

“Yes, speak.”

When Callian addressed him, Administrator Drid’s cheeks reddened.

“Letters and documents coming to the Igmal border are confidential. Your daughter’s act of slipping in letters arbitrarily is like that of a spy disrupting information.”

“W-what?”

“I’ll overlook it once, but if it happens again, I’ll handle it according to military law.”

Administrator Drid, who had turned pale, bowed his head.

“I-I’ll be careful.”

From somewhere, a song began. A song started by someone was joined by one voice after another until it resounded magnificently.

May God’s blessing always be with you.

That we spend today,

That we pass a day in peace,

That all our days dreaming of tomorrow with our children,

Are possible because you are here.

It was a song of gratitude for Madam Callian and the Ice Wall Knights.

The song continued without interruption, and Madam Callian listened without moving, as if in response.

They would depart soon.

I checked the direction where Mrs. Moson was standing and softly called to Callian.

“Madam Callian.”

She moved only her eyes to look at me.

“Over there……”

Before I could finish, she looked in the direction I was pointing.

Though I hadn’t told her who it was, Madam Callian’s eyes widened enormously.